This year it has become clear that publishers want a slice of the pre-owned pie, EA were first to make the move when they launched project ten dollar.
This means that their games are shipping with a single use redeemable code for an assortment of in-game content ranging from maps in BF:BC2, to the Midnight Show in The Saboteur and the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2. These are obviously included in the initial purchase price, but as the codes are single use, it’s likely if you buy the game pre-owned that the only way to access this content is by paying the aforementioned ten dollars.
It’s not just EA though, because THQ, Ubisoft and Take2 were quick to embrace the new revenue opportunity, and recently Sony have got in on the act with ModNation Racers on the PSP which was followed up by a statement of intent from SCEE President Andrew house during a Gamescom interview which surely means we haven’t seen the last of single use codes as far as Sony are concerned.
There is however one company which is still to show its hand in the so called war on pre-owned, and that is Activision. An interview given to trade publication MCV by Activision studio and Call Of duty developer, Treyarch gives the clearest indication yet on where Activision stand on the matter of trying to generate revenue from the pre-owned market.
This may come as a shock to some people who believe all sorts of rubbish they believe on the internet but Treyarch believe providing a quality multiplayer experience will dissuade people from trading the game in. Studio head Mark Lamia said “I want to take that in the other direction and bring consumers really great reasons to keep their games, rather than trade them in”
“Multiplayer is critical to the success of this series. It has such tremendous staying power – there are millions of people playing Call of Duty every day. It’s entertaining people on a magnitude that’s mind-blowing and we work really hard to make sure it’s supported for a long time. We’re going to support the hell out of Black Ops. That will be our focus post-release: making sure we keep our fans engaged, and hopefully as a result, they’ll want to keep playing our game and won’t want to trade it in.”
Talking about whether secondhand customers would have to pay extra to join in on the multiplayer action Lamia went on to say ““You won’t see that for Black Ops, the multiplayer comes with the game you buy – you don’t have to do anything else for that.”
So there you have it whatever the analysts might have suggested and whatever myths have built up around the comments section’s of internet-land, there is no subscription, no premium clan system or paid for wager matches, just good ‘ol fashioned, traditional buy your game, stick it in yer console and enjoy!
Winkle
Good on em, let’s just hope for another supermarket price war on release ;)
Squalje
Yeah that was awesome when MW2 came out. Got mine from Morrisons for £26. Was chuffed to bits.
Amateratsu
sainsburies for me! hopefully again
Rocket_345
Although i mostly buy new i like that they have done this as multiplayer is a huge part of the cod franchise.
tonycawley
It’s definitely the main part of their most recent games, it has to be when you spend 6 hours on the SP, but 240 hours on the MP. He’s dead right too, if you provide a lasting game experience, people wont want to trade it in. The reason people trade games in is because they’re bored of them. Make a game that people don’t get bored of, and they wont trade it in, simples :)
AG2297
This should shock the Activision haters/boycotters a bit. I think Teryarch is absoloutely right there, and a game such as Call of Duty gets traded in a lot less than other titles which is just part of the reason sales are STILL strong for MW2. People keep hold of the game for the multiplayer. It also sounds like Treyarch are saying they are a bit above one use codes and that their title is so good it dosnt need them, which hopefully will turn out to be true.
stonyk
These guys are top. I can’t wait to buy COD 2nd hand :-)
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
XD ahhhhhh yeah
TSBonyman
Gosh, well done Activision!
Serebii.Net
I have 2 Ps3’s in my house, and my brother is getting Black Ops..
I would have had to pay that extra for a game that isn’t even pre-owned, hence why I am totally against it..
So, yeah, thank you Treyarch xD
Bilbo_bobbins
blimey, Activision have done something right for a change. Well done chaps.
bajere
in all fairness, for people like me who only want the SP mode, this isnt a good sign. sounds like MP game with and secondary SP mode :(
cc_star
It was like that with Cod4, 5 & 6 so 7 isn’t going to be any different is it?
Next year’s rumoured Sledgehammer produced CoD might be more geared around the SP (Sledgehammer was set-up by the head-honcho that brought the world Dead Space)
Bilbo_bobbins
yeah I can see what you mean, but i’m sure there will still be a price war like last time in the supermarkets. Hopefully anyway.
nemesisND1derboy
In all fairness, I don’t think you can really say that about COD 4…The single player in that game was fantastic.
Klart
Well, well. Treyarch with the right reply. Now all we need is a good game.
bunimomike
“bunch” God, how I hate how we’ve picked up on this being used to breaking point in the US. Sorry, Chris, not aiming it at you specifically. To have a bunch of bananas (something that is bunched up, is perfect usage) but what’s wrong with a handful or collection or assortment or *explodes*…
Sorry. I just see it all of the time now and it’s very lazy. Sorry, sorry, sorry! My current pet hate.
KeRaSh
The Brady Collection would make a great show. :D
bigdon_23
at leased there is 1 company for the time being that is not jumping on the ripoff bandwagon. i may actually buy the game afterall
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
just wait until the DL€ comes out
cc_star
Yeah, it will probably be on the upper-side of acceptable, but I wouldn’t have thought they’d price themselves out the market else people simply wouldn’t buy it.
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
coughareyoufuckinkiddingcough what was it for mw2 3 map packs at £11 each O_O i didn’t even pay that much for the game
cc_star
Good job its a choice to buy the DLC… seriously why would anyone pay more than they think is reasonable?
If it was unreasonable surely no one would have bought it, or is that just me?
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
nah that is fare enough as not only did i not buy said DL€ but i sold the game and got 3D dot game heroes instead