Jaffe Doesn’t Want an Online Pass for Twisted Metal
Since Resistance 3, all major Sony published games have included the “PSN Pass”, an online pass that requires purchasers of a used copy of the game to pay a one-off fee to play online. But Twisted Metal co-creator David Jaffe doesn’t want his game to include a pass, as he thinks it will damage their chances at gaining new fans.
Eat Sleep Play boss Jaffe told Eurogamer:
I know that we have been asked to look into some code work for it but I don’t believe that a decision has been made at this point. Or if it has been made it has not been shared with me yet.
I’d actually prefer that we don’t do it, even though it’s probably good business, only because we have such a mountain to climb in terms of gaining people’s good faith, especially in Europe, and really letting people know that this is a title that’s worth getting excited about.
Continuing:
I’m okay with the fact that we might lose sales on this first game if, because of it, we generate a lot of fans that otherwise wouldn’t have played the game. The online is so much the bread and butter of this game, so I’m okay with it because it means we’re setting ourselves up for a possible return to the franchise one day.
Unfortunately for used gamers, Sony, as the title’s publisher, will make the final decision:
It’s not my call and I’d totally understand if Sony as a company said ‘Look, this is a mandate that permeates all of our titles. We’re not making selective choices’. Those are decisions that I’m no longer privy to as I don’t work for Sony any more.
What is your take on the increasing use of online passes? Is it fair for publishers to try and make some money off the used games industry, or are they just hurting gamers?
7 Responses to “Jaffe Doesn’t Want an Online Pass for Twisted Metal”
Jaffe is just down right awesome!
Coolest. Game developer. EVER!
“What is your take on the increasing use of online passes?”
If people are willing to pay for it, then they’re obviously fine with it.
“Is it fair for publishers to try and make some money off the used games industry, or are they just hurting gamers?”
If gamers decide that it’s not fair, they’ll stop buying games that have them. If they thought it was a problem, then they should have passed on the games that use them. If gamers just plain didn’t buy the games that have online passes, they’d go away from the industry entirely in a year or less because the pubs that slap them on would notice the sales decrease.
But gamers keep buying the games that have the passes, so the practice will absolutely continue. As well it should. If they can make more money by selling the same amount of copies or higher and then cash in on the passes as well? And people pay for this? That’s business. If people don’t like it, they don’t have to buy it. But LOL @ gamers not buying things. Yeah right. Consumers are the ones changing the industry, not publishers.
Jaffe is right. To gain more fans they should avoid the online pass
listen i really don’t understand what the problem with online passes is….this is a Mature rated game so the target is 18 and up……if you have a problem paying 10$ for a pass get a job….if you have school full time get a job part time…..give blood, give sperm….it’s not hard to make 10$
Jaffe would benefit himself if he took a sociology and communications course or at least talk like he did. They just ought to start making having an online pass much more of a status symbol. Only cool people can afford them. Its not cooll to be poor.
Reminds me of this:
http://achewood.com/index.php?date=07222005