This time around it's called a "Kombat Pass"  and it is required to play online after the two-day trial (so people that rent look pretty safe).  I don't care bout debating the issue.  I only want to put the information out clearly for people looking to buy.  

Jeff does mention it in the video review.

"Jeff does mention it in the video review. "

Cool with me, I don't mind them cutting down on used game sales, though it's gonna be weird down the road when you can't buy these games in stores anymore.

I don't get it, I want to rent it for now because it's too expensive in canada. Then when the price goes down, i'll buy it later for cheaper. Will this console drm thing affect me? I don't understand?

" I don't get it, I want to rent it for now because it's too expensive in canada. Then when the price goes down, i'll buy it later for cheaper. Will this console drm thing affect me? I don't understand? "

You can get a 48 hour pass as well.

" @august: how do they know if I rented it or bought it? Is there some cd key or something within the box like pc games now? "

"I don't get it, I want to rent it for now because it's too expensive in canada. Then when the price goes down, i'll buy it later for cheaper. Will this console drm thing affect me? I don't understand? "

"@august: how do they know if I rented it or bought it? Is there some cd key or something within the box like pc games now? Is it saved to my psn account? If I found the code or something and use it, I can't use the code for the new copy of the game I bought and didn't rent? "

" @august: is it on the instruction booklet? Or is it inside the box? If it's printed in the instruction booklet, they let me use that for the rental, but of course they won't give you a box. Or is it on another piece of paper inside the box? If I use this code once, if I can even find it for the rental version, then no one else can play onlilne for the rental except me? Also if I bought a real copy later on, I suppose I can't use the code anymore for the new copy? Honestly consoles shouldn't try to use drm like pc games. "

I don't know for MK specifically, but it's usually a card insert with the code on it alongside the instruction manual. You type in the code and your PSN or 360 account is given full access to the online portions of the game, and sometimes with a couple of other bonuses. If you'll be renting from a brick & mortar store that leaves the empty game boxes on shelves, sometimes you might be able to find the code in there if you're lucky enough ;)

The code basically downloads a small piece of DLC to your machine, that's treated like an add-on, so you can always re-download it later from that account. Spending the $10 on the store gives you that same piece of DLC. It's not tied to the disc itself at all, so if you find the code with your rental, you can buy it used later on and still have full access, whether that copy has a code or not.

Edit: It's not so much DRM as it is to combat used games sales and rentals. I think $10 might be a bit much, but I do agree that they should receive something if people are going to be using their online servers. However, if you're not interested in playing online, the game works perfectly fine without the Online Pass. It's only for people who want to go online with it and don't have a new copy. It's pretty much insurance that anyone playing their game online has paid them some sort of money.

Ah, yeah. It was a shot in the dark, but the place I used to go to before they closed down just took the manual out, then put the game box on the shelf with the locked up plastic case in front of it. I snagged a Lego: Rock Band code for my used copy from there (though they never fixed that import, so that didn't do me a lot of good.)

I think a rental might be the best thing for you. Just remember that this only affects the online portions, everything else is unchanged. If you really want to play online after using the 2 day trial, then you should grab a new version, or wait until the used copy is about $20 cheaper and get the $10 Online Pass. If you're lucky and do end up with a code with your rental version, then you'll be set if you ever want to buy it in the future.