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38 Studios Defends Reckoning Online Pass

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by Jim Reilly on January 30, 2012 at 02:33 PM
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The Internet erupted on Friday when it was discovered that Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning included an online pass that unlocked several single-player quests. 38 Studios Chairman and Founder Curt Schilling took the company’s official forums to discuss the decision.

Schilling said the House of Valor quest content is actually day-one downloadable content that’s free to everyone who purchases the game new. If you buy the game used, you’ll have to pay for it.

“It's clear the intent right?,” he stated. “To promote early adopters and [sic] much more important to me, reward fans and gamers who commit to us with their time and money when it benefits the company.

“Every single person on the planet could wait and not buy Reckoning, the game would hit the bargain bin at some point and you could get it cheaper. 38 Studios would likely go away.”

Schilling emphasized this is not a case of the studio or publisher trying to make more money, but rather rewarding players who purchase the game new.

"That's just how business works," he explained. "We must make a profit to become what we want to become. The only way we do that is to make games you cannot wait to buy! If we do that, and you do that, we want to reward you with some cool free stuff as a thank you.

"You can totally disagree with this and I am sure many do, so we'll agree to disagree. This is not 38 trying to take more of your money, or EA in this case, this is us rewarding people for helping us! If you disagree due to methodology, ok, but that is our intent.

"The industry is in a very odd place. The data coming in on used game sales is not saying the things many thought it should, or would. But companies are still trying to figure out how to receive dollars spent on games they make, when they are bought. Is that wrong? if so please tell me how."

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning releases February 7 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

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  • by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:51 PM
    i speak for everyone when i say, This isn't a good idea.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:52 PM
    So is the content on the disk already? I guess that would be the deciding factor on whose side I take. I'm all for buying new games to support devs, but if you're doublecharging for something already on the disk, not cool.
  • by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:52 PM
    "Schilling said the House of Valor quest content is actually day-one downloadable content that’s free to everyone who purchases the game new." And now people will instead complain that there is day one DLC.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:53 PM
    I don't have THAT much of a problem with online passes, but they can also be bad for someone who went out of their way to buy the game new. My friend, for example, lost his email and was unable to retrieve his old account when he bought a new Xbox and thus could no longer play Battlefield 3 online because the pass only works for one account. He can still play online but online pass games are no longer an option for him unless he shells out another $10.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:58 PM
    Can't blame a developer for wanting to try to get more people to buy the game new rather than used. Since all it really boils down to is trying to make a sale that counts towards them instead of towards the retailer.

    The idea might be a bit rough around the edges since those without internet access(which I imagine is a rather low percentage of gamers) are essentially in a sort of lose-lose situation, but on the other side they could buy the game used and save 10 bucks or so.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM
    I just find the online passes irritating because it does restrict players who don't have online. Many of my friends in VA have to actually drive over to my house to enter in a code for their games because lack of internet where they live. I understand why this is done, but it's still irritating and their has to be a better way.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM

    Buying the game new anyway.

  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:03 PM
    I really like this reasoning, same reason I was not mad with the 3DS price drop even though I had bought the 3DS before. It's a good way to reward loyal customers.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:05 PM
    Shame on the people who are suffering in the economic depression. How dare they not pre-order or buy new titles.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:09 PM

    Cool game, but I'll wait for a Steam sale at the end of the year for this one.

  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:10 PM
    I've said it before and I'll say it again; the online pass system is not the issue here. It is the fact that they are locking out single player content. What are gamers who don't have console access to the internet supposed to do?
  • by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:13 PM
    I think it's a good idea. On the disk or not.. day one DLC or not.. those who buy the game retail (including bargain bin, which was a bad analogy) instead of used will get a code to allow them to get the content without paying for it.

    Only used copies that contain a code that has been entered already will have to pay for this content.

    Hell, it's a great idea. I hate seeing great developers go under because their games sold sh*tty at retail and they made very little moeny, but places like GameStop made a killing on them via the pre-owned shelves. The used game market also stagnates new IP offerings, and at times murders any chance for great titles that don't sell well to see sequels.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:14 PM
    Totally support this guy he's absolutely right. I think they should get rid of used games altogether or make it so that the developers get more (read: any) money from sales. I always buy games new and that's that.

    They should just have something similar to Steam for consoles. NO GAMESTOP. Or make it so Gamestop sells one time use keys to install the game to your hard drive (for those with slow internet). All other game sales are totally digital and we cut out the middle men who make huge immoral profits off game developers and gamers.

    No more selling a game to Gamestop for 10 dollars and they turn it around for 50 and no more they sell your game to someone else for 50 and the game developers don't get a *** penny.

    Edit: GameInformer and all the other sites need to stop using the word online pass (despite what any game documentation may or may not say). This isn't online pass you don't need a pass to play online. It's FREE ADDITIONAL DLC that the developers are giving to you.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:14 PM
    This makes me wonder why no one has bothered to try and use a different, less annoying and aggravating way to try and combat used game sales.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:14 PM

    This makes me wonder why no one has bothered to try and use a different, less annoying and aggravating way to try and combat used game sales.

  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:14 PM
    This will be the last EA product that I will buy day1. I will wait for sales to purchase other EA titles from now on.... This has to stop one way or another...
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:18 PM
    So nowadays it's a "reward" to get the full game when you buy it. Cool strategy, bro.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:19 PM

    Ill just wait for a price drop. not worth 60 bucks

  • by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:26 PM
    Eff EA.
  •
    by Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:27 PM
    What I dont understand about this entire anti used game sales argument is the how it has only come full force in the last 3 years or so. Gamestop and formerly Electronics Boutique have been selling used games for as far back as I can remember (mid 90s). Back then no one had any problem with it. But suddenly since like 2009 they make it seem like used game sales are causing developers/publishers to go bankrupt.

    Has the ratio of used games/new games sales had a massive shift in the past few years? If it has I don't see it. If anything with more and more games being purchased digitally I would guess there is less used game sales than before. For me I wish the publishers that are doing this would just be honest. Come out and say that they are trying to make every penny possible. $800 million profit is not enough when it can be $900 million (fictional numbers).
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