Battlefield 3 Will "Probably" Use Online Pass

[Krantos]

Snip

It sounds like you would buy it used, how are you supporting DICE by buying a second hand copy?


Also fucking hilarious how all console people are going batshit insane over this. It's been like this for almost always on PC. The main complaint on PC is that BF3 wont be on Steam where second hand is impossible (same on Origin).

1. Was planning on buying it on PC.

2. Was not planning on buying used.

3. Do you really think EA is going to give DICE a cut from the "online pass?"


This move wouldn't have directly affected me, but I don't like EA's business strategies. I still believe the reason Valve keeps pulling their games off steam is because EA keeps trying to avoid giving Valve a cut of DLC profits.

Add that to the things they keep doing like "project $10" and so forth... Well, watch [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2068-Project-Ten-Dollar"]this[/a] episode of EC and you'll see what I mean.

I'm sorry DICE won't be seeing any of my business, but it's getting harder and harder for me to justify lining EA's pockets anymore. I'll stick to publishers who don't treat me like I'm a stupid consumer.

 

[octafish]

PC Gamer here, so umm, whatever. Fuck it, if this system is so bad EA will go out of business and Battlefield 3 will flop. It won't though.

I imagine it will sell a lot of units because hey if you buy it new this doesn't matter and if you buy it used it is only a one time $10 fee. It will probably impact the money you get for trade ins. Do you only buy games if you can sell them later? This seems a bit weird to me, but then I'm a PC gamer and have never sold or traded in any of the games I have bought because you just can't.

This seems a better deal than monthly fees to me. Again I'm exclusively a PC gamer so I have no choice but to buy games new, and I can never sell them. I guess it is because console gamers already pay to play online that makes them feel so entitled?

I used to be a console gamer and i used to trade in all my games, simple reason really whats the point in a game i no longer play sitting there collecting dust when i can sell it and get a new one.

So what is preventing you from selling Battlefield 3? It will just be worth $10 less. The market will know this and adjust itself appropriately. Uninformed people may get burned by shoddy used sales people but that fault would fall on the sales person. Buying second hand? Pay $10 less than you want for the total. Selling it second hand? Accept the loss. Or you know avoid it completely as is your right.

 

[tehroc]

I'd prefer they stick with the VIP Pass.

 

[JaceArveduin]

snip

I'll answer that, even if you can't respond.

The difference between monthly payment and a one time payment should be obvious, monthly payment effects everyone, including those who bought it new, and in a negative way. They do not wish to turn people off from buying the game new, just used, making it a monthly payment turns everyone off.

And yes, if you can't afford to buy it new, then they don't care too much about you.

 

[Antari]

Well this won't affect me all that much, mainly because I won't be getting this game. EA's reputation is roughly the worst out of any of the game publisher/developer. If they can find someone to pay them for this, thats fine, but I won't.

 

[A Pious Cultist]

Seems fair. Keep in mind that there's an expectation that you'll only use their servers for so long. That's what your money goes to. But when you star selling your games after you've played it for that length of time they reach a point where one sale could potentially be 10... 20... 500 people is it were resold enough and while it's acceptable for the initial buyer to play for 200,000 hours if they have the time and enthusiasm that's really not the amount of time they want each copy to be played for.

... Wait I'm probably rambling a bit... I can make this simpler:
Think of the (now defunct IIRC) free refills over they had at Pizza hut. The average customer is only really 2-3 drinks with their meal unless they're extraordinarily thirsty. That's how much is factored into their pricing. Now because you paid for it they'd probably stretch to 20 if you could force them down and not get kidney failure but if you were to start giving your glass to the next customer, transfering those free drinks then you're beginning to take break their fair use aggreement and they'd kick you both out.

 

[randomsix]

If they make a used game buyer pay for online multiplayer, than that means that the original owner can't actually sell their access to online multiplayer.

Which means that the original buyer should retain that access and be able to play online.

This result seems a little fishy, so EA had better take another look at this proposal.

 

[harvz]

just drop the price $20 (make sure the devs still recieve the same percentage) and charge everyone $20 for the multiplayer, everyone still pays the same and the devs recieve more money.

or even better, just make the multiplayer standalone.

 

[Phenakist]

Just to play devils advocate, they will make there money back plus a butt load more. I know these games cost millions to make but millions of people will pay £50/60 a pop to play it new.

