EA Sports Close Future Online To Used Sales

[RD]

EA Sports is going after the used game market.

Starting with the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the publisher will introduce a new Online Pass, a one-time registration code included with each brand new copy of the game. The code allows players to access "online services, features and bonus content."

Those who purchase the game used can buy an Online Pass for $10 or sign up for a free 7-day trial. The pass will be implemented for NCAA Football 11, NHL 11, Madden NFL 11, NBA 11, FIFA 11, and EA Sports MMA as well. The pass offers different features for each title, however, players will not have access to basic multiplayer features if purchased used.

"You will be unable to play multiplayer online game modes or use your downloaded content in online game modes," EA says. Online leagues, dynasty and franchise modes are also only available with the Online Pass. The break down for each title can be seen on the publisher's official website (http://www.easports.com/onlinepass).

"This is an important inflection point in our business because it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhance premium online services to the entire robust EA SPORTS online community," said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS.

Despite being the leader in used game sales, retailer GameStop, which acknowledged it plans to focus on digital content in the future, supports Electronic Arts' new direction.

"GameStop is excited to partner with such a forward-thinking publisher as Electronic Arts," said Dan DeMatteo, Chief Executive Officer of GameStop Corp. "This relationship allows us to capitalize on our investments to market and sell downloadable content online, as well as through our network of stores worldwide."


Looks like EA are going to screw over all gamers who like to buy games used. Restricting online to those who buy the games new only. Surely, this will hurt them as you have to pay $10 per pass per game. I personally won't be buying these games with a paid online service or full retail price of $60.

Source (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1088634p1.html)

[GhostBabel23]

Hehe, screw that! EA is abusing the power they think they have because they have monopolized a large portion of the gaming market. I will love to watch the lashback from this. Until then I am happy I don't play sports games.

[DjDhiraj1]

Grr these money suckers EA do my head in. One after the other, they blatantly mock us to boycott them, but we just moan and carry on with the gaming.
I personally will only buy the EA games new when they are well low in price, prices drop fast enough anyways. Lets see what these shitty glitchy EA servers have to display as their premium different features...i smell BS!!

[TomTom-]

I'm not a big EA Sports games fan, but now I'm sure I won't buy any...
Farewell EA!

[Chrisbes32]

Great idea EA, fuck all those bastards who buy games used. I sympathise with EA and how much damage the used game industry does to their profits. People who think it's a bad idea are idiots.

[DoSe]

how is buying used games damaging anything? whats damaging their sales is stuff like gamefly. They should not implement such dumb shit as a pass to play the game.. you buy it you get every feature it has new or used.. specially since ea likes to shut off their servers after a while.

in the future i can see ea following xbox, and have a subscription fee to play their games. burn in hell EA

[johnleonhart]

I dont buy many used games so cant see this affecting me personally. I'm sure no ones surprised to see EA fuck people about again, their lack of effort with releases recently with so many tech issues was a disgrace.

[ally]

I never buy used, so I'm not fussed.

[Rocky.]

omfg great just great. i buy used games. i rarely buy new mint condition. dam you ea bastards

[kjkg]

I guess instead of waiting for it preowned, we have to just wait for a price drop now. Oh well, doesnt bother me too much. I always buy fifa and Tiger on release.

[ginjaninja88]

the major problem i have with this is that it isnt exactly like ea have the best servers ever to grant them to make people pay them to play online.Constantly on fifa , i have had connection problems and battlefield bad company 2 likes to suddenly stop working mid deathmatch to everyone.If everyone thinks this is just going to effect sports titles , then you are very wrong.It will come to all titles whether they sport , driving or shooters like the next medal of honor.Even when buying new there is always a risk of gameshop employees stealing the codes and selling them on ebay!! A quick search on ebay and you will see people going mad for vip codes for bfbc2!! And for those people who buy new , returns will be difficult as if you have used the code , the shop cant take it back as its useless to them,without it hurting their profit margins

[civilred1]

It was going to happen at some point. I guess it's a good thing - more money for the industry and all that. If everyone's forced into paying the publisher rather than a retailer, maybe they won't need to sell games for the current price and might reduce the RRPs

[Brogie91]

How is this going to effect people who rent games? Is the 7 day trial specific to the game or the psn or the email address? if its email surely it will be abused.

I personally don't really buy EA games due to the crappy online services anyways but i always enjoyed getting Fifa at a low price and playing it for a while. Don't know if this will stop me buying the game used.

[RD]

How is this going to effect people who rent games? Is the 7 day trial specific to the game or the psn or the email address? if its email surely it will be abused.

I personally don't really buy EA games due to the crappy online services anyways but i always enjoyed getting Fifa at a low price and playing it for a while. Don't know if this will stop me buying the game used.

The trial is specific to the game itself. If you rent fifa, you can get online for 7 days. Then you rent madden, you get 7 days on madden.

[civilred1]

The trial is specific to the game itself. If you rent fifa, you can get online for 7 days. Then you rent madden, you get 7 days on madden.

I think he means to the copy of the game. In my opinion, it'd have to be done by PSN account, or by system, as to do it by game would surely involve writing data to the disc...?

[Arun.]

Meh, Things like Fifa 11 I will buy new anyway but I would've wanted to rent NBA 11 but I guess not...

[Brogie91]

If the trail is game specific the surely the next person to rent that game will not be able to use the online services?

[pagie]

imo this is stupid as i rent most of my game now but if you look at cars for example you can buy a second hand car no problem and the dealer is getting no money when you do that but it does'nt stop them making new makes and models