As much as I hate prefacing my article by saying this, it begs mentioning. Remember when we just put a cartridge in a console’s slot and a game simply just played? This thought is almost cliché since we’re living in a digital age; some modern games don’t even come on discs anymore. But now we seem to be entering a new era, unless you buy a game brand new, you’re not getting the full experience anymore.
Recent hits like Arkham City have an online pass that’s necessary if you want to play as Catwoman. So when I bought the game, in order to play as the character Rocksteady heavily promoted at E3 2011 and other events, I had to input an awkward online code. That’s almost like buying the original Super Mario Bros. 2 and entering an online pass code to play as Luigi.
Who wants to pay $10 to play as Luigi! (as awesome as he is). The reason Luigi was even in Super Mario Bros. 2 was so your friends could play as him (also for his extra high jumps). Enabling Catwoman in Arkham City through an online pass feels like gamers are being cheated out of content that they should be entitled to. Luigi wasn’t an extra 200 MB download.
With regards to Uncharted 3′s online pass and other recent hits, having a pass like Battlefield 3′s and Dead Space 2′s is less of a hassle than on-disc DLC, but it’s still just a case of squeezing more money out of the used game market. The problem with this as gamers, is that $60 is a lot of money to spend on a game. The used market helps gamers who don’t have the money to buy a brand new copy of the latest game and allows them to trade in a couple of older titles towards a used copy.
However, games that use online passes are now enabling only people who buy certain games new, to enjoy exclusive content. It feels unfair, since you’re not rewarding the day one purchasers, you’re excluding a large number of gamers. It’d be hard to play Contra’s 2 player mode if you bought it used. Naughty Dog even tried to justify their online pass by explaining that Uncharted 3′s multiplayer is actually a separate game. That’s a pretty lofty claim for a simple multiplayer mode, a feature that’s expected in almost every modern first person shooter. Naughty Dog also went on to explain that the online pass is needed to make money. So essentially they’re saying that a million dollar franchise won’t make money even though it has in the past? That’s not really justifying anything at all; it’s also rather unbelievable.
One solution to this issue is to ensure that pre-order bonuses eventually come as reasonably priced DLC. Someone purchasing the game should at least feel like they’re getting a great title with some extra content for being a loyal fan and customer. A loyal gamer who’ll love the extra maps because they’ll play a lot of multiplayer, who will love an extra sword just because it looks really awesome, deserves this sort of extra perk.
Locking story and campaign elements out of a single player experience isn’t a great idea, but giving players the option to use items that are cool looking as a reward for buying into a game’s brand, will make the consumer feel like a loyal customer. Someone who purchases a used copy of your game, might be the same person who buys the game’s sequel brand new a few months later. Personally, I didn’t even care about Uncharted 2 until I played a second-hand copy of Uncharted.
At the end of the day, it shouldn’t be about whether you buy a game used or new, it should be about owning a great game and paying as much money as you can afford without having content locked out for you.
Related posts:
I prefer to buy used, and i will not buy games that are crippled due to the fact that you must purchase extra content.
I bought Unreal Torunament 3 for the PS3, and they have free addon maps you can download for online play. I’m ok with downloading that, but i’ll never pay for downloadable addons.
ya, online passes are a slap in the face to consumers. Name another industry trying as hard to control private property.
Two reasons they have online codes:
1) Piracy
2) Used game sales
Not saying I think it’s a great system, but it is effective at ensuring the game developers get the money they worked for.
I wish I’d never bothered with the Catwoman DLC. Played well, but totally ruined what should have been the end of the game.
As for Uncharted 3, the MP code is still intact. The shooting against AI is bad enough and I’ve no interest in promoting the DLC pisstake and just get shown up for the crap shot I am.
Companies selling used games on a mass scale like GAMESTOP is ruining gaming. If it werent for stores like Gamestop, developers wouldnt be implementing these online passes. I’m totally ok with an online pass for multiplayer games… but passes for single player content? Give me a break. At least with MP they can justify it by saying they have to pay to the bandwidth for the online portion… single player is just an eff you to people who by used… but I dont… and still I get stuck with the punishment.
Spend the extra 5 bucks to buy new… dont support Gamestop, support the devs.
I agree, avoid gamestop at all costs.
I just wont Shop at ebgames.. so if I have to save up and buy it new I will.
And why do you wanna buy used games? Because they are cheaper? I’ll give one example that happened today with me… i wait 2 months and today i bought Deux Ex: Human Revolution for 15e in a store, new. If people can’t wait a little to get in first hand cheaper, that’s a bad addict.
If the companies that makes games don’t win money with the used market, they need to make people buy originals and so i think that is a good idea (the codes).
I normally don’t buy used games unless they don’t make it much anymore or when the new price is usually 29.99 or such. I don’t think used games are bad because there’s some games you can’t even get unless they’re used, if I got rid of my copy of Metroid Prime Trilogy, it’d be a waste since they don’t produce that anymore. I’m just looking out for a gamer who wants to play the newest games but is broke (which is basically my current situation). They can win back with DLC since that makes money? It’s all up to the developer. I respect your opinion though, I just don’t feel like all gamers should be penalized for it since they’re gonna buy a game used in your multi-million dollar franchise.