Buy an EA Sports game second-hand, pay for online.
 

Last year, EA Sports introduced the long-awaited Online Franchise mode in Madden NFL 10. But if you wanted to play it, you had to either buy the game new and type in a one-time-use code that came in the box, or pay $10 for a code. This year, EA Sports is extending that policy across all of its games, and now, the code won't merely unlock a single online mode -- it's a gatekeeper for online play altogether.

You may not know Electronic Arts' "Project Ten Dollar" initiative by name, but if you've bought an EA game in the past year, you've probably dealt with it. It encourages gamers to buy EA games new -- as opposed to renting them or buying them used -- by offering bonus content with a pack-in code; used buyers and renters have to purchase a code for $10 to $15 in order to access the content. Examples include the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2*and the "VIP" content in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, both of which cost $15.

Starting with the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11*on June 8th, all EA Sports games going forward will include a code in the case, and you'll need to type in that code in the menu in order to enable online play. If you buy an EA Sports 11*game used, or if you rent one, or if you borrow one from a friend, you'll have to buy a code from the Xbox Live Marketplace or the PlayStation Store for 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99, respectively. Of course, EA Sports will still afford you the privilege of purchasing DLC (or downloading free DLC) for its games, but without an Online Pass, you'll only be able to use the content offline.

Thankfully, EA Sports has included a provision for renters and borrowers: if you don't want to buy a code, you can activate a free seven-day trial of online play -- but you can only do it once per EA Sports game.*Surprisingly, GameStop is on board with the EA Sports Online Pass -- the retailer will be selling Xbox Live Marketplace points and PlayStation Store cash cards alongside the 2010 EA Sports games.

Frankly, I don't have a problem with publishers trying to incentivize new purchases, and I'm not surprised that EA Sports is going as far as preventing renters and used buyers from playing online. As EA Sports' Senior VP of Worldwide Development, Andrew Wilson, notes, "We think it's fair to get paid for the services we provide and to reserve these online services for people who pay EA to access them."*I bet they'll see a marked increase in new purchases of their 2010 games. What do you guys think of this?

http://www.destructoid.com/ea-sports...e-173358.phtml

I really wish devs could just make a deal with the 2nd hand retailers, because this is getting silly now. I guess not many people bought the other project $10 things like online franchise so they're going for the big one...

Yeah, this is kind of stupid.

On the other hand, I haven't bought an EA Sports title in years, so not supporting it is pretty easy.

I can't wait to watch GameFAQs support the move.

I can deal with this. I'd just prefer that they do sports titles every other year to boost quality.

Gamestop says they're behind this. I doubt they'd publicly support it if they didn't think they could make money off it.

Honestly, I have trouble picturing this hurting either Gamestop or EA. I think it's most likely that the consumer ends up the only losers. Especially for the 360 user, since they're already paying fifty bucks a year for online and it's now effectively premium (I know, new buyers get a voucher, but that doesn't really change it so much as turn the premium into a retail incentive).

And, especially, since this is not likely to be the end of it.

The only time this will hurt me is when I buy one of the NCAA football games, which I do about every other year. Plus, I can get it cheaper from Gamefly then I can through Gamestop used.

I wonder how this will work with Gamefly though, since when you buy something from Gamefly, this send you the case, and everything in it unused. Basically, I wonder if the vouchers will be time sensitive.

Also, while I'm not a huge fan of this idea, it is smarter than some of the other ideas I've heard, like having to pay money for later stages of the game.

The vouchers will be time sensitive, but most of them last a year, so it's hard to argue this will hurt people. The beautiful thing abotu a yearly franchise is if you're waiting a whole year, the prior game is probably dirt cheap and you can afford to pay an extra ten if it is expired.

Of course, purchasers of the game new might not think of that, and Gamefly users might not either.

I buy new so.....................................................................................

I usually only play regular Franchise modes anyway.

And that's the way they get away with reducing quality. They get a bunch of retards to say "I got mine, so fuck you!"

I don't think this will change much. Most people buy new so yeah... "I got mine, so fuck you." While some of you were bitching at me for apparently 'not understanding how business works' when I had my qualms with certain corporate moves, it's funny that I'm the corporate cock-sucker who doesn't care about quality now.

Fuck off.

As someone who works for a game retailer, I can hear the bitching already

In fact, I think I can literally smell customers complaining.

To be fair, Bayonetta was actually pretty good

because you're a retard. :)

"We'll see."

It was well-received, but I'd hardly call it good.

Unless it's in the "60s Batman, so terrible it's charming" sense, in which case I still think it's shitty, but I can at least see that.

Bayonetta, the best action game evars?

Oh wait, you own a Wii.

We'll see on the further erosion of consumer rights.

You're still retarded.

LOL

The both of you.

That would be darkpower. I'm under contract with Acclaim.

Right, you have no argument. Check.

Is the Wii your only system? If it is, i feel bad for you...but you must be a hit with the kids.

ANYWAY, the only game i play online sports wise is NBA2k, so i got little to worry about, but do you think theyll cut you off from the roster updates and what not? Im not sure how Madden does roster updates anymore, but in nba2k10 it checks and downloads them on the splash screen.

Now all you need is internet at home.

Bastard.

Since they're still talking free DLC, I'm betting roster updates are still on the table. It looks like they're only shutting down free access to online.

Though I wouldn't be surprised to see more on the chopping block, especially if this doesn't provide them what they think they're entitled.

You should be able to access it from the basement.

You still do all your gaming there, right?

I made my argument and you posted nothing that would be considered a 'turn'. Just more "big business = evil" rhetoric. Where was this bravado when the same EA shut down their NFL competitors? Oh yeah, you don't play football games so "I got mine, fuck you."

I've played watchdog before while you people either told me to calm the fuck down or played my thought off as ridiculous. Now I'm the corporate mouthpiece. Funny how the switch occurs in a case where people are coerced into buying games new. I seem to recall mass bitching over a certain thread covering game piracy. Hmmm....................

Fact: The average price-cut for games are 5$ - 10$. EA aims to get that money one way or another.

Fact: You can just wait for the price to drop again in the future, whereas the 'DLC' may not drop, you could subtract the price via time.

Fact: Because of fact two, gamers still have a choice in the matter. It's not terribly convenient, but nobody is forcing you.

Ya know... the way EA's NFL deal did. These events don't hold a candle to past actions by EA, Activision, Microsoft, Ubisoft, fucking SONY. Don't bitch because you have to pony up or wait. At least there's an alternative.

Pathetic. Goodbye.

I play sports games like Quick Hit Football and Goal Line Blitz. Both are sort of free, though I have coughed up maybe 20 bucks over almost 2 years on GLB for boosts. I just started on QHF, which is sort of more comparable to online play with EA.

Someone should do a good online baseball game like those.