This was the headline of an article post by xbox daily news. I found it on my facebook page and I think it is very disturbing if it is true. These days the online pass code has filtered into the multi-player games and to some extent it has been a excepted part of the game. I don't mind paying to play a mp if I really like the game. HOWEVER! Paying to play the campaign of a game is going way to far. Yeah, I can still rent the game and play it but according to this article some of the game will be locked. Plus, if I don't pay full retail price for the game I will never know what is locked. This article even goes on to say that there will be NO opportunity to purchase a pass for retal customers. I find it hard to come up with the proper words to express my disbelief. I also find it hard to even THINK that a company so rich in the video game world would consider doing something like this. This is not a good move guys and I am hoping that this article by xboxdailynews.com is a mistake. SAY IT AINT SO.....ID!

http://www.xboxdailynews.com/2011/08/12/used-copies-of-rage-will-contain-locked-singleplayer-content/

I am personally all for getting rid of this whole renting business if it cannot be monetized like video renting or in some other way. Game development is becoming costlier every year just like movie development. A lot of AAA titles are taking many years to develop now, more cinematics, better graphics, better voice acting all is $$$. Development studios are also getting bigger and bigger with salaries also increasing. In order for developers to remain in business they should take every action on getting the pennies from all those who play the game. The whole renting business along side piracy is hurting developers directly or indirectly.

On the other hand, demos should determine whether a user should buy the game or not. Unfortunately not every game releases a demo or have game conventions where people can play the game. So one has to either gamble with your 50 bucks or rely on reviews which may or may not align with your liking. But that is also the risk we take when we go watch a movie, whether its worth the 10-15 bucks and majority of the times these days its not, but at other times there is...

But personally I am fine with a developer getting the money if person X is playing their content, whether it was acquired 1st hand or 2nd hand.

This is a complete Piece of BS due to the fact that Rage was a game I was really interested in and was reading the forums too. Think about this ...When this game is released I sure as hell will not buy it. You'll essentially kill this game in ever being a classic and in 10 Years no one will know or care about it because they can not experience the full game in that time. Since this is a first person shooter that seems to rip the lack luster plot expressed in borderlands...which has excellent gameplay so you should totally check it out. for them to lock content that is already in game is insanely stupid since now it can never be recognized as a classic game due to the fact you need a new copy to play the full game that you purchased at a used price. My Friends and I Have band together not to purchase this game because of this. along with the fact you need to fully install the game on the 360 or it will be glitchy as well.

First off: I don't think that RAGE rips off the "lack luster plot expressed in borderlands". Yes, they are in a mad max kind of environment, but based on the videos that I've watched the stories are actually different. A big difference: One is on Earth, the other is not.

Secondly: I suggest you read this thread- http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1220138-rage-new-purchase-incentive-detailed/ , where Tim Willits said that most people who bought the game new would probably pass over this content anyways. They're not essential to the main storyline(Or even close to being so from what it sounds like).

To me it sounds almost like an additional mission DLC, or what you'd get if you bought a collectors edition. Now consider the fact that the Anarchy edition is being given out free if you pre-order and that there isn't a collectors edition. I don't see it as taking away from the regular game, I see it as a third tier in the process. Whereas you'd normally consider having a regular game and a collectors edition, now you have a Used copy, a new copy, and a Collectors edition.

Also newcomers read this thread: http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150325

i think some of you guys really need to calm down..you act like its the end of the world or something..you need to realize these game companies are losing money so they are at some point going to do something to counteract it..would you rather they raise the price of games another 10 or 15 bucks?

As long as this means I'll have no problem if I ever have to reinstall the game or install it on another pc when I get a new pc, then thats fine.

According to the other topic it's tied to your steam account and the content should always unlock when you're logged in with your steam account.

No just no, this industry is dying because of used game sales. The devs are not getting the money they deserve and why should companies like gamestop make money when they don't even make the game. They are the ones profiting the most. If devs are trying to stamp out piracy on the PC and put all sorts of measures in to prevent it. I don't see why they shouldn't do it for the consoles also to stop the used games market. There is no profit to the actual devs from the used games markets unless it's like the EA used pass plan or something.

You and your friends are not going to buy a game just because you can't share it between each other? Why not just delete the saves and pass on your consoles to the other when you are done. All the content is still there. I know a lot of people buy and share games but this is no reason to not buy a game. The devs deserve their money and especially id software because they have worked 7 years on this project and if it's not a financial success we will be back to playing the COD's and Battlefields.

