Atari Speaks on Second-Hand Video Game Sales and the Industry

[PS3 News]

Various video game publishers have spoke out recently to either condone or criticize second-hand video game sales for eating into their profits.

Atari president Phil Harrison isn't worried though, as he says their future strategy is to make games that people will want to keep hold of stating: "it's no coincidence that the most valuable games, the one's that have the most lifetime as a game experience, are the one's that don't get resold, that don't get traded.

The games that have the embedded community, the embedded commerce, the extended, expandable experiences, are the one's that you would never want to trade, the one's you want to keep hold of. And that's perfectly in line with our future strategy so we're not that concerned about it," he said.

To quote: Speaking at the Atari Live event in London yesterday, the publisher said that to avoid games being sold on by consumers, the industry needs to offer more online features, whether adding extra content, social functions or financial services.

"Second hand game sales represent consumer choice and desire," said David Gardner, CEO of Atari.

"Obviously, it has economically been extremely painful for the industry... the publishers don't benefit.

"But as games change and they become more and more network centric, the disc in the box becomes only one part of the experience. As that experience grows then it becomes not such a problem," commented Gardner. More PlayStation 3 News...

[lonix81]

better than epic games strategy, make you pay to fight the boss

[sorceror]

Just like... y'know... books.