EA Sports Locks Out Multiplayer Modes On Used Sales

EA tackles used game sales with new one-time only code. EA Sports is going after the used game market.

Starting with the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the publisher will introduce a new Online Pass, a one-time registration code included with each brand new copy of the game. The code allows players to access "online services, features and bonus content."

[electricshadow]

Good thing I don't play EA Sports games. Never have, never will. But you know what? If this takes off, this will have more publishers and developers doing this kind of thing.

[RememberThe357]

I know used games sales are cutting into their bottom line, but thats because games cost too much in the first place. I don't play EA Sports games either but I rent nearly all of the games I play and if they take this through their entire library I'm going to be pissed.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Retail can simply refuse to stock EA Sports games, which is highly probable.

[randomwiz]

Why would retailers do that? They care about the money they make. They would never take out a big source of revenue.

Besides, in the article, it says Gamestop acknowledges EA's decision.

[lord_of_balrogs]

I bet Activision will try to appear nice by saying that they will never support this practice but then blindside us with this later on. I think this is bull because I can't share games with my friends if this practice takes place.

[KingME]

I totally agree with EA. Not from the stand point of people not being able to lay online with the used game but because places like gamestop have been ripping people off with this crap for way too long.

They give people 10-20 dollars for a game and then resell it for 40-50 dollars. Double whammy for them if they sold the original game for 60 bucks to start with. Gamestop isn't the publisher why should they make more profit on the game than the developers and publishers.

I feel bad for people that can't afford new games, but I don't feel bad for the likes of Gamestop and other used game sellers, because they are too damn expensive.

As for people trying to share with their friends, technically it's a form of piracy. If you or your friend wants the game then buy it. So many people want quality game, but no one wants to spend any money.

Edit: You know, after thinking about it a bit, I do think it kinda BS when it comes to friends sharing games. This is something that should be allowed. For instance, if I complete a game and a friend completes a game, I think they should be allowed to swap with no penalty. So I guess EA should up it to two online activations to be fair about it. But, I still stand my ground on the gamestop issue.

[LastDance]

I work in a video game shop, and pre-owned games is how I get my wages. We will make around 10 - 20 dollars off a new title release (rrp 109.95Au). 10 to 20 bucks. We give people a third to a half of what we resell the game for which is fair.

Your comments are ignorant.

[KingME]

My comments are ignorant because you work at a game store? See my comment below genius, (1.5.1) I didn't make that crap up, I called. Batman AA originally costed 60 bucks, gamestop would sell it used for 54 bucks used, it is now 39.99 and GS sells it for 32 bucks used while the base trade in value is 12 bucks.

"I work in a video game shop, and pre-owned games is how I get my wages."

Guess what, producing quality games and selling them is how developers and publishers make their wages. All you do is sit on your ARSE and resell their stuff used. They are the ones that deserve the additional profits not your employer. Why do you think people should consider your wages to be any more important than those of the developers. I don't know you, I don't know them, as far as I'm concerned you are equal.

But I will say this, they MADE the damn game, why should gamestop be able to sell the game for a profit several times while the publishers only get to profit from it once, when they are the source of the product.

GS sells the game initially for 60 bucks, buy it back to 20, sell it again for 54, buy it back again for 12 and then sell it for 32. Meanwhile, Gamestop initially bought the game from the publishers for less than the 60 bucks that they initially sold it for.

I can care less that you work at a rip off used games reseller, their crap is a scam and someone needs to put a stop to it.

If you're gonna charge customers 54 dollars for a game the sells brand new of 60, then you should at least give them 45 dollars on their trade, not 20-25.

Period.

[ChozenWoan]

I just saved a bunch of money on my Gaming Addiction!!!

Yep, that's 60+ bucks that's going elsewhere. I was thinking of getting Tiger Woods 2010 when the PSMove is released, now EA can just choke on it.

Edit:
To KingME

It's not used game sales that are bad, just the trade in values GS and others give people.

