Spookie Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Like some of the athletes its game depict, EA’s Project Ten Dollar appears to have gone on ‘roids.Unlike those juiced-to-the-gills “athletes,” however, EA’s not being quiet about it. Instead, the publisher’s named its new program the EA Sports Online Pass, and has outlined the new big bad wolf to used gaming’s three little pigs with a handy FAQ. The gist of it, though, is this: starting with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, EA Sports titles will require an Online Pass – one per game – in order for you to access any and all online features. This, of course, includes online multiplayer. The implication, then, is that if you decide to buy a used copy of EA’s latest ode to all things golf, you’ll have to shell out an extra ten dollars if you want play put-put on Xbox Live or PSN. Rest is here. Well I suspect it won't take long till this enters other genres too, completely devaluing the second hand games! Having dealt with this on the PC for years (well at least I didn't have to pay for live) I'm not too fussed. Though I suspect console owners are going to explode. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minifig Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 EA - Screwing over gamers in new ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookie Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 EA - Screwing over gamers in new ways. Eh, I can see why they are doing this. They see no money from second hand sales. Normally in the UK second hand games are £5 cheaper than full retail and the devs see nothing from the sale. I like how people have already forgotten about Activision: Games go up £5 and map packs another £5 too. At least EA gives you free DLC. :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spy beef Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Corporations doing what they do best: make money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livin in a box Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 What are they going to do, dish out free games for all? No, they want to stop they amount of second hand sales from which they see nothing. If you were a company going on eBay to see so many of your games/products selling so cheaply, you'd want to do something about it. Just because it's a gaming company doesn't mean that it's a company that doesn't need to make money- I think many people forget about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbandonedTrolley Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 There are two sides to this argument, one in that EA already saw their money in the original sale of it. That's it, the person that paid for it is now the OWNER of the item. Why should EA see anymore money from what happens with it? However EA could argue that a 2nd hand sale is a lost sale of a new unit. Sticky situation and personally I don't like the stance EA have taken on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crompee Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 EA - Screwing over gamers in new ways. Blizzard is basically the same, When you buy SC2 you have to link it to your battle.net account and there are no transfers or other ways to get another account. So you cannot buy a second-hand SC2 game, as its worthless without the battle.net account its linked to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 From a business stand point, I support this 100%. From the consumer side, for those who like to rent or buy used games, this is not a good turn of events. I personally only buy new games anyway, so I am not bothered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookie Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 However EA could argue that a 2nd hand sale is a lost sale of a new unit. Sticky situation and personally I don't like the stance EA have taken on it. Get use to it. I expect Activision to do something more draconian and PC like for CoD: BO no doubt. When GAME do little more than take a game they paid ?15 for. Then stick a ?35 price tag on it, only ?5 cheaper than full retail, right next to the new copies. I'm surprised it took publishers so long to push back. The costs of developing games are going up but the cost of games has remained fairly steady regardless. While I'm not quite defending EA. I can understand why they had to do this and since I despise paid DLC. If it means they bundle in further free content (ala BC2) I'm happy to see it continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted May 11, 2010 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2010 This isn't new, EA started this last year with NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 This isn't new, EA started this last year with NFL. You couldn't play used copies of Madden online last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted May 11, 2010 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2010 IIRC my MSN conversations with Unrealistic it was the same deal last year. If you bought the game new you had a redeemable code to access MP. Second hand buyers had to purchase an unlock over XBL/PSN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyLarry Veteran Posted May 11, 2010 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2010 I get screwed since I use Gamefly, but maybe not since if I am interested in any games, I usually rent them on release date, so I get to be the first with a copy, so perhaps just people after me get screwed. Unless of course Gamefly tests each game, then I am back to being screwed. Either way if you are in the rental market and like EA games, you are gonna get screwed somehow it seems. The 7 day trial helps, but there has to be a better way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 IIRC my MSN conversations with Unrealistic it was the same deal last year. If you bought the game new you had a redeemable code to access MP. Second hand buyers had to purchase an unlock over XBL/PSN. I wonder if that started with Madden 10? I know that I didn't need a code with Madden 09 (Favre edition). