Yesterday, German website Konsolentreff published early photos of the Resistance 3 PS3 bundle box showing a new logo that says "PSN Pass."

The message read: "Network features only available in countries that have PlayStation Store." However, no other details were provided.

SCEA responded to requests for comment this morning to clarify, saying this program requires customers to input a one-time use code to access a game's online capabilities, similar to EA's Online Pass introduced last year.

"We are always evaluating new programs for our online offering, and starting with Resistance 3 this September, we will be instituting a network pass program for PS3 games with online capabilities," the spokesperson said. "This program will be game-specific. Games that are a part of this program will include a single-use registration code that grants the account holder redeeming the code full online access for that title.

"This is an important initiative as it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio."

If you don't have a code to input, say if you purchase the game used, you'll have to buy one through the Store. It's unclear how much one of these PSN Pass codes will cost, however.

Sony said it will announce additional details at a later date.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/118/1180810p1.html#disqus_thread

so what do you think? I personalyl don't mind since they give the option of buying the code (hopefully it will be relatively cheap)..I think many companies will start following this path. Iirc they did this with some psp games and few ps3 games already.

Thanfully I'm not interested in this game because if I was, I'd be pretty disappointed for not getting to play it. I'm not buying any game that uses online pass and I'm not going to tell you why because it's been discussed countless times before. I just wanted to voice my extremely strong disapproval.

-_-...why are companies condemning the people who are a little short on change

Fine for me if there a option for buy the pass.

I agree with you, but I'm a bit torn on this. I hate seeing gamestop charging 55 bucks for the used games sometimes..it's ridiculous.

This is another step in the direction of console game purchases becoming tied to users just like in Steam or other PC services.

Of course, PS3 games are already more expensive than PC games in the first place...

If the pass is 10$, I think it's fine.

yep exactly, and I don't think this will kill off used game sales BUT (especially if they price the online pass for a low price) it will make used game sellers to reduce the price of their used games, which could be win-win

It really doesn't bother me...at the moment. If you want to play online, buy the game new, or buy the pass on top of the used game (The general amount right now companies charge is $10, any more, and I think people would freak out).

Why I say at the moment, is I feel this is just their way of slowly implementing a cost system to playing online. Right now, we are given these passes for free with the game. Eventually, I have a feeling we will start getting a "3 month pass" free with the game, and then it will be like $10 for each 3 months you want to play the game. So you are still getting that bonus for buying the game new, but in all reality, they will just be trying to screw us over.

But if used game prices go down, new game prices should also go down, because people will get less money for their traded games which will make them more wary of buying them at full price. At least theoretically this should definitely happen, just as new car prices would go down if you couldn't sell them used.

I'm not saying this won't be effective in squeezing more money out of gamers per each game sold, but as for total revenue I don't know...