Replace the phrase "I want my two dollars" with the slightly more complicated "I want you to pay me more money for a game you bought used, even though we received full price at retail originally," and you'll have a pretty good grasp on the situation here. For a while now game companies have been waging war against used game sales, most recently resorting to DLC unlock codes in games that can only be redeemed once, making the used purchase less attractive. However,
EA Sports has escalated this practice right out of the stratosphere with its new "Online Pass" feature. Basically, the original purchaser is bestowed online functionality, added features, and bonus content, out of the
kindness of EA's heart (and a fun-to-enter redeem code), while a used buyer will get a 7 day trial of those things, and then have to pony up $10 if they want to keep at it. Yeah, you heard that correctly: you'll have to pay $10 to play
FutureMadden: Robots in the Red Zone online if you bought it used. The first title to get this special treatment will be
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, and after that? Well, we're really hoping this doesn't take off, but the most unfortunate aspect of this diabolical scheme is we really don't see how this could possibly hurt EA's bottom line. Sure, it's evil, but that's never stopped them before.
posted May 11th 2010 10:04AM
wtf... they are just killing themselves as a company now...
@Darth Vadar
please dont hurt me, but that was umm, how do I say this. very non-vaderish?
and such and evil scheme I thought that would be something you were all for, I mean come on down with the consumers powers!
@Darth Vadar
Those fucking leeches!
Looks like I won't be buying anymore EA games, sports or otherwise.
EA sucks... dunno why people still buy games 'made' by EA...
Oh EA?? that's ok
now, if this said Microsoft Studios I will be PS3 online for now on...
@Darth Vadar If it hurts Gamestop, I'm all for it. I can't think of a store I hate more. I used to work there, and I quit from a combination of clinically insane co-workers/management, and the fact that Gamestop's whole business model is to fsck over the customers.
@Darth Vadar
What if I bring my copy of madden to a buddies house?
@Darth Vadar Fuck EA! If this happens I will boycott them and im sure others will too.
@Twoleaf EA: Expect Asininity
@spaz4322
Even Darth Vader himself has values.
I guess this is further evidence of game companies insatiable greed.
It's time for some other sports games companies to take over. I've had it with EA. First, their games NEVER go down in price on store shelves, and now, even if I wanted to buy it used, which also never goes down in price past like what, $40? Now I'd have to pay a little more that would bring it basically to full price again?
And this doesn't even mention the fact that they shut down old game servers after a few years, so why the hell would anyone want to buy their games used? AND pay extra for it online?
EA has quickly become the worst gaming company for how they treat their customers, and yet, they are the "standard" for sports games, so they get away with it. I might have to go with 2k Sports for my 2011 offering of hockey.
@sweet greggo
the general public are a fickle bunch
@uck
You probably have to sign in online under your account. Kinda how the XBLA games will run in full mode if the Gamertag that purchased the game is signed in.
@Darth Vadar
You mean they are "frag" - ing themselves...
@AJerman i would still say activision is the worst but ea is a very close second
@Darth Vadar
If you actually think this won't catch on with other companies then your crazy, I also seeing this could turn into license transferring fees.
@Darth Vadar. You are part of the Rebel Alliance and an imposter. You will be force choked at once
@Darth Vadar - Poor attempt at copy catting aside, you do make a valid point.
This is fine by me, i buy my games new.
and i don't think EA cares THAT much if you don't but their games used.
@BrianH They should care. 95% of the games I buy are used from eBay. I can't justify spending $65 for a new game. And I sell them after I'm done. But I do buy content like expansion packs, etc.
This policy if it takes off, is a game changer (pun intended) situation for me. Only reason I don't pirate games is because I can buy them used and I'm sure many people are the the same. EA really gonna shoot themselves in the foot this time. Only good thing about this is that it might drive PC Game sales up
@Bratan
how in the hell would this increase PC game sales?
this is using what PC games have been using for years.
also, for every person like you, their will be one who justifies the purchase of a new game, and another who will pony up the 10 dollars to get online.
so i just checked my calendar, and nope, its not april fools day anymore....
this is down right idiotic, EA should be slapped with the hand of reason!
@Twoleaf Unfortunately as long as EA has the exclusive NFL liscence they'll get my money every August. I'm pretty sure there are people who feel the same way about NBA Live and other EA titles.
Still doesn't make it right, but I gotta have my Madden fix.
@uck that's a good question but I bet that's where the fourteen day trial starts, but I wonder what would happen after that trial period. This is a joke. These companies already get $60 dollars per game sold. Just as greedy as the movie industry where Netflix and redbox don't get new releases until after a month of being released.
What a bunch of whiners....wahhhhh, $10, I couldn't possible handle that. I already pay $30-$50 a year for XBL.
You folks that have been paying for multiplayer via XBL have already set a precedence; you are willing to pay for multiplayer. Game companies know this, AND WILL take advantage of it.
So pat yourselves on the back...and keep paying for multiplayer.
@spaz4322
The true Vader is "Lord Vader"
@Darth Vadar So what if I have two consoles, how does It know who I am? gamer tag? If so, what if my kid want's to play the game I bought as well. He would have a different gamer tag. WTF is this crap.
