Pre-order pre-owned games at GAME

By Robert Purchese Published 4 March, 2011

Get them a week late for £33.99.

The GAME website has begun taking pre-orders for pre-owned games.

Do so and you'll save £16, paying £33.99 for a week-old game.

Eurogamer understands that GAME is currently trialling this new initiative. The shop was reluctant to comment.

Eight games are currently available for pre-owned pre-order: Fight Night Champion, WWE All-Stars, Virtua Tennis 4, Crysis 2, Homefront, Dragon Age II, Shift II: Unleashed and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12.

Should go down well with publishers.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (159) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • jablonski #1 1 year ago

    Message to GAME:

    I've got a shit brewing you can pre-order.
    Should be ready about 4pm.

    Yours for £54.99

  • coolbritannia #2 1 year ago

    Ridiculous. The industry won't stand for this any longer, next gen will see the death of pre-owned as we know it.

  • Ultrasoundwave #3 1 year ago

    Brilliant.

    So i get new games a) a week late b) with the discs scratched to fuck and c) with a free pube

    Game are desperate........and its going to get ugly.

  • PixelPirate #4 1 year ago

    pre-owned worked well for all concerned before the shops got far too greedy.

    oh well :(

  • Mkwone #5 1 year ago

    Why do i get the feeling this is not going to end well for the customer.

  • Deathbysoup #6 1 year ago

    I think this is a great idea if you want to really hammer the final nail in the game industry coffin.

    GG

  • thesombrerokid #7 1 year ago

    why would you pay that much for a new game never mind a pre-owned game?

  • weejok #8 1 year ago

    F@#k off Game!
    Edited by weejok at 04/03/11 @ 13:32

  • wizlon #9 1 year ago

    selling older games a reasonable price is fair enough, but this is just taking the piss.

  • HermitArcader #10 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • LetsGo #11 1 year ago

    Nice, I can wait an extra week for a cheaper game. Thanks game.

  • Goodfella #12 1 year ago

    Whilst I think that GAME are a huge rip off I think the blame should really lie with the retards that pay these stupid prices, are they completely ignorant of online shopping, or too scared?!

  • CrispyXUK64 #13 1 year ago

    Or buy them from a proper place that doesn't rip you off.

  • Rizo #14 1 year ago

    Why is this bad for gamers? As far as I can tell it gives them more options..

    Seriously am I missing something?

  • Vitor #15 1 year ago

    Save £16!? Who actually pays full RRP for games these days? Amazon and others frequently list stuff for £35 for less and you don't have to wait an extra week to receive it...

  • Xboxfanuk #16 1 year ago

    So GAME is undercutting new sales at every opportunity but yet digital is overpriced and screwing customers at every opportunity. Why can't they just sell us new shit, digital and boxed for a reasonble price and everyone wins.

  • chasejamie #17 1 year ago

    If someone is willing to pay 34 quid for a pre-owned game, surely they would just buy it new? Or maybe wait a few weeks more and it will already be under 25 quid new anyway. (Dead Space 2 etc).

  • Caimbeul #18 1 year ago

    "why would you pay that much for a new game never mind a pre-owned game?"
    - Indeed, buy it on-line brand new and cheaper AND the developer gets their money.

    I honestly think that those runnning game must be an absolute bunch of idiots! this is a terrible idea and only a fool would buy this from them.

    I just looked up the definition of Game and it said Greedy B*stards

  • DiamondIce #19 1 year ago

    I don't pay that for new games!

    Waiting a few weeks does wonders. Look at Dead Space 2 - that dropped very quickly and by a lot.

  • darleysam #20 1 year ago

    No, no I won't.

  • captain_Carl #21 1 year ago

    Shove it up your arse, Game

  • Jolly_Armadillo #22 1 year ago

    I think this is a definite sign that the next generation is going to be download only. Game knows this and that's why they are willing to piss off the publishers / developers by pushing used sales where ever they can.

    They dint care cos they will be redundant and thus are milking as much as they can

  • Ranger101 #23 1 year ago

    @Rizo - it's bad for the consumer because games companies don't see any of the pre-owned money leading them to selling restrictive and barebones content that can only be managed by stupid things like Online Passes etc. It also undermines legitimate pre-orders (as well as pre-order bonuses) and publishers will not see the success of a title, diminishing the prospect that your fave game will get a sequel, update or DLC.

    Finally, it undermines the actual pre-owned market outside of high-street businesses, and artificially drives both RRP and pre-owned prices up - if publishers are setting RRP's at £40, for GAME to resell at £35 without the publisher/developer seeing any piece of that, it'll encourage the publisher to push the RRP up to £70 so they can make up for that lost license.

    Granted, those are technically floating licenses in most instances - i.e. the publisher won't really know the difference for an offline game if 2 people have played the game using the same disc. But when you mass scale that, you'll eventually find titles and companies not getting enough return to reinvest.

    Re-selling games at a carboot sale is one thing - it's negligble. But when you make an industry out of it, and that industry legitimately loses you profit, as a games publisher you have to take counter measures. And us, the video game die hard consumer, will be measuring the length of their counter up our arses.
    Edited by Ranger101 at 04/03/11 @ 13:58

  • coolbritannia #24 1 year ago

    I don't think next gen will be download only, that puts the retailers offside and they won't stock the consoles. Next gen games will have a licence, maybe single use, that limits how many consoles it can be played on. Either way, GAME are absolutely fucked. And good riddance to them.

  • darkmorgado #25 1 year ago

    Fucking hell.

    Talk about biting the hand that feeds.

    GAME seemingly wont be happy until theyve detroyed the industry it seems. No wonder they are reluctant to comment, they know full well there is no moral justification for their actions.

  • StolenGlory #26 1 year ago

    Well, I for one am glad that I don't work in that shithole anymore.

    I mean can you IMAGINE trying to push that at the tillpoint to customers?

    Fuck that shit.

  • Rens11 #27 1 year ago

    Uh oh!

  • Penguinzoot #28 1 year ago

    are they completely ignorant of online shopping, or too scared?!

    Could be either, but probably a bit of both ;)

  • asphaltcowboy #29 1 year ago

    I can't wait for GAME to die the death it so truly deserves.

  • coolbritannia #30 1 year ago

    I don't think you can blame the customer here, most retailers make their money by pushing shit on unwary consumers, look at the crap prices dixons, comet etc sell at. The blame lies with GAME and the industry will respond...

