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I'm with Rob on this one, buying a game used, even if only for a ten dollar discount does not hurt the developers in the least bit.  I have purchased the majority of my games used, but because of several of those used purchases I have also bought their sequels new due to the simplicity of preorder and the amount of hassle it would take to find a used copy.  Saving money is important, too.  Like Keith said, when I go to a GameStop on a limited budget, I usually have two choices: buy the game new, or buy the game used and eat lunch that day too.  It's nothing big, but my appetite or what I will be doing later in the day could affect my decision.  I tend to buy new copies during the first few months of release, and then after that I buy used.  The reason why? I enjoy having the complete package with everything included.  I don't know why but I prefer my games to have the right case, cover and user's manual.  And most times when I buy a used game, it is in preparation of a sequel that's coming out(I did this with Assassin's Creed and ended up buying the collectors edition at midnight launch), or I have heard mixed reviews about the game do not want to potentially waste a decent sum of money with a non returnable game that I won't enjoy(I did this with Star Wars: Force Unleashed, although a great game, I personally do not feel that an 8 hour game is worth 40$), or simply because the game is so old that finding a new copy is harder than an old one which itself can oftentimes be rare(Folklore). 

 

But going back to my argument that used games do not hurt the developer.  Yes, Gamestop annoyingly states they have a used copy whenever you buy a new game, but that is for a simple reason, it makes GameStop more money.  But you also have to remember that Gamestop did not steal or magically make these copies up, they were purchased new once.  The fact that someone did not enjoy the game or just has no use for games they have finished is the reason why it was there.  When they return the game, the developers don't shell out money back, GameStop does.  At this point the Developer has sold, let's say, 100 copies, but only 99 are being used by their original purchasers.  Now John Doe comes in and buys a used copy of the game, now the developers have sold 100 copies and (guess what?) 100 people are using the game.  The only real difference is that GameStop makes more money off the same copy.  +60$ on the original purchase, then -35$ or so dollars when the person returns the game, and finally +55$ when someone buys the game used (or +50 if they have an EDGE card, which requires an annual subscription anyways), making for a total cost of 80$ per used copy sold or 75$ from the people who are paying 15$ yearly for EDGE membership.  So when the clerk asks you if you want to buy a used copy, it's simply because it will make the store more money.  Also keep in mind that some copies get returned multiple times.

 

 So by making claims that the act of buying a new game is "Cheating" is simply pathetic, only one household can actively use their product at a time, which is pretty much what the game was intended for, right? Attacking used game buyers seems like the game developers are saying that they don't care if you didn't enjoy their game, deal with it, and don't pass it on.  When you think about it, GameStop is a middle man between an older cousin and younger cousins.  I say this because I have played through several games and find that I do not approve of the rates GameStop offers to buy back games, so I tend to hold onto them even though I'm not using them anymore.  After a few months usually a younger cousin of mine or even sometimes just a friend will come over and see that I have Video Game X, and play it for a while, usually if they like it, I just let them have it (borrow indefinitely) since I have no use for it anymore.  There is no moral difference between this and GameStop's practices.  Simply GameStop charges a service fee to pass on the enjoyment of the game to someone else.  EA and THQ's project 10$ and 5$ are just not good ideas when this is considered.  ("I have to pay 10 bucks to play the game my [cousin/uncle/friend] gave me?!?")

 

Also, and I know this is getting long winded so I'm just about finished, but consider a household with more than one PS3 or 360?  As of now, one family can enjoy one copy of any game, even downloadable ones as far as PS3 and Steam are concerned(I don't have a 360, so i don't know the XBLA regulations), on two machines if they have them.  Example, a buddy of mine has a 360, and so does his brother, and they live in the same house.  They have Modern Warfare 2, Bad Company 2 and Halo 3 among others.  They can both play at the same time and when they feel like playing other games, they can just swap discs.  If EA and THQ could dictate the rules for all games then whenever they wanted to play MW2 BC2 or Halo 3, they'd have to switch 360s or Heaven forbid if one wanted to play BC2 while the other wanted to play Halo, because they might be 'locked' to the same 360.  With Project 10$ and other such gimmicks, they would have to pay an additional 10$ on top of the retail price in order to enjoy a game on both machines in the Same House!! The same applies to letting a friend borrow a game. I hope this helped clear some stuff up...