If you’ve ever shopped in Gamestop you’ve probably dealt with this before. You come in, asking for a game that isn’t you hadn’t gotten around to picking up yet. Then you spend the next ten minutes trying to convince the guy working the counter that no, saving five dollars isn’t worth getting a used copy of the game. It’s a similar shtick in many retail stores. The poor chumps who work there are instructed to push certain products, deals or unnecessary warranties on any and all who enter.

A company memo was circulated instructing managers that their policy regarding pushing used copies of games sixty days after their release is being rescinded. This was apparently done in favor of better vendor relations. Though some in the industry say used game sales aren’t as much of a threat as some think, many publishers and developers aren’t terribly happy that potential revenue is going into the pockets of those who simply run a chain of retail stores instead of those who actually create the games.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime isn’t unique in his penchant for throwing down the gauntlet in interviews. Its a common practice amongst gaming executives and Reggie is joining the ranks of executives who have criticized the used game sales model. Unfortunately his arguments against the used games model are pretty thin.

“Describe another form of entertainment that has a vibrant used goods market,” says Fils-Aime. “Used books have never taken off. You don’t see businesses selling used music CDs or used DVDs. Why? The consumer likes having a brand-new experience and reliving it over and over again.” From a logical perspective the used games market ultimately hurts gamers since money that could go into hiring more staff and ultimately make for better games goes into lining the pockets of the retailers.

Ultimately though the used games industry thrives because games are very different than films, music or books. Used book stores often fail because of an unimpressive collection, especially if you live in an area with a good library system. Used music isn’t as common because the cheapest way to get an album in modern times is to download it or borrow a friend’s CD and put it on your computer. Rental chains like Blockbuster sell the excess copies of DVDs but Netflix makes having a wide range of films at home unnecessary.

Bungie may very well be one of the most successful studios in the gaming industry, but even then it is complaining about used game sales, commenting that it has hurt the studio.

"It’s hard to gauge the effect of used game sales on Halo, but I’m sure it’s big," said Marty O’Donnell, audio director. "Complaining about sales when you have a multi-million seller is somewhat difficult to justify, but it seems to me that the folks who create and publish a game shouldn’t stop receiving income from further sales."

O’Donnell noted that it will be more difficult for smaller titles to be successful in the future due tot his. However, he expressed his support for digital distribution, adding that everyone concerned will eventually “figure out a system that is good and fair for both the consumer and the creators of that content.”