I was saying it was either/or. But ok, so you're not saying that only people who make games should get a cut from used sales. Then where do you draw the line?
What do you mean 'where do you draw the line'? No, the retailer should get money from the sale because they're enabling it, just like they should from all sales, but I don't think it's fair for developers and publishers to receive no cut whatsoever. So many of you seem to think that's acceptable, though.
Bale said:
You tried to shut the door pretty quickly on these sideways comparisons, but you want to be the one who says exactly where this should apply and where it shouldn't? Or does it not apply the moment you try and sell your car for the first time?
How does me saying sideways comparisons are defunct stop me from outlining my specific argument?
Used car sales are completely different. Games are disposable entertainment. If you go into a shop and see a used game for a few quid cheaper than a new one you're just going to buy that, because ultimately it doesn't matter. That logic doesn't translate to the car industry because cars aren't disposable purchases that are bought for a few hours of fun. The draw for a used sale isn't as large, and used sales aren't crippling car manufacturers like they are in the games industry.
Bale said:
And why is it wrong? Because of the health of the industry? Bullshit, you can make that argument for literally anything.
It's wrong because it affects the games publishers are willing to make.
If games don't make much money any more then publishers aren't going to take risks. If the industry was healthier they might, and thus this policy would make the industry healthier (that's a fact).
So go and draw up some hypothetical argument about a future where the industry's healthier whilst preserving used game sales and the borrowing of games. Great, I'd sign up to that, too. But as it stands that doesn't exist and this is the next best option.
Health of the industry... there's an interesting one. An industry that can't support itself through ordinary sales practices that every other industry is subject to. If there was anything that ever met the definition of 'unsustainable' it would be that, no?
"I've spent a £100 million budget on development and marketing and have decided to sell my product at £40 a pop and yet I can't break even overall without at least 4 million sales worldwide."
That's your fucking problem right there, not used games.
That contributes, yes. But that doesn't disqualify my argument.
But that's the industry, and that isn't changing. People (you, me, Gareth) demand a certain product now, and developers aren't scaling down. As I say, I'd support a changing of the industry that fixed this but that isn't happening any time soon.
