THQ’s Feelings Are Hurt, Says it’s “Cheated” by Pre-Owned Gamers
THQ recently said that it would be implementing its own version of EA’s “Online Pass” in its upcoming WWE game. A one-time code is shipped with every new game which unlocks extra content and, most controversially, online multiplayer. If you buy the game pre-owned you are asked to shell out extra cash to unlock the features because you didn’t get a code. You poor scum.
In a rather frank response to concerns about this practice, THQ’s Cory Ledesma told CVG that they ”don’t think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything. So if used game buyers are upset they don’t get the online feature set I don’t really have much sympathy for them.”
Not holding back or anything, Ledesma continued: “That’s a little blunt but we hope it doesn’t disappoint people. We hope people understand that when the game’s bought used we get cheated.” He said that the loyal base of fans is who they’re selling to.
His words kind of speak for them self and it’s pretty clear that pre-owned games are something that publishers and developers are going to try and remove, or at least discourage, from the market. Sony’s Andrew House has recently said they’re “broadly supportive” of the measures and are ”exploring actively” using them in its first-party games.
There’s lots of vested interest however, with a large chunk of GameStop’s (as well as almost all gaming retail stores) business coming from pre-owned sales. This week, UK supermarket giant Tesco pushed its new trade-in and pre-owned sales initiative nationwide, showing the draw pre-owned sales have.
You can sort of see THQ’s point, but it’s the self-righteousness of videogame publishers that pisses me off. Every other market in the world has second-hand sales and they manage to do just fine. So, give it two years and we’ll all be buying pre-owned games that require level-by-level unlock codes. Woopee.
I’ve been playing all of the WWE games that THQ has published in the last decade. I bought each one new and didn’t trade them in until the next one had been released. The WWE games were some of the few that I bought new, as I generally can’t afford to buy most games new; without the ability to trade in games and buy pre-owned copies, I wouldn’t be able to afford to game at all.
I won’t be buying this year’s WWE game and this is exactly why. The WWE games have had terrible online modes in the past so I don’t know why they would think that was their big bargaining chip, but regardless, there is absolutely no way I will reward that kind of attitude. Maybe I’ll buy a second-hand copy and immediately trade it back in out of spite.
@Ace Flibble: I’m glad you’re taking a stand. Best way to show game companies what you think.
No matter how many copies are sold, in their minds it could have always sold more. Even if Gamestop and others didn’t sell used games publishers would just find something else to blame like piracy or rental services. Luckily they’ve found the solution that will piss off the people who weren’t outright stealing from them.
Also I like how THQ is following EA’s suit without waiting to see the reaction it receieves over an extended period. Its not guaranteed to be effective.
Kudos to THQ. I refuse to buy used unless it’s a title that is just simply impossible to find new, particularly when I walk into a place like Gamestop and see used, two year old titles still priced at $40 or more.
I’m very happy to see game companies turning their attention away from piracy and towards reselling. In the former case it’s just a failed sale, and more often than not stopping the pirate isn’t going to generate any more reward for the developer. The latter case, however, is a greedy third party directly taking money that probably would have gone to the developer and putting it in their own pocket instead.
@Shmitz: I understand your argument, but why are videogames special? Cars have second-hand markets; instruments, TVs, CDs, movies, almost everything does. Why should videogame publishers demand a new sale in such a way?
@Sam Jordan: With all the things you mentioned, there’s no cost for post-release support. When someone buys a secondhand CD, the record label doesn’t have to constantly pay for them to listen to it. Post-release support for games isn’t just a drop in the bucket for most publishers and developers, shit costs money.
I feel like I have to get this in every time one of the stories go up, but Gamestop is ripping people off much more than THQ could ever dream of.
I think it’s too early, the real backlash from the EA-debacle still has to start… I wonder how many calls their customer-support will get once their games start hitting the second-hand-market…
“Hello, I bought one of your games, and on the box it says there is Online Multiplayer, Leaderboards etc, I payed for my XBLive yet I can’t play online, WHAT A RIP!!!!”