Warner Bros. Insists that All Catwomen Be Paid for New and Be Connected to the Internet

I never ever buy games new, nor do I ever buy DLC or use Xbox live. My 360 doesn't even have an internet connection.

I don't approve of these methods and I won't support it. No other industry uses this tactic.

And for people who say that it doesn't matter what I think because I"m not a customer, I say that you are the one's being screwed, not me. You're buying a product that's value is being artificially decreased by it's publisher. In 5 years you won't even be able to resell games because used copies will be so crippled they'll act as nothing but demos.

@StingingVelvet said:

PC gamer says "what's a used game?"

PC gamer says "How are all you guys playing Arkham City already?"

Let her stay locked... I don't even want the b****!!!

Picked up my copy on Monday, after the game had its street date broken in Australia. Catwoman DLC is still not available. Hopefully tomorrow, on the official launch date.

Alex, the pre order schemes were not baffling (did you also think the MK pre order scheme was also difficult to understand?). I don't blame Warner Bros. for wanting gamers to buy new copies of Arkham City (though that opinion is coming from someone who fucking hates Gamestop).

Now that Batman: Arkham City is here and probably played to death by everyone that bought it, I'd like to ask a question...
 
Is this Catwoman content any good? Worth the trouble of sectioning it off as separate content for people that buy new? Just curious; I know there are Riddler trophies only the Cat can collect.

Meh i was gonna get every piece of DLC for this game anyway

Maybe this FIFA hacking is a ploy by EA to prevent any Xbox users from fully enjoying Arkham. By the time your copy arrives later today or tomorrow, your account will have been compromised, your Live access will be blocked and you'll be unable to play the Catwomen levels. Thanks to those soccer hooligans, many of us (myself included) won't even be able to enter the online code for over a month. Thank you EA and Warner Bros. for joining forces in your backhanded shady business models to screw your loyal paying costumers. Maybe our blocked access will be lifted just in time to pay for all the locked content on Mass Effect 3.

Try to rent it first from your local blockbuster! Input code and screw over subsequent renters! hahahah

This right here is another example as to why online passes were and are a bad idea. They're leaking into single player games. I can't wait to hear the excuses publishers/developers give us for this move. I mean there are people that have an xbox that isn't connected to the internet, so even if they bought new they wouldn't be able to use the code. So how is that fair to them when they bought the game the way the publisher wanted but are still punished for it?

I have a problem of being told where and how I should buy my game. So if you're 'tactic' is going to be doing that with online passes, then you lost me completely as a customer.

Is it just me or does Alex do more news than Patrick?

It makes sense from a business standpoint, but still... not liking this trend.

So even in purchasing a new copy I will be getting punished for not investing in the bullshit I need to connect to Xbox live. Congratulations, shitty business model. You've officially talked me out of a day one purchase. Seriously, what's the point if I am automatically being served an incomplete package?

not as appalling as some other companies's means to try to force you to buy new.

Would this stop Gamestop from overcharing for used games?

If anyone is seriously butt hurt buy this news I will be buying two copies new. One for me and one for my nephew who as been asking me almost everyday about the game for a year. His 360 isn't connected to the internet and he doesn't give a damn about playing as Catwoman he wants to be Batman. So go and buy the game used at Gamestop for 55 bucks and I will pass on his code to you. I am going to assume you have some kind of access to a internet connection seeing how you are dialed into the game industry and post on message boards.

@kamikazecaterpillar: Nope, not gonna buy or play this at all. If the developers don't take their game seriously enough to not cut it up into pieces and install arbitrary pay walls, then why should I waste my money? Side note: Some people genuinely don't have the money to buy games new, and this new tactic designed to thwart companies that dabble in used game sales only affect fans that have tighter budgets. If there was ever a time for developers to try to raise the rent for gamers just trying to enjoy their product, it definitely isn't when the economy and the majority of people are struggling. Games are a method of release and relaxation, so wouldn't you be pissed if LA-Z-BOY came out and said if you buy your cozy couch used that they will come remove a portion of the stuffing? This practice is just shitty, simple as that.

@Foxtrot0245: So you're going to buy it used and pay them the money for it anyways?

Normally I by used games, and this feature for me is really annoying. This game though i'll by new so for now it's not a problem.

http://thehalfgame.blogspot.com/

@KamikazeCaterpillar: It wouldn't, but I don't like to encourage this type of thing if I can help it. If super huge, triple A titles like COD, Halo, MGS, etc were to incorporate BS like this, well I would just suck it up and deal with it. These titles are so popular and so superb that they could do DRM-shittyness like this (but they normally don't, because they know they are so good that people will buy new). Batman is great, but I think it's a little presumptuous to think that they could demand terms like this for a series of games (starting with Arkham Asylum) that no one expected to be much of anything.

Everyone says that shit like this won't stop being forced down consumers' throats until people stop buying from the developers that partake in these practices, so I don't care if you or anyone else join me, but I'm refusing to accept it from a game like Arkham City.

