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SOCOM 4 Shipping With "Pro" Voucher (See: EA Online Pass)

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Players who purchase new get access to exclusive multiplayer modes and features.

Zipper Interactive is dropping its own Project Ten Dollar-like hook into brand new copies of SOCOM 4. As announced on the official PS blog this morning, each new copy of the shooter is shipping with a one-time redeemable voucher that grants owners “SOCOM Pro” status. With it, users will receive “exclusive” access to Pro custom ranked queues that’ll be updated “regularly over the entire lifespan of SOCOM 4” and two guns: the ever-popular AK-47 and the M-16 for insurgents and spec ops respectively. 

More content exclusively for Pro users is in the pipeline. In the post, Zipper confirms that “exclusive” multiplayer maps, “various” co-op add-ons, and dedicated leaderboards will be part of the deal, too.  


The Pro pass is, in some respects, similar to Electronic Arts' vouchers. Using Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network, the pass granted users access to some free DLC and other content. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the pass gave players "VIP" access, which translated to exclusive maps and guns. Zipper appears to be taking a similar route: no matter what, owners can play multiplayer, but without a pass, users won’t be privy to some game types, weapons and other features (i.e. "pro" custom game queues).

Of course, if you find yourself without a pass after the game releases (i.e. you picked up a used copy of the game), you’ll be able to buy one from PSN starting on April 26. The price? $14.99.     

SOCOM 4 launches this week for PlayStation 3.
Filed under:
SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs
33 Comments
Posted by BradNicholson
Zipper Interactive is dropping its own Project Ten Dollar-like hook into brand new copies of SOCOM 4. As announced on the official PS blog this morning, each new copy of the shooter is shipping with a one-time redeemable voucher that grants owners “SOCOM Pro” status. With it, users will receive “exclusive” access to Pro custom ranked queues that’ll be updated “regularly over the entire lifespan of SOCOM 4” and two guns: the ever-popular AK-47 and the M-16 for insurgents and spec ops respectively. 

More content exclusively for Pro users is in the pipeline. In the post, Zipper confirms that “exclusive” multiplayer maps, “various” co-op add-ons, and dedicated leaderboards will be part of the deal, too.  


The Pro pass is, in some respects, similar to Electronic Arts' vouchers. Using Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network, the pass granted users access to some free DLC and other content. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the pass gave players "VIP" access, which translated to exclusive maps and guns. Zipper appears to be taking a similar route: no matter what, owners can play multiplayer, but without a pass, users won’t be privy to some game types, weapons and other features (i.e. "pro" custom game queues).

Of course, if you find yourself without a pass after the game releases (i.e. you picked up a used copy of the game), you’ll be able to buy one from PSN starting on April 26. The price? $14.99.     

SOCOM 4 launches this week for PlayStation 3.
Posted by Soliddragon24

boom

Posted by LIquid1024

Cool.

Posted by AxleFGK

I'm 100% for this, i think its a great idea. fuck the consumer, its all about money...

 /sarcasm

Posted by Example1013

I found the lack of AK-47/M16 disturbing.


Seriously, the M16 is historically one of the best guns in the game.
Posted by IamTerics

Read this on Destructoid a few minutes ago. I so appreciate the non-slanted news reporting compared to Jim Sterlings heavily opinionated attitude.

Posted by TheCrazedMadman

Take that gamestop! Seems like the battle between used games and devs rages on

Posted by AxleFGK
@Mikkorama:  your blog is irrelevant to this post. this is technically just spam. thanks!
Edited by Example1013
@Mikkorama said:

" I don't wan't to plug my blog, especially since its not even on GiantBomb, but i feel like it's relevant and possibly a good read for some people...

http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Mikkorama/warning-faux-region-lock-198427.phtml
  
"
Yeah, I'm sure you feel really awful about trying to get hits on your blog. I'm not going to call it shitty, either, but seriously. Could you come up with a less likely situation to post about? And there's a workaround regardless, because you could just fucking buy the game used, and drop the $10 or $15 on the American Online Pass.

EDIT: And I'm sure if you bitch to EA enough, they'll be willing to give you an American Online Pass code. It's not like they're hard to come by, and you gave them what they wanted already (i.e. your money).
Posted by Mikkorama
@Axleisbored: I'll get rid of it then. my bad.
Posted by Hot_Karl

Yikes, $15? Steep.


Eh, whatever. Socom 4's kinda boned. This is one of the only times where a huge system exclusive is going to get overshadowed by two, much bigger multiplatform releases. Specifically, the PS3 versions of Portal 2 & Mortal Kombat are going to sell way more thanks to the exclusives.
Posted by SpicyRichter

If these kinds of vouchers replace preorder bonuses, I will be very happy

Posted by yoshimitz707
@Axleisbored
I'm 100% for this, i think its a great idea. fuck the consumer, its all about money...