Lets face it, not every game is worth $60+ dollars, and that's not including the money for DLC. Getting some games used and at a discount is a very good thing for gamers, and actually benefits developers in the long run.

Many games that I picked up from the bargain bin I would not have played if they where only available at full price. As a result, I've come to be a fan of some games that I would otherwise not even think twice about. That's part of the way I became a fan of the GOW series.

Now I can see giving perks to those who purchase new, but to take out a core part of the game is just wrong. Imagine if Halo3, MW2, and or KZ2 disabled multiplayer for all used games. This is exactly the type of trend EA is starting with this program. We can only hope that the backlash will bite them hard and fast enough that Acti and other companies don't make this an industry standard practice.

[KingME]

I totally see your point and completely agree.

I think they need to find a way to combat selling used games without sticking it to the comsumer. As someone says about, what if I have two consoles and want to play in a different room. So from that standpoint I agree.

I went to buy Batman AA I saw it for 39.99 at walmart, I went gamestop to buy it used and they wanted 32.99 for it. I left the store and called them to ask what the trade in value for Batman was, and they quoted me $12 store credit which is just ridiculous.

But, I do see your point.

[Oner]

Now imagine the titles that they pay like $15 bucks for and then charge $5 less than the price of a NEW game ($60-5=$55)!?!?! Seriously WTF is that BS...buy new and support the devs who actually MAKE the game. NOT a company designed to specifically ripoff it's customers while at the same time screwing over the people who actually made the game that they sell!

I see both sides though because it does suck in respect to sharing with a friend, family member or even with multiple consoles within your own home (unless it's tied to a online login and not say a mac address). But it's benefits are also broader than just trade-in resells as it COULD potentially also combat piracy pretty well.

[FantasyStar]

At the end of the day Oner, it's not about supporting devs and combating piracy. It's me: with a game. If the game sucks, someone's going to pay for it. It's not my fault your game sucks, nor is it my fault for trying to get my money back. (since retailers don't offer refunds on opened-games).

[ThatArtGuy]

My question is, "If this is tied to the disc, can you deactivate the code and apply it to a new machine? If not, then is the code tied to a specific account, or is it for everyone on the same machine?"

[hazelamy]

my guess, it's tied to an account, and it will be a one time code.

[BRG9000]

So basically, here in 2010, EA looked over at PC gaming and said "CD keys? Great idea!"

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Because the Gamestop's of the world reap most of their profits through used sales. This is detrimental to that. Last year a few retailers refused to stock PSP Go's.

[ProjectVulcan]

"This is an important inflection point in our business because it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhance premium online services to the entire robust EA SPORTS online community," said Peter Moore

Dont you just hate PR BS speak? Did that statement actually explain anything? It just reads like a load of codswallop to me. People already stump up their subscription for xbox live, and although EA demanded that they use their own servers, they have now effectively introduced a stealth charge for online gameplay on a subscription service. He should just say: Either buy the game new so we get the money, or pay us as well as microsoft if you want to play online.

I dont see how BASIC online functions should EVER cost more on a subscription service if they arent MMOs, regardless of whether the game is brand new or 5 years old. When you pay for your sub, you expect to be able to play every normal game you put in the disc drive. Period.

[vhero]

Retailers won't stop stocking EA games however they will just stop EA games being traded in future at least these ones with the block. It's madness devs are going to these lengths to stop used games sales. Online gaming was invented to maximize gaming pleasure. Now it's being used as a tool for developers needs. What a sad, sad world we live in. However on the flip side pirates are gonna be p*ss*d at this.

As for those saying they don't buy EA titles I believe they don't realise they probably own an EA game. EA don't just make sports games anymore..

[jay2]

Oh for god sake,so people can't rent and play online? FANTASTIC MOVE!

[Bnet343]

so who's worse, activision or EA?

Edit: I remember how everyone was praising EA for BFBC2. I never jumped on the EA bandwagon.

[jay2]

I feel they're both as bad as each other.