  • Fella #31 1 year ago

    Hooray for GAME wanting to fuck developers over even more for their own greedy gains.

    Seriously I only buy from GAME as a last resort now because of stupid shit they pull.

  • chubster2010 #32 1 year ago

    Hmm...
    If enough people hold out for the pre-ordered pre-owned copy...surely that could result in not enough pre-owned games being available as no bugger bought the game new?

    Chicken and egg and all that!

  • Rizo #33 1 year ago

    @Ranger101

    It sounds like what your basically saying is that it should not be allowed because publishers don't like it! They decide to implement shitty online pass.

    I'm also really against pre-order bonuses especially when it's extra quests i.e Dragon age 2. I'm paying full price for a game please give me the game! just because I buy it on the day of release from tesco does not mean my money is not worth as much.

    People really need to stop listening to the crap the industry feeds than and start using there common sense!

  • Fobocop #34 1 year ago

    Where are they getting large volumes of one week old pre-owned from?

    Surely the amount of customers who buy a game, complete it, then trade in time for it to be processed for delivery to someone else it will be miniscule?

  • MrChuckles #35 1 year ago

    Right, well, the game i am designing now which comes out in a few years.. I wonder if 'original buyers' will get £20 worth of features that 2nd hand buyers won't?

    Hmm, difficult decision there...

  • Dr_Wadd #36 1 year ago

    Another depressing aspect of this is that Game expect to have substantial quantities of these games in their second hand stock a week after launch, yet most of these are games that should last well more than a week. The buy-to-rent mentality that allows this to prosper should be something to be targetted and stopped.

  • Whitster #37 1 year ago

    The biggest question is how exactly are they managing stock on this.

  • HL706 #38 1 year ago

    I think GAME may have brought forward digital distribution by at least 5 years with this ;-)

  • Markusdragon #39 1 year ago

    Or, you could shop around and use codes and so on, and get most preorders for less than this new, delivered on the day.

  • curtlikesmeat #40 1 year ago

    £33.00? I can't remember the last time I paid more than £30 for a game.

  • solidSnake04 #41 1 year ago

    this is lots of crap. even customers see how crap this is.

  • MadDave123 #42 1 year ago

    Or, buy it brand new online, delivered, day one (or earlier) for £34.

    Le sigh.

  • davey_wells #43 1 year ago

    The sooner GAME fooks off & crumbles the better - I can only see this being a complete self-shaft, so bring on the collapse.

  • lordofthedunce #44 1 year ago

    It's almost 24-hour outrage at EG these days

  • benfresh76 #45 1 year ago

    Is there a campaign to boycott GAME anywhere? I think now is the time; preowned is fine in moderation, but this is pretty outrageous.

  • Xardan #46 1 year ago

    Its because of stuff like this we have to preorder new games so as to not miss out on additional content.

  • zubnut #47 1 year ago

    I think EG need to ask the publishers of those games their opinion and whether they want to rethink how many units they are going to provide Game with..

  • Toothball #48 1 year ago

    You know what I'd like to see Game try? Selling new copies of games for a change. People moan that the supermarkets ruin the business by only selling the chart games, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to buy a game new that isn't in the charts because the shelves are filled with pre-owned games instead. I find myself buying online because I can't get what I want in stores.

    I used to enjoy wandering between Gamestation, Game, HMV, Virgin and wherever else. They used to sell games for different prices sometimes. Not always, but sometimes you'd find one place selling a game for a little less than the others. And that's where I'd buy it. Now all the new games cost the same, and shopping isn't so much fun any more. Even the digital markets are doing a better job, as they all have sales from time to time. While some digital prices are higher than often favourable and less prone to depreciation, when the right Steam sale or XBLA weekly deal comes along I'm more than happy to get my wallet out.

  • Triggerhappytel #49 1 year ago

    Ugh, piss off Game, you greedy bastards. You're fucking yourselves over in the long term, because the games industry will do all they can to wrest the sales power back.

  • landlock #50 1 year ago

    LOL, Homefront is only £34 on Shopto from Day 1 and Dragon Age II is £36. Hardly saving £16 when nobody charges RRP.

  • MrChuckles #51 1 year ago

    They clearly know that bricks and mortar stores are out in 5 years and they want to squeeze every last penny out of the industry while they can. As usual, my beloved game industry will do nothing about it, and devs like me will be absolutely furious.

    I hope with every part of my body that when the industry goes fully digital that all publishers refuse to deal with GAME on principle and the same management go bankrupt.

  • coolbritannia #52 1 year ago

    I second Zubnuts motion. I would REALLY like you to ask the question EG...

  • onezeonx #53 1 year ago

    It's basically save £7 and then have to buy an online pass for £7+

    Thanks!

  • castertroy #54 1 year ago

    OK so what about the games that come with an online pass. You pay £33.99 plus £10 if you want to play it online!

  • castertroy #55 1 year ago

    OK so what about the games that come with an online pass. You pay £33.99 plus £10 if you want to play it online!

  • gamerBOB #56 1 year ago

    Won't you miss out on stuff like the free downloadable content and work out more expensive in the long run?

  • Golgo #57 1 year ago

    Nice way to fuck over the industry that keeps you in business.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #58 1 year ago

    I love free pubes.

    More of this kind of thing please!

  • Brodie #59 1 year ago

    Jesus christ. This is the end. That is all

  • lockload #60 1 year ago

    Seriously robert take games advertising revenue out of your arse, save £16 eh, more like £6

  • nooneyouknow #61 1 year ago

    I will be amazed if this works. Personally, I have only pre-ordered a handful of titles ever and those have been for games that I have wanted so much I couldn't wait... So why on earth would I then want to wait another week??

    I know that's only me but a bet a lot of people only pre-order when they REALLY want something.

  • chrisjm #62 1 year ago

    The online pass sounds an ok idea when game milk it like this.

    I actually hope someone decides to refuse to supply game with a few big titles, and just give it to the supermarkets & online.

  • AceGrace #63 1 year ago

    So who is going to be the first publisher to stop supplying Game, because this is what is going to happen. Game will then become a used game shop like CEX which they practically are already. Right commuters!
    Edited by AceGrace at 04/03/11 @ 14:54

  • kangarootoo #64 1 year ago

    "Nice, I can wait an extra week for a cheaper game. Thanks game."

