Last week, THQ announced that it was implementing a one-time use code to allow online play in Smackdown vs. Raw 2011. Like EA’s Online Pass system, purchasers of new copies of the game would find the code in the retail package, while pre-owned buyers would be forced to pay $9.99 for a new code. Fans have taken umbrage with these new tactics, but in this situation, THQ does not care.
Cory Ledesma, THQ’s creative director for wrestling titles, told CVG that those buying Smackdown vs Raw 2011 brand-new are simply more important.
"I 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,” he said.
"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 added. "I don't think anyone wants that so in order for us to make strong, high-quality WWE games we need loyal fans that are interested in purchasing the game. We want to award those fans with additional content."
Those who purchase Smackdown vs Raw 2011 new not only get a code for online play, but they also get the first DLC pack for the game free. It’s a bit worrisome that online gaming is now counted as ‘additional content,’ but this growing trend with publishers does not seem to be stopping.
3 Comments
August 23, 2010
You hear that gamers? Consumers? So don't feel like you need to support developers. Buy your games whichever way is cheapest or best for you because THQ (and others) will surely do was best for them. Though you probably already knew that. I think he should've been even more blunt and direct with his comment. Just say THQ does not care about you whether or not you give us your money. I think their games would still sell millions of copies if they had done so. That's how aware and self respecting most gamers are. "what does it matter what a company does I just want to play my games". Yeah, somebody actually said that.
I have to hold off a minute because the guy really angers me. Why? You didn't ask? The "we get cheated" nonsense. Really?!! No guy, you don't. You received your money from the initial purchase. If people choose to sell their property that is their business and not yours. Get that through your head.
Funny thing is I always bought Smackdown games new. Cheap but new. I have every smackdown game from the first on ps1 to 2009. Now I will no longer be buying any of them because of this. Well to be honest this is the main reason but not the only one. I mean he talks about charging to keep making strong high quality smackdown games but those games haven't changed much at all. Same stiff animations and graphics since like 2006. The only thing that changes are the constant ruining of the control scheme and the stripping of Legends. I applauded the use your own music for entrances feature but even that was poorly done.
I don't know about 2010 but the DLC for 2009 was weak sauce. 2 updates total for the year and most of the wrestlers in the character pack are average and should've been offered for free. So claiming some DLC they have (that's already available the day it ships and should've been in the game) is free isn't very appealing. I find it strange that this additional content they believe they are rewarding gamers with is the same stuff that's been offered for free for years. So they're really not giving those supporters anything new.
If THQ (Sony, Ubisoft, etc) think they're just upsetting used buyers.. think again.
You know there's a part of me that thinks this is all a really stupid plan to get people angry. Get them to not buy disc based games so they can bring about the digital age faster. Naw, that's a stupid plan. Nobody would do that.
Then there's a dark part of me that's wants to see them push it as far as possible. Maybe the industry will crash, maybe games will end up being cheaper or maybe they'll succeed and then I'll stop gaming and watch as they gouge all the people who refused to stand and boycott the nonsense. So when they start crying about how they now have to pay a monthly fee for every game they want to play or when they no longer get to actually own a copy all the people who took a stand will say, not I told you so but "I'm Sorry Man, I wish it didn't turn out this way either".
August 28, 2010
So far every game released with these Online Passes have sold lower than the previous entries in the franchises and I think that will happen here too. It's a matter of principal, I refuse to buy games that use this crap. Even if I do decide to buy the game, I will make sure it is a used copy just to spite them (since I have no plans to play it online).
August 30, 2010
Here's a tip for game PR reps, especially those internal studio folks: beware the post-ship decompression developers seem to go through. They're liable to say anything.