[BRG9000]

It says there are 7-day free trials before you have to either enter the code or pay. So rentals are theoretically protected, though 2-month-long gamefly rentals are out.

[whitesoxfalife]

i feel ya on that one and gamefly is not gonna go out there way to help us out ...............come to think, they already started in live 10 my brother bought a used copy of live, and saw that i couldn't access the dynamic features

[Raptura]

:l That's all I have to say.
:l
:l

[The Wood]

maybe ea want their title back from activision...wtf

[chisox100]

i buy maddens a year later so this will only effect me there. i always buy NHL and NCAA used

[Zerodin]

I like any business decision that poops on online multiplayer!

[Gamester101]

This might suck for consumers, but it is understandable why they've done it.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying I agree with the method they're using - I can just see the reasoning behind their actions.

[Fishy Fingers]

True, but I personally dont give a damn about a multi million dollar company. No more rentals, no more borrowing/swapping your games with friends. You wont even be able to take it over your mates for a night.

[Gamester101]

The irony in this strategy is that, in my opinion, the best way of countering used game sales is to provide more content for new games (doesn't have to be much at all) with a more reasonable price. They might make less on each game, but I'm sure overall would make more profit.

[Karum]

It was only a matter of time before one of the big publishers did something like this.

Surely you guys didn't honestly believe publishers would put up with losing the vast sums of money they lose through the used game sales market forever, doing nothing to try and get all that money in?

I honestly can't say I blame EA for doing this tbh, you do have to remember that they are a business and that all business' main focus are their bottom line.

[jharv]

Sounds like DRM consoles, hopefully this won't turn into something much worst.

[Jack Bauer]

it will, this is like when dlc started... free at first, then slowly charged a little at first, now they charge for everything (and a lot, it seems 10 bucks at least no matter how bare the dlc is) including pointless stuff and stuff already on the disc...

[Jack Bauer]

Gamestop cannot use their "power to the player" slogan nomore...

[Pandamobile]

That's not a bad idea, to be honest.

Unless of course you buy used games.

[LinuxGuru]

This is total horse manure. This will never fly amongst the general gaming public. Go to hell, EA.

[Jack Bauer]

yes it will, people are stupid... if ya dont believe me i watched my friend play a game of nhl last night where everyone buys "gold" pads and sticks and skates and stuff like that... seriously? paying to get a competitive edge?

[PirateThom]

Just to point out, Sony did something similar with SOCOM on PSP recently.

[Bnet343]

Except that was to fight piracy. EA is doing it to fight used game sales.

[PirateThom]

@Kigmal
Same thing, at the end of the day for the user. A publisher is preventing online interactions and requiring a one use code to get access to it.

@Wrathman

Not "piracy" as such, you're allowed to have up to 5 activated PS3s, but if something happens to, god forbid, 4 you own and one person has your details activated on theirs, Sony are under no obligation to reset your allowance again, so your own content can no longer be used by you.

[Wrathman]

sony need to do something about sharing DLC and arcade games.i seen seen so many people asking me for my account details to DL map packs this week.i didnt even know you could do that til this week, when COD map packs where released.

is that piracy?

[Karum]

Which in the eyes of the publisher is ultimately the same thing...someone getting to play the game and them getting nothing in return.

[xHarvey]

Please don't touch Medal Of Honor with this EA. That's the only game i'm planning on buying from you guys this year.

[ThatArtGuy]

*EA is jotting this down right now. Make sure to include with this game* LOL

Seriously though, if you're planning on buying it, why would it affect your online play?

[xHarvey]

I might not buy it right away new due to all the great games coming out this year.If I see a used copy somewhere I'll buy it right away.

[Pandamobile]

Then buy it new and you wont have to worry about this.

[dazzalfc]

So Sony remove a feature used by less than 1% of its userbase and the entire world wants to sue them.

EA stop people from playing online simply because they bought it used, and its 'ok because its business and they are protecting themselves'

New look N4G, same old crap.

