Games have started offering online pass codes to reward customers who bought the game fresh from the store, rather than off the used market. The bonuses range from extra weapons and outfits, to an entirely new character and way to play the game. Locking out half the game for used buyers is a bit of a dick move, but game publishers are willing to go the extra mile to make sure you, the customer, don’t save any money on your gaming purchases. What does the future hold? Gameinformer has the story. And a nice picture of Catwoman.
Of course, the used market is a vital part of gaming. Games drop off the store shelves pretty fast, and how else is one supposed to get a game from a company that went out of business? I have, and play, games with three decades behind them. How can we build a culture when our common bond, the games, are designed to shrivel up after the first sale?