THQ doesn’t despise used games

Yesterday (August 23, 2010) we reported on THQ’s creative director Cory Ledesma’s comments on used game sales. Ledesma said THQ didn’t care about consumers who buy used games because the process cheats THQ out of a profit. Ledesma’s words raised a bit of a ruckus online as it appeared THQ wanted to punish customers who buy used. Danny Bilson, THQ’s head of core games, provided damage control against Ledesma statements while speaking to Eurogamer.

Bilson wanted to make it clear THQ “doesn’t want to punish the used gamer.” Bilson spoke very realistically about the impact of used games on developers. Simply put, if profits from games aren’t going towards the people who produce them, it becomes difficult for publishers to fund development.

THQ decided to charge a one-time $10 fee for used copies of Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 to play online. New copies will contain a code that will grant free access to its online features and provide additional downloadable content.

Bilson doesn’t want gamers to see the online code as a “get out of jail free card.” He points out the $10 online unlock code also contains the downloadable content new copies receive.

THQ is trying to create an experience that works for everyone, but used game sales are definitely an issue for the company. Bilson said he wants THQ to make titles with $30-$50 million budgets. If THQ doesn’t come up with ways to encourage consumers to buy new games, big budget games become exceedingly difficult to make.

Via [Eurogamer] Read [MCV]