In no way should the 2nd hand market be punished. Some people can only just afford to buy games that are used, let alone brand new ones.

[Biggest]

Did you miss all of the comment above you or something? I don't see many people calling it okay right now.

[CellularDivision]

Less than 1%(citation needed) of the userbase had other OS.
Now that PS3 is getting hacked, the other percentage WANTS other OS. Why? To play their PSX games they already own on their PS3. And SNES games. And 360 games. :)
Forget the PS3 games, they are too big.
Thats why they are mad at Sony for removing other OS.

[Dread]

with all due respect,

those are two very different things. Sony got sued because it advertised and sold the specific feature they later removed. In other words they took something that people already bought. Regardless of how little you think poeple used the feature, the fact is the feature was sold.

On the other hand EA is telling you this before they sell u the product. So if you buy it, you know their is only one online code per game.

Personally i think what Sony did was wrong, and what EA is doing is troubling. but are they the same things? NO

[Biggest]

Sony advertised the OtherOS function? Then they will lose in court. But they didn't. So they won't.

[Dogswithguns]

Yep, I'm with that. agreed

[j9]

ill never play another ea game again.

[zatrox]

I don't see anything wrong with that.
They wanna get rid of the used game business so they'll get more money, wich means also more money for the devs and more awesome games.
What's wrong with that?

[STICKzophrenic]

What's wrong with it is the fact that these games that can't be bought used, probably won't be "more awesome" than previous iterations. Nearly every single sports game is a roster update with a slight upgrade here n there. You honestly think they'll make the games so much more awesome because of this?

I usually buy the majority of my games new because I like to support the developer, but on occasion I will buy a used game to save some money and to have a feature disabled that's on the disc is retarded.

Oh well, it isn't like I buy a lot of EA games anyway. (Mass Effect 2/Dragon Age: Origins) are the only recent ones I can think of, but that's only because BioWare made them.

[zatrox]

I'm looking more than just EA, like for example those niche games and such that could benefit of stuff like this. Yeah sure, for sport games it's a no thanks, but it could make more money to those developers that do need it if something like this was implemented in more than EA games.
Oh well, Sony did something similar with SOCOM anyways.

[King Hippo]

You'll pay $50 a year to play online and if you buy an EA Sports game used then you won't even be able to play it unless you spend even more money. lol

[BleuStreeks]

WoW well I was gonna think about buying madden this after boycotting it for 3 years...but that has changed with this new crap from EA they lost whatever cool points they gained. Thanks EA

[Karum]

Were you planning on buying it brand new? If the answer is yes then this doesn't effect you and boycotting it is stupid.

If you planned on buying it used then I suppose that is your perogative. Don't expect EA to care though, not like they were getting your money anyway meaning any such boycott by people who normally buy games used is going to change anything.

[BleuStreeks]

games cost waaaay too much as it is already renting is necessary for those who want to PLAY GAAAAAAMES...for EA to lock out online gameplay and lock out local play makes no sense to me...lock out the whole game if your gonna go that route.

[monkey602]

This kind of trend is getting stupid. Giving friends a lend of a game or even just bringing it around to someone elses house for a night will soon be out of the question. My housemate and I have our own PS3s and we use each others games. We should be able to do that without hassle.

What about families?! Say a father plays games and buys one his son wants to play too? Will he have to buy another copy? BS!

[ReBurn]

Only $10 if you buy used. Can't say I blame EA. Used games aren't exactly part of their business model, and it costs them money to maintain the servers.

[aftrdark21]

The servers they turn off after one year in order to force you to buy a new game?

I am sure the used game market sucks for them, but at the same time they do screw gamers over sometimes.

FYI I didn't disagree with you.

[CellularDivision]

This is hard to comprehend for the N4G "true gamers". (PS3 lol)

I mean, they hate EA, yet, they hate used games.
But EA is now making used games lose online mode.

So whats up "gamurz"? Is EA good or still bad?

