Used game sales have been a hot topic of debate for both consumer and business alike due to the effect they have had on the industry. For roughly a year now EA has been at the forefront of anti-used game sales with what many are calling the 10-dollar solution. Now it looks like other developers may follow suit.
In a new interview with Ubisoft’s Chief Financial Officer Alain Martinez, Alain showed a strong interest in adopting EA’s preventative measures to counter gamers who sell and trade their games. Alain said the following during the interview:
“We are looking very carefully at what is being done by EA regarding what we call the ’10 dollar solution,’ and we will probably follow that line at sometime in the future. We have the system in place to actually generate more revenue on the second-hand market,” he said. “We are building out the content to make sure it can be beneficial for both groups.”
In case you aren’t aware of EA’s recent integration, they have begun adding a one-use only code to game packages which are required to access important online components for a range of titles. For example, Madden 10 required a code to access the popular online franchise mode while Skate 3 required a code for the player to have any access to the community share features which the game is based so much on. Although used copies are playable, a $10 fee is required in order to access these features if a fresh code isn’t included in the packaging, which is usually the case with rentals and used games
These codes have not only been a pain for gamers who purchase used games but have also been a pain for people like myself who rent titles through a variety of rental services. The reason for such a system is understandable and it may even be successful, but it is definitely effecting those who rent, trade and purchase used games.
How do you feel about this one-use code system that Ubisoft may end up integrating? Have you been a victim of it’s effects from EA products?
[Source]
