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Why online activation is a good thing for us customers! 
Posted on May 20, 2010 at 11:56 AM.
I really don't understand why people are complaining in such a manner about this online activation thing. Guys are really thinking that all people are that dump? Do you really think that you will be the one paying more? Why? I don't get it. This is simple economics.

Supply and Demand is what governs the used game market. People will buy a game used if and only if he thinks that the value he gets from playing the game matches the amount in $ he is willing to pay for it. Now lets have a closer look at this. Given that the consumer is informed about that a game requires online activation if bought second hand (he needs to be made aware of either by the retail stuff selling the used game or by a note on the backcover of the game) he will only buy the used game, if it satisfies the criteria of being in his/her price range:

Price of used game + 5-10$ for online activation = actual Price for the used game

If the consumer is willing to pay this price he can buy the game, if not, he will not make the purchase.
However the market will regulate itself. The used game price will be discounted by the amount of costs from the online activation. That is common known theory in economics. So a game that now costs 49$ used will then become 44$ or 39$ in order for the retailer to make the sale. Again simple economics.

So in the end, its not the consumer paying more, its just a redistribution of who gets the money out of a used game transaction. You will not pay more. Why would you? It is your choice.
In the end the selfregulation of the used game market could be for the better for us customers. If the market discounts used games by the amount of the online activation people who do not want to play online will pay even less than it they would pay now.
Comments
# 1 boritter @ May 20
The issue is more complex than supply and demand.
What about Gamefly?
What about Blockbuster Gamepass?
What about letting a buddy borrow a game?
What about homes with multiple 360s?
 
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