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EA Introduces "Online Pass" To Get In On Used Games Market

Posted by Soulskill on from the gee-thanks dept.

EA Sports has unveiled a new feature that they hope will help them get a piece of the lucrative used games market: the Online Pass. Each of their new titles will come with a one-time code that allows access to "premium" content and features. Players who buy the games used can get the same content, but will need to pay $10 for the privilege. "According to EA, the content can include anything from title updates and downloads to features like online leagues — and even online gameplay and multiplayer modes. ... EA will offer 10-day trials of Pass content so that users can see what they would be getting. So far, EA seems to be limiting the premium add-on experiment to its sports portfolio. ... The company has apparently gained the support of retailer GameStop, which has been watching with a close eye efforts on the part of publishers to discourage its thriving used games business. According to the retailer, encouraging premium content add-ons still benefits GameStop, since it sells PlayStation Network and Microsoft Points cards. It praised EA's Online Pass as 'forward-thinking.'"

6 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Re:cheating the laws by sakdoctor · · Score: 3, Funny

    I would love to pirate some EA games, but unfortunately they just keep pumping out "YourGFXcardCan'tHandleThisShooter 4", and "MySims 3D, coke&whores addon-pack"

  2. Better don't lose that manual! by mvar · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Please enter word 15 paragraph 2 line 4 page 23 of the game manual in order to proceed"

  3. hummm.... by Tei · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is all about fight the First Sale doctrine. Make games a "not transferable account", so you can't re-sell the game you have buy (only part of it, here).

    I wonder we will see the ones like General Motors, fighting the user car industry.

    --

    -Woof woof woof!

  4. Re:cheating the laws by vegiVamp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, but surely you see how immoral that is ? That's like giving USED money to the game companies. You wouldn't want to use USED toilet paper now, would you ?

    No, you need to give them NEW money, you filthy pirate scum.

    --
    What a depressingly stupid machine.
  5. Re:cheating the laws by demiurgency · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sign me up for that coke&whores add-on pack. Sounds like the best thing EA has released in years.

  6. Re:cheating the laws by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Customer satisfaction depreciates for every new game EA release! :o)