    And in a year or two you can thank GAME for the fact that all second hand games are missing content that was unlocked by the first owner.

    And in another few years you can thank them for the complete absence of pre-owned games, as all content is delivered digitally and locked to a given user.



    "Seriously am I missing something?"

    Yes. See above.



    "They clearly know that bricks and mortar stores are out in 5 years and they want to squeeze every last penny out of the industry while they can."

    QFT. I actually think GAME are selling into the role of pawnbroker, and I wouldn't be surprised if they stop selling new games altogether in due course. Edit: ah, as AceGrace said, the role that CEX currently fulfil.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 04/03/11 @ 14:59

  • hulkamania78 #65 1 year ago

    And if its an Ea game u still gotta pay for the online pass so its the same price. Game I have no problem with now EA is Fucking Bullshit online pass codes.

  • L0cky #66 1 year ago

    I almost never shop at the high street but yesterday I really had the urge to play Red Dead Redemption so went to the town in Leeds and had a look...

    Nobody had it new... nobody. I knew GAME had gotten bad with preowned from just reading about it, and remembering the last time I went there a few years ago; but I didn't really know how bad it had gotten.

    Two of their stores had no new 360 games that weren't one of the top 10 chart games. None.

    However, they had a lot of 360 games, at retail prices, with their 'The only difference is the price' banner; shelves and shelves of them. While I was there, I overheard somone picking up a preowned PS3 game for £35!

    I got the feeling the only reason they sold any new games at all is because people would be confused when they don't have games on release day.

    So, from a publisher and developer's point of view; they absolutely MUST break even on the back of the release period. That's banking everything on one single week. If they don't get into the charts in the first week, then they'll sink and disappear.

    Which brings up a question. How does somebody get into GAME's charts anyway? Those stores must only sell new games on preorder; which then enter the charts if they sell enough; which then qualifies them for that hallowed place on the charts shelf where the dev/pub will actually stand a chance of making any money.

    Based on this system, and presuming publishers still make the majority of their money from the high street, I see absolutely no financial incentive at all from publishers to support their games after release. That goes a long way to explaining the crappy support we're used to these days.

    It seems to me that GAME are milking the cash cow because they know it's dying. None of this behaviour shows any interest in a long term industry future.

    But it still confuses me that the pubs maintain the digital sales price. Surely if you know the high street are swiping the majority of your income you'd pounce on the opportunity to undercut them and get your customers back - yet they don't do this.

    The only reasonable explanation I can think for this is that publishers have an arrangement with the high street over the price of digital. They've always had marketing relationships, and we know by the retailer exclusives that it's still going strong. It must be that the profit from maintaining the digital price; joined with the results of in store promotion is still greater than their projected long tail sales. I wouldn't be surprised if the chart shelf itself is nothing but a marketing exercise (I mean, how else does a game manage to hit the #1 spot when the doors open on release day?).

    We lose on reasonable prices; the developers lose on earnings; and as usual the middle men laugh it all the way to the bank.

    Btw, 'Why would anyone buy preowned for almost the same price as new?'; or rather 'Why would anyone buy preowned for the same price as new?'. Strange!

    /blog
    Edited by L0cky at 04/03/11 @ 15:06

  • GamesConnoisseur #67 1 year ago

    Aside from online pass or such tricks that Publishers can try to minimise or claw back lost revenues due to second hand, the most important driver of the purchasing games ONLY by digital downloads is if shit like this get more bigger and bigger.

    So publishers will see it as do or die and platform holders would be happy to accommodate as all already have such system in place, XBLA's Games on Demand still too expensive for older releases, BUT on new release date and only available via digital may look more reasonable.

    After all Sony is already doing new release full retail downloads albeit for PSP only at present and in parallel to UMD release. Still this won't surprise me if next gen, either fully adopting or going much further, as profit margin greater for all parties except for retailers and second hand customers.

  • CB.Gamestation #68 1 year ago

    You guys do know there is no profit in new games right?

  • L0cky #69 1 year ago

    For who?

  • MrChuckles #70 1 year ago

    @L0cky - Yes. High street stores have threatened publishers with removal of their stock from the shelves if they attempt to sell Digital Download versions at the same price let alone cheaper. Steam doesn't have that problem as high street stores barely sell PC games anyway these days.

    I know this first hand, not rumour. (Although this was some stores in the US, and not specifically GAME in this place, but i assume the rules are the same)

    In short, high street stores want to keep games prices artificially high so they can make more money of trade ins.

  • spidermanalf #71 1 year ago

    Shocking tactics.

    The only good thing you can do, is when you trade in there, if you must, is get them to price match CEX, try and get them that way, as then they will only make 1 or 2 quid per preowned title.

  • lambtron #72 1 year ago

    "You guys do know there is no profit in new games right?"

    And whose fault is that...?

  • MadCaddy13 #73 1 year ago

    Glad I quit working at that shit place. Greedy pricks

  • smithdown #74 1 year ago

    I was mooching around GAME the other day (waiting for the missus to finish clothes shopping) and I spotted Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit had dropped to £24.99, in line with a lot of online retailers. 'Brill', thought I, 'let's see what they are charging for pre-owned', assuming it would be under £20.

    £34.99. Used. I shit you not.

    EDIT: Fuck off CB Gamestation.
    Edited by smithdown at 04/03/11 @ 15:24

  • kangarootoo #75 1 year ago

    @CB.Gamestation

    The word you are looking for is "less", not "no".

    And of course pre-owned is more profitable for GAME, that is why GAME focus on it so much. That part isn't in doubt at all.

    But high street games shops have operated since I was in short trousers without pre-owned being as prevelant as it is now. The suggestion that selling new games can't keep a savvy retailer in business is a nonsense. Regardless, what is being discussed is the long term effect of trying to maximise that profit without restraint.

  • RobotRocker #76 1 year ago

    I think this is a great idea if you want to really hammer the final nail in the game industry coffin.

    Gladly. I'll take a piss on the corpse for free as well.

    Death to the games industry.

  • Murton #77 1 year ago

    Last week GAME announced it's back door rental service, today it announced "pre-orders" on pre-owned. GAME know that publishers need retailers to guarantee them any sort of income at all in the current climate and are pushing their luck. It's us consumers that will lose out in the end because publishers are now going to increase the wholesale price in order to protect their bottom line, and you know that retailers will pass that on and increase the price of pre-owned to match, retailers win either way.

