Multi Player Console Accounts

[gorfias]

I just gave up my broken 360, traded those games and parts that still worked and got some PS3 games.

I may be sick of paying Xbox Live $60 a year on the odd occasion that I want to play multiplayer, but now I'm noticing something new: To play multi player on PS3 games, I have to enter a code, which must be unused.

Are you all experiencing anything similar (example: Battlefield 3 for 360) happening on Xbox live?

When a game comes down to $30 new, is there still typically people playing it online to make it worth the purchase?

 

[Doclector]

To answer the first question, yes, codes are becoming commonplace. Some of them are for relatively minor features, a few extra missions/weapons/skins/maps, for example, some of them are for large things like entire sections of the game or the game's multiplayer. There are still some that aren't using these codes, The darkness 2 being a recent example, but unfortunately, this is a tactic that seems like it's here to stay.

As for the second question, it depends on the game. Big name games with popular multiplayer such as Battlefield or, to think of PS3 exclusive examples, Killzone, should have an active community for years after launch, so you'll be fine. Smaller stuff, however, like Earth defence force insect armageddon or lost planet 2, or simply big name franchises with relatively unpopular multiplayer, such as dead space 2, or Skate 3, may have multiplayers that become abandoned within a year.

Basically, with something that's ultra popular for multiplayer, you can depend on it being filled for ages, but if you want to get in on the multiplayer for smaller franchises with no such big existing following, you may want to go for a launch buy so you can play it while you can, perhaps even do your part in trying to keep it alive.

This said, there are some surprises, such as Space marine. I'm constantly surprised every time I go on there that it's still going.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Xbox and PS3 have the same problems with codes and locked content...they aren't unique to one platform. If a game has been out for more than 3 months then generally your going to find it hard to get a game with the exception of certain games like CoD or Battlefield.

However, if you search around a bit online you can generally find people who you can arrange to meet in game for some multiplayer. It's not ideal but the market is fickle at best

 

[gorfias]

Good to know now that I'm PS3 without Xbox 360 for now. Thanks!