I didn't preorder it through steam though. So does this mean the game will use steam? As long as it doesn't use Windows Live I 'll be A okay.

It uses windows compatability certification - nothing else.

You can check out Games for Windows on wikipedia.


GFW is not GFWL

Wow. I don't buy used games or sell them used but this is disgusting. The rental market is completely legitimate. What next? Are the going to lock out content to people who buy the game from a Steam sale? After all, Tom needs his money!

Yes it's a Steamworks title.

The rental market doesn't make money for id though, but the business that is allowing the public to rent it, whereas a Steam sale would continue to earn money for id.

yea well the rental market legitimate or not hurts id software, they don't get any money from it. Steam sale they do and steam sales are something that we don't know how they work for all we know the steam sales are approved or requested by the devs themselves to promote sales of their products.

Seriously, their greed is astonishing. No other industry pulls this kind of cheap, self entitled, money grubbing bs. If someone buys a game, its their game, they should be free to trade or sell the thing without being hindered. It doesn't hurt anyone. The developer's had his sale. The store gets business and the customer gets to pick up a game they either wouldn't have bought or saves a bit of cash by trading old games. Today i've seen several sites where the reaction has been, "oh well, i'll just pirate it then." Well done. Once again, the pirates have an excuse to pirate and the legitimate customer gets screwed over.

So they don't get money, that makes it OK to just screw people over instead? They are not entitled to money from used games sales. The game has already been bought, to expect repeat profits from each product unit is a joke. Consumers are within their right to buy a used game instead of a new one and expect a complete product. Many people I know do sell their games, and they will be less inclined to buy new games if it is going to be more difficult to sell them. This is the way the industry is going I suppose, big game companies wont be happy until consumers have no rights over the games they purchase legitimately. You don't see auto manufacturers complaining they don't get profits from used cars, when they do I suppose then it will be OK that Toyota disables air conditioning in all their used cars.

so i guess you guys would rather them raise the prices of their games games maybe ten or fifteen bucks than do this? well im betting that will be the next step..cause their going to get that money their losing back from somewhere..

Actually I'd be glad to pay more if it means actually having rights as a consumer of the game, even better if you can buy a premium version that doesn't have DRM. Who are they trying to fool though, it's not like id are in dire straits here.

Umm whut? How does the used sales market impact on the cost of game development? A USED game is a game that has already been bought. The developers have ALREADY made their money from that sale. They haven't LOST money. What this developer is basically saying is that it's not enough for them to make their money on the original sale. They want money from any future sales too!!! or they'll restrict content, thereby crippling the customer's/business's chances of trading the game. This is like protectionism. Its absolutely disgusting. Bethesda are already on a slippery slope reputation wise. Allowing this sort of nonsense is only going to damage them further.

thats not the point. someone else is getting a piece of the pie they feel is theirs and they have the lawful right to go about it this way to see that it stops..how hard is that to understand? snip

well thats you..id rather not have to pay extra because some ppl dont want to buy new..its not like you cant wait for a while for the price to drop to get a new copy for just as cheap as used and you get the code for the content..its not like the code will only be in the first batch of games released or something..

and if you buy the game used at gamestop any time after release its going to be what? 5 whole bucks cheaper? whhhoohhooo..you can use that 5 to buy you some candy..awesome..

You try to patronise people about saving 5 bucks on a used game, but you can't bear the suggestion of paying higher for new games on release? I don't even buy used games I'm happy to buy games on release, but just because it doesn't affect me personally doesn't mean it isn't kind of a dike thing to do. What lawful right are you talking about? It is not illegal to sell used games.

This.

I have no interest in RAGE, but I read about this locked-content scheme and it disgusts me. Shame on Bethesda (the publisher) for pulling this crap (assuming it is the publisher's decision to do this; if it was id's decision, then shame on them, too).

No. That is the point. They already have their pie. What they're engaging in is borderline protectionism. Seriously, this is simple economics. However, it's great to see your attitude of, "oh shut up, stop whining. Just accept what big business tells you and let them do what they want." Its people with that attitude who allow companies to release broken, unfinished games. The culture of "sell now, patch later, day one dlc" exists because of this blind, unquestioning, sheep like attitude. Welp, you're right on one thing, i won't be buying it. I'll be spending my money elsewhere. I may not be able to change it but at least i won't be supporting people who think nickle and diming their customers is acceptable.