@AJerman
It's not so much that they're the best for sports games, it's that they outbid every other publisher for the rights to make Authorized NFL/NBA/MLB/PGA/FIFA games using the respective sports commissions logos likeneses and names of players, etc.
@Ryujin
You could be right. The key here is for consumer restraint on buying TG11. If it sells poorly it is unlikely to be implemented further. Notice they are starting it with Madden. I do fear, however, that people will buy it anyway and that EA will win and consumers will lose, again.
@uck What about if you just use one of the video game renting services? So rented games won't be able to go online anymore?
@Bacchus027
If publishers start doing this, and if in a few years everyone has internet, we will all be able to buy games amongst ourselves such as with ebay, but the new prices we start trading used games in will be 5 to 10 dollars less to make up for the fact we're gonna have to pay extra online, if we want to go online this. It works out for literally everyone but gamestop who charge insane rates and don't bargain.
IT MAKES SENSE GO FOR IT EA! I LOVE VIDEO GAMES. THAT IS ALL.
@Darth Vadar
Gears of War...
Halo...
Call of Duty...
Batman: AA...
Nope, none made by EA, I'm good. :)
@Darth Vadar
im not paying $60 bucks a month for online and $30 bucks for the game and another $10 bucks for online again? fuck EA
@sweet greggo I thought I saw a post by you, someone I usually agree with. In this respect I definitely do. EA has been screwing the pooch for years but this is something else.
@Darth Vadar
You know what? Fuck it. Just fuck it. I'm not buying games anymore. This is getting ridiculous. I don't need the newest game/sequel/whatever. There's plenty of games already out there without this kind of insane DRM. You can even get a good deal on them used. It's just not worth it anymore to hand over money to an industry hellbent on keeping me from owning what I buy.
@Darth Vadar For them, money is the most important thing. That's why it would be wise to concentrate on free games or iPad apps. http://j.mp/ipad-apps-best
I mean, if you'll indulge yourself with paid apps. You'll be surprise that you already paid 200 USD already.
@engadget123
But with so many people already "Boycotting" Activision, and Ubisoft (for the DRM) adding EA to that list would leave them with less games to play..
However, most of the games I play are from Take2, Codemasters and Bethesda.. :D
They could just as easily make the game require an account signup with registration codes/CD keys that come with the game. You know, like almost ALL online PC games? In which case, there are no used sales at all, because once the account is made the code is done.
This is an additional option that keeps used sales intact, allowing you to still buy used for cheaper AND sell off old games you don't want anymore. It's a good thing, they didn't have to go this route.
@Celeras - Yeah, as far as I see this is a good way of keeping the second hand and so keeping retail happy, but also getting financial support for themselves.
Used games take a huge cut of the profits from the games industry and put absolutely nothing back. This should mean more money for devs and so better funding and potentially more risk taking / original ideas are able to be pursued.
@FireMonkey
Car manufacturers do not make any money off used car sales so why should games companies make money off used games?
@FireMonkey People who sell used games usually do so they can buy new games...so, it not all that bad.
But Hey, Used car sales huts the auto industries, we should ban that practice, or charge $1000,00 if you want a windshield.
@coolblue2000
And look what happened to the car industry the last few years....
@coolblue2000 Car companies don't have to deal with people selling their cars 5 days after they beat the car. People keep their cars for a few years at least.
@FireMonkey I would argue used sales help out the game industry in a large way. When kids turn there last 7 games in at Gamestop where do you think they immediately spend the money most of the time?
@coolblue2000
Actually your analogy is flawed to the point of siding with EA on this... Used cars go on to make a lot of money from the auto industry (replacement parts, service, etc.) so sounds a lot like EA charging for "maintenance".
While I don't like the game industry money grabbing by trying to completely block used sales, I honestly can't disagree with this "online pass" concept, as long as it is clearly spelled out on the box and it doesn't neuter offline play. Running their servers costs them--assuming they are running the servers so the $10 goes towards that--and they aren't going to take down the servers even though people are still paying their $10 "online pass".
@coolblue2000 - wondered how long it would take for the ridiculous "used car" vs "used games" comparisons to roll in (as they seem to do in every discussion around the topic)
When a game costs half (or more) of the average median salary, requires yearly maintenance, licensing fees, repairs that often require original manufacturer's parts, and have a lifespan limited by wear & tear and actual amount of usage... THEN and only then can you compare them to automobiles. Until then, as always, it's a completely ridiculous and tangential argument, used to try to prove a point with massively flawed logic and analogies.
@Celeras
And that's the reason I no longer buy any games on Steam. Cannot sell/transfer anything.
It's all about the profit at Valve & EA -- no respect for customers at all.
Seriously, it's like these companies are TRYING to push people to piracy.
@E71
I actually like the steam distribution model.. You can't transfer your game but you can install steam on other computers.
@zeroinfinity2
The ONLY convenience that Steam provides is the ability to download and install all your games in just a few clicks. This convenience comes at the cost of consumer rights.
Otherwise... you can install your hard copy (DVD) games on "other" computers too...
If by "other computers" you're referring to other platforms, that remains to be seen. I highly doubt the majority of Steam games will be made compatible with those platforms any time soon.