Antiquing

There are very few things that Americans can buy pre-owned in an organized, institutionalized fashion. For most pre-owned consumer goods – like toilets or kegerators or bunny rabbits, we have to turn to Craig's List or Ebay or just "know a guy."

There are a few exceptions.

Used cars obviously sell like lemonade in summer. It seems like anybody (including Tim) will sell used cars, but there are also established businesses that deal in just such an economy.

I would argue used collectibles are in a similar situation, though much of that business has already moved online, like sports memorabilia, comic books, and lunch boxes. There are still quite a few antique stores though.

One of the most recent additions to the institutionalized trade-in markets is the video game market. Since stores like Buy-Rite have gone out of business, GameStop/EB Games have picked up the slack selling used, traded-in games to customers light on cash or just late to the game (literally and figuratively).

According to some people on the non-retail side of the industry, the trade-in market is a major problem for video gaming. Andrew Oliver of Blitz Games called it a bigger problem for console gaming that piracy, which makes sense in a discussion of scale, but at least he's seeing some money from the trade-in market.

Another pre-owned games detractor – and one with a bit more sway – is publishing giant EA. In fact, the stink right now is caused by EA Sports' move to include a one-time-use online multiplayer pass with all new games. Without said pass, gamers will have to spend $10 in Microsoft Points (or whatever) to get into the online portions of the games.

EA's CEO argues that the extra $10 pays for additional value by allowing EA's developers to work on games for longer and after they've gone "gold". This argument seems spurious in light of the fact that the same value is included for free with new versions of the game. If there were only new versions of the game, then EA wouldn't receive this additional revenue but would presumably be under similarly trending market demands to provide post-ship support.

Regardless of their logic, EA is already going through with this measure, and it seems the gaming industry has already changed. Microtransactions and up-sells are the future.

For now, EA's online pass is free – or as I like to call it, included – with new game purchases, but the industry may have already started down a slippery slope towards 20-ounce Cokes that cost more than two liters.

Quote of the Week:

"I don't know who the fuck is going to read rants from two dudes who are nicknamed Benis and BISdom. Is B and B not more reasonable? Though the nicknames are definitely more eye-catching than B and B. Plus we probably don't want to confuse people with the title. Bed and Breakfast enthusiasts might be upset."

-Benis

Bryan and I decided to try out a new blog, which may or may not interest you. You can find it here, if you'd like.