THQ Has Little Sympathy for Pre-Owned Buyers
Author: Arthur Ricky // Category: Games and Players, Upcoming Games
After EA explored packing in bonus content in a plan nicknamed Project Ten Dollar, several other publishers followed suit. THQ got in on the act recently by announcing a single-use code for online play packaged in new copies of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011. This may sound similar to EA’s Online Pass, but one THQ executive is a bit more candid with his reasoning.
“I don’t think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything,” said wrestling games creative director Cory Ledesma in an interview with CVG. “So if used game buyers are upset that they don’t get the online feature set I don’t really have much sympathy for them.
“That’s a little blunt but we hope it doesn’t disappoint people. We hope people understand that when the game’s bought used we get cheated. I don’t think anyone wants that, so in order for us to make strong, high-quality WWE games we need loyal fans that are interested in purchasing the game. We want to award those fans with additional content.”
EA’s Online Pass and this online code from THQ have faced criticism for locking away features that used to be included on the disc. The THQ code supplements its online play feature with access to the game’s first DLC pack, which includes Chris Masters, and Halloween costumes for Rey Mysterio and Kelly Kelly.
Tags: THQ, WWE SmackDown