Be Excellent To Each Other

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-a ... _id=5&ct=5


Interesting move. Can't see Activision and EA liking this too much!

Not sure how well it will work because practically all my customers prefer money to trade in. Still seems to work pretty well for CEX.

I can't imagine people preferring the Tesco service either. Still there may be ways I can exploit it..

Have to say, I don't trade in many games, but I really wouldn't want Tesco points for them, however, feel this may be aimed at parents with children.

The big publishers are starting to use today's gaming technology to crack down on 2nd hand games with the likes of EA charging people to "re-activate" the online modes of console games:

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2010/05/11/ ... ame-buyers

Aye, if it is an easily exploitable system, which wouldn't surprise me, then this could be excellent. At least at first.

Tesco's credit is only slightly less useful than real money, since I tend to eat food most days anyway.

I just like the fact that the quoted article has obviously been written by someone who doesn't have the faintest idea what a "computer game" is.

Indeed. And consider: Game's margin on trade-ins is huge. Tesco's traditional method of invading a new market is to undercut margins ruthlessly and exploit volume. I wouldn't be surprised if they set pretty high value on trade-ins, and quite steep discounts on resales.

Doesn't matter if the discounts on 2nd hand games adjust to match this new tactic (which they inevitably will). Suppose the re-activation fee is £7. Suppose a new game is £40. Suppose a second hand copy of the new game sells for £30. You still save £3 overall (or more if you didn't want the online multiplayer in the first place).

I have not had to pay for reactivation for EA games. Perhaps I am lucky.

No games that need it are out yet. It's a new thing.

Fair enough...as you were

I just keep all of my games. For generations* I've traded stuff in and regretted it. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 on Dreamcast and PS2, the original cardboard box Ico, etc. Idiocy.

*Console generations.

Game's fucked, innit?

I trade in games then regret it, but they're just sat there being unplayed. I don't know what to do for the best!

Trade them in, simply buy them back later (for less) if you want to play them again. It's not like it matters which DVD supplies your console with 1s and 0s.

Doesn't work so well with the likes of Ico or Panzer Dragoon Saga though..

I have this, somewhere, and all the postcards.

I think tescos doing second hand games is a GOOD THING, as it will mean that there are more beneath my £26 cut off point, so I might buy some. Why, only the other day I was looking at a copy of Assassin's Creed in Tesco which was £12.99 but in the end didn't go for it, as I've still got Oblivion (which is awesome), Mass Effect (which is dull as shit so far and I can't bring myself to progress any further) and The Darkness (rubbish) to get through. I did, however, whilst I was there discover that poussin is cheaper than chicken to eat and I think that one of them will feed two for a meal, which make me correct and maybe I should get some apologies from those that ever doubted me. Hopefully, Tesco will move into second hand cars as well, as MrsA might need a car soon and that's going to be another heated debate over who is correct and who wants to spend money. But anyway, where were we, second hand games, yes? I don't think Activision and EA will have much of a say as Tesco will say "Fuck you man, we're Tesco" and a lackey will say "Err, boss, they've got a point and they do buy loads of stuff from us" and the Boss will say "Shit, MaliA was once again correct, he should be King" and then EA and Activision will put subliminal messages in their games leading to a bloodless coup installing me as King and then MY WILL BE DONE!

MALIA HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST MORE SECOND HAND GAMES IS A GOOD THING? OUR EA AGENTS WILL VISIT YOU SHORTLY TO CORRECT YOU.

I tend to build up a load of games that just take up space and with me kidding myself that I will go back to them. Then every so often memories of marginal utility lectures kick in and I realise why I stopped playing them. No point boring myself with a game that I gave up on ages ago when I can trade them and put that money to something that I will potentially enjoy a lot more.

I therefore get ruthless and trade in a massive batch at the same time (£90 worth of stuff on Sunday - £25 more through getting Gamestation to pricematch CEX) so instead of trudging through more brown corridors in F.E.A.R. 2 or swinging myself into instadeath water in Bionic Commando I'm explodorising dams and ships in Split/Second.

We do our shopping at Tesco as well so this is very good news for me.

When I used to work for GAME they had a target of attaining 40% margin on all second hand games. This meant that if they paid £5 for a game they'd normally sell it for £9.99. (it wasn't an exact science but you know, that's GAME)

Tescos margins seem A LOT tighter than that so hopefully.. this will be another nail in the coffin of GAME!

I wonder if Gamestation will amend their policy to "We won't be beaten on Trade ins (except for by Tesco)"