PSA: PS3 copies of DC Universe Online tied to one-time-use codes

by JC Fletcher on Feb 14th 2011 11:00PM

If you bought DC Universe Online on PS3 and decided not to commit to it for the usual MMO lifespan of forever, you won't be able to recoup your losses by trading it in. At least, you shouldn't trade it in, even if you find a store who will accept it, or you risk being a super-jerk. Sony Online Entertainment confirmed to Lazygamer that the serial key included with retail copies of the game is a one-time-use thing, and each disc only includes access for one account. That means that the first person to use a copy of DCUO is the only person who can use that copy.

This kind of restriction isn't exactly new to consoles, with trade-ins of every iteration of Phantasy Star Online refused by retailers due to the unique codes tied to each disc. But it's not common -- mostly because MMO-type games on consoles are so uncommon.

Via: MCV
Source: Lazygamer

Tags: DC-Universe-Online, mmo, playstation, ps3, psa, retail, sony-online-entertainment, trade-in, used-games

Reader Comments (65)

Well, I guess that's one way to put the kibosh on used game sales.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Not really. This is how MMOs have been operating for years. It's a totally different business model that seems to be confusing a ton of console gamers.

@Colin

Its not common practice for consoles. Sony is going to take some flack for this. They have been just a wad of bad news lately.

@HaVoK308 It is, as FFXi, EQOA, and PSO all had the same reliance on an activation code. It's nothing new or outrageous for anybody that's a rational person.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Yeah, this is the norm for PC mmo's. There's just not many of those (like what? 3?) on consoles.

@Integral

PC MMOs you can install the game most of the time, you just need the account to play it.

@This Little Man Says His Name Is
and you have to pay for that account, which generally you do by buying the game new, or by buying an account online

@Colin

Gotta agree with Colin.
Hello consoles, and welcome to the world of MMOs. Yeah, that $60 you paid, it's not for the game disc, oh no no. The disc merely is for convenience to save you from having to download the entire game. The $60 is for your membership. Did you really think you could just pass that disc along to all your friends, and each one of them would get 1 month free? Heh heh heh, yee know little of the evils of this world.....

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze What if my PS3 dies? Again?

@Extinction Do you lose your PSN account when your playstation dies? No you don't. SO nothing will happen.

@HaVoK308

Welcome to the world of MMO's HaVok308, you are obviously not a big fan of them since the history of them appears to be unknown to you. Other people here were kind enough to point it out to you though. As for Sony and bad news, it appears you are visiting too many xbox 360 sites. If you read game news sites that give all the news then you would realize that Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have all had their share of good/bad news lately.

What I'm trying to say is that no company is perfect but no company is a total f*ckup either. Even Activision (sad to say)...

wait so even if i wanna let my friend borrow the game he wont be able to use it ? thats dumb

@lostsoul86

If PC MMO's are like that then i can't see how it's Dumb. but if you can with PC then .. well that's the way things go. if he wants to try it.... why can't he just go over to your place ? or bring your PS3 over to his ?

@lostsoul86

I don't think you understand how MMOs work.

You buy the box. That gets you an ACCOUNT for the game, not the game itself. The disc is just a method to install the game., you can download most MMO clients off of the game website (though I'm not sure how this works on PS3).

It's basically your one time membership start-up fee, after that you just pay $15 a month if you want continued access to your account. It's a far different type of distribution from the average game.

I believe that technically you could give your friend the disc along with your username and password, and he could log onto your account. But that's probably not a great idea.

@lostsoul86
Well, if remember how it worked in ffxi (which was on ps2 and had a unique code system too.) and if it works the same way on DC universe you can let them borrow the game to try it they'll just have to use your account. But then again I don't know how it works for DC.

But seriously, MMO's are the exception in this. If you think it's stupid you've obviously never tried an MMO. Once you try one you kind of understand.

Wait, so technically, someone could buy the game, use the code, and return it the next day over and over again to get free months?

@tkontis

when you buy the game you can not return it opened ( or maybe at all sealed or not which may not be the case ) but one you open it you CAN NOT return the game. and if you bought another copy of DCUO and that code did happen too work ( which tells me i doubt it cause each key is probably for the disc with the code ) then your paying over $60 for 30 days while everyone else is paying $15 for a month

@tkontis

Possibly, but it would be a different account each time. So basically you couldn't keep your characters. Also most game stores won't accept a return if the box is open, and definitely not if the serial code number has been scratched.

The code is to create the ACCOUNT.

So if you kept returning discs, you would have to create a new account each time. Eliminating whatever progress you would have made on your characters.

Occasionally, I have seen retailers selling used copies of MMORPG's for pc's, and wonder if they don't know they are ripping off the person who is buying them.

Serial keys on console games! Yay! The FUTURE!

@Premature ejaculation man. Final Fantasy online had it on the 360. Nothing new with console mmos.

Phantasy Star Online for the Dreamcast was locked to the system once you used it.

It had a serial number on the inside of the manual. Which it does suck, it isn't new.

@Drakkenfyre
I don't understand it though.

Why not tie the subscription to the user's profile and charge the profile? That way a billion profiles can play the game and have a billion subscriptions, it seems they're limiting themselves this way.

They still make money off the boxed copies. Plus, it eliminates the fact that you could sell the game used, which they get no money from.

@The Wicker Man
Registration codes could be purchased from square enix in the play online viewer menu. on top of that NPC sold buddy passes in the game that could be given to a friend on a PC for a free 7 day trail

@The Wicker Man
Yep, I went from the PS2 to the PC to the X360 version of FFXI and my login info was the same across all three since it was a PlayOnline account. Of course, my local settings had to be set up from scratch each time but overall being able to log in from anywhere came in pretty handy.

