Ok, let's be clear -- NONE of that information can be gleaned from the chart. The inability of people to understand statistics in this world never fails to astound me. How about this -- there are more used games out there from earlier in a console's lifespan. Earlier games from the 360 and PS3 would definitely drop, causing the whole curve to decline because there are that many more games.
How about this: More people selling used games on eBay = a drop in price ... you know, more supply, so the price goes down.
How about this: more access to used games at a reasonable price in retail causes less demand online.
There is no possible way to ascertain why the price dropped from that chart or the data provided. You'd need a much deeper study.
What's not clear is if this is a simple deviation from the 2007 pattern caused by the sagging economy or if it was due to the addition of online gaming. Need more data :(
If more gamers are holding onto quality titles longer, that would RAISE prices of games sold, not necessarily lower them. My guess is that there have been a LOT of great games in the past 2 years and that because of this, you're seeing more competition for used gaming dollars.
I doubt that PC developers have ever been as effected by the used games market as console developers, (most game stores sell mainly console games) but I would bet that digital distribution networks like the almighty Steam have driven down the rates a bit.
likely due the sale prices on games this year. In past years it's usual to see prices drop on poor performing games and of course, PC games, but never on well performing console games. They always stay around 60$, but this year titles like the force unleashed moved down to 40$ rather quickly. Combine that with the fact I was able to get more than a few games like Gears2 for about 50$ AT LAUNCH this year (in my mind that's unheard of) it's not surprising that the used market is having troubles.
@MrFatalistic: This is all kockon effects of the global economic crysis although I would have though sales of used games would have risen sharply. We'll more than likely see that trend begin to appear in the coming months.
Brian, I'd like to see some of this "anecdotal evidence" that gamers are holding on to games longer than they used to. Not saying it's not true - even GTA IV had multiplayer, increasing replay value.
But you're making an argument that supply in the market has decreased, which would lead to an *increase* in prices. Even if supply was limited to crappy, low-value games, prices would still increase as crappy games (while not a perfect substitute for good games) are still significantly similar enough to see an increase in sales.
@Vavaylah: I don't think so. Lower price probably means higher competition is driving costs down, which most likely means there is higher volume of used titles up for sale than previously.
01/02/09
How about this: More people selling used games on eBay = a drop in price ... you know, more supply, so the price goes down.
How about this: more access to used games at a reasonable price in retail causes less demand online.
There is no possible way to ascertain why the price dropped from that chart or the data provided. You'd need a much deeper study.
01/02/09
01/02/09
01/02/09
01/02/09
01/02/09
01/02/09
Burn Gamestop employees burn
01/02/09
01/02/09
01/02/09
My spelling is terrible today for some reason.
01/02/09
But you're making an argument that supply in the market has decreased, which would lead to an *increase* in prices. Even if supply was limited to crappy, low-value games, prices would still increase as crappy games (while not a perfect substitute for good games) are still significantly similar enough to see an increase in sales.
01/02/09
01/02/09