EA has made $10 - $15 million off Online Pass

@Mr Hett Some how I doubt people are going to wait until there are used copies at Gamestop to get BF3, day one purchase for me.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

I'LL be waiting for a used copy. You can best believe that, as well as a few friends.. It still comes out cheaper than a new copy by the time I get it.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

why not? people can wait for things to drop in price... even for BF3.

@StarcasM

less be realistic, MW2 and BF2 still cost over 30 its not that cheap for a very old game... those are games that the first year wont lower the price at all unless its a ps3 version which its always get technical issues like black ops and still cost over 40.

@My Prerogative

How about people stop buying the freaking online passes instead? I swear to God I have never been so depressed about being a gamer as I am now. I'm surrounded by a bunch of freaking idiots that pay out the nose for an integral part of the game that gets cut out.

Before ANYONE starts screaming about Gamestop, I don't give hairy monkey balls about them. This also effects sales on Amazon, and rentals as well. It screws everyone so they can make a monopoly out of our hobby, and guess what? You're all being into it. This is my middle finger, every last one of you can take it where the sun don't shine.

I said it once, and I'll say it again. Screw the devs. Just to give themselves a bit of extra money, they're willing to screw an entire trade, and millions of people out of a job. I hope you folks are happy, and I sure as heck hope you people get phased out of your jobs like this, just so someone else can make a little extra money.

@My Prerogative

Something I hope will happen very soon.

Places like GameStop eat up a huge chunk of the money that should be going to the actual developers and publishers of these games. And if they aren't willing to share at least some of the massive profits they make by selling (and reselling, and reselling....), then I think the devs have every right to do whatever they can to make up for the loss.

These days, most smaller developers don't see any money beyond the initial launch window sales. After the first few days, Gamestop starts selling used copies and from then on all the cash stays with them. It just doesn't seem right or fair to the people that actually worked hard to create the finished product.

@ShivanSwordsman

How about you Make a game? Why don't you spend Millions to develop your game and Millions more to advertise your game, Only for Gamestop to sell it used..

You Can't.

If I made a game, I want as much coin in return for all the money and time I spent on the game! Gamestop is making a Killing on used game sales, why shouldn't EA get a cut on used game sales.

If you really wan't to beef, why don't you complain about leaving stuff out that you have to Pay for that previously was free or included in the game? -Like if you pre-ordered Madden, you got the All Star teams.. WTF??

OR, In-Game content that coded in the game, but you have to pay to unlock it? You're barking up the wrong tree.

And how can you be Depressed?? You play Videogames!! -Mad against Developers?? Without them, We have no games to play!

At the end of the day, Gamestop needs to LOWER the prices of their used games.. I see ALL developers adopting this strategy. It's not gonna go away, So either buy new, don't shop at Gamestop, or just wait a couple monts for the price to drop and buy from Amazon.

@ShivanSwordsman

just to point out, it's not the developers who implement the online pass, but rather the publisher. sure, the developers have to code in the pass framework, but i really doubt if they give two shits about used games. you see, the way it works is they get the budget up front for a game. so by the time it comes out, they are already paid for their time and effort. maybe some bonuses are handed out when the game sells, but the majority of profits goes back to the publishers. saying screw the devs is like saying screw the cashier at the grocery store because prices have gone up.

@StarcasM
Or they could, ya know, make a game that people don't want to sell to gamestop. I guess it's all about screwing over the people that liked the pretty picture on the case, and wasted $60 on a pile of turds. In your world it's: Buyer Beware, everyone has to pay the gatekeeper, even if you only wanna ride it once.

Gamestop has nothing to do with it. This effects all used game sales, and rentals. It's fine for people that want to spend $500 plus on games every year, but some of us have more important things to spend our money on. That $8 rental quickly turns into $18 even if you just want to try the online play just once.

For every time that particular copy of a game is sold, so is the ability to play the game online at all, even without a pass. That server space is still only using up the same bandwidth and resources no matter how many times it's sold.

