I should have worded the title a bit better. Sorry!

May 10, 2010 - EA Sports is going after the used game market.

Starting with the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the publisher will introduce a new Online Pass, a one-time registration code included with each brand new copy of the game. The code allows players to access "online services, features and bonus content."

Those who purchase the game used can buy an Online Pass for $10 or sign up for a free 7-day trial. The pass will be implemented for NCAA Football 11, NHL 11, Madden NFL 11, NBA 11, FIFA 11, and EA Sports MMA as well. The pass offers different features for each title, however, players will not have access to basic multiplayer features if purchased used.

"You will be unable to play multiplayer online game modes or use your downloaded content in online game modes," EA says. Online leagues, dynasty and franchise modes are also only available with the Online Pass. The break down for each title can be seen on the publisher's official website.

"This is an important inflection point in our business because it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhance premium online services to the entire robust EA SPORTS online community," said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS.

Despite being the leader in used game sales, retailer GameStop, which acknowledged it plans to focus on digital content in the future, supports Electronic Arts' new direction.

"GameStop is excited to partner with such a forward-thinking publisher as Electronic Arts," said Dan DeMatteo, Chief Executive Officer of GameStop Corp. "This relationship allows us to capitalize on our investments to market and sell downloadable content online, as well as through our network of stores worldwide."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/108/1088621p1.html

Thoughts? I think this may be the right way to go about attempting to keep the buyer buying without risking screwing them over. At the same time it should help stop all the used games sells, or atleast get some profit of there own from it.

Their best games are made by Bioware and they're pure single player so the joke's on EA.

They could cut down on their games being sold used if they made more games that people wanted to buy when they were released.

Seriously though, I heard about this and thought that it was a good idea. A good idea for them of course and not gamers.

I don't play EA sports games. The only games I like from them are Bioware Games as well as Dead space, none really have multiplayer.

This would almost be right except for the fact that there is most always DLC.

Except for the fact that their best selling games do have multiplayer

i generally like what they have been doing...including bonus content with a new game (dragon age, mass effect, the saboteur have all had such content...and probably more games as well). i have been ok with that. but i think this might go a bit too far.

Sounds suspiciously like the Cerberus Network or as I affectionately call it CFN. While a fine idea and a good deal with free content like armours and the Firewalker dlc for ME2 it was really badly implemented and PO'd a lot of people.

EA really bolloxed up the Dragon Age online tie-ins as well. Having their own dlc delivery system running almost in parallel but not in sync with xbl has caused some problems. Reading the 'Online profile storage' error message every time I start the game is one of many. They didn't seem to understand that people change their email addresses etc. Tens of thousands of people spent untold hours getting EA.com and Bioware.com and xbl in sync and it still doesn't work properly. Six months and not even a basic bug-fix for DA. Their priorities are obviously not mine.

Hope they've learned a lesson or two but frankly I doubt it. A separate online multiplayer mode and sign-in system will produce some serious headaches I believe. Aren't they the ones shutting down servers to save money? Still it's their right and supposedly good for the industry if not their customers. The alternative is bigger and 'better' drm.

I think this will help madden's sales a lot. There are tons of people who aways buy madden used just to save 5 dollars. This will help a game like madden more then a game like masseffect I belive because madden is manily a causal crowd who buy the game.

I hope more companies follow their example, anyone that buy's games used are pretty much ripped off anyway and this give's game buyer's further incentive to buy new (free DLC etc). The 7 day trial thing should be perfect with people renting game's.