Poll: Online Pass: Have the Consumers become the whipping boy of the retailers?

[DEAD34345]

None of those poll options match my opinion at all...

The publishers are out to make money, not friends. If they think they can get away with charging us for things we used to get for free, they will, whether retailers are pushing used games on us or not. So far us gamers have shown we're perfectly willing to deal with things like online passes and day 1 DLC, so they'll just keep pushing it further and further until we finally snap. I hope that happens soon, because frankly, I can barely afford mainstream games as it is.

 

[Sakurazaki1023]

I can't hate the online pass system too much, especially since I don't play online multiplayer. I don't support the practice in the slightest, so all it means is that I get my used copy of the single player campaign even cheaper. Since they lack the online component, the used price drops like a brick after a month or so on the market.

If the publisher decides to use it to prevent used game sales, it just gives me more motivation to buy it used.

 

[getoffmycloud]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

Before you pass judgement, maybe you should know what you are talking about. If you have the Power Up card you get 10% off which brings the price down to $49.50. That's $10.50 less than the new copy. Plus it may be $10 less than that if you opt out of buying the online pass. That's a nice savings.

Uhhh... okay. That still doesn't negate the fact that you're taking money away from the developer (who makes the games you love) to give larger profit margins to one of the seediest corporations out there. You're essentially paying GameStop to rip you off.

I don't want to come across as one of those tinfoil hat anti-corporation hippies, but it's the truth. GameStop makes OBSCENE margins on used games. Don't help them rip off gamers everywhere. Pay the extra $5-10 for a new game and avoid this online pass fee altogether.

The day that NEW games require an online pass is the day I join my fellow gamers and take up arms against the publishers. Until that happens, I have no sympathy for people who buy used games.

They might make obscene margins on used games but here in the UK game is basically going down like the titanic and they have the most expensive used games here so not many people buy them and this means they are about to post a £15 million loss for the year

 

[dobahci]

And if I feel it's lacking in the rpg element I can just dress up and pretend to go around shooting people and making important moral choices

Don't forget that those moral choices must come down to either being the savior of the universe or being a genocidal baby killer. Moral gray areas are not permitted!

OT: The poll lacks a "Bacon" option.

Actually OT: I don't feel like customers are being punished for the activity of retailers. Maybe that's what publishers will say, but it's just a bunch of excuses. Just like how they constantly will make up some random number X and then say $X million potential profits were lost due to piracy and therefore the solution is STRONGER DRM!

Publishers will blame everyone else for the need to place undue restrictions on a game and raise its cost in order to avoid having to come right out and confess "the truth is that we just want to be even richer than we currently are."

 

[Dogstile]

I see nothing wrong with used games so online pass annoys me. Not everyone can afford it full price, that's why people buy it used legally. The money doesn't go to the developers, it goes to the publishers who thinks this sort of this is ok, so I don't mind depriving them of money.

That thing people have when retailers are being pricks about it? If they're doing so well, why is game running out of money? It was posted on this very site after all. Surely they don't sell used games right? Oh wait, they do.

NOBODY EVER BOUGHT MODERN WARFARE 2 OR 3 FOR SINGLE PLAYER YOU LIAR.

Funnily enough, I went through the single player, went through two games of multi and took it back. Was quite disappointed, Treyarch crafts a much better story.

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

Before you pass judgement, maybe you should know what you are talking about. If you have the Power Up card you get 10% off which brings the price down to $49.50. That's $10.50 less than the new copy. Plus it may be $10 less than that if you opt out of buying the online pass. That's a nice savings.

Uhhh... okay. That still doesn't negate the fact that you're taking money away from the developer (who makes the games you love) to give larger profit margins to one of the seediest corporations out there. You're essentially paying GameStop to rip you off.

I don't want to come across as one of those tinfoil hat anti-corporation hippies, but it's the truth. GameStop makes OBSCENE margins on used games. Don't help them rip off gamers everywhere. Pay the extra $5-10 for a new game and avoid this online pass fee altogether.

The day that NEW games require an online pass is the day I join my fellow gamers and take up arms against the publishers. Until that happens, I have no sympathy for people who buy used games.

Rip off gamers everywhere? Look above. Also, we're not taking money away from the developers. They get paid to make a game, once its finished they either get paid to make the next one or to make patches. They don't get paid on how well it sells.

