Homefront

[Punfisher]

First thing I noticed when I bought Homefront was the code you have to enter to play online.  Just like EA's online pass, THQ seems to be following in their footsteps.  That means if you ever rent, borrow or buy used any game released by these developers you will have to pay another $10 per game to play online.  It is not a one time fee.  It is a new charge for each and every game.  So for the guy who may have 20 used games, that would be $200 in fees just to play those games online. 

This means the executives at Sony lied to us when they firmly stated that online gaming will always be free on the Playstation 3.

I generally buy my games new.  So I typically won't have to pay hundreds of dollars to play games online.  At least that's where the industry seems to be leaning anymore.  I can't in good conscience continue supporting this type of business practice.  Our games are already costing $60.  Developers got smart and realized how much more money they can make if they only release part of the game on the disc and the rest as add-ons, so you pay another $10 for the add-on.  Then another $10 to play online.  That's suddenly becomes an $80 - 90 game.  New release games are used are only $5 or so cheaper than brand new. 

THQ has no business demanding $10 more to play Homefront online.  This game is so "iffy" that you practically have to rent it just to see if it's any good.  That's when you get slammed with an additional $10 charge to play online. 

What the industry is trying to do is sink the rental industry and the used gaming industry.  You're only option will to buy games brand new and pay full price.  Is that what we want?  That's what we're gonna get as all the developers systematically adopt this practice. I hear Ubisoft is getting ready to do the same.  Gamers could stop this but getting gamers to take a stand will never happen.

[BigPete7978]

I can see your frustrations, especially if you are someone who uses Gamefly or purchase used games. It never affects me because I only buy a few games, and usually they are new when I purchase them.

[TG-AMP]

Wow, I didn't know this was happening. I'm a little suprised they can legally do that, but at the same they are the sole publisher of the game. What's the point in free PSN if you can't use it

[BigPete7978]

TG-AMP wrote:
Wow, I didn't know this was happening. I'm a little suprised they can legally do that, but at the same they are the sole publisher of the game. What's the point in free PSN if you can't use it 
 www.tacticalgaming.net

You can use the product, but I'm sure it bothers developers when people sit there and only buy used games. Developers get zero of that money if I remember correctly. THis is the reason that I buy games new, because I actually like to support the developers of the games that I play.

[ItsTehf3ds]

You can still rent the game and play online you just can only go to lvl 5 then the xp cuts off. I rented this game first to see if I wanted to buy it. I did end up buying it and it is a lot of fun once you start getting all the perks and vehicles. I can see where you are coming from but lets be honest I would rather pay for online and have it be much more steady of game play like the suck60.

[Punfisher]

ItsTehf3ds wrote:
You can still rent the game and play online you just can only go to lvl 5 then the xp cuts off.

Your XP is how you unlock weapons and skills. You can't do that if you get cut off.  The best equipment and skills in games are unlocked at the higher XP levels.  So if you rent this game, sure you can play online, but you're stuck with the crappiest gear.  You don't get the gear that blows you away and makes you wanna buy the game - if that gear does indeed exist. I can't see how anyone who doesn't work for Sony or THQ that would want to shell out $60 for this.

[Punfisher]

BigPete7978 wrote:
You can use the product, but I'm sure it bothers developers when people sit there and only buy used games. Developers get zero of that money if I remember correctly. THis is the reason that I buy games new, because I actually like to support the developers of the games that I play. 
Do you only buy brand new cars because you want to support the makers of the cars you like?  Every industry out there has a used component of that industry.  

[BigPete7978]

Punfisher wrote:
BigPete7978 wrote:
You can use the product, but I'm sure it bothers developers when people sit there and only buy used games. Developers get zero of that money if I remember correctly. THis is the reason that I buy games new, because I actually like to support the developers of the games that I play. 
Do you only buy brand new cars because you want to support the makers of the cars you like?  Every industry out there has a used component of that industry.  

Two completely different markets, $60 versus well over 15 thousand. My philosophy is this, spending 5 bucks or so more to go to the developer doesn't bother me, it helps drive their income, and possibly lead to a sequel if they sell enough and game is good enough. Don't really care about buying from the same car company, as long as it gets me to and from my destination.

[CaptainAlbator]

Punfisher wrote:
First thing I noticed when I bought Homefront was the code you have to enter to play online.  Just like EA's online pass, THQ seems to be following in their footsteps.  That means if you ever rent, borrow or buy used any game released by these developers you will have to pay another $10 per game to play online.  It is not a one time fee.  It is a new charge for each and every game.  So for the guy who may have 20 used games, that would be $200 in fees just to play those games online.  
This means the executives at Sony lied to us when they firmly stated that online gaming will always be free on the Playstation 3. 
I generally buy my games new.  So I typically won't have to pay hundreds of dollars to play games online.  At least that's where the industry seems to be leaning anymore.  I can't in good conscience continue supporting this type of business practice.  Our games are already costing $60.  Developers got smart and realized how much more money they can make if they only release part of the game on the disc and the rest as add-ons, so you pay another $10 for the add-on.  Then another $10 to play online.  That's suddenly becomes an $80 - 90 game.  New release games are used are only $5 or so cheaper than brand new.  
THQ has no business demanding $10 more to play Homefront online.  This game is so "iffy" that you practically have to rent it just to see if it's any good.  That's when you get slammed with an additional $10 charge to play online.  
What the industry is trying to do is sink the rental industry and the used gaming industry.  You're only option will to buy games brand new and pay full price.  Is that what we want?  That's what we're gonna get as all the developers systematically adopt this practice. I hear Ubisoft is getting ready to do the same.  Gamers could stop this but getting gamers to take a stand will never happen.

SONY said they wouldn't charge for use of the Playstation Network. These other guys however, are a different story. So before you begin painting with a broad brush, you have to understand first what's going on.

Really now, gamers are always the first ones to say "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!", and then they line up like lemmings to buy the newest shooter, no questions asked. All they're doing is capitalizing on gamers impatience. Who's really to blame here?

What you're going to have to do, instead of being the "outraged gamer", is you're going to have to be a smart consumer. I know that's difficult for gamers who typically trip over themselves lining up to be fleeced, but you have no other choice. You have to hunt for bargains and find the best prices.

[Punfisher]

CaptainAlbator wrote:
SONY said they wouldn't charge for use of the Playstation Network. These other guys however, are a different story. So before you begin painting with a broad brush, you have to understand first what's going on. 

Sony executives have stated many times in briefings that gamers will never have to pay to play a Playstation 3 game online.  I am not making this up.  I'm fully aware of the language used since 2006 about free onling play with the PS3.  Sony could easily put a stop to developers charging customers money to play online.  They could simply tell them, "If you want to make games for our platform, you cannot charge our customers any more than what they've paid when they buy the games."

I've had game ruined, lost and stollen over the years. People are stupid if they think I'm gonna buy them brand new all over again.  I'm glad there's a "used" element to this industry.