In the last day or so, a lot of people have been weighing in on this debate, mostly due to the latest Penny Arcade comic and its attendant news post. I thought I'd throw in my two cents as well. 

It seems like everyone is saying that they have no problem buying games digitally, but kind of hit a wall when it comes to buying physical games at full price. Some might say that there’s a discrepancy there, but I think it actually speaks to the value of buying games digitally. Usually buying games digitally is cheaper, and you can be sure that the money is going straight to the developer, instead of the middleman (like Gamestop). Not to mention the fact that most digital download services (Steam, mostly) have crazy sales all the time that make it totally worth your while to do your games buying there. I personally don’t like buying used games mainly because I don’t approve of Gamestop’s policies, but if someone else feels differently, that’s totally up to them and also totally okay. As a lot of people have mentioned recently—mostly in reference to the price/value ratio—it’s up to the individual consumer to make his own choices, and those choices need to be right for him, what’s financially responsible for him. If I have enough disposable income that I can buy new games at full price and not be hurting, then that’s awesome. If some working-class dad has to worry more about providing for his family than getting Halo on launch day, then it’s better for him to buy it used a month or two down the line. He’s not a bad person just because he’s worrying about his own financial well-being before the company’s whose game he’s buying.
 
ADDENDUM: It seems like a lot of people commenting here think I'm railing against used game sales in all forms. Some have said, "But what about (insert game)? It's 10 years old. How else am I supposed to get it?" I think the debate here has more to do with recent games, as opposed to older games. Obviously, the only way to get that copy of Radiant Silvergun or Chrono Trigger is to find it used somewhere, which as I noted above, is fine.

Gamestop isn't the only store that sells used games.

I don`t buy used games, I just can`t, it`s against my rules as a gamer

I usually buy cheaper games nowadays. There has been new ones that are around $20 that interest me.
 
Nothing stops me from buying used games either (As long as they are not marked only $5 down, I'd just buy the new copy instead).

" Gamestop isn't the only store that sells used games. "

" Gamestop isn't the only store that sells used games. "

And what is wrong with buying a used game? The devs all ready got the money.  "

" @Axxol said:

" Gamestop isn't the only store that sells used games. "

Fair enough. I admit that I just used Gamestop as a shorthand for "used games dealer." I think my point remains, the same, though. I would personally rather support the developers directly, which I think is hard to do when you buy used, since that money just goes to the store you get it from.  
 
@The_Laughing_Man said:

And what is wrong with buying a used game? The devs all ready got the money.  "

I see your point about the devs already getting their share of the original sale. Notice that I'm not saying that buying used games is bad. I would rather just give them the additional money that my new purchase would provide. "

I stopped trading in games a while ago after I finally realized just how much I was getting ripped off

I buy used games so what? How else am i going to get a copy of Code Veronica X?

If anything. Its a bit greedy if the devs want more  money. They made ONE game. And they should get ONE payment for it. Not 2 or how many times the game is resold.  "

" @The_Laughing_Man said:

If anything. Its a bit greedy if the devs want more  money. They made ONE game. And they should get ONE payment for it. Not 2 or how many times the game is resold.  "

I think you misunderstood what I said, so allow me to clarify. I'm not saying the developers should get paid a second time when I buy their game used, I'm saying that I am buying a new copy instead of a used copy, which gives them money, since it's an original sale. And since when is it "greedy" to want to be paid for your efforts? You may as well say that it's greedy for me to want remuneration for doing technical support all day. Yo, it's my JOB. "

i really love this debate.  i think it's interesting, but i also think it's getting old fast and it's been talked about a lot.  but hey! i don't mind chiming in. 
 
i think rewarding players for buying a game new is a perfectly acceptable and reasonable business decision.
 
if someone is a big enough fan of a game that they want an utterly complete experience, they will either buy the game new as soon as possible or pay whatever premium is attached to the content given to consumers who buy the game new.  i think EA's online pass makes perfect sense.  i have a very slight interest in football video games.  this means i'm never going to buy madden at midnight and i'm never playing online.  next year, if i want an NFL game for my 360...i'm not going to buy a new copy of madden 12.  i'm going to buy a used copy of madden 11 or earlier.  if that means i don't get to play online without paying EA the money they lose out on by me buying used...i think that's fair. 
 
the real problem isn't people who buy used games.  when you offer a consumer two functionally identical products for different prices, they will go for the cheaper option every time.  this isn't reprehensible.  many gamers are young people who have very limited budgets (myself included). 
 
if you want to be a "responsible consumer" and support developers, just don't trade in your games.   if gamestop/amazon/etc don't have used stock, they can only sell new games.  the people trading the games in are "the problem", not the people buying them.  the people buying them are just reasonable people trying to save money.  i decided a few months ago that i'd make it a policy of mine not to trade in games to gamestop.
 
