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Volition Developer Dreams Of A Future Without Used Games
With rumors bouncing around that the next Xbox may not run used games, the debate over whether or not used games should exist has been hotter than ever. It should surprise no one that many game developers are on the side of getting rid of used games, and now one from Volition has taken some time to explain why.
In a post on AltDevBlog, Volition's Jameson Durall starts by explaining his core problem with used game sales:
"Most Game Developers will agree that the Used Games market is significantly impacting the revenue we receive. I think what most consumers don’t realize is that every time they buy a used game, there is ZERO money making it back to the Game Developers. All of those profits are going directly to the re-seller and making it more and more difficult for us to continue making higher quality products."
Durall goes on to explain that developers have tried using both DLC and online pass codes to help win back some of the funds, but he believes those steps are "just a band-aid on a large wound."
Durall addresses rumors that digital downloads will cost less on the PlayStation Vita and that the next-gen Xbox will not allow used games to work, both solutions he sees as positive. Durall says he is okay with game rentals and lending games to friends, and those issues would need to be fixed, but he offers solutions such as transferring your license for a game to a friend's console for a limited amount of time.
You can read Durall's full thoughts here. Everyone seems to have strong feelings about used games one way or another. What are yours?
[via GameSpot]
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