AfterDawn: News

New SOCOM PSP game features require online activation

The SOCOM: US Navy SEALS Fireteam Bravo 3 title for Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld platform is the first to require online activation in order to unlock certain features. When it was released on Tuesday in the U.S., it came with a voucher code that had to be redeemed online to unlock online play features. Sony claims that the measure is aimed at curbing piracy of PSP games.

"Today's consumers are more tech savvy and better connected to the internet than ever before. Piracy continues to be an issue of concern for the PSP platform. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is a trial run for a new initiative we are exploring for the platform," said SCEA director of hardware marketing John Koller.



"We will continue to explore this as an opportunity for the platform going forward, but we have no announcements to make on future iterations at this time." One detail that is sure to upset many legitimate gamers is how it affects pre-owned sales of the title. Anyone that purchases a used copy of the game will need to acquire a new voucher for activation - and that costs $20.

Electronic Arts has a similar system in place called "Project Ten Dollar", where premier downloadable content (DLC) is included as a free download for anyone who buys a new copy of the game, but won't be free to anybody buying a second hand copy of the game.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 18 Feb 2010 7:41

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• 9 comments

• snardos

  What will their excuse be when this game doesn't sell well?

  18.2.2010 08:08 #1

• beanos66

  Originally posted by snardos: What will their excuse be when this game doesn't sell well?Piracy! Der! :D

  18.2.2010 09:02 #2

• emugamer

  A blatant attempted death jab at the second hand market. Adding $20 to my used copy of a game will discourage even me from buying used. It would at least be slightly bearable if the seller had a chance to deactivate their license and you only pay $20 if the seller does not do this. You might run into dishonest sellers, but at least you can swap games among people you trust. I hope this doesn't spill over to the PS3. Piracy has not been an issue, and may not be even with it "hacked." But going forward, they may justify applying this to all of their media as part of an ever changing business model.
  
  Quote:Electronic Arts has a similar system in place called "Project Ten Dollar", where premier downloadable content (DLC) is included as a free download for anyone who buys a new copy of the game, but won't be free to anybody buying a second hand copy of the game.They definitely want a slice of the second hand market pie without coming acros as trying to destry it. Clever, but I still don't agree with it. Free DLC should be free DLC.

  18.2.2010 12:33 #3

• Morreale

  If it's features already built in the game and they just need unlocking, I'm sure they'll be a patch in the piracy world for it :P

  18.2.2010 19:37 #4

• aasshis

  zjsahdhaksdk

  19.2.2010 01:24 #5

• av_verbal

  Quote:A blatant attempted death jab at the second hand market. Adding $20 to my used copy of a game will discourage even me from buying used. It would at least be slightly bearable if the seller had a chance to deactivate their license and you only pay $20 if the seller does not do this. You might run into dishonest sellers, but at least you can swap games among people you trust. I hope this doesn't spill over to the PS3. Piracy has not been an issue, and may not be even with it "hacked." But going forward, they may justify applying this to all of their media as part of an ever changing business model.
  
  Quote:Electronic Arts has a similar system in place called "Project Ten Dollar", where premier downloadable content (DLC) is included as a free download for anyone who buys a new copy of the game, but won't be free to anybody buying a second hand copy of the game.They definitely want a slice of the second hand market pie without coming acros as trying to destry it. Clever, but I still don't agree with it. Free DLC should be free DLC.thats what its all about, its not about losses through piracy as they keep publishing year on year profits, imagine how much money they can make once second hand games come with the need to pay up again.
  
  what do you expect from the media industry though, they want us all converted to a pay per play model and if ppl are stupid enough to keep purchasing restrictive software they will fund & spur on the change.
  
  do car manufacturers get a slice of the pie when a car is sold second hand, as they spend billions on designing their products.

  19.2.2010 12:03 #6

• emugamer

  Originally posted by Morreale: If it's features already built in the game and they just need unlocking, I'm sure they'll be a patch in the piracy world for it :PYeah, but that doesn't mean anything for people in the regular world. These tactics do not hurt pirates. They hurt people like myself who don't want to bother trying to get my system hacked.

  19.2.2010 13:05 #7

• acainion

  hey does anybody have a psps that wont turn on at all cuz i have on like that. ok, my question is how do u reboot a psps thata buttons wont work becuz its not on.im sorry i cant really explzin but if u can help i wuld be very greatful

  21.2.2010 18:21 #8

• acainion

  21.2.2010 18:27 #9