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Electronic Arts is stepping up attempts to combat the sale of used games, with BioWare's Mass Effect 2, the latest soldier tasked with promoting the purchase of new games, reports Bitmob.
In order to access Mass Effect 2's "Cerberus Network," which provides in-game access to a store to purchase downloadable content and will be the only way to receive certain free downloadable content that BioWare issues in the coming months, you must buy a new copy. Anyone who purchases a used copy of Mass Effect 2 will need to spend $15 to access the Cerberus Network.
This practice against used games started in December with EA's The Saboteur. In Pandemic Studios' last release as an external studio, the ability to see females in the game's brothels without their tops was by purchasing a new copy of the game. Used copies required gamers to fork over $5.
$15 is a bit different than $5. The difference in price hopefully reflects how serious BioWare and EA are taking the measure, and how they're both planning to reward gamers appropriately for their decision.
Source: Bitmob
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Comments
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kochache
I'm sorry but this is mass effect were talking about here the BEST GAME EVER or at least untill ME3 comes out who in the world would sell it back to the store. the replay value is through the roof and then some. you would have to be insane to want to sell this game ever. at least that's my opinion.
sutle_misou
it sounds like Bioware's verion of "Halo Waypoint." if that so, then HELLS YEAH!
warpedzappa
You shouldn't be buying a game like this used any ways. Bioware deserves my hard earned money. Everyone should be supporting them so they can keep making games of epic proportion.
altizar
That's the problem with DLC. In 2 or 3 years, there will be no support for the game so in effect it will be almost completely useless. Now take my Blue haired goddess Kos-Mos, every 2 or 3 years I pop in my copy an re-enjoy the interactive movie. :)
ravenhermit
Look at some of the available DLC for games that people do pay money for. They range from having to spend from seven to fifteen dollars (forget the exact amounts, pardon me) to receive the necessary points. This is just for one DLC on the 360. Some are 400 points, some 800, other varying amounts. It still adds up. However, you are shelling out fifteen dollars for a one-time-only fee to gain access to not only DLC that'll be available at launch and at least one other specified promised DLC, but also any other future DLC through that network free of charge. In the long run, assuming that BioWare keeps its promise of substantial use of the Cerberus Network, it is actually well worth it.
As it was said, this doesn't - or shouldn't - detract from the playing experience of the game in itself. Letting something like this dictate whether you want to skip over a game that you would otherwise find enjoyable is just unnecessary and unattributed martyrdom, not to mention childish.
austin43
Whoever paid the $5 for the saboteur "extras" really needs to see a counselor. Also yes $15 is ridiculous, and much fewer people will want to buy the game used. It is further devaluing your purchase, and another way to screw the end consumer out of more money.
Nuclear_Xmas
it didn't start with "The Saboteur", new copies of gears of war 2 came with a free mappack download.
Oinkness
Well... that gives me more of a reason to just skip the game entirely, and not even rent it.
SnakeEater227
Game Studios and publishers aren't in this for our benefit. They're in it for profit, like good capitalists. If we want studios and developers to continue to produce quality content, bring sequels out in reasonable timeframes and produce DLC, we need to make it profitable for them. If it takes a studio with 100 employees 2 years to produce a game, they can have a multi-million dollar investment into the product with no guarantee on return. So if they want to guarantee return, then they need to incent the gamer community to purchase new copies, not used copies. Or does everyone still want to be playing PONG?
mcrisalli13
im ashamed to say i havent played ME or ME2 yet. Is it anything like KOTOR?
revivedflash
Not everyone can afford $70 games. I do buy some new but most I buy used & then trade them back for another game. That is the only way I can afford to game. It is entertainment; it should not break the bank.
sampsell243
I doubt this will really cause anyone who planned on buying used to go with new...I think most gamers buy games for the game...not so they can get DLC later. Thats just extra.
ROYALHYSTERIA55
this is gonna start a real bad trend for future games great the poor get F'd again
cheezzy
What everyone is failing to understand is that, Bioware and EA must be working with Gamestop. Because they are offering exclusive content when the game is pre-ordered. So, this does not make sense as to them trying to combat the used game sales companies, because they are helping gamestop to get more business with pre-orders.
I think it is just pure game company greed, and trying to get more people to pay full price just to get the few free trinkets they are offering, without expanding on what this network will encompass. This has nothing to do with used game sales.
buzzbait81
anything that puts the screws to gamestop i'm all for it..A used copy of mass effect 2 is going to run you 55 bucks anyway so why not just get the new one
sunrisepromo
Like someone else mentioned, GameFly users get the shaft. I rent, because $60 for a game is highway robbery and in this economy, I have to spend my hard-earned money on things that are more important: you know, rent, electricity, etc. It just seems that game developers are getting more greedy and shouldn't punish people because their product is already over-priced. It also doesn't make sense because even in this bad economy, video game companies tend to be doing very well. They don't need the extra money - they just want it. That's called GREED.
Jkoski
EA risks new sales with this tactic. If the $15 dollar charge lowers the value (and therefor price) then people planing to recoup 30 to 40 percent of the cost of the new game several months latter will only recoup 10 to 20 percent. It may not cause a noticeable change on the first game, as funds will be high from selling previous games, but eventually there will be a drop in sales of games.
Podag
I really think they under estimate how many games are stolen and sold as used. I've bought many a used game and the "special" download code is still there and fully functional.
krypto74
The price of games has risen to 60 a game. In terms of enjoyability that's forty hours of fun. It's already too high a price. I started with twenty bucks for PC games that lasted 150 hours (Starflight?) and I can't spend sixty bucks a month on a game. That's dinner at Olive Garden twice with the wife. Or 8 paperback novels. Or 2 D&D source books, or god help me 12 packs of Yu-gi-oh cards. Ok to be honest... 60 bucks is what I spend on my electric bill once a month. Sixty bucks is what some people spend per month on Cable internet. Those people who "never buy used games" either don't live on their own budget or are much higher paid than I am. Sixty dollars is a week of food at wal-mart for a family for crying out loud.
I use Gamestop and the Used games to mitigate the cost of my hobby. I am now going to be penalized and not get access to items, areas, story elements or even boobs just because I didn't buy it the weekend it opened? That's like saying I have to pay ten bucks to unlock a pokemon. It doesn't make sense! Combat the sale of used games by lowering the price of the games and selling more of them. Don't pee on my leg and then charge me money for "fancy leg water" exclusive to my pant leg for 30 days.
theantigzus
whatever i preordered it for the exclusive armor and weapon so this is a bonus
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