Atari: second hand game sales hurt industry, outlines plans to compensate

Atari mentioned during the Atari Live event in London yesterday that second hand selling of video games has had a very negative impact on the games industry. “Very Painful,” I think his exact words were. So what are they going to do about it? Find out in the full article.

Atari mentioned during the Atari Live event in London yesterday that second hand selling of video games has had a very negative impact on the games industry.

“Obviously, it has economically been extremely painful for the industry… the publishers don’t benefit,” said Atari CEO David Gardner.

Mind you, he isn’t recriminating game resellers. He explained that Atari understands that second hand sales represent the consumer’s choice and that the onus is upon them to make their fresh products more attractive than resold ones. To that end, Atari intends to bulk up their game’s online features, social functions, services, and extra content.

“The disc in the box becomes only one part of the experience. As that experience grows then it  [second hand selling] becomes not such a problem,” commented Gardner.

Given the success they’ve enjoyed with Neverwinter Nights, some of whose MUDs are still alive and kicking, Atari’s stance on this matter is hardly a surprise.

• GameStop: limiting second hand game sales hurts consumers
• Atari to become ‘just an online company’ in five years

Via Games Industry