To reiterate. If the devs have any talent whatsoever, their games should be able to stand on their own feet, without having to chastise the used buyer as a key part of their business model.

@ShivanSwordsman


Finally!!! somebody with brains that knows for a fact that this is screwing the people!!!! congratulations buddy, for a moment i thought i was alone.


Really WHY PEOPLE SUPPORTS THIS CRAP???????????? are we really a bunch of monkeys who jump at the rhythm of the developers song???? why nobody sees the big picture here?? do you have any idea what this means?? it means that ALL the developers are going to start doing this, and the more they do it the more money they are going to ask. This is the same thing that happened with the famous DLC, first it was a virtual gun, i can pay for that... why not??? well, that was accepted now we have to pay for full content that SHOULD¨VE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, and sometimes it is, we only pay for an access code!!!! come on people wake up!!!!!!!

@Hunter141072

Oh and that last message was for StarcasM

@VideoGameFan

But Gamestop has EVERYTHING to do with it. It started with sony complaining about used game sales back with the ps2! It's the reason why EA is doing this in the first place!

Look, even Developers would rather stray from doing AAA titles because of cost. In this economy, that is stagnating innovation unless you're MSFT or sony. Developers Should get all the Bang for their buck with their games. This 10 dollar add-on is not screwing the customer, Gamestop is. -Or we can be like PC's where we're only allowed one install per console and NO trade in worth!

@Hunter141072

Okay.. Don't like it? Then dust off your PS2 or Gamecube and enjoy your backlog.. This aint going nowhere, it's only gonna spread.

Don't support any games or companies (which will soon be like 80-90% of the industry soon) that implement this $10.00 program.

Or you can.. BUY NEW, or wait for a price drop. Your choice.

@StarcasM

Developers shouldn't get a cut of used game sales because they already got their cut from the original sale. If I build you a house and you pay me $500,000 for it. Then you decide to sell the house 10 years later should I get a cut of that sale? That's basically what you're trying to say should happen with video games.

@StarcasM
If Gamestop didn't exist, or the other past Funcoland type business models, people would still sell their games they don't want to play. Why are Ebay and CL exempt from the wrath of "think of the devs!", when they are doing the same thing on everything they list?

Property is still property, whether it be digital or tangible, and people have a right to sell their rights (including MP) to that property. The seller shouldn't have to retain some of the rights now rendered useless because the manufacturer wants to resell them later.

I don't understand why people defend what can only be rationally construed as a DRM cash grab. The market speaks to developers when it doesn't sell a game that isn't fun. Just as any business runs, so does the basic accounting and bad execution of their model lead to crappy games, and game sales. This has nothing to do with people getting rid of a crappy game. Maybe just maybe someone else might find a little bit of enjoyment without the full experience being taken hostage for more money.

@StarcasM

Tell me that when the next upgrade that you are going to buy is the Xbox piggy bank, you want to play?? cool!!! just drop a dollar on the piggy bank and play!!!!.........for 30 minutes, but you can drop another one!!!! really, do you have any idea for how much second hand sales have existed??? and did the industry disappeared for that??? NO.... the only reason they are doing this right now is not to pay to the developers more money, because they don´t see a single dime of this. They are doing it because internet allows them to do it, period. Do you fell bad for selling something and not giving more money to the original creator?? then next time that you sell your car to get more money for the x box piggy bank don´t forget to send a good share to the company who build it, i´m sure they get hurt for those second sales too......

@StarcasM

This guy has to be kidding. Dust off my PS2/Xbox/Gamecube? HAH! EA already closed all their servers for those systems because they sell online passes to suckers like you.

@ShivanSwordsman BRO FIST

@VideoGameFan

Exactly! I don't understand the hate for the used games market. There's a used market for just about every other conceivable good.

This whole "Online Pass" nonsense would be like buying a book at a used bookstore, opening it up, and reading "The prologue and epilogue are available for download only through this online redemption code." And, since it's used, the online code is already scratched out. Wouldn't that make you just a little bit angry?

