EA's Strategy to Counter Used Games Sales

[Onyxmeth]

strunge said:

sapient said:
As long as it is OPTIONAL content I see no problem with this strategy.

all online content is optional.  content that isn't optional would be content that is required to play the game at all.  I don't recall any game that was released and then required an additional online purchase to play the game on the disc which is all you purchased -- the game on the disc.  any content beyond that that simply adds more to the game is optional. 

there is no "should" to this situation.  developers can reduce the released game to whatever they would like from the original concept and then release the rest as DLC, that is up to them, but the consumer isn't entitled to any of it.  if you don't feel the purchase is worth it, don't buy it, and maybe developers will change their practices, but no consumer has a right to any content that isn't on the disc or adevrtised on the package with the purchase of the disc. 

developers tell you exactly what yu are getting content wise with a package.  either choose to buy it or not.  if you choose to buy it, you have no grounds to complain about anything.

That's not true at all. Publishers can advertise on the package for something they plan on charging you for. EA has done it themselves, and they're the ones publishing Bad Company 2. They advertised on the back of the box of Madden 10 about the new online franchise mode. Nowhere did they mention on the box that it was activated by a code in the case for new game owners. Anyone that picks it up, whether new or used would think online franchise mode is on the disc. They would end up buying it and then find out they need to pay $10 extra to unlock the feature if they didn't have the code. What's even worse is that EA forgot to put in the codes altogether when they shipped it to Australia.