Hallel-fucking-lujah

www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-16-ea-to-discontinue-online-passes

Lets just hope others follow suit.

Of course the cynic in me tells me there's a reason for it hidden away in some as yet announced bit of info about the next gen consoles.

Something in the back of my mind telling me its going to be something like there's going to be codes with games on the new consoles... and you're going to need to buy an activation code to re-use a game that's already been registered...

This would mean that probably they wouldnt be allowed to implement them, and also they would find it much harder to justify...

However.. I shall not sully the moment by typing my thoughts out loud and... oh shit.

(It wouldnt let me post the real link something about not allowed to for 7 days)

i wondered how long it would take you to spot this homer


on one hand im surprised and on another, not. i would image that this does indeed signify the imminent arrival of one time use codes. this makes sense tbh. not that i like it, but it makes sense. only those offering MP were able to do it, meaning those offering SP experiences only would miss out. game activation codes brings them both onto a level playing field.

however, im surprised simply because this is EA we're talking about here. i wouldnt have put it past them at all to keep the status quo.

mind you, whatever happens on the next gen games, at least the last ones of this gen (fifa, bf4, etc) will be free of it.


actually, whilst im on the subject, the one use codes may well be a good thing (he says, changing his mind). needless to say, it would be a case of "buy a second hand game, buy a code". this could force the high street retailer to drop the second hand prices. why would anyone buy COD 5400001 for £30 second hand if they then have to spend an extra tenner to activate it. they may as well buy brand new, meaning the shop would get even less. having said that, trade in prices would plummet

Wouldnt be surprised if we see more microtransactions instead

Link fixed (after some hassle )

Killswitchmad wrote:Link fixed (after some hassle )

Will it let me post a link next time

I'm pretty sure they did this purely so you'd let up on your brutal trade embargo on them, Homer. They were really suffering.

Well if the EA line is to be believed its not a million miles from the truth.

Wallet voting kicks ass.

Good move, but this is EA so I am cynical - either they know that next gen Xbox will be blocking used games so there is no need for an online pass OR they realise that as not everyone wants to play multiplayer and therefore has no need for an online pass, they are going to do a 'used games pass' instead that will require you to splash out for to play your used game in any form......

That said, they have taken a bit of kicking of late so it could just be a straight up move to garner some goodwill and if it is, good on 'em

HomerRamone2084 wrote:Will it let me post a link next time

It should do Homer, its a little security setting aimed at stopping new accounts flooding the forum with links etc. immediately on sign up.

N1NJA FWG wrote:they know that next gen Xbox will be blocking used games so there is no need for an online pass

A lot of people have been throwing this around as a possible reason, but I find it rather unlikely. Even if the 720 blocks used games (which it really, really won't) they'd still have half their market using used games on the PS4. Probably a lot more than half there market once blocking used games (which they won't do) slowly kills off the 720. But this is all moot. Because they won't do it.

Waylander FWG wrote:Wouldnt be surprised if we see more microtransactions instead

Nail on head.
Was just about to post the same.

Micro-transactions will take over in multiplayer and also I expect to see more free-to-play games on consoles with micro-transactions involved. For better or worse I guess we'll have to see, companies like EA/MS/Sony/Activision usually do take the biscuit especially when it comes to consoles as they know that a large percentage are silly kids/teens that just borrow there dads/mums card.

One of thon toolbag analysts has already suggested that theres gonna be more F2P on next gen consoles.

The most likely explanation is that EA's new CEO has simply reevaluated online passes and doesn't think they are worth pursuing

Killswitchmad wrote:The most likely explanation is that EA's new CEO has simply reevaluated online passes and doesn't think they are worth pursuing

Spot on. I assume they looked at the numbers and decided it wasn't causing a large enough increase in profit to warrant all the flak they get over it. Although I must admit I'm surprised, my money was on online passes becoming increasingly prevalent next gen.

Well now you can spend it on whatever they plan to replace it with

Next headline will be that all EA games come with multilayer as a separate paid for DLC pack

I'm sure the fleecing of gamers will continue in some form