14 DAY TRIAL // THQ doesn't really want to kill the pre-owned game market as the publisher understands the desire of gamers to monetize their investments, but, at the same time, wants to keep them from trading in a game, through great content, and from buying it used, through methods like the online pass.
The latest title published by THQ, Homefront, developed by Kaos Studios, is a great example of the company's strategy, at least according to its CEO, Brian Farell.
He revealed that the publisher wanted to keep trade-ins from happening with methods like the online pass, but also keep the gamer from doing such a thing through a great multiplayer mode and downloadable content.
"The most important thing is we have to participate in the value chain in used games," Farrell said. "We understand, given our focus on the gamer, that consumers like to be able to monetize their game library. So it is an ecosystem between publisher, gamer and retailer that just has to sort itself out. Part of it is monetizing but the bigger win is keeping our gamers engaged with DLC and robust online play, and that keeps the disc in the first purchaser's hands," Farrell added.
Farrell's words back up a statement from Kaos Studios manager David Votypka, who revealed last week that the developer is working hard on great new DLC in order to keep Homefront owners from trading in the title.
Pre-owned games are becoming a major topic for the gaming industry, with retailers like GameStop making a fortune while publishers and developers are being deprived of money they could have earned if gamers would have bought their titles as new copies.
One solution to preventing this from happening is the introduction of an online pass, which requires players that have a used copy to buy a $10 token that allows them to access the online features of the game.
Homefront has such a system in place, as those who buy a used game can only access a small part of the title's multiplayer mode. If they want to have complete access to it, then they need to buy a $10 online pass available on the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Live marketplace.