In this economy, it’s hard to not buy that used game even if Gamestop marks down a chincy 5 dollars from the full price. The thing is, when you buy that used game with your hard-earned cash, it all goes to Gamestop. You might as well put on that eye patch and head to the Pirate Bay for all the good it’s doing the developers. I admit I may have exploited the magic of the internet in the past a time or two, but I actually do enjoy supporting the creators of my entertainment media. As a working adult, I would like choose to purchase games that send some money back to the developers that enlighten my life with all of this worthwhile entertainment. I’d rather it not be the monopolizing monolith that Gamestop has become.

But what can you do? It’s hard to blame them because their business plan is a perfect money-making machine that also aids budget conscious gamers. Which in this day in age is pretty much everyone. That is until one considers how it shortchanges the game makers themselves. Studios that are balancing on the edge of a sword can have their fate determined on sales that would have gone to them, but went to Gamestop. How many of your favorite games that never came to be got snuffed out because of this prevalent business model?
And what’s the cure?

Games like Left 4 Dead and Valkyria Chronicles saw ridiculous spikes in sales when they chopped their prices nearly in half. But if you started a trend where games saw these kind of price slashes it may create more new games sales across the board in your Best Buys and your Wal-Marts or what have you. Better to see half that dollar than zero cents due to a used game sale. The full $60 is a tall order for your avid gamer that enjoys a variety of titles.

Gamestop seems aware of this issue and seems to be attempting some form of damage control to at least attempt to appear concerned. But it would seem there will need to be some other trend shift to control the used-game monster that is only growing hungrier by the day.