It was once very simple – when you bought a new video game, the value proposition was simple and easy to understand. For $50, or thereabouts, a buyer purchased a game cartridge (or disc) with a box and instructions (and other printed material). The game was presented as-is – it worked out of the box, it provided the content it had to offer, and that was it. It was easy as a consumer to make a buy decision – will this game offer me enough gameplay hours of enjoyment to be worthy of the money? Can I keep this game forever as part of my library? What is the resale value after 1 month, 6 months, 2 years?
Gaming Under Construction 0.01- The Changing Definition Of A Game Purchase