    New releases will be £50 this time next year and we'll probably see the return of £70 releases next gen, if not before.

  • Ranger101 #78 1 year ago

    @Rizo - You're partially right - it is partly because it will upset the Games Publishers that this is a bad thing. But ultimately, as I mentioned, it'll affect the Game Developers - the people who make the games. If they don't recoup the money they put upfront to make the game due to pre-owned sales, they'll go out of business.

    Eventually we'll be stuck with boring, poorly produced games with no production values because developers can't afford to make innovative, good looking and fun games because they don't have the money and a publisher won't be willing to risk it financially as theres no real money in it. This means limited choice as a consumer, paying a high price for sub-par games.

    tl;dr: You'll eventually pay shit loads more for shit loads less.

  • kangarootoo #79 1 year ago

    @RobotRocker

    I'm not sure what you think the games industry actually is.

    Do you dislike "society" and "peer pressure" as well?

  • jonfon #80 1 year ago

    Good old Game. Sold me Red Dead Redemption for 60 quids. And tried to sell me "insurance" for it too.

    The following week I went across the road to Xtra-Vision instead and got LBP 2 for 50. No, in fact the price on the cover was wrong and they gave it to me for 47.50 instead. (although in fairness I did also have to physically manhandle my daughter away from the Dora the Explorer DVDs, so maybe avoiding that hassle is the reason for Games ridiculously overpriced games?)

  • homerramone #81 1 year ago

    If they guarantee delivery a week later this could very well backfire on them monumentally.. because if 1000 pre-own-order something that only 10 people trade in.. surely they are going to have to supply 990 new copies at the (alleged) s/h price ?

  • RobotRocker #82 1 year ago

    Eventually we'll be stuck with boring, poorly produced games with no production values because developers can't afford to make innovative, good looking and fun games because they don't have the money and a publisher won't be willing to risk it financially as theres no real money in it.

    If you think this isn't happening already you are seriously deluded.

    I'm not sure what you think the games industry actually is.

    Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know there was another games industry that didn't treat consumers like shit, adapted to newer methods of distribution, doesn't whine every time they don't get their way and doesn't charge people the earth for new products and take a hissy fit whenever people suggest they should lower the prices.

    God I want to live in your happy fantasy land.

  • Ryboy #83 1 year ago

    Hahahahahaaaaaahhahahahaaa. Desperate cunts. Yet another nail in the GAME coffin.

  • MrChuckles #84 1 year ago

    @FireworkUK - Yep. Not much the publishers can do though apart from bend over and take it.
    Edited by MrChuckles at 04/03/11 @ 15:43

  • Eraysor #85 1 year ago

    I've never seen a company so desperate to destroy its own industry...

  • kangarootoo #86 1 year ago

    @RobotRocker

    My point, stroppy little man, is that the games industry is a term that refers to all companies and individuals making games.

    It is not a single thinking entity, with any single specific agenda, and acting like it is makes you seem like a paranoid conspiracy theorist.


    "God I want to live in your happy fantasy land."

    Yes, a fantasy land where we realise society is just a load of ordinary people, the games industry is just a load of ordinary people, and "the man"... is just a load of ordinary people. Truly bonkers stuff, indeed.

  • RealityCheque #87 1 year ago

    @Firework - this is already happening, why do you think GAME are so desperate?

  • Mr_Brown #88 1 year ago

    This is fucking stupid. Publishers are losong patients with Pre Owned retailers as it is. Something needs to be done about this business model and that doesn't mean punish the gamers even more, it is not our fault we want the cheapest product, which happens to be the product where all the profits go to the retailer. They need to change the system, retailers should get a bigger percentage of the profits on preowned games, but not all.

    Though I have little sympathy for publishers, with DRM and DLC codes and crap, they have continiously targeted and punished gamers for buying preowned games. They are idiots to even try this and even worse to do it for so long. I hope ether the retailers or developers get hit hard by this, hopefully then it might knock some sense into them and make them realise its in both their benefits to work together and not be greedy and try and steal the profits from one or the other. Pathetic.

  • Ranger101 #89 1 year ago

    RobotRocker - Seriously? You think the games of today have no production values? I know you're a Capcom fighting fan, and you're telling me the presentation in SSF4 and MVC3 are sub-par? That it didn't cost them a LOT of money upfront? It didn't cost them a lot of QA, balancing and marketing upfront? Really?

    That's a ridiculous notion. Even if you factor in Activision.

    Critical acclaim for games hasn't been higher in the last few years than before, and I've been gaming since the 80's. Gamers haven't had it THIS good ever before.

  • Stardusted #90 1 year ago

    Can I have my pre-ordered pre-owned game pre-played pretty please? (sorry just had to add a couple more prefixes)

  • Jay-ITFC #91 1 year ago

    Disgusting. As the leading retailer in the UK you'd think GAME would want the industry to prosper, instead they do everything they can to kill it with £$£$ being their only motivation. Fuck off cunts.

  • Notallowedhere #92 1 year ago

    Game killing the Golden goose.

    The reason that EA's pass came out was to recoup some money money from second hand sales which everysingle retailer is now doing. The more agressive retail get on 2nd hand expect the more likely you are to see everysingle publisher copying EA's model.

    It's not about screwing us end consumers it's about taking some of the money that retail are getting.

  • L0cky #93 1 year ago

    Would love to see someone getting screwed for price fixing over all this tbh.

  • nooneyouknow #94 1 year ago

    @L0cky

    Which brings up a question. How does somebody get into GAME's charts anyway? Those stores must only sell new games on preorder; which then enter the charts if they sell enough; which then qualifies them for that hallowed place on the charts shelf where the dev/pub will actually stand a chance of making any money.

    I think that sums it up exactly. And people complain about publishers not taking risks. As it is Game/Gamestation are still the largest purchaser of new stock so I don't think that any publisher would have the balls to tell them to go do one. Would be absolutely wonderful if they did! Put some quids behind another retailer - market the fvck out of the fact that it's exclusively at xxxxxxxx retailer and watch Game cry!

  • playgen #95 1 year ago

    I used to quite enjoy working in Game years back, but I could see they were getting worse and worse back then, trying all sorts to rip customers off. Seems I wasn't wrong to leave, I never go in a Game shop any more. So sad that the only real gaming retail presence (at least around here) is Game and Gamestation which they bought and ruined.

