PSN Supports "online pass, pay for play"

[DerBear]

This could be xbox as well but not 110% sure on that.

PSN have for sometime now started increase in supporting pay for play online.

This where for example if you bought a game second hand and you wanted to go online with it and you need to enter a code into the PSN sore to unlock the online.

So what if you don't have the pass due it being bought second hand? you pay round about £7.99-£8 possible even more for to access online.

The reasoning behind this is because as PS3 has free online play. Companies don't get any money for server support and if you buy a game second hand from gamestop or Asda or whatever the developers get nothing not even a penny. So they have introduced this online pass, as a way of "maintain there servers" and "getting something back". OR IN OTHER WORDS GREED.

The big move started in late august so many developers like NaughtyDog and Ubisoft along with EA. Have started forming and supporting the online pass program.

New titles such as

Assassins Creed Revelations and Uncharted 3 have both been fitted with the online pass system.

Many other developers such as infinity ward and Treyarc have both said NO to the online passes for the cod series and most of there other big hits.

So whats your opinion?

Mines is that while I can see it being fair. I think its overall greed and just not fair to the second hand game industry.

So your thoughts....

P.S Sorry if this is the wrong section kinda had no clue where to post it. feel free to move it.

[TheMatrix]

Have you got a source?

[DerBear]

yes

http://www.vg247.com/2011/07/06/sony-confirms-network-pass-program-for-ps3-titles/
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/118/1180810p1.html
http://www.destructoid.com/confirmed-online-passes-for-all-future-online-sony-games-212882.phtml

They are not fantastic becuase they don't explain greatly but if anyone does own like Uncharted 3 or ACR they can tell by looking at the game.

if you would like to find out more just type "sony supports online pass"

[Lights]

I hate the online pass system, because as you said, it's very greedy of the game developers. My brother got Battlefield 3 for Christmas, and I was hoping to have a go at playing online with it, but I can't because EA fitted the online Pass system which means I have to pay around £8 to go online. No, thank you.

I'm glad the Call of Duty franchise is keeping away from the Online Pass. It would be a horrible mistake for them to go near that territory, and I think they know that. The multiplayer is the defining feature of Call of Duty, so to limit the number of people who can go online in any way would surely be detrimental to the popularity of the franchise. Definitely a good move for Infinity Ward and Treyarch to keep away from Online Passes; they make enough money from DLC releases.

[DerBear]

I hate the online pass system, because as you said, it's very greedy of the game developers. My brother got Battlefield 3 for Christmas, and I was hoping to have a go at playing online with it, but I can't because EA fitted the online Pass system which means I have to pay around £8 to go online. No, thank you.

I'm glad the Call of Duty franchise is keeping away from the Online Pass. It would be a horrible mistake for them to go near that territory, and I think they know that. The multiplayer is the defining feature of Call of Duty, so to limit the number of people who can go online in any way would surely be detrimental to the popularity of the franchise. Definitely a good move for Infinity Ward and Treyarch to keep away from Online Passes; they make enough money from DLC releases.

Agreed.

I mean like if you play it on any other ID other than your own your pass is invalid. It sucks. I mean the code is in the case, but if its second hand or you have already entered it into another ID , you have to pay £8 is like shit. Greed.

COD make enough money and so does Battlefield however I think EA system is slightly different but still its pretty shocking most titles are big and I could understand if it was little companies but big companies, its just greed.

[Azunite]

This is madness

[DerBear]

I know and you should know your the prince of madness lol.

I still am somewhat annoyed but not really shocked.

They do these things for money and I mean why discourage users from playing the game by making people pay so much for one little feature.

Like uncharted I love the multi and I am glad I bought the game first hand so I got the pass included. but I only play the game 1-6 times a year, the online I mean.

So if I did by the game second hand and the pass did not work then I would probably not by the online once the free trial period was up.

[Scarface]

Of course EA is gonna do it, that shit doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Why? Okay so let me give an example, Madden NFL, so they come out with Madden NFL 2012, right? they will discontinue the online playability after they come out with their new "madden 2013" or in some games, sooner because they want you to run out and pay fuckin $60 dollars on yet another fuckin game.