They have invested a lot of money on this, why should Gamestop be the only one earning money on a used copy sale?

It's all economics, intended to take as much money out of your pockets as possible. Here's the formula: Online pass = gay .. Online pass + not-free launch DLC = fucking lame ... gay + fucking lame = see you at GameStop when you're $20, used, bitch.

Hmmm.

Used games have a right to exist and be sold! Online passes be damned!

@msavo said:

@BR4DL3I9H said:

My issue with this is far removed from what most people seem to be upset about. I live in Japan but i am originally a Brit. When i came to Japan i bought a PS3, with the beauty of the system being completely region free, knowing that a simple purchase of an import game, or sometimes a Japanese game, if it supports English as well, will be all i need to get my gaming fix. Then last month i put in my Japanese copy of Resistance 3 only to find that i need to redeem a code that can only be redeemed with a Japanese account, which esstenially meant that any online trophies that i wanted to get would be impossible to achieve on my UK Account. Now the idea that i will somehow have to find a way to get UK copies of these games at a much higher cost really makes me upset. What ever happened to the games where you buy a game and then it's yours to do with what you wish? So with this and Uncharted 3 doing the same thing i am just about ready to give up.

This man has a valid reason to complain. Sorry to hear that dude.

Just redeem the code on the JP account, then play the game on your UK account. Boom. Problem solved, you are welcome. Online Passes work across all accounts on your PS3, just like games and DLC.

When Warner Bros is hyping up Catwoman, I'm sure they're hyping it for the guy who's going to buy it used in three years for five dollars.

@Foxtrot0245: WHAT?! Did you pre-order a used copy? I fail to see how this would affect you if you already pre-ordered the game.

With the huge blow my wallet is going to take in November, I was looking for a way to save a little money. Thanks WB, preorder cancelled.

@BR4DL3I9H said:

My issue with this is far removed from what most people seem to be upset about. I live in Japan but i am originally a Brit. When i came to Japan i bought a PS3, with the beauty of the system being completely region free, knowing that a simple purchase of an import game, or sometimes a Japanese game, if it supports English as well, will be all i need to get my gaming fix. Then last month i put in my Japanese copy of Resistance 3 only to find that i need to redeem a code that can only be redeemed with a Japanese account, which esstenially meant that any online trophies that i wanted to get would be impossible to achieve on my UK Account. Now the idea that i will somehow have to find a way to get UK copies of these games at a much higher cost really makes me upset. What ever happened to the games where you buy a game and then it's yours to do with what you wish? So with this and Uncharted 3 doing the same thing i am just about ready to give up.

This man has a valid reason to complain. Sorry to hear that dude.

My issue with this is far removed from what most people seem to be upset about. I live in Japan but i am originally a Brit. When i came to Japan i bought a PS3, with the beauty of the system being completely region free, knowing that a simple purchase of an import game, or sometimes a Japanese game, if it supports English as well, will be all i need to get my gaming fix. Then last month i put in my Japanese copy of Resistance 3 only to find that i need to redeem a code that can only be redeemed with a Japanese account, which esstenially meant that any online trophies that i wanted to get would be impossible to achieve on my UK Account. Now the idea that i will somehow have to find a way to get UK copies of these games at a much higher cost really makes me upset. What ever happened to the games where you buy a game and then it's yours to do with what you wish? So with this and Uncharted 3 doing the same thing i am just about ready to give up.

This bugs me, but only in the sense of all these online-to-access things bug me but since they seem to be here for awhile there's not much we can do (other than not buy the game and no one's going to do that). I don't like single-player, on-disc parts of the game being placed behind a curtain unless you bought it new, though. DLC and multiplayer, I can understand, but if it's already printed to the disc, it should be accessible to everyone. I really expect at some point in the future, you're not going to be able to play the final level of a game unless you've bought it new or purchased the online pass.

CD keys. All digital downloads. And some sort of rental disc or code generator, because the rental industry supports the publishers, unlike the used games market.

the only way this garbage stops is if you all agree not to buy the game and we all know that will never happen

@Anwar: No. They were sizable downloads.

Besides that, they were released several months from the game and from each other, which disproves the "already on the disk" theory.

Pre-order cancelled. This is from someone who has put in enough time in the first game to platinum it three times over.

Stuff like this is an insult not only to me as a consumer but the craft of gaming itself.

My opinion is that we are eventually going to see CD-key style installations for console games. And with that, people will just end up buying 2 or 3 games a year instead of 10.

Protip to you all hating online passes and not wanting to give WB your money.

Buy the game used.

then buy the online pass for $5 on ebay.

Worked like a charm with me and MK. Rinse and repeat for other online passes.

Im buying it new but this really sucks for people buying it used

@popmasterruler:

If people are genuinely annoyed by this they'll just stop paying instead of shifting blame over to something else in order to justify their purchase.

If they're fine with it I can sit here and complain about gamers these days like a grumpy old dude. I'll probably not buy this anyway thanks to them sticking Games for Windows Live on it.

