Comments on: Online Pass: What’s Next?

By: FIFA 12, The Online Pass, And Why I Won’t Be Playing Anymore | PLAY Magazine

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:38:07 +0000

[...] Online Pass: What’s Next? [...]

By: David

David — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:01:29 +0000

I understand why the online pass was introduced but don’t agree it should be allowed.

If I bought a second hand car, I’d expect the car stereo to work without having to cough up for an unlock code. I’d also expect to have it painted, with an engine, 4 wheels and 4 doors and not have to unlock codes to disable the immobiliser, deactivate the handbrake and unlock the doors!

Imagine if you couldn’t buy a second hand phone on ebay without paying the carrier £100 to “unlock” it for you to use.

Online passes for features of new games is ok else though. If it’s clearly printed on the box then you have a choice – buy it or don’t, just like with the car analagy, you have the choice to buy the allow wheels, metallic paint etc.

My problem is just the disabling of content just because it’s a used item. How does a change of ownership justify a change of functionality?

By: The_Deleted

The_Deleted — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:05:51 +0000

I’d have quite happily given my Catwoman pass to someone else if I’d have known how dull it was. She plays fine, but having finished the main story with that killer ending, only to have to carry on as some annoying, sexualised feline bint really removes any impact. There is nothing sexy about cats.

I’m not one of those gamers who has a desperate need to complete a game, the story is usually enough for me before moving onto play something else. But I can see those gamers that do like to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of a title would see this development as a piss take.

I do wonder how it would stand up in a court of human rights for those who pay full price, but don’t have the capacity to access the whole game…

By: Darryl

Darryl — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:37:55 +0000

This is a brilliant article, i can understand the online pass (which mostly EA do) so that you can’t play their games online if bought second hand, but taking this further into single player campaign is just stupid. What if the game player does have an internet connection does this mean that they shouldn’t buy that game, although this will make the companies more profit it also singles out certain gamers. i prefer to complete campaigns as appose to competing online (with the exception of call of duty), so sometimes purchasing a second hand game can suit me (if i have no intention of playing the online, E.g. singularity) but if i would have to purchase content to complete those games i would most likely not purchase, this would also put me of buying future games from that series (if it has one). i am not a fan of the online passes as i feel that its just companies being greedy and how far will they take this greed ? ?

By: Svennis

Svennis — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:30:43 +0000

I haven’t bought B:AC yet although I will at some point ( too many good games released all at once). Are you saying that even if I buy a new copy (with pass included) I will not be able to finish the game unless I go online? I know quite a few gamers who still don’t have broadband – are they unable to play?
In the format I have seen the online pass work (needed for multiplayer not single player) I have no problem with it. It has affected my buying habits. I didn’t buy Fifa 11 second hand even though it was £15, I bought a new copy for £20 as it included the online pass. So I have to pay more for greater functionality fair enough. This does though depend on how much more you have to pay and what you’re getting for that.
One of the alternatives I have seen mooted is to scrap the online pass and just charge for DLC. If this meant having to pay for squad or kit updates, then No Thank You. As a parent I want to know what a game is going to cost. I got Fifa 12 on release day for £30. I am happy to know my kids wil not be asking for £10 in a months time for the latest DLC.
One last thing. Just because some gamers hold a different opinion to you at Play that is hardly any reason to be so condescending and patronising about their view. Do you usually find denegrating your readers to be useful?