B00KY

Online pass or not, people WILL pay it to play it if it is a good game that their friends have and want to play online.

However, I just don't believe EA's reasoning. The bottom line is that for every LEGAL copy bought, EA should expect to create user space on their servers. If I go and buy a used copy, I may be creating a new user space but only one of those accounts will be an active (potential processor/ram/bandwidth using) account since the original purchaser no longer has the game. Whether it is a new or used disc there is only one ACTIVE account per disc....what's the big deal. We all know storage space is extremely cheap.

We all know that this has way more to do with getting money from used sales that they were missing out on before. Great business decision on their side, but they should just own up to why they are doing it.

When I buy a used car I don't need to pay the car manufacturer (17% of the new cost) for my own set of new keys just to start it. Same with used TVs, DVDs, houses, clothes, books, weight sets, or anything really....

I have been watching this headset and also the new Madcatz/Tritton Warhead line of headsets that have somehow partnered with Microsoft to use the secure, proprietary wireless chat channel for the upcoming headsets. http://trittonusa.com/warhead/

And where the hell are the A,B,X,Y buttons for the controller?!?! I know there is a keyboard and all...and a frickin trackball...but not normal buttons besides two strangely placed ones...

That's what dogs are for!

Very cool device. Seems to be one of the things I would love to have, but couldn't rationalize buying before some other things. Winning it is an entirely different story!

Thanks for your feedback, Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. I can understand how my comment might have come across as n00b as it did, but trust me when I say that I do not expect Map packs to be free. However, the way the news release read made it sounds like the Gears 2 update may have included the map pack - which surprised me.

But assuming we will have to pay for the map pack, I am just saying that there are base achievements for a game and then there are DLC achievements. To me, ranking up to level 50 in multiplayer should have NOTHING to do with playing matches on each of the snowblind map packs. Sure, have a separate achievement for playing on each of the new map packs...as they have done before...but don't combine the two.

It's confusing to write about, but I think we each get the other.

If the Snowblind Map Pack IS NOT free, then I think it's crappy to include new achievements that require you to buy it - like "Reach level 50 and play a match on each of the 4 Snowblind Map Pack maps".

Does we know if the Snowblind Map pack is going to be free and included with the update? It almost sounds like it will be free with the update.

I am still annoyed with "The Completionist" achievement in Fable 2 that requires that you buy XBLA Pub games. I know you can potentially join someone else's game...blahblahblah...and somehow get it, but I think that is Pe-tarded!

The confusion causing "Napoleon Dynamite" unit.

Pong!

I think it would be awesome if you could undermine your enemy's entire city/towncenter like the giant worm does in Gears of War 2!