[whitesoxfalife]

its not hard to comprehend lol so to speak everybody is forgetting that our favorite hobby is growing up thas all........

[CellularDivision]

Not sure what you said, but I agree. Bubblez +.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

A dik move seeing as they churn out a sports game each year that is basically the same thing with barely any added features.

[Topshelfcheese]

I swear no one reads shit anymore. You dont lose anything, you just have to pay 10 dollars to get that content if you buy it used. Your still getting it cheaper than brand new.

[atticus14]

besides the fact that used prices are so inflated it is cheaper to buy new.

for example

Gamestop madden new: 60
Gamestop madden used: 55

Of course it will still sell somehow... because people just hand over the money without thinking and encouraging this process even more. So what happens to the original owner and his multiplayer key - I bet he still doesnt get to play it - even though by their standards he bought it so he should have the right to play it even if he sells the "single player" game. This is the first step to games being called licenses and not products, a step that leads to selling "used games" as being illegal and you can be sued.

[rob6021]

If this takes off it's only the start, pretty soon games like CallofDuty and MetalofHonor will have codes as well; and rental will no longer be an option. Maybe they should have a free trial on each game for those renting and buying used.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Lol. I work at GameStop. I hope other companies follow suit. Used game retailers deserve this.

[atticus14]

why? so you can be laid off? Without their high markup of used games gamestop would probably be on their way out of the retail business - or having a few salaried managers do all the work and getting rid of everyone else.

[ATLGAMER]

Games for me....

[SteveSmith]

This is plain retarded. Gamers are getting scammmed again!

[Pandamobile]

used game sales are almost as detrimental to the industry as piracy.

It needs to stop.

[ps34ever]

this is a good thing

[Solans Scott]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

[SpinalRemains138]

This is the most underhanded, absurd, BS tactic I have ever seen. Ya know, if it isn't EA dropping the ball and ruining games because they suck, they now have to to charge us ten bucks to play online if we rented or got their game used? Go to hell EA! And take the Madden series that you destroyed with you!

BTW morons @ EA; it's 2010! The least you could do is enable us to save our character models to our hardrive so we dont have to build a new one year after year. Strip the capabiliteies all ya want, but why in this day and age do I have to keep building the same character model? It's because they're lazy, garbage producers!

[SpinalRemains138]

What about the people who pay 50 dollars a year to play online with their 360? EA is going to make them pay again to play a used game online? This is going to backfire on them bigtime. No one is going to borrow games, the code is going to prevent you from playing multiple accounts online or using the disc in a different machine within the same household.............. hence most people will say "go screw youself EA, your games suck anyway"

These guys really did a douche move here.

[hazelamy]

konami tried this for pro evo and that lasted all of one game didn't it?
i hope this game fails badly.

[hazelamy]

it's a joke ea doing this, with their yearly frakking updates i bet they gain more from preowned sales funding new purchases than they'll ever lose to it.
and who says they lose money over preowned sales anyway? every preowned copy that somebody buys was already bought new once, so they've got their frakking money for it.
this is just publishers getting greedy and wanting a cut of every sale of the game by the owner after they've bought it.
i thought we were allowed to sell something we own.
they gonna go after ebay next?
demand a cut from every sales?

[LinuxGuru]

What EA is trying to do is slowly but surely turn its products into licenses.

Think Steam.

[KrypticOnyx]

Well it seems its only the sports games.. for now.. and EA sport games are just the same thing every year with few new features being added yet old features being broken or taken out and the stupid glitches/bugs stay intact. Maybe this will drive them out of business before they buy the rights to every offical sport,.. That would be the best N4G headline. EA GOES BANKRUPT! :] *for the record they should at least drop the price to 50 for a game, 40 for the game and 10 for the online pass, just a thought for those that still play EA SPORT games.*

[ps34ever]

Madden nfl is the best sports game ever.

[wescan40]

What about older titles like NBA live 09, or Madden 09? Will you still be able to play multi-player games on them?