Gaming companies ripping us off: when did this become OK?

[Aprilgold]

What's so bad about online passes?

Not a damn thing. I like them and I'll support it.

Simply that your selling a product that is finished in a unfinished state. And all this wacky ass DRM is not stopping Pirates, its just making more, and the consumer was never the problem in this who fiasco, it was places like Game Stop that sell Second Hand Copies of games and give only, what, a buck per sold used game to the pub?

Online passes, whats the point of getting a 60$ game, installing the games essential stuff *I mind you getting the game and installing it would take about 3 hours or so.* then typing in a code with a pad for about 10 minutes, waiting 50 for it to 'VERIFY' then finally be able to start the game. When I could just pirate the bloody thing, avoid a large amount of time and then play it sooner.

Pointing this out here, Publishers are punishing Customers for buying the game used because the Seller of the Product is giving none of the Sales Money to the Publisher so they can Pay their Staff.
Borwing games from a friend is not what their cutting down on, their cutting down on Sellers of their Product like Game Stop from taking all the profits from them.

Honestly, I don't care because I got none of this shit on Steam.

 

[predatorpulse7]

Hello Fellow Escapists,

I was recently complaining about tactics used by game companies to try and squeeze more money out of us. The multiplayer locking out unless you enter a code (Space Marine, Dead Space 2 ect), the "sewers" mission on Rage and the Catwoman section in Batman. Also riot game's League of legends charging 6300 in game points for every new character. (this is about 42 winning games at 45 minutes a pop, a long grind if you have a full time job/study)

I'm very against these tactics but recently I've found that more and more people are thinking that these tactics are OK because these companies are bussinesses and they need to make money. One of my friends said to me, "they're rewarding the player for buying new not punishing the second hand players" (WTF it's the same thing I said!!) I keep hearing it's supply and demand, you don't HAVE to buy it. Its Capitalism so it's alright?

Now thats what I'm starting to get annoyed about, WHY is it ok for them to start doing this? and when are people going to say, hey, thats not cool!

Will it be if the new player bonus is the end cutscene?
Will it be if they start charging more and more for games?
When do we draw the line?

Will it be OK for internet companies to start doubling their charges? Will it be ok for Oil companies to charge more? All in the name of business?

Heres an Example: EA games saw (For the quarter ending December 31, 2005 THE QUARTER!!) $1.27 Billion in sales , but they feel they need to lock out multiplayer for Dead Space 2?
Bethesda Softworks made a profit of $300 million from Fallout 3. 300 MILLION in PROFIT, but they need to lock out the sewers for second hand gamers.

Sorry for the rant but god it pisses me off.

The correct answer is since gaming started but it's been getting worse and worse in the modern era. However, I can't really blame them since the sheep buy products and accept any crap that's thrown their way by these companies. It's one thing to get shafted a bit but these days companies want you to pay for DLC(instead of putting it in the f**king game), pay for skins(instead of having them unlocked through challenges and such), pay for multiplayer(see the lock out for DS 2 which you talk about), basically pay for the basic product and then pay again many times over.

I understand having business sense but it's getting ridiculous. See the new batman game. Since I am purchasing Arkham City you would think that I am getting most of the characters in the respective universe(and being an AAA title it's expensive) but no, I have to pay extra if I want to play as Catwoman/Robin(only if you pre-order from best buy). What next, play extra if I want to use the batarang or if I want to enter the next room?

I will gladly pay for something, I'm not some cheapass, but give me something consistent. Deus ex fixed it's boss fight thing with this new DLC and the mini story was pretty interesting but 15$ for a 5 hour DLC? Come on.

As you said, it's getting more and more ridiculous. But no worries, gamers won't protest and the publishers will get their money anyway.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Easy answer do NOT buy second hand games.

Not buying second hand will not make them go back on these crippling feature, only confirm that they can force the customers hand.
The only way to stop them is to not play along, these features do cost extra and if noone pays they will be loosing money.

Also before you go and complain about release prices (and unless you live in australia(or another country that asks an absurd price) you do not even really have a reason to complain) do not buy it on release day. Just wait until the go down and you still have all the access codes or wait for the game of the year edition that contains all DLC's.

Second hand allows you to buy full priced games that you aren't sure off.
I for instance will never waste 60$+ on CoD / Gears / Battlefield because the campaigns are very small and I don't play their multiplayer, but I have no problem putting in half price by sharing it with a mate or putting it on ebay after I got those 5 hours of gameplay, and the money I get back again goes into games.
If they kill off the second hand market I will simply stop putting my money on any games that don't give me a fully guaranteed content package.

 

[D Moness]

Easy answer do NOT buy second hand games.

Not buying second hand will not make them go back on these crippling feature, only confirm that they can force the customers hand.
The only way to stop them is to not play along, these features do cost extra and if noone pays they will be loosing money.

The problem still is if nobody buys the game first where do the second hand games come from.

That $35 used copy vs that $60 new, that used copy is starting to look pretty sweet.

Seems that people are missing something from my previous points. You are NOT forced to buy the game on day 1 (only the fans will) if you do not like the price (plus games are 80 to 90 dollars here) wait until the price drops. For example i got borderlands game of the year edition for 30 dollars, this was not second handed. I just waited until it dropped in price (same as alpha protocol 15 euro etc).

If you do not like the price just wait for the pricedrop. If you buy second hand games you know you can be " locked" out of stuff. This is common knowledge.