Don't look now but the is ANOTHER preorder bundle for this game, something about free rental time as the pack in. I think this game hands down is the pre-order game of the year for 2011.

The worst part about this is, this means that the catwoman parts of the game can be removed and not effect the story in any way apparently. Instead of integrating what should have been a central part of the game, it's only crafted to be easily lopped off the side so that they can sell it separately.

Even if you're buying the game new, they still chopped up the game and subsequently altered the story in order to do this. Same with every other pre-order DLC. This is not right, never has been, never will be.

The list of companies I'm willing to buy from has shrunk to almost nothing in just a few years time. I am absolutely sick of all this money and dicing mucking up my games. They're supposed to be art, the newest and highest potential form of art. You don't chop up the Mona Lisa and sell it in pieces.

@bybeach - For large gap in story see Assassin's Creed 2. Missions in the middle of the game were just removed to be used as DLC at a later date. They say in the game that the memories are "corrupt". Of course the only way to fix them is to pay $15 a pop.

Honestly? I'm tempted to wait for a used copy just to spite the Catwoman content now. I never even wanted it in the first place. Gonna let my roommate have it.

the only way this garbage stops is if you all agree not to buy the game and we all know that will never happen

"Of course, the answer is "playing video games and writing enraged Internet comments at nobody who can actually affect change." Right then. Carry on."

Looking at the comments here.... yep. Pretty much this.

This is BS, but I can't say I'm shocked. WB have made such an awful move with pre-order bonuses already.

I pre ordered my game but I still think this is bullshit.

Just because they have heavily advertised the catwoman components of the game for a long time now and never said anything about this! So they have built hype around deception. Very shady. It's not like Warner Bros. wasn't going to already make a shit ton of money off this game....

@Kazona: I bitch about my power bill as well and the unethical practices that go on behind the scenes there (things like fuel charges for backhauling, etc.), but at the end of the day, I still need power and they hold the cards.

I need Arkham City like I need to breathe.

@UnbreakableVow said:

I'm normally a huge advocate of online passes, especially in terms of multiplayer, though I could also justify a bonus mode or two behind it. Something like Cerberus Network, just neat little extras.

But Catwoman has been touted in promotional art since day fucking one. The E3 footage was all basically "YO you can play as Catwoman!" Endless previews and features in different editorials all had something to say about playing as Catwoman.

This is a bait-and-switch, plain and simple, and while I'm still going to buy the game new as I always buy new and would like to support Rocksteady (who I can almost guarantee were firmly against this), Warner Bros. can seriously fuck themselves with a long stick.

Also thumbs up to the Occupy Wall Street comment, made me giggle a little.

This is one thing I do not understand. You have a problem with this, openly complain about it, but then still say you're going to buy the game? Exactly what good does your complaint do?

On another note. This is not something I'd usually say, but I hope people pirate the shit out of this game.

I already pre-ordered a full pass for BM:AC on Onlive for $35 (30% bonus for playpack members) and got 40K: Space Marine for free as a freebie. Which is pretty awesome. Of course before this sounds like a commercial for Onlive, I should note that 40K: Space Marine on Onlive STILL doesn't have the multiplayer or coop working (Over a month out past the game's launch)and they won't say when it's coming. :( And of course it looks a little bit blurry and washed out.

Either I'll get the Catwoman missions with the Onlive version, or I won't. I'm certainly not spending another $10 or buying a console version at full price, and if it weren't for the great bargain I'd be willing pass the game by until it hits $30 because of the online pass locking content away. The PSN pass is why I didn't buy resistance 3 and won't buy Uncharted 3 until they hit $30 or less.

And it's a principle thing because I don't know anybody who owns a PS3 anymore except the guy next door who mainly plays Madden and COD MW2 on it. Everybody else I know had wives tell them to ditch all but one console or something similar. If I was with anybody right now (2008 was a rough rough year for me) no doubt I'd be in pretty much the same boat. One friend tried to hang onto his Ps3 as a blu-ray player so his wife bought him a $80 blu-ray player so he could ditch the extra console. Another got stuck with his Wii because his wife likes the Wii Sports Bowling a lot and the Wii does Netflix anyway. I have no one to lend games to or borrow PS3 games from any more. And if I want to lend or borrow games they pretty much have to be on the 360.

But the whole online pass thing still pisses me off. I intend to wait until Mass Effect 3 hits $30 too. The only games I'd buy new and at full price with such a scheme are Skyrim, Borderlands 2, and Halo 4 and I'd hate myself for doing it even so. I thought Diablo 3 was on that list until the always on issue came up. That was a final straw so I will be skipping the PC version and that means that if there is no console version that can be played offline I will be just off the Diablo 3 wagon entirely.

" Of course, the answer is "playing video games and writing enraged Internet comments at nobody who can actually affect change." Right then. Carry on."

I wasn't the one who put a forum style comment box under EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE Alex. If you don't want a variety of replies and such then just say so. No needed to wax all jaded and too hip for the dumb drooling room the bad men make you work in.