RAGE employs a slightly different way of punishing broke players

Matt Hawkins Contributing Writer, Video Games

If you buy the game used, you don’t have to purchase an online pass to gain access to certain content that is otherwise available to a new customer. Nope because it’s gone, forever.

rage2 RAGE employs a slightly different way of punishing broke players

We’ve previously cited other examples of developers and publishers trying to force gamers to buy a game brand new, or pay some other extra price. Some believe id’s idea is a stroke of genius, while others believe it to be the most underhanded yet. I’m leaning more towards the latter.

Basically, the game comes with codes that unlock a variety of hatches in the game world. Without it, they remain closed forever, period. The key detail is how they contain nothing that is absolutely essential. Or so we are told.

As one id rep states: “I can tell you, some people will buy RAGE, download that, and still never set foot in those things… They just won’t. I think that’s fair. It’s cool. It’s outside the main path. We’re not detracting from anything. But I know some consumers, when you can’t avoid it, then you get a little touchy subject.”

Some believe it’s a reward of sorts for loyal customers, which is a fair viewpoint, but once more, the poor is being punished. And never mind how video games are ultimately a luxury item, which makes virtually every sob story rather pointless. I still think it’s silly not to offer the chance to unlock those latches to those interested after the fact. I guess I also hate the idea of someone not being able to access something that’s already on a game disc to begin with.

The most important detail is the one that’s unknown, and that’s what exactly is hidden. If it’s items, especially stuff you can get otherwise, that cool, even if one must jump through crazy hoops to get them otherwise. Now, if it’s items that you can’t get any other way, well, that’s a problem right here. But if we’re talking whole side missions, yeah, that’s a bit unfair.

Hey, I sympathize with game publishers not getting a fair chair of the profits, and I would love nothing more than to see Gamestop go belly up. But guess what? Plenty of directors make movies that get bootlegged, and they hate it, cuz it’s totally unfair. But they realize those are the breaks, and maybe game makers need to start realizing this as well.

Tim Willits: Building Rage And Never Selling Out [Eurogamer]

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