What's the difference between used books and used games? I can only think the difference is that gamers actually defend this kind of bullshit. Why defend the publishers? Sure, without publishers most developers wouldn't have enough money to make their games. But publishers don't give a flying rat's ass about games, they're just looking for profit, profit, profit, profit. That's why publishers do ridiculous things like this. They don't care about the gamers, they don't care about the games, they just care about making money.

This is not a rant about capitalism or anything like that, I'm just trying to figure out why gamers have their priorities all out of wack. Sure the used games market, particularly gamestop, makes piles of cash. But is it really ok for EA to screw over gamers who, say, RENT the game and are unable to play it online because of their draconian "online pass?" Apparently it is. Good job people, good job.

I'm just glad I by and large don't care for EA games. So I can boycott their games without really missing much.

@Kirkpad

So then why complain? Buy the game, or don't.

@DaDiddles

Bottom line is, the used game market created this problem. Without places like Gamestop, there wouldn't be a need for online pass.

Cry about the publisher's "greed" all you want, they are just trying to protect their investment. Meanwhile, Gamestop makes millions without having to risk anything at all.

And stop with the house and car metaphors please. You're just making yourselves look like uninformed morons.

@ClownyDaggers
So in your world, every game bought should be forever tied to the individual who bought it. Why should these publishers be able to sell the same MP over and over? Are rentals also hurting the industry? Because many quality games rely on rentals to demo their product. Thing is, now they can't even demo the full product without having to pay an additional $10 to even try the MP.

You're coming off as a shill for corporate gaming publishers that will push to squeeze every single cent out of the people that play their games. People would still sell their unplayed games even if gamestop didn't exist. You make it sound like a gamestop has never closed down. A business is still a business. Are used book stores killing off smaller fringe authors?

@VideoGameFan

"Thing is, now they can't even demo the full product without having to pay an additional $10 to even try the MP."

Wrong. All Online Pass games from EA come with at least 2 days to trial the online features for free for everybody, which should be fine for a rental. I've not played a game from another publisher that uses similar unlock codes to know if it is true for those too.

For me, I buy new, don't tend to trade-in and if I want a game cheap, I wait for a sale, so OP doesn't really affect me.

@ShivanSwordsman

PREACH ON!!

I cannot believe people are defending this!!

Those same people buy used CD's, sports equipment, cars, etc heck they even bought used games back in the day.

Where the sympathy for those companies

And pawn shops must be the most evil business ever created I mean they sell nothing but used everything. Pawn shops across the country should be shut down immediately because they are robbing the original manufacturer of sales.

@Ospov

And that will be the day I exit gaming

I dont go online much so i dont mind online passes too much, but I draw the line at limited offline in any shape or form.

I dont care if its some rare shitty weapon, if I need some offline pass to get it - no buy.

After that Disc Pass

@Faenix
I'll just switch to PC and pirate everything if it comes to that.

@Ospov - Already happening:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/rage/news/6328508/rage-new-purchase-incentive-detailed

@Special Agent Bob ..This would actually make pirating alot harder .. At least when I think about it .. It would.. Then again.. Nothing is impossible

@Demaar

Pirating isn't as easy as it used to be with always online requirements for PC games.

@PatientJ
By the price, I mean the price point they put on the used games that are potentially lacking the Online Pass.

@PatientJ
Well now when you buy used games at Gamestop they include the project $10 DLC and such codes at the bottom of your reciept. I know with MK they did this.

@The Aquacharger

If you notice, used games that GameStop automatically prints an online pass for are priced at the usual $55. If they're not giving out the passes, they price the games at $48.

@PatientJ

It doesn't screw the customers? OK, I have swamp land in Texas to sell you.

@Red Runner

How is the customer getting screwed? I never understood that. Buy it new and it doesn't cost you a thing, just enter the code. If you buy it used then that's your choice to buy it from a 2nd party and then you have to pay for access to their servers.

Buy it new and it's never an issue.

