RAGE will not be instituting an online pass, but it will feature codes for brand new buyers that will provide extra content. id Software's solution happens to be a great idea and an example of the sort of thing companies should be doing to positively counter secondhand sales.
The code that comes with RAGE unlocks a variety of hatches in the game world. Without the code, these hatches will remain shut and you'll never get the goods inside. They're dotted all around the world, but you're going to have to find them and you could miss them entirely without having your game negatively affected.
"I can tell you, some people will buy RAGE, download that, and still never set foot in those things," said id's Tim Willits. "They just won't. I think that's fair. It's cool. It's outside the main path. We're not detracting from anything. But I know some consumers, when you can't avoid it, then you get a little touchy subject."
That, right there, is a beautiful example of rewarding new customers without punishing used ones. A real reward for loyal support, rather than making an exclusive out of something that ordinarily isn't. RAGE was already high on my DO WANT list, but this classy not-online-pass scheme has definitely cemented my appreciation.
Tim Willits: Building Rage And Never Selling Out - Interview [Eurogamer]
Contest:
11:45 AM on 08.12.2011 | 
I really, really hope they use VIP for BF3.
Good on Id, the greatest developers ever.
I mean, both suck, but if they're going to do it anyway, wouldn't it be better to have the option to purchase it?
If the content is as insignificant as they say though, may as well hold out for a used copy if you're on the fence. Still better than a multiplayer lock-out online pass though.
...won't people just hack this?
I do agree with this decision though. Why buy a game new and show support for a company at $60, when you could buy it $20 and the team gets nothing, and you get all the content? It's not fair to those people who do get it day 1. Losing out on content is a good way to get people to buy it new.
You can on PC, but you can only buy new on PC anyway.
PS3, possibly if a custom firmware comes along that supports 3.60+
360, only if it's JTAG'd
Is it so bad to just release the game without shit? Why ALL FUCKING COMPANIES have to put some sort of stupid shit in their games now? Don't get it...
I love the BFBC2 VIP Pass idea and hope they stick with the same thing for BF3 as well as it is tasteful.
I want this game and new will be my weapon of choice.
It's not a new idea, just one most developers didn't believe in because it technically cost them more money in the long run to create the additional content instead of just locking out existing content.
Anyway I think this is dumb
What do you mean by "but you can only buy new on PC anyway"? Does it have install restrictions?
These days, almost all games come with a 1-time use CD key. You can't run the game until it's input.
I'm not going to be shocked if the next gen of consoles has this too...
The used PC gaming market is dead because of DRM restrictions, that's why you can only buy new copies on PC these days.
It's not like they are locking out half the weapons, whole game modes, or online play. Think of it like Borderlands - a small percentage of the loot boxes don't spawn. BIG FUCKIN WHOOP.
Self-entitled, much? QQ more.
Well, that sucks. PC was my first choice, but I have more than one.
Guess I'll get it on Steam on a sale now.
Personally, I think online pass is the lesser of two evils for me.
Side quests would be something completely different. I like the idea of it just being items, and I'm pretty sure they'd be items that you could find elsewhere in the game (like money, and other things like that).
Side quests would be locking the character out of game content, like an online pass, punishing for purchasing used.
Having it only be items to me feels more like finding a 5 dollar bill walking down the street. If someone picked it up before you, you're not going to find it there after them.
Rather than online passes, which take away a vital component and hold it ransom, RAGE's scheme is a little extra side dish, so non-essential that new consumers could even miss them if they aren't looking.
My biggest problem with online passes is that they inherently devalue a used game by trying to make it $10 more expensive, and it forces even new gamers to input a code to access an entire vital component of a game. The purely optional, extra nature of this is what I like. It is more a reward than a punishment. It's wholly more positive than the punitive measures of EA and THQ. I support that.
I get the desire to sell new, but to shut out the potential of getting at least some money through DLC seems to be the clichéd "cutting off your nose to spite your face".
Ah, I'm convinced.
@Epic
The difference is that the VIP Pass can be purchased after the fact. Willits makes it sound like this will not be offered as an optional download for used buyers. (At least, that's how I read it.)
Heck, it pretty much is exclusive DLC, just without the "order the game blind" restriction. Unlike pre-orders, you get a grace period of a few weeks or maybe months where you can still find a game new. (Of course, if stores like Gamestop could have what they want, you'd only be able to guarantee finding a new copy of a game if you pre-order.)
But also like pre-order DLC (that turns into regular DLC), if you are late to the party, then you are simply out of luck. If you only get into a game months later, you might not be able to find it new. Your only choice might be to buy it used, with no way to get the locked content.
The biggest difference is that with Rage it is being passed off as a reward to loyal customers, while Online Pass and pre-order DLC are seen as penalties for used game buyers, even though Online Pass is fairer. (Pre-order DLC is still crappy. Just like this "exclusive content" system.)
So, while there isn't a used PC game market, your example of why, isn't the reason, you could still sell a lot of your games, if you just don't lose the key.
Now, forced accounts associated with that key will kill the re-saleability of that game, which is a good example of why there is no market.
Even if they don't buy the game new, if they're willing to buy the DLC they're still supporting the industry. To be denied the ability to buy DLC is nothing more than a beggar refusing the $5 he was offered because it wasn't $20. It still could have been $5 more than he had before, but now it's nothing. Stop being a corporate shill.
This is bonus fucking loot drops, nothing more. Seriously, some of you people need to dial-down the melodrama.
In essence, publishers just can't win with some people. They'll bitch about it either way, in what boils down to a sense of entitlement.
Ok, I'm out. So many ignorant kids, it's a waste of time to even try to discuss the point of id's decision.
Separately, it's also an idea that set up for failure. They're shooting the whole idea in the foot by coming out and admitting that what would otherwise be missing isn't of much value anyway to the gameplay. So, then the incentive to pay $60 is what? Pay $60 now for something that won't affect gameplay or pay $20 later and not miss the pieces that aren't available? How is that going to sway anyone to buy new?