Last year, EA Sports introduced the long-awaited Online Franchise mode in Madden NFL 10. But if you wanted to play it, you had to either buy the game new and type in a one-time-use code that came in the box, or pay $10 for a code. This year, EA Sports is extending that policy across all of its games, and now, the code won't merely unlock a single online mode -- it's a gatekeeper for online play altogether.
You may not know Electronic Arts' "Project Ten Dollar" initiative by name, but if you've bought an EA game in the past year, you've probably dealt with it. It encourages gamers to buy EA games new -- as opposed to renting them or buying them used -- by offering bonus content with a pack-in code; used buyers and renters have to purchase a code for $10 to $15 in order to access the content. Examples include the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2 and the "VIP" content in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, both of which cost $15.
Starting with the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 on June 8th, all EA Sports games going forward will include a code in the case, and you'll need to type in that code in the menu in order to enable online play. If you buy an EA Sports 11 game used, or if you rent one, or if you borrow one from a friend, you'll have to buy a code from the Xbox Live Marketplace or the PlayStation Store for 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99, respectively. Of course, EA Sports will still afford you the privilege of purchasing DLC (or downloading free DLC) for its games, but without an Online Pass, you'll only be able to use the content offline.
Thankfully, EA Sports has included a provision for renters and borrowers: if you don't want to buy a code, you can activate a free seven-day trial of online play -- but you can only do it once per EA Sports game. Surprisingly, GameStop is on board with the EA Sports Online Pass -- the retailer will be selling Xbox Live Marketplace points and PlayStation Store cash cards alongside the 2010 EA Sports games.
Frankly, I don't have a problem with publishers trying to incentivize new purchases, and I'm not surprised that EA Sports is going as far as preventing renters and used buyers from playing online. As EA Sports' Senior VP of Worldwide Development, Andrew Wilson, notes, "We think it's fair to get paid for the services we provide and to reserve these online services for people who pay EA to access them." I bet they'll see a marked increase in new purchases of their 2010 games. What do you guys think of this?
To find out more about the Online Pass, check out the FAQ here or the tutorial embedded after the jump.
Contest:
5:49 PM on 05.10.2010 | 
I hardly buy used games, so I don't mind it.
and I like the "borrow/rent free trial" they have, so you can try the online when you rent it.
So it's not terrible.
I think it's a small step towards a larger movement in online gaming, $$$'s for this, $$$'s for that; every fee and extra charge a company can dream up.
On-line gaming is my 'LaRouche Zone'. Everybody has one, a subject where you see angles and conspiracies in everything. As much as I can see obvious benefits/services brought to gamers by online gaming, at the end of the day I still think it's a massive $$$ wet-dream for Sony/Microsoft, game publishers, and game media. It's been pushed from industry business forces on down, not natural market demand. I'd love to be wrong, but in a few years I think you'll have a video game market that's lost a lot in the late 20's/early 30's demo, and is generally stagnant both creatively and growth-wise compared to earlier cycles. Online gaming certainly has a huge place in the future, but in the near term it will be a mirror of the larger financial problems in the world, with countries trying to avoid unsustainable budgets with gimmicks. Game companies like EA are currently leading the way in responding to the inflated development costs/cycles of video games not in truly conductive ways, but by starting to pack every freaking title with online extra-fee hooks.
I think it's a small step towards a larger movement in online gaming, $$$'s for this, $$$'s for that; every fee and extra charge a company can dream up.
On-line gaming is my 'LaRouche Zone'. Everybody has one, a subject where you see angles and conspiracies in everything. As much as I can see obvious benefits/services brought to gamers by online gaming, at the end of the day I still think it's a massive $$$ wet-dream for Sony/Microsoft, game publishers, and game media. It's been pushed from industry business forces on down, not natural market demand. I'd love to be wrong, but in a few years I think you'll have a video game market that's lost a lot in the late 20's/early 30's demo, and is generally stagnant both creatively and growth-wise compared to earlier cycles. Online gaming certainly has a huge place in the future, but in the near term it will be a mirror of the larger financial problems in the world, with countries trying to avoid unsustainable budgets with gimmicks. Game companies like EA are currently leading the way in responding to the inflated development costs/cycles of video games not in truly conductive ways, but by starting to pack every freaking title with online extra-fee hooks.
If I can't take my copy of NHL 11 over my buddies for some local co-op vs Xbox Live I might not like this move.
I think we should go deeper, though. You know how modern games have collectibles you can collect for an achievement? Why don't we make it so that if you don't collect them, you have to pay an additional $10?
I think we should go deeper, though. You know how modern games have collectibles you can collect for an achievement? Why don't we make it so that if you don't collect them, you have to pay an additional $10?
I really don't get why this is so huge of an issue.
I really don't get why this is so huge of an issue.
I really don't get why this is so huge of an issue.
I'm honestly thankful I don't have XBOX Live, let alone a 360 anymore. This does not serve your customers interests, this is screwing them over. But I guess this only applies to those who buy used, some wouldn't care.
If all these game companies are so worried about used game sales, then why DON'T THEY CUT BACK ON THEIR GAMES AND MAKE THEM MORE AFFORDABLE? I don't need HD cinematic Epic voice work in every game, give me a good game, and I'm fine.
