Brent Boso

Campus Current Writer

Some AACC students say their video game collections are worth over $25,000, and several spend over $1,000 annually. The hobby is expensive, but when gamers try to save money, game developers feel the pain.

Used games are “a f***ing nightmare for developers and publishers,” said David Jaffe in an interview with Gametrailers.com. He designed popular games such as “God of War,” and “Twisted Metal.”

One of the few ways to save money is to buy used games. Stores such as GameStop sell used games and systems at a lower price. People may trade in their old games for a value, which they can then spend on other games.

But when GameStop sells a used game, the creators of the game get no share of the profit. Nothing.   It’s no more unusual than a book publisher having their books sold at a garage sale, but GameStop promotes and sells used games across the nation.

 “It’s a legal form of piracy,” Jaffe said, but he knows how hard it is growing up with little money. “I’m in favor of the consumer … they should be getting the best deals out there.”

Marley GameStop assistant manager Carl Endraes said that if it weren’t for pre-owned games, many gamers wouldn’t have heard of out-of-print games, which essentially builds the developer’s fan base.

                “Yes, it is a nightmare for the developer,” Endraes said, “but it gives people a chance to play great games that they have never heard of.”

                Many gamers actively seek out old games that are considered to be hits. Though many Web sites such as Amazon and eBay sell these rare games, sometimes the quicker way is to check your local GameStop’s bargain bin.

“As a hobby, it’s hard to keep up,” Earl Boggs, 23, of Annapolis said, who has been collecting since he was about five years old. Boggs said that he “would give anything for” his hobby, but he has had trouble affording games at times.

Used games are an effort to make the hobby cheaper, Endraes said. The store offers a seven day return policy on used games if the buyer doesn’t enjoy the game. Also, their $15-a-year magazine gives the buyer 10 percent off of used games and accessories.

When a game is first released, it usually costs $60, with the exception of the Nintendo Wii ($50). Sometimes their length is only a dozen hours long at best.

Steve Granieri, 26, spends hundreds of dollars a month on video games. In result, he’s had to get on top of his gaming budget. The biggest change for his hobby is that he doesn’t buy newly released games as often. Instead, he will only buy the latest games after they’ve dropped in price, and he browses used game bins for cheaper deals.

 “A couple years ago I started cutting back on cigarettes and fast food,” Granieri said. Though at first it was a hard sacrifice, he said that it really paid off in retrospect.

Video game consoles cost several hundred dollars on their own. When the Playstation 3 was first released in 2006, it was priced at a stunning $599. The Xbox 360 was available for $399 in 2005, and the Nintendo Wii was $249 in 2006. These prices have dropped since then, but they’re still between $200-$400.

                But the price doesn’t stop gamers from buying the consoles, along with its expensive accessories and games, and it hasn’t for years. Consoles have always ranged from about $200-$600. Gaming can quickly add up over time and cost gamers thousands of dollars per year.

                Gamers must be financially smart to be able to afford the latest and greatest, even if it conflicts with the industry’s desires.

                “When I get paid, I set aside the money I need,” said AACC student Brandon Miller, who always starts saving for games before they come out. However, if prices ever went up, he would buy far less games.  

He also said that gamers just have to accept the harsh prices of today. That’s especially true if gamers want to keep the industry broad.  

Companies such as Electronic Arts and Activision are financially powerful, they will purchase smaller developers who have talent, but lack profit due to used game sales. This is to absorb competition, and keep developers under one roof.

John Riccitiello, CEO of EA, said that the company had nearly 9,000 employees in 2009. But even EA was feeling the pain of used game sales under the rough economy, and they had to fire 17 percent of their staff – around 1,530 employees were sacked.

Smaller developers thrive on every new game sale and require big commerce in order to break even. It is why developers such as Jonathan Blow, creator of “Braid,” have started releasing their game's online only; therefore, the only way to purchase it is new.

It is the route several developers are taking. Games sold only online are ways developers are getting around used games sales. People won’t change, so developers are forced to, even it if it makes their audience smaller. They will do what they can to receive profit from every game purchase.