 

[Necroid_Neko]

Don't forget that those moral choices must come down to either being the savior of the universe or being a genocidal baby killer. Moral gray areas are not permitted!

Good thing I always take the high ground in these kind of moral decisions; next door's baby is safe...for now >

Welp, I'd better get on to saving that universe then!

 

[9thRequiem]

For me, it depends whether it's content that's been cut from the game (eg, multiplayer) or new content (eg, bonus missions).
I have no problems at all with the latter, as we clearly benefit from having this extra stuff, it costs more to produce, and you don't lose anything by not having it. Whereas to complete a game entirely, then mark a section as "Only for people who pay us directly" is only detrimental.
Of course, there are grey areas - the Catwoman sections in Arkham City, for example. Bonus content, or cut game sections?

Rip off gamers everywhere? Look above. Also, we're not taking money away from the developers. They get paid to make a game, once its finished they either get paid to make the next one or to make patches. They don't get paid on how well it sells.

Depends on the contract between the publisher and the developer - many include bonuses based on sales (this means sales of new games only). On top of that, poor sales mean the developer gets canned; high sales means the next game they make will be given a higher budget.

 

[Yopaz]

Well, I don't mind online passes one bit, still I am a PC gamer so these things have no impact on me. I get my games through Steam so I wont have to type in anything to get my content. I do think that publishers deserve to get profits from the games they have funded while GameStop is only a company that offers us nothing more than Amazon or the electronic store right next to it. GameStop usually charges more for games than both of those other sources.

Should publishers whine about consumers buying used? No, it's how the market works. They are guilty of using the market in ways to maximize their profits, retailers should be allowed to do the same, consumers should be allowed to buy things second hand or borrow games form friends without being blamed for the downfall of an entire industry.

Let's all admit it. Online passes don't really harm us. If I buy a game used (I never do) I can play it. However if there is some content that is there as DLC that was free if I had bought the game then I might get that once I am sure that I like the game. You can whine all you want about companies being greedy for wanting to make profit, but do you think GameStop sells used games because they want us to be happy? Do you buy used games to secure GameStop's happiness?
Everyone puts their own needs over the others. The food industry, the music industry, the movie industry. Name me one industry that doesn't seek for personal gain.

 

[Daygall65]

In the long run, many of the games coming out today won't stand the test of time because of this. Retro gaming is actually being detoured nowadays. I can play Mario 2, Earthbound, KoF:Heroes, or any other game before this generation anytime I want for the rest of my life just as it was when it came out. The games of this generation will be dead within one or two console generations and be crippled versions of their former selves. If I find a copy of Joe & Mac 2 on SNES somewhere I am gonna buy it up. I hope no kid growing up playing Batman Arkham Asylum (who ends up breaking/selling it) on 360/PS3 wants to revisit it on the PS3 when he gets older because that isn't gonna happen. He is gonna get a crippled version if he finds a copy as it won't be in production anymore and the Catwoman access will be unable to be accessed anymore.

This part needs to be repeated as much as possible, THIS is the main problem I have with ALL new generation games. Now I'm not saying that the publishers WONT patch out crap like this after the life time of the game as *main stream* ends, but what happens when they do?

What happens when say 5 years from now I, for nostalgia, shits and giggles, plain old FUN, decide to reinstall Arkham City, only to find out I used up my last activation years ago and had forgotten?

So I call the number... and wait... no one is picking up. So now NOT ONLY do I not have access to the catwoman content *as mentioned above* but I don't even have access to the GAME.

I have something that I bought 1st day on release like a good little boy. Because I WANTED to support the DEVELOPER by saying *THIS IS THE TYPE OF GAME I'LL SHELL OUT FOR* and, I can't use it, can't talk to anyone about reactivating it, nothing at all. That is a big 'ol suck pill.

My 2 cents for what its worth

 

[Epona]

I haven't cast my lot in with anyone. Especially not the publishers. I simply have no quarrels with online pass as it currently stands. If you buy the game new, you aren't subject to any additional fees. If you decide to be cheap and buy a game used, then you suffer the consequences of that decision. That's perfectly logical to me. You are paying someone else for the publisher's product, therefore the publisher needs to get something out of the deal. If you can subdue your indignant rage for a minute and think about it, maybe you'll agree.

You don't get it do you? When you buy new, you ARE paying for the online pass.