even at that, though...should we feel bad for developers who make games that are so disposable?
 
if you want to literally waste $10+ buying a game new versus used and think you're doing something noble...really think about it.  you're being charitable towards software developers.  not starving children, not tsunami victims, not people who need medical attention they can't afford, not even a political party you really strongly believe in...but software developers.  people who were already paid a salary to create an entertainment product that you are now buying.  i'm not saying developers don't deserve royalties for great games...i just think people are fooling themselves into thinking they're really doing something good.  if someone saves $20 on a game buying it used and then donates that money to a reputable charity...i can't believe anybody could reasonably accuse them of wrongdoing.  not saying people are doing that, but i think people need to save their charity for people who really deserve it.  you know, starving ones or something. 
 
all that said, i totally traded in NHL 10 in anticipation of NHL 11 yesterday.  used the $11 store credit to buy a used copy of civilization revolution.  the store didn't have a new copy and i've been buying EA's NHL games brand new as soon as they were released for the past few years now.  i'm comfortable with what i did.
 
so yeah.  don't blame people who buy used games.  developers can feel free to limit their experience and that's totally reasonable, but don't act like you're doing a great service to humanity in buying a game new.

I like supporting developers that I feel make a great game. I'll continue to do that. I also hate used cases with stupid stickers on them. I hate them so much. 
 
I've never seen someone make that point before about the whole "Whose customer are you?" business, but it is a good point.

used game sales are vitally important for people on limited budgets to be able to play new/different games. It's a way to get games cheaper without breaking any laws. If this way is removed it will impact alot of gamers and honestly i care alot more about gamers than developers. Unless its Atlus, capcom, or nintendo releasing a game, I am going to try to get the game used. As consumers we should be fighting to not lose the purchase rights we already have.  Developers are trying to make it impossible or impractical to trade our games in or buy used.  They are trying to boost their profits by reducing our effective buying power.  I do not support this and honestly it makes me want to buy used more. When a developer pulls this project 10 dollar shit they are being antagonistic to me. I don't want to help them. I dont want to see them do well.  I want them to fail and be forced to reverse their used game policies.

I think people confused "Used game sales" with "GameStop's shitty business practices."
 
Is there that much hatred against people that sell stuff on ebay or craigslist? Doubt it.
Then again, do people hate me because I Gamefly everything? That's even worse than used right?

" I think people confused "Used game sales" with "GameStop's shitty business practices."  Is there that much hatred against people that sell stuff on ebay or craigslist? Doubt it. Then again, do people hate me because I Gamefly everything? That's even worse than used right? "

if you want to be a "responsible consumer" and support developers, just don't trade in your games.   

" I think people confused "Used game sales" with "GameStop's shitty business practices."  Is there that much hatred against people that sell stuff on ebay or craigslist? Doubt it. Then again, do people hate me because I Gamefly everything? That's even worse than used right? "

If it fucking works, then fuckever.

Most new games will drop their price by half after a month or two. 
 
Used games for relatively newer titles are never any more than 5 USD off the new price. Never. 
 
Most people generalize the problem to "do" or "don't". 
 
This really doesn't boil down to the binary, so don't argue as if it does.

"This really doesn't boil down to the binary, so don't argue as if it does. "

The problem everyone has, n my opinion, with used games is a perception of how the money is distributed. I'd love to know how many people look at day one purchases as helping the publisher cos we're all chummy chummy with them, but look down on GameStop for asking you "hey, do you want to put down some money so we know to get you your copy in and give your money day one?" 

The used games industry is just like the used car industry, because they are both physical media, and there is a right to sell on those games if you feel the need or want. You can sell on your own property as much as you bloody well like.
 
I'd also like to know how many people come off on used games so hard, when someone like me, who thinks the pre-owned market is a decent thing, owns well over 150 physical Xbox games on my shelf, at least 110 of them bought either day of or in the proceeding week, having traded in less discs than you have fingers on one hand. It's all fine and dandy to point at GameStop and bitch and whine that they would like to stay in business, but when you pay for this shit out of your living allowance, do you want three games this year, or maybe 7-8 games from last christmas?
 
The used market is NOT a parasite; it's a fundamental part of the capitalism that FOUNDS the games industry. If you don't like it, fuck off for a few years until you don't have a choice because consoles are worse than the PC in terms of DRM. But then keep your whore mouth SHUT because YOU WANTED THIS WORLD OF PUBLISHERS GETTING ALL THE MONEY.
 
Said dramatically, but it's where we're headed and it comes with it's own problems. It's "oooh, flashback maps" yesterday, EA online pass today and Spore tomorrow for consoles.

I don't buy used unless I absolutely have to (ie can't find a game anywhere else new).  But my reason is simply I have been burned so many times with used games not working.  I am not even kidding, probably 7 out of 10 games I have bought used, worked for maybe a week and then just froze.  So I simply just want a game to work when I buy it.

