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Game Devs Using One-Time Bonuses to Fight Used Game Sales

Posted by Soulskill on from the thanks-so-much dept.

ShackNews reports on an emerging trend which sees game publishers offer one-time bonus codes to unlock extra content for certain titles. Rock Band 2, for example, comes with a code which will allow free 20-song download, but is only usable once. NBA Live '09 has functionality to update team rosters on a daily basis, but will only do so for the original owner. "'This information and data is very valuable and it wasn't free for us,' an EA representative explained on Operation Sports. 'T-Mobile is paying for it this year for all users who buy the game new. This is a very expensive tool to use, and if you don't buy it new, then you'll have to pay for this. It isn't greed at all.'"

9 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Better than root kits by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is not only aimed at the used game market, but pirates as well. Personally I'd rather see this approach than a root kit and a limited number of installations.

    1. Re:Better than root kits by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed. Incentives to encourage the desired behavior are much better than punishments based on the assumption that all of your customers are hostile.

      --
      Women are like electronics: you don't know how damaged they are until you try to turn them on.
    2. Re:Better than root kits by retchdog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The chances are pretty high that by the time your computer crashes, the items will all be packaged into a bargain-priced Game of the Year edition or whatever, or even a free download. If not, you can probably get customer service to help you out once or twice if you have the serial #.

      For an mmorpg, your inventory is stored on a remote server anyway, so...

      --
      "They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
    3. Re:Better than root kits by narcberry · · Score: 5, Insightful

      These incentives don't work.

      1. Good boys and girls get a bonus for being good.
      2. Bad boys and girls figure out how to also benefit from these bonuses.
      3. Devs panic and institute some ridiculous mechanism that typically only hinders the good boys and girls.

      Example:
      1. Everyone that purchases a new copy of a game at release will get a bonus 5 maps.
      2. These maps are quickly torrented and now everyone has them.
      3. Devs ban these 5 bonus maps from play with a game update. Only players that download and install a EULA-breaking crack will still be able to play these maps.

      --
      Modding me -1 troll doesn't make me wrong.
    4. Re:Better than root kits by Anenome · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Problem with this is rooted in a basic economic error. The value of an item also, in part, is due to its resale value. The more publishers degrade the resale value the less the item is worth upfront. This is why attempts to outlaw used game sales, or demonize outlets that resale games don't have a leg to stand on. This method of devaluing only the resale value to the secondary market will still have an impact on the upfront price. Games will be worth less to buyers because of a move like this. Therefore, games will sell less than ever. Which will create a vicious cycle because publishers will likely conclude that they need to take even stricter measures against piracy, when the truth is they simply devalued their own product and would see more sales without the restrictions.

      --
      "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist"
  2. EA as usual by Original+Replica · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So consumers get jerked around when they rent a game from EA? That's been true for a long time, EA pretty much sucks when it comes to respecting the customer. Don't buy EA games, even under the Maxis title. If you do, then expect to be treated like a chump.

    --
    We are all just people.
  3. Re:Another such incentive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is the right strategy for publishers to take - add value to incentivize purchase

    They are not adding value. They are removing value and then adding it back with restrictions designed to devalue the game on the used market.

    This in not the right strategy this is greed.

  4. Re:Another such incentive... by narcberry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What good are multiplayer maps that other players don't have access to? Isn't the point to play with others?

    --
    Modding me -1 troll doesn't make me wrong.
  5. Re:Another such incentive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    By your logic, if a restaurant gives free appetizers to their best customers then they're "removing value" from the meals of all of their other customers.

    Food is not resold so its hardly the same.

    If a casino comps a high roller they're "removing value" from everyone else who visits the casino.

    Again, wagers in a casino are not resold.

    It would be more like Ford selling you a car that comes with free wheels as a bonus but prevented you from selling the car with those wheels.

    Maybe if the used-game retailers want to share the money they make on used games with the publishers they can come to some sort of a deal so that used-game buyers get some bonus material, too. But not offering merchandise to people who aren't paying you for it is hardly "greed".

    Thats not a very good idea. Next Ford will want a percentage of the sale price of a used car.

    Rewarding customers who give you money is a better system than punishing all customers regardless.

    Yes the second part is right but the first part is hardly relevant. The game has been paid for, they made a sale. Nobody is not paying for the game. If the games became cheaper as a result of this then it might make a difference. They just want more money. Its pure greed.