Nintendo Boss: Used Video Games Aren't Good For Consumers
from the oh-really? dept
The folks over at GamePolitics are highlighting the most ridiculous part of a VentureBeat interview of Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America:VB: Used games are coming up as a big issue again. Why?First off, it's rather stunning to claim that a vibrant used market isn't in the best interest of consumers. As studies have shown repeatedly, healthy second-hand markets actually help both consumers and original producers because it adds more value to the product. That's rather obvious once you think about it. If someone knows they can resell the product at a decent price later, then it both lowers the risk and increases the value of the original product. On top of that, the used market also helps better differentiate on pricing, again benefiting both customers and producers.
RFA: More and more retailers are experimenting with the used game model. We don't believe used games are in the best interest of the consumer. We have products that consumers want to hold onto. They want to play all of the levels of a Zelda game and unlock all of the levels. A game like Personal Trainer Cooking has a long life. We believe used games aren't in the consumer's best interest.
VB: Because?
RFA: Describe another form of entertainment that has a vibrant used goods market. Used books have never taken off. You don't see businesses selling used music CDs or used DVDs. Why? The consumer likes having a brand-new experience and reliving it over and over again. If you create the right type of experience, that also happens in video games.
Second, it's quite odd to claim that there's no used book, used CD or used DVD market. A few years back we noted that the used book market had become a multibillion dollar industry, and you just need to look on, say, Amazon or eBay to see thriving sales of used books, CDs and DVDs. To claim that there's no such market either shows ignorance of the market or is an outright lie -- neither of which is a good thing.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: consumers, reggie fils-aime, used video games, video games
Companies: nintendo
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
This guy
Nintendo should ditch him fast!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: This guy
Or he does have a clue but he's more than willing to lie about it, which is sort of worse. It's one thing to be utterly ignorant. It's another thing to be a lying sack of shit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: This guy
And even assuming it is completely as you say, I would only reiterate my first point about not being allowed to make any big decisions and him needing to go. =)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why not admit the real problem?
Thanks for keeping us safe, Reggie!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What did you expect...
Reggie has said many, many things, most of which have been inaccurate up to this point in time.
Especially the part about gaming developers [ad lib] "flocking to the Wii for its simple design structure".
Right, Reggie. We're still waiting.
Idiot.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What did you expect...
Who was the idiot again?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: What did you expect...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.bookmans.com/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Besides
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What would happen?
"Well, unfortunately because of the nature of our business, we have to strike a balance between the demands of our customers and the demands of the shareholders that we also have to answer to. Obviously these two parties are on the opposite sides of the business spectrum, and so there is some natural friction between the two. In the opinion that we've reached, it is simply better overall for our business as a whole to promote the purchase of new games over used games, and we act accordingly."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What would happen?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What would happen?
In not so many words, Reggie says "I don't agree with that law so let's find a way around it."
Reggie may drive on the left side of the road too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Missed Quote
"If you create the right type of experience, that also happens in video games."
I think that the "best interest" he is referring to is the nature of high replay value. I've always found that many nintendo games have a very long lifetime. If the creator focuses on the long term experience, then the reason for selling off your used games diminishes, because there's still that high replay value.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In 1994, all Nintendo executives were required to jump into a giant pipe in the basement of Nintendo of Japan headquarters. Since then, they have all lived and worked in a parallel, but separate, world where Nintendo characters aren't rendered, but exist. They document with the ferociousness of a historian on meth, and give those stories to the world.
The used market is dead there, just as he explains. Because in Nintendoland, earning money is as easy as trespassing on royal property and collecting all the gold coins the King has hidden inside in and on all of his masonry.
So there is no need to sell used games, or even concern oneself with the price of retail video games. In fact, people usually overpay, just unload the burden of bulging pockets of gold coinage.
The executives only resurface occasionally to bring us the latest tale of mystical wonder and whimsy, and also to take back news of Sarah Michelle Gellar's latest movies.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
"You don't see businesses selling used music CDs or used DVDs."
Yeah, Amazon Marketplace doesn't sell anything like that, and you can't find any used media on eBay. *facepalm*
"We don't believe used games are in the best interest of the consumer."
Yes, they are. People factor in the trade-in or used sale value of a game when they purchase it. This can make the difference between buying a new game at $60 or waiting for a bargain bin sale at $20 a couple of years later. Used games mean that consumers can buy more games with the same amount of money. How can that not be in the consumer's best interest?
"They want to play all of the levels of a Zelda game and unlock all of the levels"
...and then trade it in for another game when they've done that and they're bored of the thing. If they can't do that, they might not be willing to pay full price.
I wonder if this is an indication of some future plan to "crack down" on used games sales, even though it would probably damage sales of new games?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Two words...
Two words:
Hari-Kari
Or, if you prefer one word:
Seppuku
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Huh?
In my little town of 8000 people we have 2 businesses that sell used media...one is blockbuster, the other is a music store that sells new and used cd's. the used section is the most popular section.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sounds like...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What a D%ck
Like there's a huge underground of people marketing and getting rich off after-market purchases. These guys are disparate to milk every last cent out of me.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Use of Used Games
If I knew that every game purchased would automatically be worth nothing at the time of sale, not only would pirating software become much more appealing, but my purchasing habits would be saved for only very specific titles.
In my honest opinion, it is a ridiculous claim to make that used games are futile for the gaming industry. If the used game market were to expire, I would most likely invest in other hobbies. And not to mention, I still enjoy playing the SNES. How in heaven's name am I supposed to be able to purchase games for a console that old directly from the retailer?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Use of Used Games
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Reginald_Fils-Aime.jpg
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What?
If that's true, then what's his problem? If people want to hold onto Nintendo's games then they won't show up in the second-hand market. It's not like Gamestop is breaking into people's houses and stealing their games to resell as used *knocks on wood*. People are choosing to take their old games and sell them back.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What?
No, Reggie wants that market.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: What?
And he's willing to lie to get it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
kmart
wal mart
mom/pop shops
internet
if gamestop wants to become the new FuncoLand fine. They should try and do that. It is after all better for them if profits are what matters. Yes it MIGHT hurt sales of some games but It may open up new avenues for dev direct game purchases.
Why have storefronts at all when a dev can potentially drop-ship fresh pressed discs to your door... For less.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It'll become a non-issue within a few more years anyhow as the industry takes up the digital download model.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
First they came for...
Then, Reggie got sales of used underwear banned next.
Then, used cars and trucks.
Where will it all end?
No more garage sales?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
How would he know - he's rich!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.8-track-shack.com/red-foxx-on-the-loose-recorded-live-p-18015.html
Yet people did buy new tapes and new porn. ....of course cassettes were replaced with CD's and mags were replaced with the internet.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
used books and cds
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=used+cds+and+books
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why are you so suprised?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Don't judge the rest of Nintendo based on the actions of the biggest prick in NoA.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It Doesn't Work!
Quick! Someone let Half-Price Books (http://www.halfpricebooks.com/) know the business model they have WON'T WORK!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: It Doesn't Work!
"Quick! Someone let Half-Price Books (http://www.halfpricebooks.com/) know the business model they have WON'T WORK!"
You beat me to it! That is one of my favorite stores! On top of that, here in Indianapolis anyway, we also have CD Replay which only sells used electronics such as DVDs and CDs. And there are several around town. We also have McVanns which only sells used video games and systems. They have stores also in Fort Wayne and Evansville and are still opening more stores. So it appears that selling used games, CDs, and DVDs is alive and well, especially in this economy.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Used merchandise
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ALL of them.
Dipshit
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's true, but stupid.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]