Catwoman Only Playable With Online Code in Batman Arkham City

[Widgetcraft]

So, it doesn't dissuade pirates, or people who buy the game used. It's just there to inconvenience everyone. Thanks for that.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

That makes no sense. Surely the code would already be used for that game? Unless they bulk buy codes. I always thought these codes were one time uses linked to the players account, and thus not transferable.

They may be buying in bulk. If that is the case it's an awesome way to get around the pre-owned dilemma. Gamestop sells used games at a huge profit while buying these codes in bulk giving the publisher/developer a cut of their pre- owned sales in a round about sort of way while still making pre-owned a better buy for the more money conscious customer.

The likely hood of me buying a pre-owned game from Gamestop when I have to shell out another $10 to get the rest of the content given to people who buy the same game new when I could just buy new from Amazon for about that same price (game +$10) is pretty small. On the other hand if GS paid for that content for me while still offering the game at the same discount the likely hood of me buying from them goes way up, especially if I know that the publisher/developer is now getting $5-$10 for every pre-owned copy sold instead of the occasional $5-$10 from the few people who bought pre-owned and the code for that content themselves.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Originally Posted by Lance Uppercut

It's hardly a problem if you're not pirating this game.

The 1st game had an ingenious anti-piracy feature, though. Cape gliding was disabled in pirated versions, making it hard to get anywhere in the game. Developers should do stuff like this more often instead of everybody going the CD key route.

Originally Posted by Narradisall

Well its a problem if you buy second hand.

Although I have no issues with online codes etc for those purposes.

And yes, that anti-pirarcy was awesome in the first game.

I never saw anything like this. I know because I played a pirated version for a while before buying the PS3 version.

[Narradisall]

Who buys the codes though? Gamestop? That's a bit lame of the publishers then, since they are basically fine with the used sales as long as they get their cut, even if its from the very retailers that built the used sales system to the giant it is now.

[Blue]

I agree. If you still get a code when buying used, I'm not sure what the purpose of the code is then in the first place. It just becomes an unnecessary step. I can see it's use in the hope of deterring used sales but if that isn't the case... then what?

[Laughing Penguin]

Originally Posted by Blue

I agree. If you still get a code when buying used, I'm not sure what the purpose of the code is then in the first place. It just becomes an unnecessary step. I can see it's use in the hope of deterring used sales but if that isn't the case... then what?

Maybe to guarantee that used sales only come from "authorized sources" (in other words, people giving them a cut). A way to get a slice of used sales without stopping them doesn't sound like a bad plan...

[Psykoboy2]

Again, only GameStop is doing this, so buying off of eBay or Amazon or any other place that sells used and you don't get a code.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Laughing Penguin

Maybe to guarantee that used sales only come from "authorized sources" (in other words, people giving them a cut). A way to get a slice of used sales without stopping them doesn't sound like a bad plan...

Ah, good call.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

Who buys the codes though? Gamestop? That's a bit lame of the publishers then, since they are basically fine with the used sales as long as they get their cut, even if its from the very retailers that built the used sales system to the giant it is now.

Why else would they have a problem with used sales? The whole issue behind used sales is the fact that the publishers/developers don't get a cut. Other than that buying video games used is no different than buying anything else used. Besides, the "used sale system" is more beneficial for the end user (us) than buying new in most cases, I can't be the only one who likes saving money. How is trading in games you are no longer playing for credit towards a game or games you still want to play a bad thing? Especially if everyone who worked on the game is still getting a little piece of the pie like they would with new copies.

Originally Posted by Blue

I agree. If you still get a code when buying used, I'm not sure what the purpose of the code is then in the first place. It just becomes an unnecessary step. I can see it's use in the hope of deterring used sales but if that isn't the case... then what?

If Gamestop bought the codes then it's them removing that step for us while giving the publisher/developer a cut of the profits. It's a win/win if you ask me. Now if EB didn't buy the codes and they were just given to them by the publisher that would be quite odd and seemingly pointless.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by Grifter

Why else would they have a problem with used sales? The whole issue behind used sales is the fact that the publishers/developers don't get a cut. Other than that buying video games used is no different than buying anything else used.

No, that makes used game sales exactly the same as used sales of everything else. Cars, furniture, DVDs, books, etc. In fact gaming is the only market where I've heard the "creators" grumbling about used sales so much.

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by Handmade.Mercury

I never saw anything like this. I know because I played a pirated version for a while before buying the PS3 version.

It was picked up an eventually worked around by the pirates, after the much talked about forum post where the developer brow beat a kid moaning about the 'glitch' he came across that wouldn't let him continue.

You were probably playing a version they fixed.

[pomeroy]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

No, that makes used game sales exactly the same as used sales of everything else. Cars, furniture, DVDs, books, etc. In fact gaming is the only market where I've heard the "creators" grumbling about used sales so much.

Exactly. It's why I pretty much ignore anything that has to do with the "business" side of gaming...developers and publishers come off as children.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by pomeroy

Exactly. It's why I pretty much ignore anything that has to do with the "business" side of gaming...developers and publishers come off as children.

You're probably better off that way. Following the business side of the industry often just makes me angry.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

No, that makes used game sales exactly the same as used sales of everything else. Cars, furniture, DVDs, books, etc. In fact gaming is the only market where I've heard the "creators" grumbling about used sales so much.

I'm still trying to figure out if you're disagreeing with him or not. The bolded part of his quote and what you say in your post are the same thing.

[MagGnome]

He says that publishers and developers don't get a cut of used games sales, and then says that other than that they are the same as any other used sale. I was merely pointing out that actually that makes them the same as the sale of other used goods. I agree with his post overall, but that one line tripped me up a bit.

It's really not a big deal though, just a minor quibble. Hopefully Grifter isn't sitting in a dark room cursing my name.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

He says that publishers and developers don't get a cut of used games sales, and then says that other than that they are the same as any other used sale. I was merely pointing out that actually that makes them the same as the sale of other used goods. I agree with his post overall, but that one line tripped me up a bit.

It's really not a big deal though, just a minor quibble. Hopefully Grifter isn't sitting in a dark room cursing my name.

Narradisall made a comment that sounded to me like he thought it was fucked up that publishers are OK with used game sales now that they are getting something out of it and I was pointing out that other than the money issue used game sales are the same as any other used market therefor no one really has a valid reason to bitch about it any longer because all those people who are\were against it are/were generally against it because the developers don't get a cut so if Gamestop starts giving the developers/publishers a kickback from used games the problem is pretty much solved.

The short of it is that either Narradisall didn't understand why people had issues with the used market in the first place so I explained it or I don't understand the reasons why he still has a problem or thinks the developer/publisher should still have a problem with it (outside of the money issue) and my last post was pointless.

[Philonious]

I think that Gamestop paying for the codes is an EXCELLENT compromise. Everyone wins.

[Laughing Penguin]

Originally Posted by Philonious

I think that Gamestop paying for the codes is an EXCELLENT compromise. Everyone wins.

Well, except the actual customers, who have to put up with entering silly codes in order to access all of the game they paid for. But screw them really.

[SilentScreams]

Originally Posted by Philonious

I think that Gamestop paying for the codes is an EXCELLENT compromise. Everyone wins.

I was about to say that gamers don't win because now they have nothing to bitch about. But the very next post proved me wrong.

[Savok]

With Forza 4 recently I spent an hour putting in codes and downloading crap.