And you thought Online Passes were bad.

[Furioso]

Something tells me that the game would be horrible even if they didn't try this stupid ass plan

 

[Something Amyss]

To be honest, from the publishers perspective it's a bloody good idea, and it's already pretty much industry standard a mere two years or so after Mass Effect 2 pioneered the technique.

And from an industry standard, child labour is a good idea. Doesn't mean it works out for us. Unless you're actually part of the industry, maybe you shouldn't be looking at how awesome it is for the people cracking down on the right of the used market to exist.

Had retailers not been forcing used games down customer's throats, the games industry wouldn't have reacted in this way.

Bull.

They needed a new way to expand profits. They weren't forced to react like this. In five years, TOPS, they will need another such idea to further expand profits.

Likely, it will be an attack on the people buying new. Will the apologists still make excuses for the poor, beleaguered industry that's still making record profits? Probably.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

I wonder how people would feel if they had to pay the car company a $1000 fee everytime they bought a used car so they could have the key to it?

On topic: That is stupid and probably sell a lot to parents who dont know how to say "no" to their children. I kept seeing commercial for it on the hub earlier.

 

[CthulhuMessiah]

...

*Leaves room*
*Screams*

I don't even know what to say anymore. Does everything have to be about money now? Fuck the art of gaming, WE NEED A NEW SOLID DIAMOND YACHT!

 

[darthotaku]

I never had a problem with online Passes. There was nothing wrong with them. They were good for the industry. Buy the game from the Dev, get all content. Buy it from a store and give $0 to the Dev who made the game, get cut out of content that the Dev put hard work into making.

This is bullshit, and I noted that the second I saw it on T.V. I can't imagine this will do very well...
And yeah, another seconding to the 'What the hell is that thing its not Spiro' comment(s).

the thing thats wrong with online passes is that somebody has already paid the devs. somebody did pay $60, and the correct percentage of that money has gone to the developers. you have simply paid that person a smaller amount for their right to ownership. it's like saying that I should send a cheque to mazda for my old car, the money has been paid to them, I didn't steal the car from them by buying it from somebody else. same thing with games. it's all been paid for already, I'm just giving money to somebody else to use it.

The problem is that before Online Passes, used games and new games were identical (assuming the previous owners didn't carve their name on the disc), except that one type meant that all the profits were going to the retailer, and with major retailers (GAME, GameStop et al.) pushing used games hard and new retailers (Argos, Tesco) joining the used game bandwagon, something had to give. To be honest, from the publishers perspective it's a bloody good idea, and it's already pretty much industry standard a mere two years or so after Mass Effect 2 pioneered the technique. Had retailers not been forcing used games down customer's throats, the games industry wouldn't have reacted in this way.

In order for a game to be used it must first be bought when it is new and then sold again. every single used game has been paid for and that money has already gone to the publisher. they're work is done and they are paid for it. the money from used games goes to gameshop for their service of giving people the chance to get rid of old games they don't want. the publisher is trying to get more money without doing extra work.

 

[GonzoGamer]

That's pants on head retarded but it doesn't make me feel any better about online passes.
In fact, it only makes me think that because gamers were so accepting of online passes, we're sure to see more obscenely stupid schemes like this... and they're going to get even worse than that.

PRECISELY.

Companies are profit driven. when they maximised their sales, they needed something else. Online passes, in this case. And they will want more, once Online Passes look to have reached their capacity. Which means they'll need some other way to expand profit. In probability this will be either locking content for new buyers as well, or them trying wilder stunts.

Or, in thie case, it seems a little of both.

This is what you get for saying "I don't mind online passes."

Now, I know a lot of corporate apologists will say "How dare you expect companies not to make a profit," because I get that almost every time I mention this, that's not what I'm saying. There is a point beyond which they no longer need to make more profit, and this trend of attacking the consumer WILL BE progressive as long as we allow it to.

So the real question is "How bad will the majority of gamers allow it to get?"
If you go over and look at something like the gamefaq forums, you can get the impression that in a few years we'll be buying $60 demos and buying the remainder of those games in several $20 installments.
These forums tend to have some savvy consumers in the mix but I bet there's still people here who would be fine with that.

