AfterDawn: Tech news

THQ will charge used game buyers a fee to play online

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 May 2010 12:20 User comments (32)

THQ will charge used game buyers a fee to play online

THQ, the popular publisher, has said today that it will become the latest company to force used game buyers to pay a fee to play their purchased games online.
The first title to use the practice will be UFC Undisputed 2010, which has one-time use codes for online play, and therefore will require second hand users to buy a new code.

Used game buyers will have to pay $5 for a new code and access to "Fight Camp" mode, which lets 40 players train together online.

Says the company: "This multiplayer content for UFC Undisputed 2010 will be available via a one-time code included with the game at purchase. Codes for accessing the content will be available for second-time buyers for an additional $5."

THQ's move follows that of EA Sports which recently announced that used game buyers will be charged $10 for an "Online Pass" that allows access to multiplayer functions. Ubisoft says they are actively considering a similar structure.

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32 user comments

120.5.2010 12:34

Wowwww! What kinda b******t is this?! Seems pretty ridiculous to make people pay to play the game if they buy it used. And I guess $5 isn't that bad, but what is up with EA and their $10? If you're gonna have to pay that much you might as well buy it new. Oh well, there goes saving a couple bucks in the video game market...

How much more money do these companies want? Soon games will be $69.99...

220.5.2010 12:48

Oh look...more games I won't be buying...new or used.

320.5.2010 13:04

How bout that. Does that include the x360 version where I already have to pay to play online?

420.5.2010 13:47

Maybe I'm missing something? I think a one time $5 charge to any "user", whether he bought the game used or got it for free from his Brother is a fair deal. Actually, I think it's a great deal. More than one person in a house can use the same disk... LEGALLY and have their own license.
$5 seems quite fair.
$10 seems greedy and out of whack

520.5.2010 14:15

Eh? Being a former WOW player I really don't see the fuss. They have to pay to keep servers up and have moderators to keep you safe...I also assume you want them to keep players from cheating? That all costs them money whether they get a dime from you...Here I can really see their point. After paying $15 a month for years to play WOW I have no sympathy for anyone whining about a $5 or $10 one time fee!

I guess I would think this almost has to be just the PC versions of these games...I mean the argument above carries a lot less weight if Microsoft is doing all the work...

620.5.2010 15:03

do you get a discount if you don't play online?

if you haven't used the code is the game worth more on the second hand market?

would the games companies like me to grab my ankles and take it up the ars# ?

720.5.2010 15:05

dEwMe, we already pay for Xbox Live, we shouldn't have to pay any more.

820.5.2010 15:20

why don't they just say it now....."we lost money because of our bad idea-i mean piracy.......yes...piracy...."

if piracy doesn't ruin the gaming market the "protection" methods will.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 May 2010 @ 2:12

920.5.2010 15:27

Originally posted by Mik3h:
dEwMe, we already pay for Xbox Live, we shouldn't have to pay any more.
Yeah that's I meant when I said:

"I guess I would think this almost has to be just the PC versions of these games...I mean the argument above carries a lot less weight if Microsoft is doing all the work..."

1020.5.2010 19:57
Hi
Unverified new user

"Eh? Being a former WOW player I really don't see the fuss."

Comparing apples and oranges friend. They aren't holding the same servers that WoW does, Really expect to see that many users on UFC fight champion? And another thing

Your hosting the game so it is actually connecting to you not to them.

....now if they allowed us to buy Multiplayer CD keys for FAR cheaper....screw it and just use Spawn mode like old school Blizzard games

1120.5.2010 20:04

This is another game I won't be buying and a company I won't be supporting. Hopefully other will follow suit and these companies will see it in their revenues.

1221.5.2010 00:11

So if my PS3 breaks and I have to spend $300 on a new one, will I now have to spend $5-$10 each on getting the online features back? Seems like a ripoff to me.

Notes to self:
Do not buy THQ games on any platform (unless there are no online features)
Do not buy Ubisoft games on pc...ever

1321.5.2010 03:35

are there any limitations on the code..if my and 5 friends had UFC disputed and it was purchased second hand couldnt i just pay the $5 get a code and give the code to my friends and we all use the same code????

1421.5.2010 04:55

If you could share the codes, then you could sell them too.

1521.5.2010 06:09

rape

1621.5.2010 08:32

you can sell practically anything these days.back on topic code generater maybe and $2 per code???

1721.5.2010 11:38

And they wonder why modding systems are becoming more popular....

1821.5.2010 15:08

Last semester I tried to save money by buying old edition text books. In my dynamics class, the 10th edition book was $5, the current 12th edition was >$100, and used copies were around $70 on amazon. So I bought the $5 one.

Anyways, class starts, and it turns out the professor wanted us to use the online access portion called "mastering engineering" or something like that. New books came with that magical code to use that website. I'm guessing most of the used $70 copies of the book didn't come with that code.

So, I ended up having to pay something around $75 just to access the stupid online portion. It was required as this was where the homework questions would be posted and answered.

Well, luckily with games most of the old used ones don't have many people playing them online anyway, so it's not really a deal breaker unless you like to buy one month old games for $40 instead of $60. Just saving $10 instead of $20 isn't that great.

