Gamestop giving used Arkham City buyers Catwoman code

[Irridium]

If you didn't know by now, to play as Catwoman in Arkham City you need an online pass code found in every new copy, or pay $10 for it.

Well, seems Gamestop is giving Warner Brothers one hell of a ***** slap.

http://www.destructoid.com/gamestop-to-put-arkham-city-catwoman-pass-in-used-copies-213711.phtml

Basically, each receipt for a used copy of Arkham City will have a Catwoman code printed on it, which will render Arkham City's online pass completely pointless.

I for one love it, and hope they do it for more games. The used market is basically the only benefit we get in this industry. It'd be really shitty if Publishers succeeded in getting rid of it.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

No way...the game isn't even out yet so it'll be at least a day after release before someone trades it in. This is one of those, 'I'll believe it when I see it' kind of things. It would be nice to see if Gamestop can pretend to have a soul for a moment. If they do though, I'm curious to know how they would get the code to begin with...

 

[Jadak]

I'm a bit confused as to his this makes sense. As already posted, where are they getting the codes? Only thing I can see is that they're actually buying themselves, which seems rather unlikely. But if that is the case, good on them for doing it.

 

[The Madman]

I'm with emu on this, how are they getting the codes? Because if they're buying them than aside from a bit of a sting to their pride it seems exactly like what the publishers wanted to begin with. And if they're not buying them, well, things could get messy soon.

Otherwise I don't much mind, I've no real problem with the used games industry. For a game to be used someone has to have bought it in the first place after all, the publishers got their money from that particular product. Sure they want in on more but that's just something every industry has to put up with; used books, used electronics, used furniture, used appliances, etc.

 

[ImSkeletor]

Hell yeah Gamestop. Gamestop > WB. I really don't get why people hate gamestop. They save people billions of dollars a year and now they have done this. To reiterate HELL YEAH GAMESTOP.

 

[cookyy2k]

Thank god, someone finally putting up some sort of stance against these ridiculous measures imposed by publishers. Yeah game stop will buy them and it'll cost so publishers will still get money. But it puts a stop to the publisher thinking they can dick the customers over and get away with it, which they will because if I've learnt anything from here it's that many consumers will side with the multi-billion dollar organisation rather than call them out on being dicks.

 

[Gennadios]

Umm, how? How are they getting these new codes?

Considering how popular it is for different distributors to have different pre-order bonuses nowadays, it's far easier for publishers to just print one size fits all boxes and let the distributors print their own pre-order unlock codes and stuff them into the boxes.

Well, used to be. I'm taking bets on how long it takes companies to pull that particular privilege from Gamestop.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Thank god, someone finally putting up some sort of stance against these ridiculous measures imposed by publishers. Yeah game stop will buy them and it'll cost so publishers will still get money. But it puts a stop to the publisher thinking they can dick the customers over and get away with it, which they will because if I've learnt anything from here it's that many consumers will side with the multi-billion dollar organisation rather than call them out on being dicks.

...what has changed? The only difference is that you'll be giving your money to one "multi-billion dollar corporation" instead of another. Gamestop isn't trying to make a stand, they are trying to keep customers buying used games so they can keep their profit margins high.

Go fight the power somewhere else Che Guevera

 

[ImSkeletor]

Hell yeah Gamestop. Gamestop > Rocksteady. I really don't get why people hate gamestop. They save people billions of dollars a year and now they have done this. To reiterate HELL YEAH GAMESTOP.

So Gamestop is better than the creators of a great Video Game Franchise? I... I am confused. It was EA's idea. Not Rocksteady.

1. I wouldn't consider it great. Arkham Asylum was a C+ or maybe a B- in my honest opinion.

2. Yeah your right about it being WB's decision(NOT EA!)

 

[The Last Nomad]

Great idea, but I don't think Warner Bros will see it that way. Although It's not like I could play it anyway as I can't play online, so I couldn't even download the content anyway. One more reason I don't think I'll get the game at all.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Umm, how? How are they getting these new codes? Are they just taking them out of new copies? I'm sure the customers will love that - "sorry, but we gave your code to one of our beloved used copy buyers - we don't care about people who buy new".

My thoughts exactly. Imagine how angry you'd be if you opened your brand new game, input the code, and got the message "This code has already been used." The only way I can see this working is if a computer is spitting out a set amount of codes and then sets them aside specifically for selling them to GameStop.

 

[cookyy2k]

Thank god, someone finally putting up some sort of stance against these ridiculous measures imposed by publishers. Yeah game stop will buy them and it'll cost so publishers will still get money. But it puts a stop to the publisher thinking they can dick the customers over and get away with it, which they will because if I've learnt anything from here it's that many consumers will side with the multi-billion dollar organisation rather than call them out on being dicks.

...what has changed? The only difference is that you'll be giving your money to one "multi-billion dollar corporation" instead of another. Gamestop isn't trying to make a stand, they are trying to keep customers buying used games so they can keep their profit margins high.

Go fight the power somewhere else Che Guevera

Yeah sure, I'm all commie. Well done.../sarcasm

I'd rather give my money to Game, Game xchange etc. (i'm from UK) than to EA, Activision etc. Why you ask? Because they arn't sitting there thinking they're somehow entitled to money from something they already sold!

Seriously, if you can't come up with any justification for leg humping the producers at least don't think you can dismiss my arguments as easily as calling me Che Guevara.

Also you may want to actually KNOW something about the guy at some point instead of just crying red whenever someone says something you don't like, or I may just have to start calling you George Bush for your love of the right. And given the two I know who I'd prefer to be compared to.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

There's already used Arkham City copies? wuh

 

[Lyri]

...what has changed? The only difference is that you'll be giving your money to one "multi-billion dollar corporation" instead of another. Gamestop isn't trying to make a stand, they are trying to keep customers buying used games so they can keep their profit margins high.

Go fight the power somewhere else Che Guevera

*claps furiously*

Thank you for being level headed and not blind to this, Gamestop isn't trying to save your money they're trying to take it from you and not give it to Warner Brothers.
Customer best interests don't come into it.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Yeah sure, I'm all commie. Well done.../sarcasm

I'd rather give my money to Game, Game xchange etc. (i'm from UK) than to EA, Activision etc. Why you ask? Because they arn't sitting there thinking they're somehow entitled to money from something they already sold!

Seriously, if you can't come up with any justification for leg humping the producers at least don't think you can dismiss my arguments as easily as calling me Che Guevara.

Also you may want to actually KNOW something about the guy at some point instead of just crying red whenever someone says something you don't like, or I may just have to start calling you George Bush for your love of the right. And given the two I know who I'd prefer to be compared to.

Hahahah, you mad Comrade? You're one sick Bolshevik!

I can make a rhyme every time.

Anyhoo, why, exactly, is this a bad thing? Catwoman is not on the disk. She is not integral to finishing the game, nor are her playable sections necessary to enjoy the story. She is, in fact, extra. Just like Joker in AA. Rocksteady and WB have chosen to GIVE AWAY free stuff to people who choose to pay full price for their game, as opposed to people who would spend less. Now, tell me, why exactly should they give someone who is paying less the same amount of content as someone who is paying more?

If Gamestop wants to pay for the codes in lieu of the customers, more power to them. However, don't be fulled into thinking they are doing this for some noble purpose. They just want your money, and know they make a higher profit margin off used game sales than off new ones, even if the difference in price is $60 to $55.