That company has always sketched me out and has certainly changed over the past 10 years. I quit playing a lot of their games, but one of the games I used to really like was James Bond, I've since quit playing that after "Everything or Nothing", but EA games doesn't really impress me that much anyhow. I'm not surprised that companies are making these demands its not like they don't have enough money that they ned to get more.

Video games used to be my entire life, now, I just get the games I followed years ago, for example I got the new Twisted Metal, will get GTA V, will get Max Payne 3, I got Warhawk when it came out. But a lot of games just don't really interest me, and it has to be absolutely stellar for me to buy it and especially play it online.

[Sugaree]

Why are most of you surprised? A lot of companies have been doing this for anti-piracy measures. It just screws the paying customers in the long run, especially ones who buy used who have to pay for a new pass. With EA, it doesn't surprise me. I'm more surprised that Activision hasn't started online passes for Call of Duty, but it might happen in the future.

[Cicero]

Ya I noticed about the new code with ACR. I recently bought Battlefield 3 and it had the online code, I bought it second hand, so I entered the code, and it said its already been activated to a different person! That outraged me cause I waited 2 weeks for it to be shipped! I think if most of the good games switch to this, I might switch to Xbox 360. I'd rather pay $5 a month and have even better graphics and buy secondhand games, then have an online access code, for descent graphics and free PS3.
That pisses me off...

[DerBear]

Ya I noticed about the new code with ACR. I recently bought Battlefield 3 and it had the online code, I bought it second hand, so I entered the code, and it said its already been activated to a different person! That outraged me cause I waited 2 weeks for it to be shipped! I think if most of the good games switch to this, I might switch to Xbox 360. I'd rather pay $5 a month and have even better graphics and buy secondhand games, then have an online access code, for descent graphics and free PS3.
That pisses me off...

You do that, but xbox are kinda doing this as well for most of there games and EA are doing it as well for xbox.

Also EA does not surprise me as they have been doing it before it was official and taken in by sony.

[ImCoolBeans]

EA has been doing it with sports games for a while now. The last two releases of Madden and the MLB games have required an online code. I bought them new so I didn't have to worry about that.

[DerBear]

EA has been doing it with sports games for a while now. The last two releases of Madden and the MLB games have required an online code. I bought them new so I didn't have to worry about that.

Yes thats what I am saying.

EA have been doing this for some time now, therefore its not a huge shock.

However for so many other companies to follow so quickly it is somewhat of a shock

[Azunite]

Marx foresaw the day when Capitalism would destroy itself, and it is happening right now!

Sony was one of our last bastions of free gaming and it is also sucked away by money.

[Roddy15]

How is it a shock? Everyday businesses are closing left right and centre. It's self preservation. I've never bought second hand games personally as I don't like taking a risk of a non-working game. For me I don't see it as an issue, the pass is linked to your account and it covers the PS3 system so other accounts on the same system are covered. The ACR code is probably the worst, I got the limited edition of BF3 and all the free map and gun pack covered every account on my ps3 but the ACR collectors edition one only gives the collectors edition content to the account who registers it. Every other account can go into multiplayer mode though.

In the end it's self preservation of companies. I personally don't mind it but I can understand its annoying for others.

[DerBear]

How is it a shock? Everyday businesses are closing left right and centre. It's self preservation. I've never bought second hand games personally as I don't like taking a risk of a non-working game. For me I don't see it as an issue, the pass is linked to your account and it covers the PS3 system so other accounts on the same system are covered. The ACR code is probably the worst, I got the limited edition of BF3 and all the free map and gun pack covered every account on my ps3 but the ACR collectors edition one only gives the collectors edition content to the account who registers it. Every other account can go into multiplayer mode though.

In the end it's self preservation of companies. I personally don't mind it but I can understand its annoying for others.

On the ps3 yes it is covered.

yet for example I have 2 psn Ids my main one and another i rarely use.

I enter code for one i use often

I change ps3 and go to my mates house, log onto my account I dont use to often and balm. I cant access the online.

Business closes left right and center yes we are in a bloody recession the economy is up shit creek without a paddle. Do all of us afford to pay money when it was once completely free, most wont, I can. I pay for my games and rarely by second hand yet this also effects businesses like second hand shops they will suffer. Overall its greed. Not whats best for the customer and the gaming community.

Think of joe bloggs the nobody who buys mostly second hand games, he is the one who suffers.