I can't say I blame them though, companies are always passing the charges onto there customers, if something costs more to the person supplying it, they will charge there customer more.

£50/60 to play it new? what site are you looking at?

But anyway, I don't care about it, I'm buying it new, and I don't see the problem in it anyway, the only people it's really going to hurt are the ones who try and buy it second hand 2 weeks after the game's released and they would pay more than the game new...

Support the dev, I know it's EA and we all know what they're like, buuuuut DICE are DICE, and they make good games, and aren't simply rehashes, unlike other unnamed shooter titles...

The console price, that's been the price of new games lately.

I know it's a rip off but it is what it is.

Makes me laugh when people bought the £120 version of black ops, like you have to be insane to pay that much for a game and a car!

So you haven't looked anywhere then?.... it's £40, check Game, play.com, wherever, it's £40. the only reason they're £50/£60 is some fancy limited edition thing which isn't work it's weight in shit...

 

[randomsix]

If they make a used game buyer pay for online multiplayer, than that means that the original owner can't actually sell their access to online multiplayer.

Which means that the original buyer should retain that access and be able to play online.

This result seems a little fishy, so EA had better take another look at this proposal.

Pretty sure if you use the original account that redeemed the code in the box, the Online Pass remains avail on said account.

I suppose I should have specified: it seems that they should retain their ability to play online even when they are not in possession of the disc.

It seems to me that EA would have to have both a singleplayer and a multiplayer disc in order to allow used sales and not make anything disappear in the process.

Of course, they could say, too bad, you can't sell your mp, but you can't play it either.

 

[Kermi]

Considering EA have done this with Dead Space 2 already this is no shock - even palying the copy of Bad Company 2 I picked up a few weeks ago, there's a one-time use VIP code for multiplayer content.

 

[Pharsalus]

What a bunch of jive, barrels of money will be made off the game and its DLC. They just don't want server costs cutting some of the fat off their profit margin. It's also a big eff you to gamers trying to save a few bucks after the game has been out for a bit.

 

[FoolKiller]

They won't make money this way. If BF3 is good, there is no reason to sell the game.

This sums it up quite nicely. If your games are good enough to keep playing, then there shouldn't be many used games to worry about server space. Also, then why can't I use someone else's account that sold the game? I call bullshit.

Also, after they pulled that shit of shutting down older sports games after a year and change I have no respect for EA. I bought those games new and now I have to get a new game again just to play with friends.

Here's an idea: Use the server space and account I have from several other games to let me play.


Ah.... do you remember the good old days when companies used the idea of playing your friends online as a selling point and not a way to get more money?

 

[qeinar]

this is completely fine with me. Buy your games new, support the developer.

 

[mitchell271]

i really don't care about online passes. I buy my games new so i don't have to worry about scratched disks and i feel that i help the devs get well deserved paychecks

 

[w00tage]

As long as they lower the price of the single-player game commeasurately, I have no problem with buying an online pass for the difference in price.

I'm sure they'll do the right thing.

Spoiler

...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA omg I crack myself up. They're totally going to go for full price on the standalone version and try to jack everyone up for the online pass.

Gamers may be cool people, but game company businessmen are the bloated parasites of the business world, infesting the industry because there's no accountability for quality and competition is measured by who finds a new way to screw their customer first.

 

[scar_47]

I don't understand all the hate for online passes your not paying extra provided you buy new and you just have to wait a little longer to pick it up used to save cash. Secondary markets have no "right" to exist and cost developers money this is one way of preventing that loss, the online passes are stated to be used for server matinance which is plausible some people argue that a used sale has no effect on the servers but thats false it means theres an additional account to track and maintain stats for their still only one person playing online but now theres 2 accounts that must be monitored and maintained. Game companies are a business there out to make money this makes them money while not costing companies more.

 

[smudgey]

Would have no problem with Online Passes if THEY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORKED. I bought FIFA 11 brand new, from a major game retailer. Like many other people, our codes didn't actually work, disabling online play altogether. I found a solution though, it's called "Buy Pro Evo next year".

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Secondary markets have no "right" to exist

Spoiler

BAhhhhhhahahhah

Dear reader, have you ever HEARD of the First Sale Docrtine. Legally, yes, secondary markets have EVERY LEGAL RIGHT to exist.

So if someone buys a game and doesn't like it, they've no "right" to sell it?

Hahahahaha