@Premature ejaculation man

Keep your pants on, for now and as we know it, its only for MMOs

@Premature ejaculation man It IS tied to the profile. Ponder this, in FFXI on the 360, a friend of mine wanted to quit the game and leave me his account and characters. Gave me all of his game login info. I was unable to get in the account, because I was a different user.

This is no different. Your PSN account is tied to your SOE account (your characters) on their servers. There is no active "login" to the SOE servers to play the characters that you made, they are available when you run the game from your profile.

it's understandble it kinda sucks tho.... but i can see why it's like that

also i think maybe some kinda Trial should happen for those who wanna try out the game perhaps too bad they couldn't get a server to those people who wanna try it have a week Trial Download ( a download like the Beta download ) so people can decide if they wanna get it or not. i know a few people who wouldn't mind that.

This is the deal with every MMO. Blizzard even use the code to identify you as the rightful owner if your WoW account get hack or something.

And isn't there also a trial code that comes with every box? Or is that just for special edition? You can just give that to your friend.

if anybody is looking to trade this game in, my friend said he sold his ps3 copy to gamefly for like 35 bucks.

I'm not sure I quite understand. Is it like an install key for the disc? Or is it a code for the subcription to the game? I couldn't just give the disc to a friend and have him sign up his own account?

Code is to create your account. No code, no account. If they give out free time, it's linked to the account. Once you use the code that came with it, your friend can only use the disc with his account, presumably.

It'd be nice if they made a way to buy just the code, so you can always find the closest available disc and not worry

This is very much the definition of worlds colliding.

If you want your MMO on a console, be sure to read that fine print.

Cant you just sell your account with the cd?

@(Unverified)

im willing to bet your account is also tied to your PSN account, so no most likely.

Unless you made a brand new account for that one game, either way, selling your account is most likely against the TOS

Luckily, I was wise enough to not spend $59.99 and $15/month for a crappy MMO.

@KungFuChaosNinja

Apparently you didn't play the game. The game is not perfect, but is no where near "crappy".

@KungFuChaosNinja

I think the game is pretty fun. I'm no mmo nut or anything but I've been enjoying myself.

In unrelated news, 90% off remaining PlayStation stock at your local GameStop!

On one hand, I kind of feel that even with console MMOs' relative rarity, it's been ten years since PSO. (Holy crap do I feel old.). So it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone anymore. That said, with allnthe major chains pushing trade-ins and used product now, I think they need to make certain that customers understand this title has a trade in value of $0.

@Zach Adams It says it on the back of the box, granted it says it in small print...but, I saw it before I even made it to the checkout! So they do make an attempt to let you know you won't be able to trade it in. I don't know why anybody would want to trade it in though, I think it's a lot of fun!

Phantasy Star Universe on the 360 could be purchased used and worked just fine. A new account or digital download can be purchased on the marketplace for $19.99
There is absolutely no reason what so ever for sony to not offer $60 dollar account keys on the PSN when PC gamers can purchase an account key from direct to drive, steam, amazon.com, and sonys very own station store.

My fye are taking them for $30 here in the bronx they are stupid and i'm keeping mines no need to get rid of this game is kind of fun .

This would make sense to me on a single player game with no online component. Ultimately, used sales of that type of game only hurt the producer. But used sales of an MMO can only help the producer (in the form of new subscriptions). This type of setup makes absolutely zero sense.

Are you telling me I have to OWN what I BUY? RAHHHHHHH

And this is why MMOs are better on PC... Saves people getting confused at the least.

@TCJJ

or maybe if MMO's on consoles get more common people will get use too the fact that they can't trade it in

I bought this game in Jan. and my code expires tomorrow. I feel tottally cheated only because i paid 60 dollars.

Now i can either divvy up 14.99 or 29.99 for 3 months. Thats about 90 dollars SOE is about to make off me.

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DC Universe Online

PSA: PS3 copies of DC Universe Online tied to one-time-use codes

Reader Comments (65)

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:05PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:24PM Colin said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:39PM HaVoK308 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:54PM CrashTunoku said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:08AM Integral said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:44AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 1:10AM Riley said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 2:15AM Dizazter said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 5:00AM Extinction said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 6:24AM bitcrusherrr said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 7:35AM ToTheMoon said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:07PM lostsoul86 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:13PM HardBoiled2009 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:23PM Colin said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:36PM Bewoulf said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:13PM tkontis said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:16PM HardBoiled2009 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:19PM Colin said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:36PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:16PM Premature ejaculation man said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:20PM The Wicker Man said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:37PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:56AM Premature ejaculation man said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 1:22AM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 2:10AM easo said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 6:52AM jastani said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 8:33AM Jacksy said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 10:53AM Spookimitsu said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:18PM HardBoiled2009 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:21PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:28PM endgamer77 said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:28PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:39PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:51PM wcarnation said

Posted: Feb 14th 2011 11:55PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:01AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:13AM BrianH said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:03AM KungFuChaosNinja said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 6:25AM jocaju said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 2:19PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:08AM Nfinit said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 12:31AM Zach Adams said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 9:15AM Dukk420 said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 1:13AM easo said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 1:43AM shamon said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 1:59AM Kabapu said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 2:40AM CamelCamelCamel said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 6:57AM TCJJ said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 10:40AM HardBoiled2009 said

Posted: Feb 15th 2011 11:43AM chronicus pr1me said

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