More retail stores are offering game trade-in service. The trend can be hurtful to many game developers for couple reasons. People most likely to not buy newer games as they can trade in their older games for newer one at unbeatable prices or even better. Trading in older games at certain stores is a good opportunity for collecting game credits as a way to build up points for buying new games at cheaper prices. Gamefly allows people to rent game at monthly subscription with unlimited plays and unlimited choices. More and more, owning a physical copy of a game is not that important as it once was.
The selling of physical game copies may not be able to turn huge profit as the future may focus on service and user experience when renting or buying a game. Many game developers may have to publish their games online; they may use subscription model as a way of distributing their games and making money. Selling games in game stores may no longer be effective and riskier.
Competition is heating up in the game market! Target has just joined the game by launching a used game trade-in service. The story goes that by the end of 2010, Target may have at least 850 locations throughout the nation for people to trade in used games. Other retail stores may eventually jump on this bandwagon!
The new distribution methods of games are easier for some people, but as the way the game market is heading, it will be a fierce battle field! Some people still like the idea of owning physical game copies, and these people may find themselves dwindling slowly in numbers. The changes in the distribution of games can even modify the way the game developers create their games. The developers may concentrate on creating games that are easy and fast to be pushed onto online, and so newer games may have more online contents and online interactions and the style may resemble MMORPG with social elements and the likes. Source.
Vinh Nguyen