    Whats unfortunate is so many people trade in games so quickly, allowing Game to get away with this crap. But then some of the blame has to lie with developers and publishers who make games that aren't worth keeping.

    Why dont the really big publishers just refuse to stock Game, EA and Activision surely can sell their big name titles with or without Game.
    Edited by playgen at 04/03/11 @ 16:05

  • huckan #96 1 year ago

    This sounds great....

    Buy from game at RRP: 44.99
    Sell it back a week later for 24.99 tops (they've gotta make a profit?)... so game can sell it for 10 quid more again......

    I can't imagine people are surely stupid enough to do this?

  • Sharzam #97 1 year ago

    2 options there:

    Buy the game brand new on launch week for £34.99 from online retailers.
    Or
    Buy a preowned game for £1 less and give bugger all to the developers.

    Hmm hard choice

  • nooneyouknow #98 1 year ago

    ^^^
    It's not that they buy it back for 24.99...
    It's the fact offers where they say get the newest new game for a tenner*

    * when you trade in last weeks new game

  • arcam #99 1 year ago

    CB.Gamestation is right, there is virtually no profit in new games.

    People here are always going on about how it's amazing that game prices have stayed relatively stable, but this is mostly because of retailer discounting. The prices publishers charge has been steadily increasing.

    If GAME want to be at all successful as a business, they need to get their profit from somewhere. They have two choices:

    - sell games at £49-54.99 - a look at the comments on here ("I can already get it cheaper than their pre-owned price!";) make it obvious that consumers aren't willing to pay that much

    - push pre-owned games, to subsidise the cost of new game discounting

    It's all very well calling it unfair, but GAME want to stay in business so this is what they have to do. Publishers could stop ripping off people with download prices too, but likewise - they are a business that needs to succeed, so they do what they have to.

  • simon50 #100 1 year ago

    I prefer my method of buying 90% of the games I want 6+ months after release. Cheap as chips. Only game worthy of my pre-order dosh is BF3, and that was only £20!

    GAME's main market must be clueless parents.
    Edited by simon50 at 04/03/11 @ 16:19

  • bobmar360 #101 1 year ago

    No one if forced to buy games from them whether new or pre-owned.

    eBay for 2nd hand games, and people pay the price they want too...

  • thepiedpiper #102 1 year ago

    nonsense

  • RobotRocker #103 1 year ago

    My point, stroppy little man, is that the games industry is a term that refers to all companies and individuals making games.

    It is not a single thinking entity, with any single specific agenda, and acting like it is makes you seem like a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

    Woooo. Ad hominem has been trotted out. Take a drink for anyone playing Eurogamer comment bingo.

    The games industry is a linked entity who has previously fucked consumers without remorse. I'm pretty sure you missed the record breaking fines nintendo got for monopolistic practices in the 90's. Or the fact that developers abandoned the fairplay campaign in 2003 when they got what they want in the reduction of licence fees and left the consumers to rot.

    In fact, I love this scheme. Going to pre-order a pre-owned game right away. Take my money Game.

    Seriously? You think the games of today have no production values? I know you're a Capcom fighting fan, and you're telling me the presentation in SSF4 and MVC3 are sub-par? That it didn't cost them a LOT of money upfront? It didn't cost them a lot of QA, balancing and marketing upfront? Really?

    To be fair to Capcom, they seem to be one of the companies this gen who try to make value for money out of their games (In b4 DLC whiners). I had no problem sticking down the £30 for MvC3 (Buy at ASDA or Tesco, kids) and subsequent DLC. I will have no problem sticking the same down for Mortal Kombat as they are going to amazing lengths to stack that game with content. I will never have a problem buying games packed with content and features and actual effort going into the game as long as they are affordable.

    But if your telling me that game design isnt evolving beyond Brown McShooty with a six hour campaign (I'm not too interested in multi) for£40 lately, I have to laugh. Even more so when companies are delving into things like outright racism in the case of Homefront to sell these games. This practice needs to be strangled and the entire industry has to have a hard look at what they are selling and how much they sell it for.

  • Spence1115 #104 1 year ago

    @L0cky

    The charts aren't entirely based on sales, no. When a big release comes out, it'll go straight in at number 1 (unless its not the only big release of course). Also, it is changed based on offers. For example, when Call of Duty: Black Ops came out, an offer was put so you could buy Black Ops for £24.99 when you bought any chart title. However, every EA title was removed from the 20 place chart. Suddently FIFA 11, Medal of Honor, Battlefield Bad Company 2 etc were all out of the chart overnight. Reason we were given from our manager? EA have told us they refuse to let their games be part of that offer.

    But yeah, the charts are decided by the staff. If something sells out, we'd either move stuff up and shove something in at 20 (when its 20th, didn't really matter what we put in there) or just put something else believable in there to save the hassle. Same with the preowned chart, anything with 2 copies (which was fucking difficult with Wii and DS titles) that seemed decent enough could go in there, especially if we had preowned versions of new games in. All the chart has to be reasonable though, so over Christmas 2010 you wouldn't see something like Resistance 2 popping up in the top 10 under any condition. Would be new titles that were expensive and that had lots of stock.

    Thank fuck I don't work there now. I hated having to offer preowned at tills, or Gamecare for consoles (hence why I only bothered with Kinect, since it was cheap and yeah, I could see kids getting dumb and knocking it off of shelves and breaking it), but didn't have a choice as if we didn't we had little chance of keeping our jobs. If anyones wondering, no-one in GAME gets commission on anything. There were competitions in stores for getting the most preorders on Black Ops/Kinect, but thats it, and usually that would be for the store as a whole to get the most and win money for a night out etc. But no commission, just minimum wage. Didn't mind working there at the time but the whole 'rental' thing and now this? I would have walked out on the day I was told about this.

  • Ryze #105 1 year ago

    Publishers - cut GAME out of your retail plans, and you'll get my full support in your endeavour.

  • Vedfolner #106 1 year ago

    Nice initiative GAME, that will teach the publishers to use their creepy, little vouchers. I will just trade something in and get the game a bit cheaper. Good stuff.

  • stuntmaster #107 1 year ago

    the future is preowned pubes

  • chubster2010 #108 1 year ago

    I wonder when we'll be able to pre-order pre-owned-pre-owned games?

