David-D--NelsonEverybody wants a piece of this pie.
The used game market remains a massive business despite the move to digital and now Walmart is ready to take your used games as they join Gamestop, Amazon, Best Buy, and others in the $2 billion market.
Beginning Wednesday, March 26th customers of Walmart and Sam's Club will be able to trade in their games for store credit toward any purchase. The program will work for both in store and online business. At this early stage it will be available in 3100 stores across the country.
To assure quality resales those games won't just be tested and sold back, Walmart will send them to be refurbished and then resell them as like new.
From the press release: “Gaming continues to be an important business for us and we’re actively taking aim at the $2 billion pre-owned video game opportunity,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walmart U.S. “When we disrupt markets and compete, our customer wins. They’ll save money on video games and have the flexibility to spend it however they want.”
They also mention that gamers must bring their games in “in the original packaging” so there's hope for collectors that these games will retain some semblance of their original form. I really hate those specialty cases some places put them in.
Used games are a 2 billion dollar industry?
Woh!
That's 2 billion we could funnel back into game developers if we weren't so selfish…….
Yeah – that IS a big chunk of change.
Personally this is a win-win for me. I have gone all digital (I really like it for a LOT of reasons) and there are plenty of cheap great games to be had digitally (PS Plus & lots of sales). I also like the idea that the $$ I spend actually does end up with the game's developer. In addition, I refuse to shop at Walmart for a number of reasons – this just adds to that list.
I like my games brand new. I like opening the packaging, tearing off the plastic and the fresh smell of new!
Plus even if you wait until they are cheap, the developer still gets some of the money.
As much as I dislike Walmart, this will create added pressure on console makers to NOT implement draconian DRM policies. So it's a net gain for consumers.
It's actually not a net gain for consumers, it is a net loss for consumers.
This will benefit Walmart, and will only benefit consumers in the short term.
Why?
Because this puts financial pressure on developers and publishers. I have never seen a company react to financial pressure by making things cost less. DRM would be a great way to fix the problem, and makes it a much easier solution.
If used games are a $2 billion industry, then that is $2 billion that publishers and developers are not receiving any part of, do you think that is fair? There are already too many developers going under as it is, I don't want to see more just because of our own greed.
Last edited by Akuma_ on 3/18/2014 7:51:02 PM
it's not greed it's the same as reselling anything you have no use for, would you rather a game be sitting there never getting played and/or thrown out, or whoever owned it to get some value for it and another to get entertainment off of it? Take off your panties
Smart move by walmart to use store credit that can be used on anything. Most places give you more for store credit than cash and store credit at walmart will leave you with a lot more options.
I think its walmart too scared this move could backfire.
I think Saint just shed a tear of joy.
Ha LV,
Yeah, but these days, I couldn't even buy 1 used Wallyworld game in the retched financial condition I'm now in.
And I'd never get anywhere near the value of my game collections still owned(I've already had to sell off my Genisis, N64, & all my different Ninty hand-helds, along with their games) by piecing them out to turning them in to WW either.
Plus I'm sure that they won't take "retros" either
Last edited by BikerSaint on 3/18/2014 5:31:24 PM
That sucks Saint! Do you need any help with your gaming collection? I can't imagine ever selling any of my games, even the bad ones.
Witness my incredible power to also report the news!
Good job, dude.
lol thanks, I had some free time this morning
Out of all the community contributors, you ended up being the lone survivor.
Congrats on your amazing survival skills.
I always buy my game brand new, since the Devs don't get a cent when you purchase a used game to save a few bucks!!
Sometimes I don't want the devs to get my money (square enix)
@WorldEndsWithMe LOL Fair enough xD
Honestly, if it preserves our industry and keeps the promise of future titles alive, then I have no problem with giving even a company like Squeenix my money.
I mean, Squeenix will NEVER go back to making amazing Final Fantasy games if they stop making them.
"Gaming continues to be an important business for us…"
Excuse me while I laugh to death. Almost every Wally-world in my area from Coeur d' Alene, ID to Spokane, WA has essentially given Sony the shaft. IF the store has Vita games they are only in the $19.99 and under bin. One of the stores has only one dedicated Sony cabinet with only a half-row of PS4 titles. So, basically, gaming is their business if your brand doesn't start with an "S" and rhyme with Sony.
Just sayin'.
Yeah, I've noticed a smaller area for Sony games at Wallyworld too…. M$ has probably paid them off for the extra shelf space, plus their 1st view spacing, like they did with GameStop
So OK, I'll bite…..what brand rhymes with Sony??????LOL
Fony? lol
Actually, since PS4 dropped, the Walmarts in my area(Show Me State), have increased the size of the Sony game cabinets …
it was atleast interesting enough ad and it was too long so not to bore us but yeah i don't live in the US so for anyone in the US whats u take on this and wud u do this as apposed to gamestop or the other guys that do this i'm curious
happy gaming =)