14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts might have announced its Online Pass initiative, which is set to offer free multiplayer features only to those who buy the new game, but THQ is already done implementing it in UFC Undisputed 2010, the MMA title that is set to arrive on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, with the launch date set for May 25 in North America and three days later in European countries. The publisher has confirmed that those who will be buying the new game new will get a code allowing access to multiplayer, while those who use it will need to pay 5 dollars in order to get access to the same features.
The code will be 12 digits long and will allow the player to create and join online training camps, where players can improve their moves, spar with one another and enter online tournaments. The same code allows gamers to access the online exhibition mode and will be required to complete those Achievements and Trophies that require the participation of more than one player. THQ is saying that it will be offering more information on the new approach to multiplayer on the company’s blog.
It's not clear whether the concept of asking 5 dollars from used games buyers in order to allow access to some multiplayer features is a policy for all THQ titles from now on, or whether the company is just using UFC Undisputed 2010 as a test case, mainly because of the popularity of the series.
Videogame publishers seem to be really interested in limiting used games sales as much as possible, mostly because of the extra revenue that could be generated from the sale of extra new copies of the most significant titles. In addition to the Online Pas,s Electronic Arts has the Ten Dollars Project while Ubisoft recently announced that it was watching what EA was doing and might introduce similar initiatives.