SSX online pass confirmed, detailed

By Fred Dutton Published 30 January, 2012

In-game multiplayer credits withheld until you sign up.

Forthcoming snowboarding revival SSX ships with an online pass, publisher EA has confirmed.

As detailed by GameInformer, all players will be able to access the game's Explore and Global Events multiplayer modes, however, any in-game credits earned will be withheld until an online pass code is activated.

That code is included in new copies of the game, but those picking the game up second hand will have to fork over $10 for a digital voucher.

"In SSX, players without an Online Pass are able to compete and play in both of SSX's online game modes, Explore and Global Events with no restrictions," explained an EA spokesperson.

"In Global Events, the top finishers from each event are awarded with in-game credits. These in-game credits earned during play will not be awarded to the player if they do not have an Online Pass; these credits will be stored so that at any time, if a player redeems an Online Pass code, all the credits that they had previously earned in Global Events will be immediately awarded to them."

The credits let you unlock new items for your character and participate in special event drops across the two game modes.

The game, developed by EA Canada, is due out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 2nd March. Give our recent SSX preview a read for more on what to expect.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (52) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Gavilan #1 4 months ago

    Here we go again... :(

  • Nico4 #2 4 months ago

    weird....

  • ring_piece #3 4 months ago

    Online Passes attempt to hold the Used Game Market under water by the throat.

    Will it survive? -Find out, next time, on Eurogamer!!!

  • ashmon #4 4 months ago

    I wonder how this growing trend will change how future customers buy games? Does this mean more savvy customers? increase in sales? Publishers selling less shovelware?

  • Master09 #5 4 months ago

    Used games are available because the original purchasers trade them in.

    If a used game buyer isn't a customer of the dev/publisher what then of the ones supplying these games, the ones who traded in the game.

    Shouldn't devs/publishers be tackling the real issue which is why people trade in games in the first place and ways to combat that?

  • Dizzy #6 4 months ago

    Nice... another game I won't have to buy.

  • xYOSSARIANx #7 4 months ago

    I don't buy pre-owned, but I do trade in completed games to get new games cheaper. So this lowers the potential resale value to me = no sale.

  • Altrezia #8 4 months ago

    Poo, I was going to buy this, but I hate supporting anti-consumer actions like these stupid things.

    Never mind, haven't even finished Skyrim yet.

  • CaLeDee #9 4 months ago

    We need to get used to this kind of thing because it won't go away.

  • peeps #10 4 months ago

    Better than blocking it completely. At least they let you have access to the multiplayer! I rent a lot of games as well as buy and it's annoying now when I rent a game and cannot even try multiplayer because of the online pass.

    If game developers insist on these passes I'd much rather they did it this way

  • Eraysor #11 4 months ago

    At least this doesn't completely lock out the online component, but I still object to the practice...it's just another way to sell you the game without actually selling you all of it.

  • Hantheman #12 4 months ago

    Oh Fuck You EA/Activision etc.

  • oerhoert #13 4 months ago

    That code is included in new copies of the game, but those picking the game up second hand will have to fork over $10 for a digital voucher.
    Unless the second hand copy was smart enough to leave the code alone, surely?

    I know if I was planning on reselling my game I'd make sure not to use that code.

  • peeps #14 4 months ago

    @Eraysor well actually if your buying it new you are getting all of the game :p and if your buying it pre owned then its not them selling you it haha but yeh I know what you mean
    Edited by peeps at 31/01/12 @ 00:13

  • A_Nonny #15 4 months ago

    I hope you can still earn credits in the offline modes, because the entire library of unlockable content ransom is far worse than blocking online play.

  • xYOSSARIANx #16 4 months ago

    @oerhoert How is the retailer/buyer supposed to know if you have or haven't used the code ?

    The trade in value assumes you HAVE used it. You don't get to say 'oh but I've left the code alone please give me another fiver'

  • Snake_2011 #17 4 months ago

    this will be part of most games now it is nothing new so why report it really?

  • andrewsqual #18 4 months ago

    That is fine because any real SSX fan is going to be sticking the middle finger up to anything involving online with the game. Incidentally EA should stop releasing videos about the online shite (fans don't care).

  • Casserole #19 4 months ago

    Sounds reasonable, moreso than many games that block multiplayer outright.

    I have to say from a "preowned games is hurting the industry" viewpoint, online passes for witholding online/missions/inventory items etc., it is an extremely clever tool. CoD Elite also (if it worked) using a different technique - preventing customers from selling the game by tying them into new content, released with a drip drip effect over the year so they will keep it to see what the new DLC brings and, of course get what they paid for.