    And pre-order pre-owned pre-owned pre-owned pre-owned games?

    And pre-order pre-owned pre-owned pre-owned pre-owned pre-owned games?

    It's like Gillette keeping adding extra blades to its razors innit?
    Edited by chubster2010 at 04/03/11 @ 16:53

  • Captain_Jono #109 1 year ago

    What’s the point in pre-ordering a second hand game? The whole point of placing a pre-order is to get the game on launch day. If you’re having to wait a week you might as well not bother and wait for the review scores!

  • makememoo #110 1 year ago

    It's all very well calling it unfair, but GAME want to stay in business so this is what they have to do

    They could start by not running 3+ shops within 5 mins walk of each other in large towns and by trimming down the number of people who stand around doing nothing in say their Reading Oracle store when it is empty 90% of the day.

    That way they might be able to keep their prices at a level where they will actually have customers to stay alive off.

  • playgen #111 1 year ago

    But can I pre-order a second hand Playstation 4 yet?

  • Ranger101 #112 1 year ago

    @RobotRocker - how can you, as a niche genre fan, be so short sighted as to dismiss Multiplayer FPS's. The innovations in MP FPS are as valid as the 'S' in SSF4. MW2, BC2 and even certain elements of BLOPS engage a far larger audience's fancy than those of us who know what an FADC is.

    Homefront is pretty full of innovation in the MP arena, despite your objection to it's marketing.

  • kangarootoo #113 1 year ago

    @RobotRocker

    Quite right about the ad hominem, but I thought it was funny, and that is more important to me right now :)


    "The games industry is a linked entity"

    Reeeeally.

    You know, and I know, and everyone reading this knows that "linked entity" means nothing but nothing at all. You said something daft, but you don't want to admit it, so you write some made-up toy-word nonsense that still includes the word entity in the hope that you can switch tracks without appearing to do so.

    The emperor is wearing no clothes.


    Its not a race you know, if you need more time to think before writing something, by all means take it.

  • dingogsxr #114 1 year ago

    Bye game, cant say its been a pleasure having my eyes been taken out!

  • FladgeMangle #115 1 year ago

    I think RobotRocker is channeling the spirit of the Rev...

  • kangarootoo #116 1 year ago

    @FladgeMangle

    Strangely, the earlier (some might say say ironic) ad hominem comment "if you think XYZ, you are deluded" reminded me a lot of SC as well.

  • LetsGo #117 1 year ago

    Wow.... some of you guys!

    This wont destroy the industry, the same was said when steam launched!

    Rightly or wrongly game are just trying to earn a living. As publishers up the digital downloads game get sod all so they need to do something before they die.

    Publishers hate 2nd hand cos they are greedy.
    Edited by LetsGo at 04/03/11 @ 17:44

  • M_of_the_sys #118 1 year ago

    "I think RobotRocker is channeling the spirit of the Rev..."

    Not enough sweary words.
    Edited by M_of_the_sys at 04/03/11 @ 17:37

  • callum9999 #119 1 year ago

    The games industry is the only one where I've seen it's customers (i.e. gamers) get so upset about second hand sales hurting their precious game studios. Not even apple fans!

    No-one moans about second hand cars, no-one moans about second hand books, cds and dvds yet if you buy a second hand game you seem to be personally responsible for an inevitable collapse of the gaming industry...

    If people want to see their old games, they can. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it - every other sector has to put up with it and so should the game industry.

    Yes, it's more prominent with games as there are sections in shops for them, but thats just down to the nature of the product. It's a tiny box that sells for a large amount of money, therefore it's economical for shops to give over space to them as they a) don't take up much room and b) sell for large amounts.
    Edited by callum9999 at 04/03/11 @ 17:47

  • goatjugsoup #120 1 year ago

    Maybe the publishers should get together and open their own retail store, I bet they wouldn't be so pissy about preowned sales if they were the ones ripping people off on them.

  • Peter_LIAR_Molyneux #121 1 year ago

    What most people here seem to forget is that GAME is making big money on second hand sales because gamers aren't willing to fork over what the publishers are charging for full priced games at release. Publishers must adapt to marketplace conditions instead of yelling shenanigans like they have been these past few years.

    If consumers have voted with their wallets by not buying £40 games and instead are buying them for £30 used, then make an adjustment. Is watching GAME sell your game for £30 making you any money? No. If you sold your game for £30 then you could potentially get that customer to buy your new game, thus getting some profit instead of stubbornly sticking to £40 or whatever it is at launch.

    Meet consumers halfway instead of complaining about retailers and retaliating on consumers. Oh, and quit offering GAME, Gamestop, etc. these fucking preorder bonuses to drive customers to their shops if you don't like the way they conduct business. You asshole publishers are feeding into the very thing you constantly go off on. Any game that locks out content from paying customers on release day unless you preorder it is a game that I will never, ever buy new (Dragon Age 2 looking at you. And pretty much any EA game).
    Edited by Peter_LIAR_Molyneux at 04/03/11 @ 19:22

  • callum9999 #122 1 year ago

    beemoh - I have no issues with the games companies doing this. Their sole purpose is to generate money, I don't blame them.

    The thing I was complaining about is people who have no connection with those gaming companies constantly moaning on here about second hand sales.

  • Ravenger #123 1 year ago

    No-one moans about second hand books and DVDs because they're not sold in direct competition with new stock by high street retailers.

    You can't buy second hand books, DVDs or blu-rays at HMV. Waterstones don't sell second hand books. Asda don't sell second hand anything, except games.

    Imagine going into HMV and having to hunt for a new copy of blu-ray box set you want because most of the store is given over to second hand stock, and it's only the top 10 chart they have new in any quantity. Imagine that after you manage to find the blu-ray you take it to the counter and the sales assistant keeps pushing you to buy the second hand version for a quid less, then when you stand your ground he reminds you that you can trade in all your old blu-rays if you want.

    Ludicrous? That's the shopping experience you get from one of the glorified high street pawn - sorry, game - shops.

  • coolbritannia #124 1 year ago

    Everyones picked their side........2011, the year of the great GAME forum war

  • Waffleaber #125 1 year ago

    I don't tend to buy preowned games but i'm glad the market exists otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get £21 trade in for Pokemon Soul Silver earlier for Pokemon White.

