I read something this morning.

Specifically, this.

In short, THQ has made it their policy to punish those who choose to buy their games used instead of new.

I'm well aware of the hatred developers have for the used game market, and I partially support them in their efforts to encourage people to buy new games. However, I do not support all developers in this endeavor, because frankly, most don't deserve it.

The theory is that if you buy new, you support the developers more because the money goes right to them instead of to the retailers, like used games do. Ergo, you should always buy new games because it supports the industry. This is only a half-true answer, because we as consumers have much more power here than you'd think, and I think we can use this to our advantage. This used/new system can become an avenue to finally push out bad game developers, and bring good developers to the forefront of the gaming world.

Part 1: The Rules of Buying in the New/Used Game Market

First of all, you shouldn't always buy new games. Why? Well, because most games (here comes the shocker) are NOT worth 60 bucks of your hard-earned money. Most games these days are barely worth buying, period. But there is a bigger reason here. If you buy a bad game new, then the developer gets money they didn't deserve. You end up feeling cheated, and they get their money. Pretty shit deal, huh?

So what do we do about it? Well, I, personally am already doing something about it. Ever since I made the egregious error of buying Crackdown 2, I've commited to a set of game-buying rules. I'll quickly outline this code, and then explain why you should adhere to it as well:

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1. Look at the good games you've kept over the years, and make a list of who developed them.

2. Go look up the games that each developer has made in their lifetime. Put the developers that have consistently performed well (Always made good games) on another list.

3. By now, you should have a list of good developers on your hand. Maybe it's only one or two, but they should be what you would consider "a sure thing". This list will determine which games you buy new.

4. When making all future game purchases, be sure to buy the games by these developers new, to support them directly, and give them your money so they can keep making good games.

5. Contrarily, for all games that are NOT made by the list of "Good" developers, play the waiting game. Wait for Metacritic to get a good, round sampling of reviews, and of course, read reviews that you trust. If you then think that the game is worth buying, check the developer. If the game is made by a typically "Bad" developer (One that has NOT consistently made good games), buy the game used. That way, you'll be supporting the retailer, but not the developer that needs to get their act together.

6. If a used game by a "Bad" developer actually ends up being good, as in something you've played and enjoyed a lot, then consider buying that developer's next game new. But again, it may have been a fluke, so go into it with just as much caution as you would a "Bad" developer's game.

6. If the developer is new, and doesn't really have a track-record to speak of, but gets positive reviews, then buy it new. You're supporting a small, new developer for making a good game, and everybody wins there.

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I hope that these weren't too confusing. The long and the short of it:

Buy games new from developers that you trust. Buy games used from developers that have not earned your trust, or have disappointed you in the past. Buy games new from new developers that are just starting out, but only if they have gotten the reviews to back it up.

Part 2: Application of the Rules

So, now that we have the basic rules down, lets apply this in the real world. I'll use myself as an example.

Using my list, I'll buy games new from Bungie, Bioware, id Software, Volition, Polyphony Studios, and Valve. Ususally, in fact, I'll buy these games first day, because they have such a good track-record of being good developers in my eyes. But if I don't feel totally confident, I'll wait for the reviews. If they're good, I'll of course, buy the game new.

However, on the contrary, I'm now going to look at all other games with a wary eye. Why? Because they aren't in my circle of gaming trust. Lets say, for instance, Call of Duty: Black Ops, which is coming out within a few months. The CoD franchise has let me down in the past, so I am going into Black Ops with a very, very critical eye. I'm not going to buy the game first-day, and I'll be waiting on the Metacritic reviews.

If it gets Universal Acclaim, I will look into getting the game used for a lowered price. But why would I buy the game used if I don't particularly trust the developer? Well, because I don't have to pay full price, and I'm not supporting the developer if the game turns out to be utter crap, despite getting good reviews. This part is important. By buying the game used, I'm supporting the retailer, but not the developer, and I'm getting the game at a discount. I won't feel cheated by the developer if the game ends up being bad, because that money did not go to the developer. If the game ends up being a keeper, I might consider buying the studio's next game new.

But wait, some new game has caught my eye! I go check the developer out, and discover that this is their very first game. "Well!" I say confidently, with monocle in-eye and pipe in-hand, the other hand grasping the inside of my evening dinner vest, "Let's wait for the reviews!" (Here's the part where I puff on the pipe and adjust the monocle).

If the game happens to get very good reviews, I look into getting it new. Why new? Well, because if the developer is making a good game, support them financially! New developers need money more than anyone else, and the only way for them to get at your wallet is through a new-game purchase.

See how the system works?

I guarantee that if you use this system, you'll feel much better about your game purchases in the future, and the more people use this system, the more we'll see bad game developers get pushed out of the market, and the more we'll see good developers pushed to the forefront.

But there is one last question left to be answered: Why go through ALL of this? Why bother? Because, friends, if we all commit to this list of guidelines, it means we'll get better games in the long run.

And we all know how much we need that right now.

I really hope you all start using, or at least consider, this method of purchasing games.

Until next time, keep it real, gamers.