  • -cerberus- #20 4 months ago

    @Dizzy: Yeah, same here. Saving up my money for better games is gonna be a walk in the park if they keep pulling this crap. Actually, we ought to thank EA for making their products as unattractive as possible.

  • Ahskay #21 4 months ago

    So you can play multiplayer without the pass, you just can't buy clothes and special events.

    They are slowly getting there. First time i don't have any problems with an online pass.

  • odemira #22 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 03:02:06 31-01-2012

  • SavageEvil #23 4 months ago

    Wait, what's the problem with this Online pass? You can still play online and all the modes, you just can't get the cash from Global Events, I'm guessing that in normal play you can amass your cash anyway yes? Will have to see how this actually works, but so far it doesn't look like it's too bad a deal. Still get online for free don't you, instead of getting held hostage and relegated to offline only.

    Sheesh, I'm pretty sure all the negative people haven't even read the bloody article or understood it. Online passes aren't going away, publishers have already declared war on second hand gaming. Seriously it shouldn't be much of an issue, just wait until the price for the new game drops and get it then, it's not that hard. Getting it used is pretty much around the same wait.

  • misterdoctor #24 4 months ago

    Two years from now, there will be an offline pass. And then a game pass. And then a Van Persie pass he shoots he SCOOOOOOOOORESSSS!!!!

  • theonlyix #25 4 months ago

    Online passes sucks. I just hope noone buys the games that use it...but as usual, the consumers whine but doesnt vote with their wallets because they think other people will so they can play that new shiny game,.....

    Vote NO for Online passes!

  • trebellk #26 4 months ago

    brilliant. punishing families again EA. I buy it and myself and son cannot both play the whole thing on our consoles.

    I found a simple answer, i stopped buying their games. I just rent or, if i do buy, it's only when dirt cheap. And i used to buy plenty.
    Edited by trebellk at 31/01/12 @ 07:43

  • kirankara #27 4 months ago

    @Master09 surely any product has a limited value to any consumer, as it's replaced by new models, competing model etc etc I don't even buy films anymore,as I rarely watch again.similarly,I rarely play a game again in sp, no matter how good. MP adds value to certain genres, but not every game is bf3 and not every game is skyrim.
    There's no way to really solve people trading games in, unless they lock after one use.this seems fair compromise, if the code is clearly distinguishable as not used, allowing trade in to be recognised as with MP code intact

  • bad09 #28 4 months ago

    @trebellk

    I think you've got a bloody cheek expecting your family members to use products you buy, especially when poor EA is struggling to survive. Don't you remember devs need paying? The poor unfed souls.

    You should buy a copy per person and be damn happy about it EA needs money the poor bastards. Besides you paid for new so you get all content for free why you complaining? So what if you have to buy a couple of copies per household. Gee gamers are so self entitled.....

  • Ostinato #29 4 months ago

    This is the trouble with online passes and codes: my 11-year old son and me both have a PS3 account. He bought Ratchet & Clank All 4 one, activated the online code on his account. Turns out PS3 parental control won't let him online (I will have to investigate on this, age req on R&C is 3). So I say to him: play the game on my account. Won't work either: the online code is single use. So he won't be able to play online.

    I think it's very wrong that you can't use a pass or code like that on different accounts on the same PS3. Very, very wrong. Starting to hate developers who do this.

  • Yuroko #30 4 months ago

    Can't wait to buy this for a steal preowned at £38.97 at Gamestation without the code.

  • RandomTerrain #31 4 months ago

    So you can play online without a pass, sounds good, much better than most recent games allow. I'll probably buy this on release anyway, looking forward to playing this with my friends.

    I've always dreamed of being able to play the amazing SSX against mates. And it's almost here! Bring. It. On. :o)

  • mccappind #32 4 months ago

    I see a future similar to PC games and steam for the next generation of consoles. If the Harddrives are large enough on the next consoles I think they will have console gamers register their games to their Xbox live or PSN accounts. Also predicting digital copies will go up more and more.

  • IkariW #33 4 months ago

    I Wonder if this will spark 255 comments? Hmmmm... ;)

  • Spong #34 4 months ago

    This is all kinds of fucked up.

    If you can't earn these 'points' without activating an online pass, logically it follows that any points earned in a single-player/offline mode will be withheld too, otherwise it'll make the system look all kinds of retarded (not to mention pointless as it seems players without a pass can still play online anyway).

