No Online Pass for Crysis 2

[Andy Chalk]

No Online Pass for Crysis 2

Crytek has confirmed that Crysis 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Crysis-2-Limited-Pc/dp/B002BS47YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299528204&sr=8-1] won't make use of Electronic Arts' controversial Online Pass program.

Gamertag Radio [http://www.gamertagradio.com/new/?p=2463] reported last week that Crysis 2, the forthcoming shooter from Crytek, won't use Online Pass, EA's prepaid DLC system that encourages gamers to buy new copies of videogames rather than used. The dev told the site that because Crytek is part of the EA Partners program rather than an internal EA studio, it has the option to pass on the Pass.

He said the studio did so for two reasons: because Online Pass was still a new system when it was offered and Crytek didn't want its game to be a "testbed," and because it expects that Crysis 2 will be the first dance with a Crytek game for most console gamers and doesn't want anything to keep them from any part of the experience.

Crytek made it official today with a short statement saying, "All we can say/confirm is that we aren't using Online Pass for Crysis 2."

Online Pass and similar programs aim to keep gamers away from the pre-owned market by offering extra content or access to features like online play free with new copies of games but at an extra cost for used. THQ used the system for multiplayer access in Dragon Age: Origins [http://www.amazon.com/UFC-Undisputed-2010-Xbox-360/dp/B0030CV356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299528382&sr=8-1].

Crysis 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-Origins-Xbox-360/dp/B001IK1BJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299528432&sr=8-1] hits store shelves on March 22 for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Source: CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/292365/news/crysis-2-wont-use-eas-online-pass-crytek-confirms/?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS]


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[LavaLampBamboo]

It's good to see that EA isn't forcing it down their throats, rather letting them choose. I think it's also probably because EA doesn't want to lose sales on a big multiplayer game.

 

[Woodsey]

You know, it does bug me that people have started bashing on EA again as being terrible monsters, and totally ignore EA Partners.

 

[N3vans]

Good on them. Using DLC to try and stop pirates is fine, but doing it to 'encourage' people to buy new rather than used is a tad shite. I can understand used sales don't do anything for the dev's finances but some people can't fork out £40/50 for a brand new console copy and prefer to wait for a second hand version. Personally I do buy new copies, partly because I'm fickle and like 'new game' smell and partly because I'm a PC gamer and we don't really have a second hand market to go to.

 

[Daedalus1942]

That's all well and good, but how do we know it's going to work?
The online demo on PC isn't working. You can't even register. It's retarded.
-Tabs<3-

 

[tehroc]

I'd rather EA just handle FPS online like they did with BRBC2. Offer VIP maps to retail purchasers.

 

[TheEggplant]

Great! Now if they would just drop the price of the PC version down to where it should be and I'd buy it.

 

[ultrachicken]

I'd rather EA just handle FPS online like they did with BRBC2. Offer VIP maps to retail purchasers.

What's BRBC2?

[sub]/smug[/sub]

OT: Meh, I've never really cared about the online pass stuff.

 

[Taluien]

I'd rather EA just handle FPS online like they did with BRBC2. Offer VIP maps to retail purchasers.

What's BRBC2?

[sub]/smug[/sub]

OT: Meh, I've never really cared about the online pass stuff.

Bloody Rampage Brutal Carnage 2, the new Hello Kitty Online addon that adds horses... or something like that.

OT: Now they just need to fix the damned MP on PC... it's like playing on a console, just with keyboard and mouse. You can't join games in progress, the dedicated servers start a game only if its full and stuff like that.... it's horrible.

By the way, the Crysis 2 link in the last line of the article leads to DA:O on Amazon, not Crysis 2.

 

[Woodsey]

That's all well and good, but how do we know it's going to work?
The online demo on PC isn't working. You can't even register. It's retarded.
-Tabs<3-

Make an account on Fileplanet, log in with that.

Great! Now if they would just drop the price of the PC version down to where it should be and I'd buy it.

Its £30.

 

[Adzma]

I really don't understand why Online Pass has such a negative reaction from people. In the US the difference for new and pre-owned is what? $10 between them I'm guessing? To me, the difference between $60 and $50 is negligible.

Still as most of us know, Australians and New Zealanders are a little more opened minded to the prices that are paid in the US.

 

[Vrach]

It's good to see that EA isn't forcing it down their throats, rather letting them choose. I think it's also probably because EA doesn't want to lose sales on a big multiplayer game.

I'm not an EA hater (almost quite the opposite actually), but I'm not sure it's as much of a "not forcing down their throats" as it is a "are not able to force it down their throats". As they've pointed out, they're a partner and not an internal studio, which is why they have the option to not use it.

 

[Serving UpSmiles]

If only the MP didn't suck ass....

Always needs to be a troll on a EA post..

 

[beema]

Good for them. That still doesn't excuse them charging $60 for the PC version and giving upfront multiplayer access exclusively to xbox users.

Oh and to play the PC demo you have to make a stupid online gamespy account, aka another piece of crap that doesn't work properly and makes you join another service that you will never use outside the game. What, they couldn't just use Steam, which I downloaded the f'ing demo from?

 

[Athinira]

Good on them. Using DLC to try and stop pirates is fine, but doing it to 'encourage' people to buy new rather than used is a tad shite.

Why did you bring Piracy into the picture? DLC isn't intended to stop piracy in any way (because pirates can get DLC anyway the same way they always do: pirate it).

DLC is about making paying customers pay more. Piracy has nothing to do with it.

 

[TheEldestScroll]

since when did we have to pay for online features anyway?
EA is the end of decent gaming i swear.

 

[squid5580]

Good on them. Using DLC to try and stop pirates is fine, but doing it to 'encourage' people to buy new rather than used is a tad shite.

Why did you bring Piracy into the picture? DLC isn't intended to stop piracy in any way (because pirates can get DLC anyway the same way they always do: pirate it).

DLC is about making paying customers pay more. Piracy has nothing to do with it.

No it is about making you EA customers instead of Gamestop's or a reasonable facimile. It is about making Gamestop's (or reasonable facimile) pay more for not buying it new and not being EA's customers. It is about getting money to the people who made the game the money instead of some parasitic corporation who is making money by offering low trade in credit and selling high and almost ripping off everyone involved except the guy who saves a few bucks. If you are an EA customer then guess what you don't pay more. You pay what it is worth.

I really don't understand why Online Pass has such a negative reaction from people. In the US the difference for new and pre-owned is what? $10 between them I'm guessing? To me, the difference between $60 and $50 is negligible.



Still as most of us know, Australians and New Zealanders are a little more opened minded to the prices that are paid in the US.

In Canada the difference between a new game and a used game is 5 bucks at my local gamestop. Although if you buy used and have the card you do save an extra 13% cause you don't pay the tax.