So battlefield 3 is hit by a trifecta of problems. DLC codes not working, Online passes not working, and Origin for the PC being a big pile of wank. It seems every new game I buy now there are 3 or 4 codes I have to put in just to get everything that came with them. I buy almost all my games new,but I also rent games through Lovefilm. About a year ago If you pre-ordered or bought a new game you got mabey a map or weapon thrown in. This was plenty to encourage a day 1 purchase. Bad company 2 shipped with a VIP code to get you almost all the DLC for free. Im fine with devs now including DLC as part of a games release strategy. If you want to devote part of your team to simultaneously work on DLC, with the aim that periodic content will keep players playing your game longer, and get attention and interest leading up to the next sequel, that's fine. It gives customers a choice to buy something or not. If im heavily into a games multiplayer, I have no trouble shelling out £10 or so on a map pack once or twice to keep my interest up. When new maps come out for a COD game, it resurges my interest in playing, and gets me back on-line. What i hate is being locked out of a key component of a game because I chose to rent or buy used. If punlishers are losing money to the used market, intelligent quality DLC after the games release will stop people trading it in. At the end of the day if you incentiveise the customers KEEPING THE GAME THEY BOUGHT rather than penalising everyone else, including those Day one pre orderers you love so much by making them faff around with codes that don't work.
If I trade a game in its because I am bored with it. Surley if Im bored with a game I paid £40 quid for, and am happy to take less than half that (In many cases way less) in trade, then mabey the game wasn't good enough to begin with? Im not denying that used games are not a problem to publishers. An i can understand why online passes can be seen as a quick fix, but dont take out important part of the game for the sake of it. Put some exclusive gear or bonus levels as a code fine. Rage was a good example of this. But dont take out huge chunks of the story mode (Batman) or the good half of the game (Battlefield)
If I trade a game in its because I am bored with it. Surley if Im bored with a game I paid £40 quid for, and am happy to take less than half that (In many cases way less) in trade, then mabey the game wasn't good enough to begin with? Im not denying that used games are not a problem to publishers. An i can understand why online passes can be seen as a quick fix, but dont take out important part of the game for the sake of it. Put some exclusive gear or bonus levels as a code fine. Rage was a good example of this. But dont take out huge chunks of the story mode (Batman) or the good half of the game (Battlefield)