I'd say the value for a game like that is directly proportional to the time it's released. There is no resale value in one of those games of course. Like you said.
But to take your stock market analogy one step further; I don't look at a new game as a strictly monetary decision. You will get a higher fun dividend if you invest early, but once the servers are down it's like a fad that has passed and buying in at that point would be unwise. I mean I wouldn't invest in a company that makes VHS tapes in 2013 for example, and I wouldn't pick up a copy of MAG in 2013 either. But if I'd invested early, in either of them, it might have paid off in either a windfall of stock or fun, respectively.
This. I think that when it comes to multiplayer, the timing of your purchase and wherever a game is at in its lifespan are critical factors.
I came into this topic with MAG on my mind. I started playing it shortly after it came out, and it's definitely provided me with hours upon hours of entertainment (started as Raven, vetted to Valor, and then S.V.E.R., just to give you an idea). Was it worth it? Hell yes! But if someone were to buy the game now, would it be worth it now? Hell no!
It's one thing I hate about multiplayer-only games (specifically ones that rely on dedicated servers ran by publishers/developers as opposed to client-side). It's a ship that hangs around only for a while, but once it's sailed, it's sailed.
As an aside, I can't help but think of how many new/used copies of MAG are on shelves at discounted prices right now. It's a fun game but hate to see it go.
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