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacer Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 How does this not completely kill the rental market? I'm surprised Gamefly, Blockbuster, etc haven't done anything about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vice Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Just another reason not to buy EA games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 How does this not completely kill the rental market? I'm surprised Gamefly, Blockbuster, etc haven't done anything about this. What can they do? It's not up to them. However, EA can sell $10 online access cards at Gamestop, Blockbuster, etc. that can be sold as an upsell to a used game and offer those companies a commission/kick back on each card sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted May 11, 2010 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2010 I wonder if that started with Madden 10? I know that I didn't need a code with Madden 09 (Favre edition). Yeah that's what I was saying, sorry it wasn't clear. It started with NFL 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motoko. Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I'm glad I'm not into sports games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
protocol7 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 How does this not completely kill the rental market? I'm surprised Gamefly, Blockbuster, etc haven't done anything about this. That's exactly what it does, but so far just for these few titles. Single-player games like Just Cause 2 wouldn't be affected by a move like this. What I find funny here is the titles. These are all franchises that are refreshed yearly. So with a title that's only expected to have a shelf-life of a year why are they so concerned with used sales? I'm starting to think rentals might be the real target here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coresx Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 It's only EA Sports and Tiger Woods at the moment. Testing the waters. Used Game sales do hurt publishers a lot so it's hard to say it's a bad thing. I don't buy second hand so I'm not that bothered but I can see how it would suck for consumers. EA and others really needed to do something. Kinda damned if they do and damned if they don't. It's early days but hopefully something good comes out of it. Project Ten Dollar was a decent idea. As long as games get price reduced over time as they do today, I would be quite happy with that. Trading in games will be the sore point for consumers but I think it will be better for newer IPs that don't get a chance which are then picked up used and publishers don't see a penny, Mirrors Edge, Dead Space etc. If EA could even reap some reduced price off those it bodes well for the future and perhaps see more chances being taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted May 11, 2010 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2010 They are using this model for sport titles, but they are already testing the water with other methods for games like BFBC2. Second hand buyers of that game lose out on the DLC code inside the box. I can see Rockband 3 being the next victim this year, again targeting the MP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzdawg Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 On one hand I will be glad that places like Gamestop will lose out on the $$ they get from their used games (because they rip people off - give me $10 for a fairly new released but then sell it for $35). But I am not a fan of an individual not being able to sell their own property with a catch. I can sell you X game but the MP wont work unless you pay an extra $X to EA. I normally dont buy used games and havent rented one in years so this doesnt effect me just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minifig Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Blizzard is basically the same, When you buy SC2 you have to link it to your battle.net account and there are no transfers or other ways to get another account. So you cannot buy a second-hand SC2 game, as its worthless without the battle.net account its linked to. This is understandable with PC Games. PC Games have a one use software key. You use the key, you screw the person you're going sell it to... so.. this protects the investment to the original buyer. If you buy a console game, get tired of it, there is no software key to tie the game down to you. All this "EA SPORTS PASS" is, is a new software key.. for console games, and it's a raw deal. You buy a 39.99$ version at Gamestop, you get the game AND the key. You buy a USED version.. you pay 29.99$, .. so then you have to pay EA 10$ for the new SPORTS PASS, which bumps it up to buying a new copy. And Lord knows how long or how you have to wait to get the damn Sports Pass from EA or even wait to get a hold of EA's tech support. Why buy used when you can buy new for the same damn price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soniqstylz Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 IIRC my MSN conversations with Unrealistic it was the same deal last year. If you bought the game new you had a redeemable code to access MP. Second hand buyers had to purchase an unlock over XBL/PSN. No, I rented madden 10, and played online with no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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