That’s an exact quote from this article. The longer version now:
"This information and data is very valuable and it wasn’t free for us," an EA representative explained on Operation Sports. "T-Mobile is paying for it this year for all users who buy the game new. This is a very expensive tool to use, and if you don’t buy it new, then you’ll have to pay for this. It isn’t greed at all."
So it costs money to make games…stunned. It’s a good thing they give them away free, or consumers might be paying for them too. Yeah, that’s obvious sarcasm. What it comes down to is this… EA doesn’t like that you, the consumer, might buy a used game that provides them no money past the initial sale, so they are adding content that only the first guy gets for free.
And they aren’t alone:
New copies of Epic’s Gears of War 2 (360) will include a one-use download code that will rewards with 5 additional multiplayer maps, all pulled from the original Gears of War. According to GamePro, these maps will not be available for purchase through the Xbox Live Marketplace, with Epic claiming they are "special gifts [for] our loyal fans."
So not only will only the first guy get the maps for free, he will be the only one ever. Didn’t buy the game new? That’s fine, we’ll just punish you with less content. I kid you the fuck not.
Gears of War 1 sold something like 5 million copies plus and now they are trying to stick it to us in secondary market because they don’t like how many copies of their game got sold in the after market? They definitely need the money…. If I’m following this, if you don’t buy the game new, you aren’t a valued customer for them and they don’t want you. They will even go so far as to give you less content because you didn’t hand your hard earned money directly to them.
That’s fucked up. The game consumer is getting punished because people like EA and Microsoft (Gears publisher) don’t like how Gamestop and their ilk do business?
I’ve got a novel idea, make a game I want to pay $60 for. If the game is really good, I won’t be waiting until it comes down in price or buy it used. Oh, and that whole second hand market that actually generates new customers for your next version when someone plays an older game at a cheaper price (i.e. – they bought Gears 1 on the cheap and got so into it, they can’t wait to try the next one and will buy it new), that shit can just go to hell.
What marketing genius thought this was a good idea. Really. I’m sure EA and Microsoft (and others) are patting themselves on the back right now. I’m betting Beer Friday was extra good when they came up with this little gem. I’m also betting they’ve lost all sight of how to build up a customer base. How to respect the people who buy their games and the people who like to sell their old game so they can afford new games.
Listen, if you don’t like the fucking system, change it with the retailer, don’t go all passive aggressive on the consumer because it bothers you that you don’t get every fucking dollar that goes near your game. What a weak, shitty way to deal with your customers.
What Would Matt Do: I’ll probably not buy those games. I was really looking forward to Gears 2, but when the companies start treating me less than decent, I have a harder time shelling out the big bucks for their game. Or in short, DIAF.