[Edit] Sony Plans to Make Used-Game Buyers Purchase Online Functionality

[Reyalsfeihc]

IGNDaily just covered this story direct from IGN.com

"Yesterday, German website Konsolentreff published early photos of the Resistance 3 PS3 bundle box showing a new logo that says "PSN Pass."

The message read: "Network features only available in countries that have PlayStation Store." However, no other details were provided.

SCEA responded to requests for comment this morning to clarify, saying this program requires customers to input a one-time use code to access a game's online capabilities, similar to EA's Online Pass introduced last year.

- Konsolentreff
"We are always evaluating new programs for our online offering, and starting with Resistance 3 this September, we will be instituting a network pass program for PS3 games with online capabilities," the spokesperson said. "This program will be game-specific. Games that are a part of this program will include a single-use registration code that grants the account holder redeeming the code full online access for that title.

"This is an important initiative as it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio."

If you don't have a code to input, say if you purchase the game used, you'll have to buy one through the Store. It's unclear how much one of these PSN Pass codes will cost, however.

Sony said it will announce additional details at a later date."

So essentially any used games you purchase in the future from places like Gamestop or such will require you to re-purchase that title from the PSN store for full online capabilities.

Original Story: ( http://ps3.ign.com/articles/118/1180810p1.html#.ThSbuHq-qU4.twitter )

 

[suitepee7]

nothing new, as stated EA already has this feature in place, just a shame sony is jumping on board. some games aren't worth the multiplayer mind, so it's just a case of being careful where you purchase your games from

 

[Darwins_Folly]

Really, I don't mind that at all. I usually purchase all my games new. Why should someplace like gamestop get the money from a game instead of the people who made it? If companies don't make money on games, they wont make games, its as simple as that. I gladly pay the extra five bucks for a new game because I'd rather support the industry than a game store.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

Not really a big deal. I can buy new games for cheaper than Gamestop's used games anyways.

 

[William MacKay]

so, basically, what Extra Credits said companies should do? glad to see theyre teaching companies well.

 

[AgentBJ09]

I only play online with maybe 2% of my collection, so this isn't much of a bother for me. Still, bad move to try and do the Online Pass in this manner as well. It's only going to drive people to say "Screw it. Not worth it." in regards to online play on consoles.

 

[Shamanic Enzan]

I buy used games about 2 or 3 years after their released, if there enough people still playing to make the multiplayer worth it then I'll bite.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I always buy my games new, so this is no problem for me. Besides, I hate about 98% of all multiplayer, so it really doesn't bother me in the slightest. Now, if you start locking out single player stuff (cough Dragon Age II cough), then we're going to have a problem

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

Tell me everything's free now, PS3 fans.

It is free if you buy the game new plus it's only for 1st party games. On the 360, if you buy Halo (1st-party) or COD (3rd party) new, you still gotta pay the $60/year to play online when you already payed for the cost of playing online when you bought the game new.

 

[cainx10a]

Only two groups benefit from used sales, consumers and the people profiting from selling them (that doesn't include the publishers and developers).

 

[nohorsetown]

Bleh. I don't like this One-Full-Price-New-Purchase/One-Person-Admitted crap, but whatcha gonna do? We "gamers" always roll over for the next price hike or draconian control system. Before too long there won't be a used market, and we won't be able to lend games to our friends.. and we'll still be so damn proud that we spent, oh, let's say, 80 bucks to "support" Team Sony on our fresh new copy of Resistance 5, which we'll play for about a month before we jump to the next shooter. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

Meanwhile, I just finished reading another book from the library! For free! Yaaaaay, I'm destroying capitalism!

 

[MgalekgoloHunter]

"This is an important initiative as it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio."

Initiative? Check.
Accelerate? Check.
Commitment? Check.
Enhance? Check.
Premium? Check.
Portfolio? Check.

Wow, there were so many meaningless media buzzwords in that sentence my eyes are spinning.

 

[Gigano]

Well, I suppose you can't blame companies for wanting to make money off their products. And maintaining an on-line service isn't free anyway.

I'd worry that this could contribute to a (further) decline of proper single player titles though. If the money is primarily with the online portion of games, then SONY and the various game developers won't exactly be tempted to focus on the single player aspects of games, much less on single player-only titles.

 

[UmbrellaAssassin]

What happened to the day when you could bring you favorite game to your friends house and laugh all night at all the shenanigans you get into on split screen. Not only do games not have decent split screen anymore but now you can't even play the crappy multiplayer at your friends house cause it won't work.
Its like the video game companies are trying as hard as they can to keep the "shut-in" gamer stereotype.

 

[Fursnake]

Guess I'll just continue to rent games for the single player campaigns, even less interested in console multiplayer now.

 

[Waaghpowa]

Not surprised at all, I'm waiting for the day they require serial codes that are linked to your account and prevent you from trading them in.

 

[Easton Dark]

I only buy PS3 games new on Amazon anyway. Not much of a problem for me.

 

[Waaghpowa]

What happened to the day when you could bring you favorite game to your friends house and laugh all night at all the shenanigans you get into on split screen. Not only do games not have decent split screen anymore but now you can't even play the crappy multiplayer at your friends house cause it won't work.
Its like the video game companies are trying as hard as they can to keep the "shut-in" gamer stereotype.

Those days disappeared when publishers and developers started believing that all we wanted was online multi player.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

So essentially any used games you purchase in the future from places like Gamestop or such will require you to re-purchase that title from the PSN store for full online capabilities.

Actually, that's a really great idea!

A policy like this will likely force Gamestop to lower their prices on used games to makeup for the fact that people need to purchase the multiplayer online. It will make used game prices more reasonable (seriously, five bucks less, really?) and make sure that every purchase gets money back to the publisher.

And if Gamespot won't lower their used game prices, then no one will buy their used games (because it will be cheaper to spend the extra five bucks and get it new with code. Either way, this is a great way to screw Gamespot without seriously harming players.