Sounds like the days of free access to some areas of online, and multi player gameplay are coming to an end for the PS3. I don't know if any of you have noticed but EA has experimenting with the "Online Pass" for the last year or so. Instead of charging us to keep our accounts open like Microsoft does, we'll be forced to pay extra to fully access the games we wish to play competitively.

A few examples of games that have used or will be using this new system (so far seems limited to only big name shooters):

-Battlefield BC2
-Medal of Honor
-DiRT 3
-Resistance 3 (rumored to have a stat tracker website as well)
-CoD MW3 (also rumored to have stat tracker)

I will RARELY ever buy or pre-order a game brand new. I've learned that eBay is my best friend when it comes to video games. But with the addition of these passcodes being required to access MP, my practice of buying used games could soon end, which really makes me disappointed in the game industry. They already charge $60 for a game which is way too much for me to afford. Now I know I could always just buy the online pass off the PSN store, but that could range from $6 - $10 . . .

So I ask, what can we do as PS3 gamers to fight back against this new practice? Will this discourage you in supporting certain developers?

It's because the entire game industry hates Gamestop. And I too have a personal vendetta against that corrupt corporate cashcow. So, I am in support of this. Enemy of my enemy, if you will.

Posted by Eschaton It's because the entire game industry hates Gamestop. And I too have a personal vendetta against that corrupt corporate cashcow. So, I am in support of this. Enemy of my enemy, if you will.

No, it's because they hate second hand game sales. There's many small independent stores that will be devastated if this slimy practice becomes the norm.

Posted by Tyralus No, it's because they hate second hand game sales. There's many small independent stores that will be devastated if this slimy practice becomes the norm.

And who gets the majority of second hand game sales?
But, like I said, BOYCOTT GAMESTOP! it's personal with me and Gamestop.

But, yeah, publishers have been annoyed for years that other companies are making profits reselling their games. Slimy, I guess, is open for debate.

I don't want to make this into an ethics debate (nobody likes an unwanted ethics debate), but as someone who doesn't make a lot of money, I often buy second hand games. Obviously it's in a software developer's best interest to encourage sales they directly profit off of, but paying an additional $20 to be able to have full access to the features of a game I've purchased doesn't seem right.

Posted by rescueme1060 So I ask, what can we do as PS3 gamers to fight back against this new practice? Will this discourage you in supporting certain developers?

Do no support the company. The best way to protest is by not buying their games. If you can make them feel your dissatisfaction in their bottom line then they will listen. Of course this will take many, many, many people working in concert to pull this off.

Either that or buy some shares of their stock and show up at the next stock holders meeting and voice your concerns.

jacunda brings up a good point about the stock holder meetings. I have a lot of one on one time with development teams, as I do game tests about twice a month. I already have my "anti online pass" speech that I make sure to mention every time they interview me after I play a game. It makes me look like a fool when I'm speaking to EA representatives though. I really want more feedback from you guys just in case I'm missing anything. I don't buy games brand new b/c I don't have a lot of $$$ to spend all the time. When I play tested Resistance 3 back in April I don't think the development team knew whether or not they were fully committed to the O.P yet. I can tell you that the R3 developers are very nice ppl though and don't seem ultra greedy, but then again they are working for Sony Entertainment as well.