I buy used games all the time.

 They also use just one copy of the game that they first buy legitimately and then they resell it many times over to different people. And their distribution method is much better then Gamestop or other similar retailers because the delivery is digital. The cool thing is tho is that my retailer has these crazy promotions all the time where they don't charge you anything for their sales at all. Sweet huh.

PS: If you don't get it - I'm talking about piracy.

I buy used games all the time. If the price is right what's the problem? I also Have never once traded in a game or sold one. Also why I hate digital distribution it's hard to add something that doesn't physically   exist to a collection. 
 
 If  retail wants to compete they should compete not simply try and snuff out the  competition with underhanded tactics. Drop your dam prices and maybe people will buy more new.  Basic economics undercut the market and you make more money even if you are selling each item for lower profits.  Great example Nintendo no secret why they did so well at their price point.  
 
Ea doesn't like the fact some peoples don't wanna pay their prices so they are gonna break the games unless you pay their price. Sound fair to you? Sounds more like a child throwing a hissy fit because something didn't go their way.  Same things a lot of PC developers did and you can see how that worked out for them.

There is no debate. Every other used outlet coexists with the people who make the product. You don't see Ford bitching about used Fords or DVD retail bitching about trade ins. It works there, and not here, and the difference is game publishers are bitches. Just play the game. You work around the paradigm.

Why are they bitches exactly?

Ford doesn't support your car after you bought it second hand either. Why should the game developer do so?
I'm fine with buying used, but people should also be fine and not bitch about the fact that they get a depreciated product if you buy used.

You don't see people that buy Ford second hand bitching about the fact that they got mileage on the car and wear on the components.

The new buyers get the perk in the car industry just as they now start to in the games industry. Developers started speaking out and bitching about used sales because people started bitching that they don't get the full value of a new game when they buy second hand. Both parties share some blame and are both right in a way.

I think the problem really comes from the people  buying a  game used and saving 5 bucks. If you see a used game 20-25 bucks cheaper and you don't buy it, and you complain about someone who does  you are a whiny, overpriviliged "holier than thou" cock.

" I think the problem really comes from the people  buying a  game used and saving 5 bucks. If you see a used game 20-25 bucks cheaper and you don't buy it, and you complain about someone who does  you are a whiny, overpriviliged "holier than thou" cock. "

  Here's more info about the actual problem...Quote from Penny arcade: 
" "Hey Mike. I worked at a Gamestop for three years in Dixon, CA, and I can no longer support saving $10 on used games after seeing all of the profit Gamestop turns by hurting the very developers that fuel their business. Every used game purchase means another chance to sell Game Informer, which is just a rag to hype GS pre-orders, which just happens to come with a card that entices you to buy more used games and trade in your new games for less than a third of what you paid for them, which in turn will be sold to someone else for 200% markup. I realize that economic times are tough and people need to save money where they can, but buying used is bad for the industry that is providing you with all of this entertainment. No one wants to see the big picture, so now we get these "buy new or get effed" tactics that publishers are pushing." 
 
 Louis Castle's ( IntantAction CEO) rant: 
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/louis-castle-retailers-are-parasites-and-thieves   
 
 THQ selling a multiplayer pass for people not buying the game new: 
http://kotaku.com/5618155/thq-raises-price-of-online-multiplayer-pass-to-10      
 
EA's online pass  
http://www.ea.com/news/online-pass-for-ea-sports-simulation-games    
 
 -There's also the fact that discounted games still exist. This wont go away since companies need to get rid of this games if they don't sell. Storage cost money. 
 - Buying an used car is not the same as buying an used game...Please don't say ridiculous things like that. There's an expected decrease on quality from buying an used car. Not to mention it's a bigger investment.
 
   There's a bigger problem. People just don't say things...But this is probably not the consumer's fight. Publishers need to find their own solutions in order to divorce themselves from 3rd parties. Valve did it, as a result you get cheaper games and actually great sales.

" I'm not worried about the used game market being eliminated as much as I'm worried about used games, discounted games, being able to lend and borrow games and actually owning, not "licensing" games all being crushed with it.
 
I think when (not if) this happens a lot of the used games opponents are going to be left thinking to themselves:
 
"What the fuck have I done? Why was I defending these companies again?" "

What debate? 
Americans make a big deal over nothing. You only pay have to pay half of what we have to for new games so its easy for you to buy them. If companies want us to buy new then they should stop charging so much. No game should be charged a forty pounds, which is the RRP these days.
 
60% of my games are pre-owned. It makes sense. I'm a student. I'm poor. I can't afford to personally bail out massive corporations like EA or Activision. Stop being pretentious twats.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! LISTEN...RENTING IS THE REAL PROBLEM!!!

"even at that, though...should we feel bad for developers who make games that are so disposable?"

