What if there is an online pass, but after a certain amount of time has passed (say a few crucial months in which the publisher makes most of the money) the game is patched to no longer require the code?

its different because game rentals usually make a deal with the publisher. This whole used games problem started when gamestop started buying used games and selling them at a huge profit and publishers seeing none of the money.

I always proposed that Sony, MS, and Nintendo should get some sorta deal with Gamestop, Walmart, and the such to keep them from selling a used copy of a game until 1 month afterwards.  I mean people could still do it online but it would severely cut down the market.  I'm proposing separate deals in case anyone's wondering how they would get all major retailers together, but they would obviously be about the same time.

But why should they? The copy that's being sold is the SAME copy that was bought from the publisher to begin with. They want multiple sales from the same copy? If they want that, then every game company should open up their own used game stores. You aren't going to win out from something costing a bit cheaper. People will always go for that.

Companies should just shut up about used game sales. Once digital replaces physical. It will, even I will admit that, and I hate digital, cause you have to trust a company with your purchase stays avaible forever. Then this won't be a issue anymore.

that is the best solution for all parties involved.

There should be no restrictions. At all.

Or we could just go with Rol's option, which makes the most sense.

The only solution should be:

Ignoring used games entirely like every other thriving market. Online multiplayer? Yes, its acceptable to have small fee for used purchasers as there is an associated cost with that to the publisher.

Which is what is going to happen. While I like digital overall, I do hate the idea of losing all used market options. I only hope digital means better sales, like Steam seems to do.

Like Rol said, make better games. You know why the used market wasn't as big before? Cause games rarely ever took you less than 20 hours to finish. I finished Resident Evil 4 for my first playthrough in roughly 30 hours. Resident Evil 5 actually has a trophy for you finishing it in less than 5 hours...

Games with an RPG element with stat building, a chance to explore or build, multiplayer and whatnot, have replayability.  But if it is heavily story driven, it ends up running out of replayability.  A number you mentioned do look like they have decent replayability.  Others, I would end up questioning.  Of course, games with branching storylines have more replayability.