(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});While the second-hand gaming market is great for the consumer, it is of no benefit to the game developers, who receive nothing from the second-hand industry. This is leading to loss of revenue.
There are two alternatives for game developers, they either prohibit the practice of consumers selling their unwanted games, or they can take their new approach which is to charge second-hand users for online play. This would be done by having a single-use online access code to be included in game boxes. The original buyer would use the code, and subsequent owners would have to purchase a new code if they would like to make use of the game's online play.
EA have been the first game developers to use the idea, but it would appear that this will soon be used across the board. Companies such as Sony are considering using it for their first-party titles.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe President Andrew House recently stated that they are exploring the option for their own content. He said that they may have to either implement this or a blanket charge for online play, but they would 'struggle with [that]' as they would prefer to keep PSN's free-to-use policy.
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What do you make of the idea of charging subsequent game owners for online play?
When I bought pro evo 2008 I bought it seconds hand. They had the code to play online. But I just rang them up and they gave me a code.
Does game developers think we're all rich. Or do they think we get all out bills paid? Maybe we don't wanna buy a new game for like a hour game play a day
Where have you guys been? All recent EA Games have been like this. And Undisputed 2010 was like this as well.
The online pass is only like $4.99 from what I've seen, but at the same time I just let my little brother get on my account, download the pass from me and then he can go back to his name and play online. Same concept as gamesharing.
No big deal. But it is bullshit that they're jealous of Gamestop and whoever else is in the used games market. I'd say watch the next few months, your trade-in values might be decreasing