Selling PC games on, is it possible

[kalniel]

As for some games potentially costing £100, well, if they presented a game that wasn't attached to online restrictions and that I wanted badly enough, I'd think about it. As with a game, or anything else for that matter, it's a question of "what does it cost?" versus whether I want it enough to pay that.

But am I likely to want any game badly enough to pay £100 for it? It's very, very doubtful. But it's more likely than me signing up for Steam, etc.

But how about a game that costs £100 first hand, but that you can also sell on for £80 within six months, or £50 after a year etc.? That way a) the game costs less for you overall; b) the longer you keep a game the more it 'costs' you - tying cost to length of time the product is useful to you; c) you can always chose to wait before buying the game and get an older game for less money.

[Saracen]

But how about a game that costs £100 first hand, but that you can also sell on for £80 within six months, or £50 after a year etc.? That way a) the game costs less for you overall; b) the longer you keep a game the more it 'costs' you - tying cost to length of time the product is useful to you; c) you can always chose to wait before buying the game and get an older game for less money.

Maybe, but I rarely buy second-hand games. I'd rather wait until they're quite old and buy them for next to nothing. These days, mostly, if I do buy games they're older ones that I somehow missed out on back in the day.

Also, it's not that common for me to sell games on. That's why I've got a massive pile of the things. I could start my own games museum.

I approve of the model, but I still doubt I'd buy a game at £100 often, if ever. I wouldn't entirely rule it out, but I'd have to want it awfully badly to pay that.

[DrATty]

I wonder if things will change when gaming hits the developing world. There isn't the infrastructure needed for downloads and online DRM. I can vouch for that having tried Steam over dual-up.
There are a lot of game purchasers who don't play too. My mother spends more on games for my nephew than I do on games for myself. She won't buy downloads, only physical boxes.
My guess is that there is a lot more money to be made by selling to those that can't or won't use digital distribution channels than there is from the tens of millions users of them there are now. The market will adapt to where the money is.
I can't say I've bought or sold second-hand but I'm wary of what might happen if I moved to another country. It's another reason I'm not buying much online.
Put the disk in and play. By all means chase the pirates, but leave me alone.

[jim]

Quite a few boxed games use Steam exclusively now, so I don't think it will necessarily change anything.

[gmc112]

It is not reallyt possible except through selling your account.