As Walmart eats more of the free gaming lunch, it should be humorous to watch our publishers witness what's left of their meat disappear off their plate. Used games have always been a parasite on the development community, but publishers have been too weak to confront it and , astoundingly, have actually defended it. Alas, not for much longer! The enormous tapeworm that is Walmart should change all that.

Box product is dead. Long live digital distribution!

Every area of entertainment has a second hand market. What makes Games different?

The cost/retail price of Games is extortionate in comparison to other entertainment.

And please don't come back with the 'developement costs' drivel. Do you think Movies and Music cost nothing to make?

There is no argument that holds water to say that the second hand market shouldn't exist.

Look at the sales curve on Games releases. After week 1 you're pretty much fucked in regards to sales. And if it wasn't for the Pre Owned market those day one figures would be reduced due to folk not having the readies to buy new releases on a regular basis.

Agree with Martha Farquar. Without trading in sales would fall big time. People have not got the money to buy new releases every other week. Trade-ins encourage new release sales as folks can trade in and pay little on new release.

Well said Martha Farquar. Publishers are weak when it comes to supermarkets mate. Customers think its the norm to buy a new release at £25, which de-values the game.
Stop blaming pre-owned.
The pre-owned market is helping the industry not damaging it, publishers and developers are annoyed they get no cut, thats all. Dont forget retail get £2-£3 profit per new release which is madness and if profit was better on new releases then retail would not push pre-owned as much. Wake up.

"it should be humorous to watch our publishers witness what's left of their meat disappear off their plate"

So if they're "our" publishers, then I presume that makes you a developer, if not, then they're not "your" publishers.

If you are a developer, then you shouldn't be spouting that kind of nonsense, because that's all it is... nonsense. Used games are what allow the average Joe to buy those new games at the over-inflated price most shops charge.

They're also what allows Average Joe to offload the tripe he has been conned into buying, after being promised "fantastic long term gameplay" that turned out to be 6 hours of repetitive "run, shoot, run, shoot" gameplay.

Used games won't go away until full priced products prove worthy of the price, but while we still have overhyped movies like MGS4 etc... that isn't going to happen.

And Digital Distribution will be the end of gaming, mark my word.

Lets not forget the consumer here.. Why is pre-owned the size it is? Because lots of consumers like it, end of. And yes, not all titles have re-play value.

And without pre-owned where would your precious day-one volumes be?

Why is COD4 still selling at pretty much launch price? Guess what, its a cracking title, with a massive shelf life.. Publishers/dvelopers, learn the lessons!