farbot.com

It's no secret that publishers hate used video game purchases. The resale of the game gives the publisher and developer zero compensation for their work and the resale is very highly profitable for stores that specialize in this kind of thing. With the advent of broadband-connected consoles publishers of all types have started to embrace methods of rewarding those who buy their games new at retail and there may be other ways to make buying new the best way for hardcore gamers to go.

Publishers are trying to reduce the appeal of buying a game or peripheral used instead of new. Microsoft includes a special code with Gears Of War 2 to give buyers a Flashback Map Pack. Nintendo will be including a code with the Wii Speak peripheral to download the program needed to chat on the web. Both of these allow the publisher or manufacturer to sell this content later to those who buy those items used, not quite penalizing the purchaser of the used item.

Stephen Totilo at the MTV Multiplayer blog has an inspired idea on how publishers can put a dent in used game sales, enticing consumers to buy a game brand new. It's so simple that I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned it.

The idea is to make one of the Achievements (on Xbox 360) or Trophies (on PS3) be "Bought The Game New". The game would ship with a one-time code to award the Trophy or Achievement, and that's it. Unlike the methods mentioned above, this would definitely penalize the buyer of the used item, which might not be the best tactic for an industry always in search of more respect from the less hardcore market that is less likely to buy titles on day one for full price.

As someone who greatly enjoys earning Trophies on my PS3 this would work in some cases for me, but would unfairly penalize customers who really aren't able to buy things new. And in a highly competitive business, do you really want to alienate any of your customers? What do you think of these tactics?