Should authors start selling “non-essential” chapters separately, with the customer’s name and credit card number stamped on the cover as a deterrent to resale?

It just seems like you’re stinging the customer for the actions of a retailer. When I buy I game I don’t want to have to figure out what random modules I need to play the game as it was intended to be played without accidentally buying crap like horse armor. The less fuss the better; the ideal system would be something the retailer had to mess with, not me.

CDs or DVDs have the same problem, that’s why you’ve got these 10-minute pointless “you can’t copy this or sell this and btw we own your soul” texts at the beginning of each DVD. Other than that it’s a question of scale. Used games weren’t an issue before the big retailers started actively pushing them over new games.

I don’t think it’s a question of being “entitled” to profit either — it’s simply a business reality. Current generation games are simply too expensive to produce under current circumstances, which is a huge part of why studios are closing left and right. Publishers and developers need to solve that problem in order to stay in business.

Besides, people act like the used games are people selling them to each others and noone making a profit… the reality of the situation is that GameStop and GAME are making billions off the used games market. What “entitles” them to that profit? I don’t think you can talk about “entitlement” in a capitalistic economy. This new model is something publishers need to do to be able to keep making games; I think it’s the best way it could be done for both parties. Retailers wont agree, naturally.

As for the car metaphor: if you buy a used car, it’s in used shape — not in new shape. How is that different from buying a used game and not getting it in “new” shape (missing some DLC that has been “used up”)?