This doesn't and won't change anyone's minds or get any bleeding hearts to their cause, to me, it only encourages gamers to buy used copies of games. I honestly don't care much about any DLC, especially with these kind of cut throat tactics.
What's good for the customer/gamer, is good for the industry, this is not.
Sorry for the rant...
Also, Dtoid is being very buggy right now. People are double--and even triple--posting all over the place. The background is tiling horrendously, and pages are generally breaking.
To people bashing EA on it think it out logically: you pay £30 on a used title, £10 cheaper than the current retail price for [x] game, you then pay £5 extra for online priveleges and you're still paying a fiver less than the retail price. Sure the "razorblade" pricing model seems unfair at first but not only does it only affect used sales but it also helps support games companies so they can make more content for you in a fair and non-intrusive way.
I mean hey, at least they're not ubisoft and DRM the fuck out of everything.
I really don't see an issue with this. I think $10 is a little steep, although I can understand why: used copies at Gamestop are generally only $5 cheaper than new, so this makes new copies cheaper than used (if you care about online play). The only people this is a legitimate issue for are the ones that aren't paying EA anyways.
It's better than invasive DRM, at least.
I really don't see an issue with this. I think $10 is a little steep, although I can understand why: used copies at Gamestop are generally only $5 cheaper than new, so this makes new copies cheaper than used (if you care about online play). The only people this is a legitimate issue for are the ones that aren't paying EA anyways.
It's better than invasive DRM, at least.
Actually, it doesn't "have to be made", they simply want the extra money, and have the ability to milk it out of you. It all goes back to the fact that game companies feel entitled to a cut of secondhand sales, even though no other physical media (music, movies, books) enjoys the same luxury. Game companies are special as far as they're concerned, and since they're actually capable of crippling your experience, they have finally decided to do just that.
Even though they already received money for the original purchase, and since the original owner has since sold the game, that secondhand sale will not increase the amount of strain/use of their online services; but they still somehow feel justified in holding online play hostage until you pay them again for that disc they've already sold once before, and they didn't even have to pay to get it back! This is nothing more than a money grab, disguised as cleverly as possible as something reasonable. Credit to EA for going so far to make it look acceptable, but poo on this continued drive to milk every - last - fucking - cent out of gamers' pockets.
Actually, it doesn't "have to be made", they simply want the extra money, and have the ability to milk it out of you. It all goes back to the fact that game companies feel entitled to a cut of secondhand sales, even though no other physical media (music, movies, books) enjoys the same luxury. Game companies are special as far as they're concerned, and since they're actually capable of crippling your experience, they have finally decided to do just that.
Even though they already received money for the original purchase, and since the original owner has since sold the game, that secondhand sale will not increase the amount of strain/use of their online services; but they still somehow feel justified in holding online play hostage until you pay them again for that disc they've already sold once before, and they didn't even have to pay to get it back! This is nothing more than a money grab, disguised as cleverly as possible as something reasonable. Credit to EA for going so far to make it look acceptable, but poo on this continued drive to milk every - last - fucking - cent out of gamers' pockets.
Honestly, I wouldn't. In fact, if it was at all possible, I'd try to make my games more affordable. Would I charge for DLC? Depends on the content. Would I even have DLC? Only if I couldn't cram ever little bit of everything I wanted on the disc. Extra skins? No. Stages that extend the game a little more? Yes. But would I force those who had bought the game used to pony up $10 extra just to download it, let alone play online? No.
(The rest is not directed at you)
This will only make things worse, I have no doubts of that. Next you'll have to pay extra for teams that are already on the disc. Or in other games, you'll have to pay extra for the weapons YOU NEED, or to even progress through the game.
This is basically trying to make used game buyers into villains. It's not their fault they go for a cheaper deal, and it's not their fault if they can't pay full price for a "work of art" only 5 hours long.
To me, this is anti-consumer. Companies should do more research into how they can reduce used game sales, and TALK TO THE CUSTOMER, and since far too many are money grubbers (yes, I realize games are a business), they won't, they'd rather punish the ones they don't like instead of trying to win them over.
*shrug*
This is money milking, in the worst degree. Since when is online play a PRIVILEGE when buying a game? I can get Xbox Live because of all the other features (I suppose...) but this is complete GARBAGE.
Also, those saying "dur, ha ha, it's just sports who cares"...wait until Metal of Honor and the next Battlefield game do the same thing.
And don't think it'll ever be cheaper. You picked up that copy of Madden 2011 in 2015? Well, DLC doesn't depreciate for some god-only-knows reason, so you STILL have to throw down 10 bucks just to play it online. What the hell.
This is seriously crossing a line. I'm considering boycotting EA games now (both them AND Activision? I'll have nothing left to play!). Gah.
This is money milking, in the worst degree. Since when is online play a PRIVILEGE when buying a game? I can get Xbox Live because of all the other features (I suppose...) but this is complete GARBAGE.
Also, those saying "dur, ha ha, it's just sports who cares"...wait until Metal of Honor and the next Battlefield game do the same thing.
And don't think it'll ever be cheaper. You picked up that copy of Madden 2011 in 2015? Well, DLC doesn't depreciate for some god-only-knows reason, so you STILL have to throw down 10 bucks just to play it online. What the hell.
This is seriously crossing a line. I'm considering boycotting EA games now (both them AND Activision? I'll have nothing left to play!). Gah.
I feel like I ripped off Guerrilla Games and Bethesda