When Electronic Arts announced its plans for the Online Pass program on all its Sports ’11 titles this year, gamers moaned and groaned and discussed how that move was going to open up the can of worms for everybody. Quickly after the announcement, THQ jumped on board and announced that they too were moving in this direction.
Since then, the Online Pass option hasn’t really spurred much attention around gaming news and everyone has realized it isn’t really that big of a deal. However, now that Sony is confirming that they’re looking into the business model as well, it may start turning heads again.
Speaking with GI.biz, SCEE boss Andrew House explained that this type of business decision is not only something Sony supports, but it’s something the company is actively looking into as well.
“On the principle of making online portions of the game available or unlocked from the disc-based release for a fee, we’re broadly supportive of that.”
As someone who purchases his games new, I couldn’t care less about this decision. In fact, I’m sure most gamers will never even be bothered by a decision such as this one. However, for those of you who purchase titles used, this is obviously going to impact your buying options. Considering Killzone 3 is just around the bend, it’ll probably be the first first-party title you see implement this scheme.
How do you feel about it all?
I also support my games new so not a big deal. And it is a very smart business decision by Sony in my opinion.
i fink its a great idea, because looking at it from a bigger perspective its gona rduce the used market and hacking, witch will help reinburst dewelopers resources so the dewelopers will be able to spend more resources into making a game and enlarging their studio
that is unles publishers like ea and activision figure out how to misuse this to make more money, cuz its realy sadd with what they did with dlc,
now that dlc taken straight out of the game gets sold just days after the game comes out
Mr. Wales, horrible write-up. Seems to be written by an industry whore rather than a gamer who cares about gamers.
What extra cost do these companies acquire by having a game change hands used? One copy produced and sol will only generate one person online at a time. If the game is sold, that nuymber doesn’t change.
These companies are made because stores like gamestop are facilitating an exchange but making money from it. So why are they passing the punishment on to us the gamers? Why not charge stores like gamestop the fee instead? Why should I have to pay a fee to play a used game a friend wanted me to have?
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! “Good business” moves are not always good for us the consumer. So either stop supporting the milkage or buy stock in these companies. and most importantly, STOP ACTING AS IF YOU CARE AND THEN EXCUSE OR SUPPORT THE CRAP THAT WILL KILL GAMING FOR THE MASSES!!!!
These online passes are a terrible idea. I don’t mind companies giving free stuff to people who buy it new, but when you start taking things away from used gamers, then I have a problem. I agree with Prof_Truth: used games don’t hurt their used games sales because all used games started as new games.
Meh won’t matter since I buy new whenever I get the chance. But its a smart way for the companies to make a bit more money off used games, can’t see anybody being too happy about it though lol.
thats a lous of crap i agrre with Prof_Truth charge a fee to the second hand shops as i couldnt go round my mates and play the ful game
I agree with the opposing argument, to a degree. I buy used games, usually to backtrack some old ones but occasionally I’ll pick up a fresh title used. That said I will always buy games I’m really into new, the used games I buy are only an extra. If I didn’t have the option of buying them used I would not have bought them at all so no profits are lost for the publisher.
I am sure that many gamers who live in countries with a small and inflated market for video games feel the same but the options for us to pick up games from retailers at a reduced price are very limited. For example, GoW3, FFXIII, Heavy Rain and BF:BC2 are all still at full retail price even though it’s almost 6 months since they released. Used copies of these games are being sold here without a middle man for around 40-50% of full retail price.
If companies are charging 10$ to unlock the online the games are still a lot cheaper so I wont cry about it if I really want to play said game online but I will still try to avoid those games even if I plan to buy a new game just out of principle. Screwing over the consumer because they don’t like a company making money from used games is nonsense.
I say Sony get to France this is just yet anther way to flece the uesrs like Plus is setting us up for OI! Sony stop the rot.