  • matpsp #126 1 year ago

    You're all missing the point. Game are massive, publishers know this. How do you expect the game industry to survive on download only? What are you day one sales going to be? Game and other retailers guarantee a day one sales figure. Supermarkets have started selling games, this guarantees the developer a day one revenue. How can a developer know what demand there is for a particular game if all they're doing is relying on someone to download that game. It aint gonna happen people. Boxed items are here to stay and Game know this, why else do you think they can pull this stunt off. Game seem to be trying to take advantage of the current financial climate, thinking people want to spend money on pre owned rather than new and people will. For every one person on here saying they only buy from the net there are 10 others that shop on the high street.

  • Soton4084 #127 1 year ago

    Game really aren't doing themselves any favours here. I've never had an issue with older preowned games, but what Game are doing here is just wrong. I used to have some sympathy for the company, but this new initiative is just plain greed.

  • KayTannee #128 1 year ago

    Here's an idea game, if you want to make your company more profitable. Shut some of your stores, who needs 3 Game stores on 1 street?

  • KayTannee #129 1 year ago

    @matpsp
    "How do you expect the game industry to survive on download only? "

    Well, Valve seem to be doing pretty well out of it, I know they're not download only but it doesn't appear to hurt thier figures.

    "What are you day one sales going to be? Game and other retailers guarantee a day one sales figure"

    And download doesn't? People can still download on day 1 and can still preorder download games (go look at steam)

    I think your missing the point

    - download removes the ability for resale, meaning games companies get money for each sale
    - download removes the need to manufacture discs, which is costly, especially if you over manufacture the desired quantity or under manufacture.
    - retail the games companies get somewhere like 20% of value of the game, download they get somewhere more like 80%, if valve/microsoft and you run the download service you get 100%.
    - it requires an internet connection and makes it harder to pirate games

    I think there is some pretty big incentive for publishers to go download only. And I would say its only a matter of time.

  • Marshall2008 #130 1 year ago

    Get them a week late brand new in ASDA for £25

  • callum9999 #131 1 year ago

    Ravenger - Game have a large amount of pre-owned games because people want pre-owned games - full stop. They don't just stock the shelves for no reason of stuff that isn't going to sell.

    If there was a big market for second hand blurays, HMV would be doing the same with them. You think they are just do preowned games out of spite to the games developers?

    It's all common sense - DVDs etc cost a fraction of what games cost. The more expensive something is, the more likely you will buy it preowned.

  • callum9999 #132 1 year ago

    Ravenger - Game have a large amount of pre-owned games because people want pre-owned games - full stop. They don't just stock the shelves for no reason of stuff that isn't going to sell.

    If there was a big market for second hand blurays, HMV would be doing the same with them. You think they are just do preowned games out of spite to the games developers?

    It's all common sense - DVDs etc cost a fraction of what games cost. The more expensive something is, the more likely you will buy it preowned.

  • apoc_reg #133 1 year ago

    I just dont get why people do this.... if games are your passion support them and pay the extra fiver!

  • Murton #134 1 year ago

    @kaytannee - and what if only 1000 people download your game? How does that compare to a plethero of retail stores ordering in excess of 100,000 between them?

    Publishers need retailers, retailers however do not need publishers as long as they can continue to stimulate and create a pre-owned market. GAME are setting up the conditions to really only need a single run of titles per store, they can then live off of the trade-ins and order the odd half dozen copies if something completely sells out. This is why I predicted publishers increasing wholesale prices to claw back some of their initial revenue, of course that'll mean games are more expensive and make pre-owned even more attractive and therefore lucrative. Publishers simply can't win this fight, which is where Online Pass comes in.

    I don't do pre-owned on principle, not so much because it's bad for publishers/developers but I believe it's bad on consumers. Guys buy new games for 40 quid, trade them back for 25 (often less) and they're then resold for 35, it's a con and I want no part of it. It's a personal choice obviously but it's one I'm happy with, some of my friends are the same and others think we're mad for holding onto games we completed in 2007 and are never going to play again, but we like our collections and we intend to keep them.

  • callum9999 #135 1 year ago

    apoc_reg - I doubt many people who play games have it as their "passion". And what's passion got to do with paying more than you need to anyway?

  • Ashcroft #136 1 year ago

    Why, other than the obvious brain damage, do people compare used games to other used items?

    If you go to HMV, do they have the used DVDs and CDs right next to the new ones? With big signs encouraging you to get them instead? Do you think the film and music industry would be happy if they did the same things? No other media has the same kind of aggressive used market as games. And of course, other media has more varied income. There's no money from live gigs in games, or cinema tickets. Games have one revenue source, and the primary sellers are trying to take too big a slice. If I was a publisher I'd immediately pull everything from Game.

  • L0cky #137 1 year ago

    @Murton "and what if only 1000 people download your game? How does that compare to a plethero of retail stores ordering in excess of 100,000 between them?"

    If the retail stores bought 100,000 of your games and failed to sell 99,000 of them, they sure as shit won't be buying any more.

    If digital was the only distribution (and I'm not saying it should be), and you only sell 1000 games when you were aiming to sell much more, then it's simply a failed project. It doesn't matter how you set the industry up, a crap game is a crap game.

  • fr05t #138 1 year ago

    how can you pre-order something that there not garenteed to get?

  • TheNinkyNonk #139 1 year ago

    In other news, Mass Effect 3 is on PSN for £47.99.

    Hats off to that sterling effort at tempting consumers away from boxed sales.
    Edited by TheNinkyNonk at 05/03/11 @ 08:46

  • Snaggletooth #140 1 year ago

    some idiot must be buying these games.... stop it.

    Can't say as I blame Game though....they know they are screwed and the end is nigh.. they're just trying to make hay while the sun shines. The owners / share holders are probably pushing for a last flurry of profit so they can retire in the sun.

    But I don't support it,, the last game I bought in Game was MDK............ lol. Now that was an awesome game...a modern sequel please...anyone.

  • bebox2010 #141 1 year ago

    Who the fuck pre-orders from GAME anyway?

  • actionfitz #142 1 year ago

    i never trade games in.
    That said, I rarely buy games that are such poor value that i would want rid of them after a week.