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm

 many gamers are young people who have very limited budgets (myself included). 

              

1. The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.
2. The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 39 years old.
3. Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (34 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).

And I agree most retail games are overpriced. That's why Steam rocks so hard with sales.

The way I work is: is this game worth full price? yes? day one purchase. no? i wait till the price goes down or until the used copies are cheap enough. Who are the developers to say I have to spend more than i'm happy with for a product i don't think deserves it. I agree it sucks that used games don't let the developers get more profit from the game that they made and I do wish it was going to the developer instead of the middle man.  
as long as digital outlets do regular sales on their games then I am all for it. point remains that if I want a game that came out months/years ago and I don't want to spend more than £15 on a game, I will look and wait till that game is that price 
edit: can anyone confirm or deny whether putting in some rules that indicate that every used game sold should return a certain percentage straight back to the developer? Is this doable in any way?

I think that the pack-in codes are the best way for developers/publishers to combat used sales without being outright aggressive towards the consumer.  People bring up the sale of used cars.  If you buy a car, you know you're buying something that doesn't work as well as a new product.  You know you may end up having to pay more in maintenance.  That's why car companies don't care about used sales, since they provide no support for your car, the dealership does.  
 
It's wrong for publishers to vilify the customers of Gamestop, because they're just being savvy, and insulting them is not a good way to instill the desire to support developers in those customers.  

" @MysteriousBob:
Sure no problem, as long as people stop bitching about not getting all the little extras of the original purchase.

People bring up the sale of used cars.  If you buy a car, you know you're buying something that doesn't work as well as a new product.  You know you may end up having to pay more in maintenance.  That's why car companies don't care about used sales, since they provide no support for your car, the dealership does.   It's wrong 

I buy whats cheaper.

" @DevWil said:

"even at that, though...should we feel bad for developers who make games that are so disposable?"

Wah? 
 
I'll just take a look at the top 5 best selling Used titles for the PS3, as provided by Gamestop: 

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm

Oh, number 6 is Red Dead Redemption. Oh, you games, you so disposable! I'll ignore the insane prices Gamestop charges for those titles for now, but I'm having a hard time calling those 5 titles "so disposable" (Yeah, Naruto, I didn't expect that there either). And if "That's just the PS3, we know those games suck!" crops up, here's the best selling used for the Xbox 360 (CoD4, Halo 3, CoD: MW2) and that wonderful bucker of trends, the Wii (DBZ Tenkaichi 3, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Harvest Moon: ToT).  
 
Also, what's up with blaming the victim, the developers?  
Gamers want cheaper games that give you that cinematic experience, provide a challenge and aren't frustratingly difficult, longer games that don't eat up as much of our time. Games that are easy to pick up and master but have plenty of depth, good voice acting and audio but not the same pool of talent over and over again, that innovate but stay true to the formula. Above all, gamers have a duty to themselves as gamers to play every title, at launch day or before, and warn everyone about the short single player mode, shallow combat system, amateur VO and copycat gameplay.

 

"

You fit the whole debate into one form wow im impressed.

Never buy used and Never rent if you must save money wait till the price goes down. Don't feed bastards like Gamestop and Game.

" @Tennmuerti said:

" @MysteriousBob:
Sure no problem, as long as people stop bitching about not getting all the little extras of the original purchase.

half the game is in no way a little extra.  
 
@Fish_Face_McGee said: 

People bring up the sale of used cars.  If you buy a car, you know you're buying something that doesn't work as well as a new product.  You know you may end up having to pay more in maintenance.  That's why car companies don't care about used sales, since they provide no support for your car, the dealership does.   It's wrong 

Don't like the used car comparison how about the used record comparison. The music industry is the third largest industry in the world used sells haven't hurt them in the slightest. You also state that the developer/publisher has to support the games after they are out. I call bullshit Microsoft and Sony do all the real supporting They keep the multiplayer up after all. Sure there's the rare game that has something the devs in fact have to keep up such as for example battlefield even then keeping a machine running is far from being forced into supporting something and they rarely support anything for longer then 2 years.   "

Every time a person buys a used game, a person will buy a shitty new game due to misinformation. 
 
It balances out.

half the game?  you're grossly exaggerating.  it's only ever been online multiplayer or very minor content (the least fleshed-out character of Mass Effect 2, for example) that's been excluded from used copies.   

"Don't like the used car comparison how about the used record comparison. The music industry is the third largest industry in the world used sells haven't hurt them in the slightest."

 One credible analysis by the Institute for Policy Innovation concludes that global music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic losses every year, 71,060 U.S. jobs lost, a loss of $2.7 billion in workers' earnings, and a loss of $422 million in tax revenues, $291 million in personal income tax and $131 million in lost corporate income and production taxes.  For copies of the report, please visit www.ipi.org.