EA online codes can expire!

Pighardia · 7 Dec 2011 at 03:53

I just came across this whilst searching gaming news whilst at work-

http://www.lazygamer.net/xbox-360/waitonline-passes-can-expire/

EA started it all with Project 10 dollar -- a means of getting people to buy games new, to stem the growing tide of the 2nd hand games market. Mostly. This is done by restricting access to online multiplayer, unless the player inputs an access code that’s included with new copies of games. It’s simple; don’t buy a game new and you can’t play online without incurring extra expense.
Well, it seems you not only have to buy new -- but have to buy quickly too -- because those online codes can expire.

It was all brought to light by a neoGAF reader who purchased the year-old Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit -- only to find that the online access code that was shipped with his new, sealed copy of the game had expired. According to EA’s EULA codes can, and indeed will expire. The fine folks from Joystiq poked further, and found that "As a rule, no Online Pass should expire, but a few titles will have a time limit on their use, even for new purchases." Getting a new pass will cost purchasers not a thing, but there’s the pain of having to go through EA’s customer support to do so.
While I understand publisher’s needs to make money -- games are business, afterall -- there’s a better way to do it than by being dicks -- and these online passes just serve as stilted DRM for consoles. According to Joystiq, “Dragon Age 2, for example, has an Online Pass that expires on March 31, 2012, according to EA’s EULA description.” Which is just , as far as I’m concerned, just ANOTHER reason not to buy Dragon Age 2.

I know it is hardly new as it is in the EULA but i didn't think it was this bad tbh, you can no doubt just contact EA customer support and they will sort it out but i know that they can be a right pain!

I hope it doesn't become commonplace in EA games, it seems to only be for a few games atm.

It just seems to be another out of touch decision which alienates them further to me, i am usually quite flippant when it comes to the usual drm methods and people complaiing about them but this seems a bit much tbh.

arknor · 7 Dec 2011 at 05:08

2 xboxs in my house and theres no way i would buy a second copy for the other xbox just to play online with both (at different times ofcourse with there beeing online one dvd)

im sure EA and many other companies count it as piracy lol

Limpnoodle · 7 Dec 2011 at 05:43

It's them and us!

HaggisUK · 7 Dec 2011 at 06:25

Seems like a way to squeeze more cash out of the unsuspecting but hardly surprising with EA's name attached to it.

I can't really think of any legitimate reason for the codes to expire at all.

leezer3 · 7 Dec 2011 at 18:54

Non-story.
While there is an expiry date printed on the cards, I've never found one that doesn't actually redeem when you punch it it.

Not saying these things aren't a heap of steaming turd, just that this story is innacurate.

-Leezer-

Antar Bolaeisk · 7 Dec 2011 at 18:59

I've ceased being shocked by the antics of EA, particularly when they are still banning accounts based on (mis)behaviour in their forums.

Sleepery · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:08

RPS are still trying to get a straight answer out of them on the banning thing. Some of the things people have been banned for is just silly. A must read for anyone with Origin installed :

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/12/05/ea-origin-bans-update-edition/

Pighardia · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:21

leezer3 said:
Non-story.
While there is an expiry date printed on the cards, I've never found one that doesn't actually redeem when you punch it it.

Not saying these things aren't a heap of steaming turd, just that this story is innacurate.

-Leezer-

I originally thought it was something of a non-story as well, but as you can see someone has had their pass not work when they punched it in(on a brand new copy) and EA have apparently confirmed that it can happen. Fair enough it will not cost you anything to get a replacement and it is more of an inconvenience than anything, but it is still totally unnecessary imo.

hairyfeet · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:43

Wowsers you mention EA and i nearly went off on one writing a big essay lol

Lets just say not one bit suprised
Banning is as good as another form of DRM (most ppl love the game enough to eventually buy twice to play it)

The only time EA see the "people" is when they lift up their shoe to check what they just stepped in

Next big story = what EA bans users for based on what Origins software finds on their hard drives

Final8y · 8 Dec 2011 at 00:43

BONUS! The ban also will wipe out your access to Bad Company 2, even if you bought it through Steam like I did!

LOL! that sucks hard.

Purgatory · 8 Dec 2011 at 05:02

http://www.techpowerup.com/156189/E...odes-Could-Expire-Before-Even-Being-Used.html

jonneymendoza · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:09

so if i reformat my pc end of next year and reinstall bf3. i cant as m key will have expired?

Tombo · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:15

jonneymendoza said:
so if i reformat my pc end of next year and reinstall bf3. i cant as m key will have expired?

No as you've already used it.

jonneymendoza · 8 Dec 2011 at 14:11

so what the hell are people moaning about?

QlimaxUK · 8 Dec 2011 at 14:17

arknor said:
2 xboxs in my house and theres no way i would buy a second copy for the other xbox just to play online with both (at different times ofcourse with there beeing online one dvd)

im sure EA and many other companies count it as piracy lol

only?

toidi · 8 Dec 2011 at 15:18

arknor said:
2 xboxs in my house and theres no way i would buy a second copy for the other xbox just to play online with both (at different times ofcourse with there beeing online one dvd)

im sure EA and many other companies count it as piracy lol

I have found a workaround for getting EA games to play online on my kids and brother's xbox, I have a family membership (4 accounts linked) but it should work for others.

Couple of simple steps:

1. Buy the game, fire it up and enter the online code for xbox live account 'toidi' for example.

Once you enter the code the game should download a small file (120kb) to your xbox and you should now be able to play online.

2. Go to your other xbox and use the 'recover gamertag' option, recover the 'toidi' gamertag account to that xbox (enter email and password as needed).

3. Once the tag is recovered launch the game and it will now download above mentioned file to that xbox. (It appears that it is this file that contains the online authorisation.)

4. Exit the game and login to your usual gamertag for that xbox. Now when you launch the game you will be able to play online

Obviously you still need the disc to play on each xbox, but it will allow you to play online on them and still use different gamer tags.

This has worked for BF3 on my 3 accounts (mine and 2 kids) on two different xbox's at home. It has also worked for my brother who borrows the game from time to time.

Hope this helps. Danny

Pestilence · 8 Dec 2011 at 15:35

toidi said:
I have found a workaround for getting EA games to play online on my kids and brother's xbox, I have a family membership (4 accounts linked) but it should work for others.

Couple of simple steps:

1. Buy the game, fire it up and enter the online code for xbox live account 'toidi' for example.

Once you enter the code the game should download a small file (120kb) to your xbox and you should now be able to play online.

2. Go to your other xbox and use the 'recover gamertag' option, recover the 'toidi' gamertag account to that xbox (enter email and password as needed).

3. Once the tag is recovered launch the game and it will now download above mentioned file to that xbox. (It appears that it is this file that contains the online authorisation.)

4. Exit the game and login to your usual gamertag for that xbox. Now when you launch the game you will be able to play online

Obviously you still need the disc to play on each xbox, but it will allow you to play online on them and still use different gamer tags.

This has worked for BF3 on my 3 accounts (mine and 2 kids) on two different xbox's at home. It has also worked for my brother who borrows the game from time to time.

Hope this helps. Danny

Good tip!