You buy new = You pay $60 and you have to input a code to get access to certain content.
You buy used = You pay $49.50 and you have to pay an extra $10 (so now $59.50) to get a code to input and get access to certain content.

What is it that you don't understand about that?

Oh BTW, Gamestop might actually includes the online pass so my example is being very generous. On games where they include the online pass, the used buyer would still save $10.50.

http://www.hotbloodedgaming.com/2011/10/14/gamestop-will-give-online-passes-to-people-who-buy-arkham-city-used/

 

[GonzoGamer]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

&

Let's all admit it. Online passes don't really harm us. If I buy a game used (I never do) I can play it. However if there is some content that is there as DLC that was free if I had bought the game then I might get that once I am sure that I like the game. You can whine all you want about companies being greedy for wanting to make profit, but do you think GameStop sells used games because they want us to be happy? Do you buy used games to secure GameStop's happiness?
Everyone puts their own needs over the others. The food industry, the music industry, the movie industry. Name me one industry that doesn't seek for personal gain.

I think you're missing the point of the original post. The consumer has actually been put in a position where we have very little control over what's avaialble.
In every Gamestop I've ever been to (and I'll admit that I don't shop there anymore) you can only buy a new game from them if you have pre-ordered it. So they have put the consumer in the position of either paying some of the money upfront (for a game that nobody knows is any good yet) or buying a used copy.
So that is why I resent publishers putting the onus on the consumer; the consumer has pretty much been pushed in a corner and is getting screwed by Gamestop. Then is also screwed by the publisher for shopping at gamestop.
If the publisher is really losing that much money because of gamestop, they should just screw gamestop rather than their customers.

Hmm I don't really find it that much of a pain since I never buy second hand games. I would rather the money go to the devs than the retailer.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

The problem is that the money doesn't go to the devs. They get the same crappy pay and long hours no matter how many units get moved or how many online passes are sold. The only ones who make money off online passes are the dbags at the publisher who come up with shitty schemes like online pass.
If the money actually did go to the devs, I think there would be fewer people who have problems with it.

 

[Yopaz]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

&

Let's all admit it. Online passes don't really harm us. If I buy a game used (I never do) I can play it. However if there is some content that is there as DLC that was free if I had bought the game then I might get that once I am sure that I like the game. You can whine all you want about companies being greedy for wanting to make profit, but do you think GameStop sells used games because they want us to be happy? Do you buy used games to secure GameStop's happiness?
Everyone puts their own needs over the others. The food industry, the music industry, the movie industry. Name me one industry that doesn't seek for personal gain.

I think you're missing the point of the original post. The consumer has actually been put in a position where we have very little control over what's avaialble.
In every Gamestop I've ever been to (and I'll admit that I don't shop there anymore) you can only buy a new game from them if you have pre-ordered it. So they have put the consumer in the position of either paying some of the money upfront (for a game that nobody knows is any good yet) or buying a used copy.
So that is why I resent publishers putting the onus on the consumer; the consumer has pretty much been pushed in a corner and is getting screwed by Gamestop. Then is also screwed by the publisher for shopping at gamestop.
If the publisher is really losing that much money because of gamestop, they should just screw gamestop rather than their customers.

Hmm I don't really find it that much of a pain since I never buy second hand games. I would rather the money go to the devs than the retailer.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

The problem is that the money doesn't go to the devs. They get the same crappy pay and long hours no matter how many units get moved or how many online passes are sold. The only ones who make money off online passes are the dbags at the publisher who come up with shitty schemes like online pass.
If the money actually did go to the devs, I think there would be fewer people who have problems with it.

It's not the publisher nor the developer's fault that GameStop doesn't sell new games. You call it a shady tactic to use DLC to scavenge money from used sales. Isn't it just as shady for a retailer to only sell used products in order to maximize their profits?

 

[Epona]

In every Gamestop I've ever been to (and I'll admit that I don't shop there anymore) you can only buy a new game from them if you have pre-ordered it.

Completely false, there is an entire section for each platform of new games. It isn't as big as the used section but it's usually bigger than the new section in places like Wal Mart.

 

[chadachada123]

I actually prefer online passes to the shit that Activision pulls with their Call of Duty Elite and their Spyro games which require well over $100 to fully enjoy.

That said, I wish that their optimization was far better, because waiting 30 seconds extra just to connect to some Autolog/Battlelog bullshit when I'm only looking at the single-player stuff is pretty annoying.

