Comments on: Mass Effect 2 Gets A Downloadable Content Portal…Well, At Least the Original Purchasers Do

By: Mass Effect 2 DLC Not Going As Planned | GamingAngels

Mass Effect 2 DLC Not Going As Planned | GamingAngels — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:03:01 +0000

[...] now, not only are people who buy used missing out, but it looks like BioWare’s loyal “original purchasers” are, as [...]

By: candybeans

candybeans — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:26:43 +0000

Well, from what I got out of the press release, the first DLC pack is free, but the next ones aren’t. So they’re blocking another potential revenue stream by not allowing used disc people access to the store – if people buy the same DLC multiple times per disc (it’s possible, like if Original Purchaser gets DLC packs 2-5 and Used Purchaser buys the same thing), they could easily make back whatever they theoretically lose through the resale without having to have additional discs manufactured (if that’s even a concern in the first place). Even charging for access to the store to buy stuff would be better. Maybe the code makes it free, and paying $4.99 to get access to the store if you bought a used disc would be fair. Especially since early on, that’s about the price difference between used and new. That way, if you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have to do it and wouldn’t be missing out.

By: yarlyitsanthony

yarlyitsanthony — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:57:07 +0000

This doesn’t appear to be about piracy so much as it is Bioware ensuring that a major revenue stream (ie. retail product sales) does not take as big of a hit – especially over time – as most games do thanks to used game sales. Think about it. Publishers see no money off of used game sales. Considering how many companies have been losing sales thanks to the rise of the used game market, why shouldn’t they try to do what they can to earn back the difference that used to be there? They’ve already targeted the superfans with collector’s edition so why not go after the less hardcore consumer with things like pre-order bonuses and other incentives to make sure that their game is bought new and that their money goes to the people who made the game? I see it as less of a punishment to gamers and more as a reward. In this case, which is also the case of most “exclusive” DLC, if you buy used and don’t have access to a friend’s DLC passcode or something, you’ll be able to purchase it from the marketplace at a premium at some point. Not that it’s a consolation, but it’s better than nothing.