BF3 used copies will need an online pass.

[goldenfooler]

Yep, Battlefield 3 will have an online pass



In news that should surprise just about no one, a DICE employee casually revealed over on Twitter yesterday that Battlefield 3 will require an online pass to access online multiplayer.

When asked if that very thing was the case, DICE’s Alan Kertz responded, saying: “You can also purchase an online pass for a used copy.”

He went on to defend EA’s decision to go with an online pass, explaining, “Because servers cost money, and used games don’t make developers any money.”

Back in August, DICE’s Patrick Bach told GamerZines that Battlefield 3 would “probably” require an online pass in order to access online features. He said:

“If you create a new account there is a big process on how that is being handled in the backend. We would rather have you buy a new game than a used game because buying a used game is only a cost to us; we don’t get a single dime from a used game, but we still need to create server space and everything for you.”

Battlefield 3 is due out on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 25 in North America.

[Schultzy]

You know, alot of people are going to complain about this....

But if they provide the support and whatnot for the software/servers needed, I cannot see a problem with it. Years ago, we used to get alot of these services free - but then again, years ago, the effort needed for the software/servers was considerably less. Years ago, the amount of detail you could put into something was limited by what the software could handle. Nowadays, the amount of detail allowed dwarfs what used to be available in older pieces of software.

Directly speaking, look at the way AI handled in Doom/Duke3d, then evolved vastly in Quake/Quake 2, and has since been getting better and better. And that's just one aspect of a game nowadays.

Then there is the amount of things you can interact with. I'd say Duke 3d was WAY ahead of it's time with all of the different switches and things that could be triggered in it's game. Move onto a game like DooM 3 where the doors and everything acted like a touch-screen that it was supposed to represent. We can toss the Deus Ex games into that mix, and quite a few others.

And... I ramble.

This fee, while some would hate, is a good thing. It may sound greedy and shallow, but if it provides better service...

[Dead...Again]

On DICE's part, the only real thing they have to do is maintain stats for each player. If you buy the game, then quit playing it and sell the copy to someone else, they really don't need to maintain your player stats anymore since you can't play the game.

What they should do is say "if you sell your copy of BF3 to someone else, we will delete your player stats from our servers."

[BadHabitz]

On DICE's part, the only real thing they have to do is maintain stats for each player. If you buy the game, then quit playing it and sell the copy to someone else, they really don't need to maintain your player stats anymore since you can't play the game.

What they should do is say "if you sell your copy of BF3 to someone else, we will delete your player stats from our servers."

Or your player stats are tied to your game key or specific disc (for consoles).

It is just a money grab, with a decent excuse attached to it, but it's still just an excuse. EA doesn't charge me to create an account at EA.com

[Quamin]

For me, I don't worry about the "money grab" because that money will keep a server administrator working and likely help keep them sane while they deal with cheaters and stat padders!

[Bon3z]

I don't mind them trying to make some money from their efforts. I guess this is really more of an issue with console crowd

I don't know what "heathens" would be selling their PC version

[Quamin]

I don't mind them trying to make some money from their efforts. I guess this is really more of an issue with console crowd

I don't know what "heathens" would be selling their PC version

SHUN the Heathens!