And if the online pass is required for single player stuff, then the gloves are off, but I've few qualms with it for multiplayer stuff.

Edit: Your poll is bad and you should feel bad.

 

[jpoon]

This kind of nickel/dime tactic has already spurred me to pass on a few games and it looks like EA/Craptivision/Ubisoft will get more of the same as they're only stepping it up. As they say "VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET!".

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Hmm I don't really find it that much of a pain since I never buy second hand games. I would rather the money go to the devs than the retailer.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

roughly this, if i can't afford it at the moment to buy new, then i just don't see that i NEED the game right now, and pay off that ridiculous cycle of used games profits they make. if they want to even attempt to make me buy used, they are going to have to beef up the difference between new/used games, if it's only 5-10 bucks, that's not enough. i suppose the only time i ever buy used is when it's old ps1/2 games and such that can't be purchased new anymore.

plus steam sales ftw

 

[boag]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

Before you pass judgement, maybe you should know what you are talking about. If you have the Power Up card you get 10% off which brings the price down to $49.50. That's $10.50 less than the new copy. Plus it may be $10 less than that if you opt out of buying the online pass. That's a nice savings.

And if you bought it at wallmart a month afterwards you could get it for 20 bucks less than what Gamestop is charging, and it would be brand new and not used.

 

[Epona]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

Before you pass judgement, maybe you should know what you are talking about. If you have the Power Up card you get 10% off which brings the price down to $49.50. That's $10.50 less than the new copy. Plus it may be $10 less than that if you opt out of buying the online pass. That's a nice savings.

And if you bought it at wallmart a month afterwards you could get it for 20 bucks less than what Gamestop is charging, and it would be brand new and not used.

Only if you're lucky, that's not consistent, it would have to be a sale Wal Mart is having otherwise the MSRP would drop across the board, including new games sold by Gamestop. In that case Gamestop would obviously drop used prices to be lower than new prices.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Online pass only punishes those who want to pay $5 less for a game from the evil corporation of GameStop. I have no love lost for those people.

Seriously though, if you pay $55 for a Used copy of a game when you could just as easily buy it brand new for $60, then I just don't know what to say. You deserve to be charged for online pass.

&

Let's all admit it. Online passes don't really harm us. If I buy a game used (I never do) I can play it. However if there is some content that is there as DLC that was free if I had bought the game then I might get that once I am sure that I like the game. You can whine all you want about companies being greedy for wanting to make profit, but do you think GameStop sells used games because they want us to be happy? Do you buy used games to secure GameStop's happiness?
Everyone puts their own needs over the others. The food industry, the music industry, the movie industry. Name me one industry that doesn't seek for personal gain.

I think you're missing the point of the original post. The consumer has actually been put in a position where we have very little control over what's avaialble.
In every Gamestop I've ever been to (and I'll admit that I don't shop there anymore) you can only buy a new game from them if you have pre-ordered it. So they have put the consumer in the position of either paying some of the money upfront (for a game that nobody knows is any good yet) or buying a used copy.
So that is why I resent publishers putting the onus on the consumer; the consumer has pretty much been pushed in a corner and is getting screwed by Gamestop. Then is also screwed by the publisher for shopping at gamestop.
If the publisher is really losing that much money because of gamestop, they should just screw gamestop rather than their customers.

Hmm I don't really find it that much of a pain since I never buy second hand games. I would rather the money go to the devs than the retailer.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

The problem is that the money doesn't go to the devs. They get the same crappy pay and long hours no matter how many units get moved or how many online passes are sold. The only ones who make money off online passes are the dbags at the publisher who come up with shitty schemes like online pass.
If the money actually did go to the devs, I think there would be fewer people who have problems with it.

It's not the publisher nor the developer's fault that GameStop doesn't sell new games. You call it a shady tactic to use DLC to scavenge money from used sales. Isn't it just as shady for a retailer to only sell used products in order to maximize their profits?

Yes. I think that Gamestop is the most shady element in the situation. Which begs the question, why dont the publishers do something about Gamestop? Instead everything they have done to try and make the situation more profitable for them is screwing over their legitimate consumers.
I'm not defending gamestop (I think it's a huge shit-stain on the whole gaming industry), I'm defending my fellow gamers here. We're getting shit on for things that aren't our fault and I'm getting tired of it.