 /sarcasm
This only affects people who buy games used. When someone does that the publisher and developer get none of that money. So yes, fuck the used consumer for not supporting the people who make the games possible.
Posted by Solh0und

Ugh. I understand what game companies are trying to do but I thought the PSP one was unnecessary. Regardless of the piracy and used sales issues. 

Posted by OneManX
@VinceNotVance said:
" Yikes, $15? Steep.

Eh, whatever. Socom 4's kinda boned. This is one of the only times where a huge system exclusive is going to get overshadowed by two, much bigger multiplatform releases. Specifically, the PS3 versions of Portal 2 & Mortal Kombat are going to sell way more thanks to the exclusives.
"
I'm not too sure about that one. SOCOM is a well know exclusive for the Playstation, and Portal might hit the hardest on the PC, where most people would of already purchased it through steam or it's lower price on Amazon/Best But etc. MK, is he big gun for tomorrow (shit I have it pre-ordered). but I wouldnt be shocked if SOCOM 4 does good-great numbers
Posted by Cybexx

I think the last couple Socom PSP games did this.

Posted by The_Painted

Misleading title is misleading.

Posted by deltaalphabravo

This type of action will now haunt us all; for the rest of our days. Preying on the less fortunate even more so.

Posted by ThaMilkMan

I honestly have no problem with "project 10 dollar" as long as the consumer is informed. As long as they know going in that if they buy it preordered and want this pro-access they need to pay 15 dollars then they should temper themselves. If they don't...it's rough but it is also a part of the consumer's job to be knowledgeable on what they spend money on to some degree. So I honestly see nothing wrong with this tactic. Just needs fair implementation.

Posted by BigLemon
@IamTerics said:
" Read this on Destructoid a few minutes ago. I so appreciate the non-slanted news reporting compared to Jim Sterlings heavily opinionated attitude. "
Brad is a great writer in that respect. Always enjoy his informative articles.
Posted by Enigma777

Not surprised since Socom Fireteam Bravo 3 had a similar thing last year.

Edited by ProfessorEss

Kind of a bold move for a game currently rockin' a 66 on Metacritic isn't it?

Considering the press this game has gotten you'd think they'd be trying to come up with ideas to get more people to buy it - not more reasons to not buy it.

Posted by Sooty

This game isn't supposed to be very good so not only will I not be buying it nor will I be purchasing your ridiculous "Pro" bullshit, Zipper.

Posted by Jackel2072
@BigLemon said:
" @IamTerics said:
" Read this on Destructoid a few minutes ago. I so appreciate the non-slanted news reporting compared to Jim Sterlings heavily opinionated attitude. "
Brad is a great writer in that respect. Always enjoy his informative articles. "
i had to stop reading destructoid because of Jim Sterling. yes sometimes he was quite funny.  but most times he way over did it.  That and most of the writers i cared about left. 
Posted by tourgen
@yoshimitz707 said:
" @Axleisbored
I'm 100% for this, i think its a great idea. fuck the consumer, its all about money...

 /sarcasm
This only affects people who buy games used. When someone does that the publisher and developer get none of that money. So yes, fuck the used consumer for not supporting the people who make the games possible. "
go audit an economics class before you sound of on something you clearly know very little about.

The used market props up the $60 price point.
Posted by Bloodgraiv3
@SpicyRichter said:
"If these kinds of vouchers replace preorder bonuses, I will be very happy "


Couldn't agree more.


 

Posted by TheHumanDove

Getting so sick of exclusive bonus preorder addon lasjdhaksgydg

Posted by yakov456

With the mediocre reception S4 is getting, it does not need more press like this, yikes.

Posted by DonPixel

laaaameee

Posted by Devil240Z
@DonPixel said:
" laaaameee "
@yakov456 said:
" With the mediocre reception S4 is getting, it does not need more press like this, yikes. "
@TheHumanDove said:
" Getting so sick of exclusive bonus preorder addon lasjdhaksgydg "
Everyone is doing it. At least ZIpper seem to be serious about supporting it in a meaningful way. and The online is still playable without it. It is just and added bonus for hardcore fans. 
Posted by DonPixel
@Devil240Z:  Im not against online pass in a hardcore way.. but for a mediocre title like socom 4 feels lame and unessesary.. 

but yea I don´t support used market I usually bought my games new or in steam anyway
Posted by Devil240Z
@DonPixel: I don't think the people who are going to play Socom 4 think its mediocre. Socom 4 is pretty great. but I played every day of the beta and have been playing the retail version for the last couple hours. 

Alot of people just don't get what makes socom great. 
Posted by devilzrule27

I buy new games so this shit doesn't bother me. I see where developers are coming from when they do this kind of thing but it does suck for those people that can't always afford new games and rely on the used game market to get their "fix".

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