New vs. Used Games

I won't deny that I take a cue from the game media for what I write up here. Most of it comes from Kotaku and 4 color rebellion. Today is no different.

A link from 4cr mentions a Gamasutra article on buying new vs. used games. There are lot of really good opinions there (5 pages worth). It's an interesting read if you care what others do with their games...which is why your going to read my opinion.

First off: new games. I love picking up a brand new game and I'm usually happy to fork over the cash for a $50 game ($60 is pushing it). But it took a few years to figure out that to make a new purchase a fulfilling transaction, you have to love it, need it, and not be able to live without it. You have to want it on launch day, whether you can get it then or not. Otherwise, your paying full price for a game you're not sure your going to like or not. I basically say to myself that if this game is going to be a rehash of any other game(s) that I've played before and don't think it's going to bring anything new to the table, I don't buy it new.

'Cause that's what used is for. Used games are for the "maybe"s. They are the hand me downs that look interesting enough only at discount. Why buy at full price when you can let another sucker pay full price, realize he can't make a lap in Gran Turismo and sell it back to the store. Then you can swoop in on the carcass and reap the sweet, sweet dead meat without breaking a sweat.

I've gotten over the idea in my head that new games are better than used games. I thought new was physically better to own, then realized I was the only one who cared that it was pretty in it's new case. And the idea that someone already used it never really bothered me. There are thousands of copies of any given game, so lots of people have played it before you. As long as the disk works, w.g.a.f.

And I also enjoy giving a company money when I buy new games. Usually they deserve the fruits of my hard labor for that of their own. Nintendo is pretty solid as a developer. Bungie, Capcom, Rare, and Ubisoft (especially), and little indie groups like Behemoth are all pretty solid sources of quality games.

It's very much the opposite for used games because I know that stores like Gamestop and EB are just ripping you off. No matter how much they gave you for used games, you always feel like they'll sell it for a price you should be getting. eBay has been good to me both selling and buying for used games and I don't mind helping someone turn a purchase into an extended rental.

The new games market is obviously a fact and cannot be denied. The meat is the used games market. It's a smörgåsbord and a trash dump both at the same time. It holds for you the games you played 5 years ago and stupidly sold. It hides away the classics that are really available every fucking where because they were over produced (and you stupidly sold). But it also fights the unruly net hype and fake street cred. It's revenge on sloppy controls and sluggish frame rates. Seeing a game in the used game bin either surfaces elation or questionability. It really all depends on the contents of your game library (or whether you like sports. Lots of sports.)

Now I'm off to play Splinter Cell: CT. I have no idea when the 360 is coming back from Texas, so I might as well settle in for a little bit of last generation gaming. Ugh...perish the thought.