    If we are talking about a mediocre game with a short campaign and no multiplayer... i just rent those.
    I rarely buy pre-owned either, the only exception would be an old game that isn't for sale new in any shops and isn't priced at £3 lower than the new version.
    I support the content creators where and when i can.
    you should too.
    its not about bigger profits for developers, its about making a high enough margin that they can afford to do a sequel etc.

  • pesser #143 1 year ago

    SUCK MY NUTS GAME

  • azic #144 1 year ago

    I fear the end is nigh for Game.
    The other side of the coin is, perhaps we as consumers need to understand that PRE-OWNED games do have higher values.
    I just would not pay £4.00 less for a second hand game, that could of been used as a Coaster.

    I wont pay more than £25.00 for a pre-owned game.

  • GreyBeard #145 1 year ago

    GAME's business is suffering because there's so much competition against them now in the retail sector, not because the "industry" is screwing them over.

    They didn't expand so rapidly in the first place because it was inherently a bad business to get into! They are offering what they are because, in a nutshell, they are going the way of the dinosaurs.

    On the retail front there's the combination of online sellers and supermarket chains draining their business, and the rise of digital distribution with all its unique benefits and draw-backs is a whole other level of competition... then of course there's rise of phone and browser-based gaming, which is different, but still competes for the same leisure-time money.

    However what they are doing is so blatantly "biting the hand that feeds", its just out of order.

  • Phishfood #146 1 year ago

    I'm not going to read through all 150 comments but I'm sure someone has already said what I'm thinking

    'This is getting rediculous'

  • Syrette #147 1 year ago

    Early April Fools, right?

  • wanksta10 #148 1 year ago

    I don't agree with what game are doing, it is simple theft in the corporate field, publisher passes product to retailer who then say ye thanks and 1 week later feck them up the ass by passing off what is there's as purely their own through the taking of 100% profits.

    on the other hand, game did sell mass effect 2 brand new for £5 in bham which i snapped up, so no hard feelings ay
    Edited by wanksta10 at 05/03/11 @ 19:49

  • SHPanda #149 1 year ago

    How can they guarantee they'll have enough Pre-owned copies to fulfill orders?

  • L0cky #150 1 year ago

    If they don't, they'll just fulfill with the new ones. They're going to get them back anyway.

  • SomethingOriginal #151 1 year ago

    I personally think that publishers and developers must share some of the blame for the rise of the pre-owned market. The discussions related to second hand DVD's and CD's made me ask why I don't buy second hand movies etc. or sell them on. I keep my movies because each one is in itself a unique item - even a movie sequel will add to the previous movie in some way and a new CD album will usually be totally different from the previous one. Games have become disposable; when you buy COD you know in a year's time a new version will come out and you will (probably) never touch the original again.

    The same applies to most (not all admittedly) games and their sequels; once the latest version comes out there is usually no reason to hold on to the previous iteration. If you don't particularly like the multiplayer component of any given game, this effectively means after playing through once chances are you won't need to play it again - hence an almost instant second hand market supply. Until games developers and publishers themselves give us an incentive to hold onto games, perhaps with stories that resonate in the same way as movies / books that make you want to experience it again or some other reason to want to keep it, people will continue to treat them as disposable items - and regardless of what us informed gamers think, the mainstream consumer will continue to buy pre-owned simply as it is cheaper.

    You simply can't blame Game for trying to make money out of the situation with ideas like this without acknowledging that an industry that recycles so much content and repackages it as "new" every year or two has devalued its own products to the point where so many new game buyers actually almost just kind of "rent" them - particularly as buying new each time costs so much.

    Rant over...
    Edited by SomethingOriginal at 06/03/11 @ 11:54

  • Grayvern #152 1 year ago

    Just because you personally don't replay games does not mean other's don't, personally I very rarely replay or re-watch anything period, and yet I know many who re-play loads of games.

    It's also true to say this of direct videogame sequels but that's not a bad thing that's because videogame sequels are often better mechanically making playing older versions almost physically painful.

    Finally as to the new practice it feels really flagrant.

    Edited by Grayvern at 06/03/11 @ 12:15

  • AphoticCosmos #153 1 year ago

    So why not just buy it on Steam?

  • blarty #154 1 year ago

    you're never saving £16 anyway, nearly all retailers drop it to £40 near enough, so you're only saving £6....

    and as for killing this generation.... two words - license keys....

  • trooperdx3117 #155 1 year ago

    And this is why I usually only buy from steam now, at least there I can be pretty much assured that developers are getting the money due to them

  • SomethingOriginal #156 1 year ago

    @Grayvern

    I do replay games, in fact I rarely trade at all. If Game are confident that they can honour pre owned pre-orders however, there would appear to be a great deal of people who do seem happy to buy and trade soon after purchasing. Publishers obviously consider the amount of revenue lost valuable enough to try and put off second hand purchases with online passes etc. but this approach only tries to deal with demand, something which to my knowledge the film and music business have never felt the need to try.

    My question is why are publishers / developers not trying to deal with supply? What is it about games that makes so many people happy to trade in their new copy so quickly? If they could figure this out, maybe the second hand market would be less of an issue.
    Edited by SomethingOriginal at 07/03/11 @ 00:07

  • RFturrican #157 1 year ago

    With this kind of nonsense, you'd be fooled for thinking they've employed Bobby Kotick as their CEO....

  • sjmlondon #158 1 year ago

    It just spacks of desperation on behalf of Game but perhaps it is representative of the state of the games market in the current economy. The last time I went into Game, I remember it being very tatty, with loads of overpriced second hand games (each with bonus pube) dumped in boxes. Might as well have been a jumble sale. With regards to their latest offer, pre-ordering second hand titles from game to save a few quid. Pah. Talk about devaluing a brand. No thank you.

    These days I rent most of my games with a monthly account with Lovefilm, far cheaper and makes sense as like most people I have no interest replaying most games once I've completed them and got the achievements. On the odd occasion I buy a AAA title that I know I will get value from and perhaps has an entended life due to multiplayer. Also everyone knows the vast majority of new releases are down to just over £20 within a matter of weeks on amazon.co.uk or play.com. You get a brand new copy together with whatever online pass/code you need included.

    I can see Game disappearing from the high street within a few years and becoming just an online presence and they've got no one to blame apart from themselves.

  • dfish #159 1 year ago

    This is tantamount to signing your own death warrant. What publishers are going to put up with this. I am not looking forward to digital only distribution but actions like this make it inevitable.