@PatientJ What!? Doesnt screw over the customers? HAHAHA! If you buy a new copy of a game and someone in your family, friend, or alt account you have to pay 10 exta dollars to play it online. How is that not screwing people over you sheep? And if you say "They are combating used game sales" remember, A GAME HAS TO BE BOUGHT "NEW" TO BE CONSIDERED "USED". They got their money.

@SuperAnthony64

You know that u can gameshare the Online pass, right?

I bought it new, and used it in 3 PS3s, never had an issue (with FIFA or NFS: Hot pursuit

@SuperAnthony64

Wrong, from the EA site:
Do I need an unique Online Pass for every user on my console?
No. One Online Pass will give online access to multiple users logged into the console where the Online Pass was first activated (subject to the console manufacturer’s and EA online terms of service).

Also, the user that activated the Online Pass will be allowed to access online features on other consoles (of the same manufacturer) by logging into the same account credentials that they used when they enabled the Online Pass.

Not to mention if you lend it to someone they have a 2 day trial.
And for every used game that's sold it is one less new copy they could have potentially sold, and more person their servers have to support that they did not get offsetting revenue

@OnToGloryReturns
Exactly. Thank you.

@PatientJ

The customer is getting screwed because the developer has already been paid for the use of that game online. In the ideal situation, the publisher would like for someone to buy a game, play for a couple of days at most, then put it on the shelf and let it collect dust so that they don't have to pay anything else for bandwidth and server maintenance. I am sure they loathe people who buy a game and continue to play it several months after launch (just like credit card companies hate people who pay off their statements each month).

There is absolutely no difference in what the company pays out for someone like me who buys something new and continues to play it for a year after release than someone else who plays for 3 months, sells it to someone else, who then plays for 9 months after that.

I always buy everything new as long as I can because of other reasons than the online pass. But I rarely buy any game at full price because I think that $60 is too much. I still feel that the online pass program is a bunch of b.s. to the gaming community.

I know that the big game publishers have always been primarily out for money. But at least in the past they put on a somewhat believeable facade that they also cared about the gamers. Now, with online pass and the piss-poor support most games get after release (EA and DICE being the worst of them all), there is no denying that they care nothing for their consumers except for the money in their wallets.

@PeteZahutt

Well - I was in the industry for a decade so you must know more about the infrastructure costs than I do. You conveniently ignoring their right to charge people for the simple use of their servers who did not purchase the game from them (by proxy). Would you let a group of strangers park in your driveway whenever they wanted to without compensation? I didn't think so.

As regards to EA's support I can't speak to BF but I play NHL literally all year long and that game is consistently updated with behind the scenes tweaks most people aren't even aware of (remember, they can update perpetually w/out the need for a front end title update).

Bottom line is the only people shelling out for the Online Pass are people who aren't their customers and want to use their servers. Again - buy it new and it's never an issue.

@OnToGloryReturns
Your "strangers parking in your driveway" argument is flawed. Think of it more like EA owns a public parking garage that sells 3 year parking passes. If the owner of that pass decides to sell the pass to someone else, it's still only taking up one spot in the garage. Why does EA feel justified in charging people because it's a different car?

Because they saw an opportunity to make even more money off of their fans. This doesn't do anything to help engender good will to game renters either.

@PatientJ

you should realize that other than gamestop we all get affected by this what about if someone hack your account or it gets banned, you cant use the same copy of the game you bought full price unless you buy another stupid pass, and those who have multiple user on the same game at home?

What about if i want to resell my game to a friend that wanted it now i cant do that neither, this its wrong

@PatientJ
The world is slowly but inexorably moving from a one time sale model to a subscription model. We are beginning to lose our rights to own things electronic and digital.

The intermediate step between buying a book and paying a monthly subscription to read a book is buying the digital license. Linked to your private account, this sale cannot be transferred and will likely be repeated in the future. Sounds familiar.

Like Skynet, you can't stop this. At least we won't all die; just work to borrow what we used to own.