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2012-01-30 at 15:21

Locally made Facebook app promises to be a game changer

By Jeff Labine, tbnewswatch.com
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A local computer programmer has cut out the middleman when it comes to trading video games.

Chris Armstrong has had the idea of developing an online application that allows gamers to trade games for a few years. He finally realized his idea this month when he posted the custom-made application on Facebook called SwitchDitch.

The application allows anyone to post used video games online. 

Armstrong, who took computer programming at Queen’s University, said he wanted to offer gamers a chance to trade their games without having to go to retail stores. He said gamers can share what games they have with either their friends or share with the entire city.

“I noticed a lot of gamers are being ripped off when they end up selling their games secondhand,” Armstrong said.

“Rather than sell your game for a fraction of what it’s worth, you can trade a game that you may have paid $60 for a game someone else paid $60 for.

“That way people get to realize the fair market value of their game collections.”

He said his application will stand out from other online options – like EBay and Kijiji – because it removes any hassle of haggling over the price.  

“Gamers don’t really want money they just want to play more games,” he said. “I think this way I’m sort of cutting out the middleman.”

He added that only recently released games on the latest consoles will be posted at this time.

 

Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter: @Labine_reporter

Click here to report a typo or error

Tbnewswatch.com(4)

Comments

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Sui Generis says:
I think it's a great idea, coming from a family of gamers. However, a search on Facebook for this app turned up no results.

And, if the rumors are correct, the next step on the 360 will be to disable the use of second hand games, either by hard coding a game to a gamer account or per console, making it impossible to use second hand games. It's already started, as anyone who's used Battlefield 3 will have noticed. (2nd hand buyers had to use purchased microsoft points in order to play online)
1/30/2012 5:41:14 PM
SwitchDitch says:
Hi Sui Generis,
The article has a typo at the moment, sorry you couldn't find it. The app is actually called "SwitchDitch" (without the space). A search on Facebook for SwitchDitch should turn up results. If it still doesn't turn up please post again and let me know.

You can also find it at www.switchditch.com

Thanks for trying it out. Please tell your family and friends about it. The more people that use SwitchDitch, the more demand there will be for consoles to continue to allow used games to be played.
1/30/2012 9:23:39 PM
panzerIV says:
Yeah, many companies are adding a code which is only good once to use features like online play. I know that when purchasing a number of used games, I've been warned that the code might not work and went and purchased new.

I guess gaming companies aren't making enough money. Didn't the new COD make like 800 million in the first weekend or something. Poor developers.
1/30/2012 9:47:32 PM
tsb says:
I'm sure Bill C-11 is thrilled about this.
1/30/2012 7:16:41 PM
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