1921.5.2010 15:13

Originally posted by ThePastor:
Maybe I'm missing something? I think a one time $5 charge to any "user", whether he bought the game used or got it for free from his Brother is a fair deal. Actually, I think it's a great deal. More than one person in a house can use the same disk... LEGALLY and have their own license.
$5 seems quite fair.
$10 seems greedy and out of whack
No I disagree and I don't play online games but there should be no hidden fees especially on a game designed specifically for online play. Whats next usage fees, if you don't play the game no extra fees but each time you play it let's charge $5. EA has always been one of the worst for charging and screwing ideals in game play but it is everyone that supports this garbage that allows them to continue on with their evil ways. This is why I don't buy a lot of games anymore like I use to. They will push until it costs them the market and then they will blame their poor management decisions of piracy, because we know corporate management is never wrong.

2021.5.2010 15:33

Write your answer here I've never played an online game but if you brought the game used couldn't you just get the code from whom you brought it from? For no additional cost?

2121.5.2010 15:35

Originally posted by knfusd:
Write your answer here I've never played an online game but if you brought the game used couldn't you just get the code from whom you brought it from? For no additional cost?
I'd think that be fine if they never used the code.

2221.5.2010 16:00

Just the latest in greedy maneuvers by companies that fail to make the margins they think they need. This will not end until the IFPI/RIAA/PMAA whatever own every aspect of your digital entertainment online. It doesn't matter the content. They want you never to actually own anything. Fees, fees, and more, fees, and when our product is old and defunct, a used item fee.

F*ckers! With the removal of LAN from games like Starcraft II, and idiots like UbiSoft cramming DRM down everyone's throat, the only way anyone will ever play multiplayer anything online is for $$$. That's how battle.net started, then once they had a massive userbase, they pulled the ol' bait&switch on users. Luckily, I stay the F away from online games, especially multiplayer ones. Sad I know, but I like to enjoy my games unfettered, the way I want when I want.

The most aggravating thing about this whole thing is, is that they are completely transparent about raping the customer's wallet. Whatever. Speak with your dollars.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 May 2010 @ 4:00

2321.5.2010 16:24

Oh gee.

Next thing you know, Activision starts charging users to play online for Black Ops.

2421.5.2010 16:30

"They have to pay to keep servers up and have moderators to keep you safe...I also assume you want them to keep players from cheating? That all costs them money whether they get a dime from you...Here I can really see their point" - dewme

Console games do not need moderators in the same way MMORPG's do. Console games don't have cheating (that I'm aware of) because it's harder to run 3rd party code. I'm not saying it can't be done...just, so far, it's been more of a hassle to hack online game clients and then get the people who want to cheat to mod their console to be able to run the code. Microsoft already collects money for you to use the online ability of the XBox360 and Sony games use someone's console to host multiplayer games. In neither case are the game manufacturers providing anything except the code on the disk.

I would support game companies providing DLC (downloadable) content that wasn't on their disk...ie, if someone buys Oblivion (standard) then they can pay for the Sheogorath and Knights of the Nine expansions, but if their disk is the Game of the Year edition then they shouldn't have to pay.

This is a grab for cash that will ultimately inflate the cost of games even more.

2522.5.2010 03:19

What about video stores, how is that going to work to play the games online - ps3 etc

2624.5.2010 14:23

Quote:
What about video stores, how is that going to work to play the games online - ps3 etc

you don't. rather than rent a game to play online for a weekend with friends for $5 now you have to buy a code for the game as well.hopefully the codes are not disc specific and will work with with any copy of the game, like if i rent it, buy a code then later buy a copy of the game. in the end it's a scam to get more money and to test just how far buyers are willing to go.

2725.5.2010 06:22

Better yet, you just rent one of the many games that are just as good (or better) from other companies.

2825.5.2010 08:04
KK0904
Unverified new user

Originally posted by kikzm33z:
Oh gee.

Next thing you know, Activision starts charging users to play online for Black Ops.
They were already talking about doing that. This is one of the reasons listed for members of Invinity Ward leaving. The did not agree with were Activison was taking call of duty and there was disscussions about a monthly fee for players to play online.

2925.5.2010 09:43

They are serioiusly trying to punish used game and video rental stores. They want you buying new disks. They don't get a cut when you rent/buy used and they are going to pry that money out of your hand for their cut no matter what they have to do.

3030.5.2010 01:48
kasperb5676
Unverified new user

Originally posted by navybrat:
What about video stores, how is that going to work to play the games online - ps3 etc
Well from what i have read they will be a 7 day "free trail" for some companys games and if you like it then you buy it. But either way this is some bull crap! My main question is if the Xbox 360 or PS3 or even the Wii for that matter break when I have to pay even if I got the game new F that! it should be like a PC game that you can install it on up to X ammount of systems that might help a little but still EA and the rest of them are just money hungry and mad because gamestop and otehr companys were finding a way to get paid!

3130.5.2010 18:09

This doesn't seem to bother me as much as all the stupid unlock codes where you get better guns, cars and fighters depending where you bought the game.

-----> that's retarded

323.11.2010 11:32
Kk
Unverified new user

Originally posted by Mik3h:
dEwMe, we already pay for Xbox Live, we shouldn't have to pay any more.
Ur the stupid one who decided to choose the xbox360 knowing that you have to pay for everything. The system has a 60% fail rate I mean come on why pay for something that you know is going to break???
Why do you think they only have a year warranty on them cuz after that year they're garbage. But I think it's bull spit that they're doing this because it defeats the purpose of buying a used game. Ya 5$ isn't much but come on.

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