 

[Chased]

Is anyone actually buying this stuff? I can't imagine any sensible adult buying this for their kid.

Son: DAD! I gotta get this new Spyro video game!
Dad: Alrighty there champ, how much is it?
Son: $70 plus $8 for the characters.
Dad: Get out of my house.

 

[Awexsome]

Online passes aren't bad. This isn't an online pass. This is some weird batshit crazy plan that someone at Activision came up with... I saw someone mention old cereal box gimmicks when we were kids... I like that comparison.

But the regular 10$ online pass for a game you have to pay only if you buy it used isn't bad at all.

 

[kebab4you]

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Do tell? First I hear about it :s

Out over that I find it funny activision is trying to get you to pay 100$ for a franchise which have been dead for ages...

 

[Catie Caraco]

The answer is simple: Don't buy it. If people don't support it, it will fail, and they won't try it again. Unfortunately a lot of uneducated Moms, Dads, and Grandparents will get snookered into buying the game for their kids/grandkids and then finding out about the figurines. I guess the root of the problem is how do we educate that part of the consumer market, i.e. the gullible or uncaring parents who use video games as Nannies for their kids.

 

[CommanderL]

Is anyone actually buying this stuff? I can't imagine any sensible adult buying this for their kid.

Son: DAD! I gotta get this new Spyro video game!
Dad: Alrighty there champ, how much is it?
Son: $70 plus $8 for the characters.
Dad: Get out of my house.

dad: I remember when I was young and i played sypro ah the fun we had that awsome purple dragon -sees what spyro looks like- noooooooooooooooo sypro what have they done to you

 

[WanderingFool]

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Dont you mean used?

And my dear GOD! Who the fuck thinks of something like this!?

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

I'm Nthing everyone on this thread in regards to what they did to Spyro.

That is NOT Spyro...that is a mutant Murlock.

Actually...I fear the collectible figures to unlock features trend. I dread they're going to do that with something else...another beloved series.

One where you want to be the very best...like no one ever was...

CAPTCHA: 1803. nsamil

Ah yes...get me the 1803 Nsamil. It should go well with this brisket.

 

[Qitz]

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Dont you mean used?

And my dear GOD! Who the fuck thinks of something like this!?

Ah. Yup, flubbed that, good catch.

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Do tell? First I hear about it :s

Out over that I find it funny activision is trying to get you to pay 100$ for a franchise which have been dead for ages...

The Cerberus Network was a DLC network that would be given to you for free if you bought the game new from stores but had to be purchased for $10 if you got the game used.

So if you wanted Zaeed, The Price of Revenge and didn't buy the game new, you'd have to fork out an extra $10 to get onto the network.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

Come on, guys, it can't be so bad. Going to the store to buy figurines/DLC is just like going to the store to buy your console games. You probably do it on a regular basis unless you strictly use Amazon or something.

And what's all this about Spyro being an abomination. It can't be that ba-

OH DEAR GOD, KILL IT WITH FIRE!

 

[Atmos Duality]

Just another chapter in publishers demanding more money for the same product.
Vote with your wallet, and heaven help you if you have spoiled, controlling children.

 

[kebab4you]

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Dont you mean used?

And my dear GOD! Who the fuck thinks of something like this!?

Ah. Yup, flubbed that, good catch.

So we've all heard of the whole debacle with Online Passes, Cerberus Network for example, where game developers would lock you out of content if you bought a game new.

Do tell? First I hear about it :s

Out over that I find it funny activision is trying to get you to pay 100$ for a franchise which have been dead for ages...

The Cerberus Network was a DLC network that would be given to you for free if you bought the game new from stores but had to be purchased for $10 if you got the game used.

So if you wanted Zaeed, The Price of Revenge and didn't buy the game new, you'd have to fork out an extra $10 to get onto the network.

Well that I figured , but your post said it would lock out ppl of continent IF they did buy it new...