I don’t like the concept of online passes. In fact, I’d probably go as far as to say I hate the very idea of them.
[drop2]Maybe it’s because I’m older than a lot of gamers and am used to just throwing down some money and expecting – you know – a complete game, but that no longer appears to be the option and it’s becoming increasingly rare to find a game that doesn’t have some kind of online pass.It doesn’t even need to be a multiplayer thing – DiRT 3 had extra vehicles that unlocked once you entered a one time code – available with the game but won’t work with second hand or rented copies of it, requiring a further purchase from the PlayStation Store. I understand why the publishers are doing it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to like it.
Enter Sony, who kicked off their PSN Pass program with Resistance 3 and will follow shortly with Uncharted 3. And then, according to SCEA (via Destructoid), Sony games afterwards.
“Online Pass will be incorporated into Uncharted 3 and future Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) games with online functionality,” said a spokesperson for the company. “We will provide further information in the future.”
The statement doesn’t specifically say ‘all’ as some are reporting, but it’s not difficult to infer that that’s the intention. And besides, if it makes money and there’s only me whinging, then surely it’s a winner.
Right?
moshi
Let’s have a 2 tier pricing of games and watch the social economic divide engulf gaming.
fattyuk
There already is lol
New
and
Used.
cnutard
“I understand why the publishers are doing it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to like it.”
Double negative?
The PSN won’t affect my buying habits as I always buy new, be it after a couple of months. What it will affect is the likelihood of me selling a game on once I’m done with it.
I used to buy any game I wanted when it came out. Now as money is getting tighter I just wait for the games to hit the under £20 mark. I tend not to even buy games without a MP as for me MP modes are the thing I enjoy most about gaming. SP games I just rent from LF whenever I have a free trial with them.
Kreisash
I wonder…
Do you think that games retailers will open up new copies of games to split the games and codes for separate sales (‘second hand’) and potentially more profit?
fattyuk
Straight and simple no.
colmshan1990
I don’t think they’d be able to, and I think they’d make less profit, as they’d have to sell them cheaper than a new game, but would have paid the wholesaler/ publisher the price of a new game.
So surely they’d make less?
fattyuk
Good I’m glad there doing this tbh!
It’s always the same! If you want the online pass instead of whining about why Is there one, why not just wait till the new price drops to the same price you would pay for it 2nd hand!?
Gaztee
What I don’t like is the region locking of the online. I have bought DS2 & Madden 12 HOF & can’t play online unless I use my Canadian account, which ruins my trophy chances on my regular account. This wouldn’t be such a big deal, but I haven’t been able to get my passwoard reset since the hack. I keep getting the email sent to your address to reset password, but I never get one :o( The fact that other features are tied to the pass system sucks.
Jakster123x
Well, it’s not entirely surprising seeing as I’m sure Sony have already said this.
jbni
Sony’s got to make some money back after giving us all those free games a few months ago.
/tongue-in-cheek
sward1
Some people aren’t seeing this the way the companies intended it to be seen as.
The online pass was announced as a way to encourage people to buy the game brand new instead of pre-owned. This was due to the game companies having massive losses each year, and the recession meant that people were buying pre-owned games more and more, so the online pass was introduced as a way of saying ‘If you buy the game new, you can go online by putting this one time code in, but if you buy second hand then you have to go on the store, or marketplace and buy the code for 8 quid’.
They won’t put the RRP of the game up for this because they don’t exactly need to (unless your activision). It’s all a way to stop the pre-owned market from stealing their money.
But yes. 8 quid off the store is too much, but why complain, just buy the game new, that’s what a real gamer does, i mean i don’t want to see companies go bump because people won’t give them money