    So what about people like me who have no interest in online play? Am I going to be forced into going online with my machine just to register some fucking code so that I can gain access to the game's trinkets in single-player?

  • Munkeh111 #35 4 months ago

    While I don't really mind online passes, as I buy all games new, the best way to stop used sales is to keep everyone playing!

    And the best way to do that for SSX is to have SPLIT SCREEN MULTIPLAYER!!!!!! I definitely can't be the only one whose favourite childhood memories were beating all my friends at SSX (3 mainly), and having that there would make this into a "party game" of sorts, thus keeping it in people's consoles for longer

  • Munkeh111 #36 4 months ago

    @Spong I really doubt it, even EA wouldn't be this awful for people who had no internet (I won't for the first week after release). Having said that, there is precedent with the online pass for the single player only Batman Arkham City (though of course, not EA)

  • Sak666 #37 4 months ago

    I wonder how many of you who support this kind of activity is actually that rich that they or their parents can buy every game they want new? I can afford just one new or any other kind of game per month tops and i rather put that money on something i know is good and that's not SSX nor Kingdom of whatever. I might try them later when their price is comparable to their value i.e. bang per buck or how i perceive it at the time.

    Thus i rather see that EA and other middle mans exlude the content which they are "offering" to people who buy games new and drop the price for 10€. I for one doesn't need any crappy multiplayer stuff in SP game as i play MMOs if i need to interact with other people. So in a way used game is more into the market group i represent as it is cheaper due to it not having multiplayer.
    Edited by Sak666 at 31/01/12 @ 10:04

  • Spong #38 4 months ago

    @Munkeh111
    It's all a bit muddy, I don't think EA have been clear enough. If the credits can be earned in single-player modes, what's the point in withholding them in the multiplayer modes? It's all a bit wishy-washy to me.

  • miiiguel #39 4 months ago

    I wonder how many of you who support this kind of activity is actually that rich that they or their parents can buy every game they want new?

    I'm not rich, but I tend to value my games by playing them to the full, and then if in a particular month a couple of games are coming out that I want and I can't spend that amount of money I just wait until one of them drops the price.
    That said, I never use used, and don't realy understand that need to have the game as soon as possible, play fast, go trade... meh... too stressful.

  • Raptaur #40 4 months ago

    @Eraysor

    Well that's not really true, they do sell you everything you need, all of it.

    Buy it from someone else after they've sued it then yeah that person didn't sell you all of it


    EDIT: Dammit Peeps, you beat me to it :D
    Edited by Raptaur at 31/01/12 @ 09:38

  • kinky_mong #41 4 months ago

    @misterdoctor: What do you call someone who can carry 10 mugs at once, but no cups?

    Van Persie.

  • asphaltcowboy #42 4 months ago

    @trebellk Are you on 360? Because that won't be a problem.

  • Darren #43 4 months ago

    Considering not everyone will have an online console (what about little Johnny Junior who has his Xbox 360 in his internet-free bedroom?), I think it is a big mistake for publishers like EA to lock out single player content. The logical thing to do would be to restrict it to the online modes since you cannot play those without connecting to Live or PSN anyway.

  • misterdoctor #44 4 months ago

    @kinky_mong Brilliant. I'm definitely stealing that one, mate!

  • Eraysor #45 4 months ago

    You don't own the online pass content, you're essentially renting it from EA given that you can't sell it to someone else. If you sell a car to someone they don't have to pay the manufacturer £50 for one of the doors.

  • asphaltcowboy #46 4 months ago

    @Eraysor Fuck off with the fucking bullshit car analogies... THEY DON'T WORK.

  • Eraysor #47 4 months ago

    @asphaltcowboy Why don't they work? At the end of the day you're purchasing a product from a manufacturer. They can still sell you replacement parts (or in the gaming industry's case, DLC).

    What I've never understood about these online passes is a lot of them lock out multiplayer but the developers then sell DLC multiplayer maps. Surely it'd make more sense to have preowned customers also able to play online, in order to make as much money from DLC as possible.

  • des #48 4 months ago

    EA=garbage
    Seriously reconsidering my ME3 purchase,EA buying Bioware = absolutely the worst gaming related news ever :(
    Edited by des at 31/01/12 @ 12:28

  • Munkeh111 #49 4 months ago

    @Spong From what I have read elsewhere, it means you can only gain credits in certain types of events, but not all. Also, you still actually earn the credits, but you can't use them until you activate the online pass

    Of course, the main source of confusion for me is that I don't really know what the modes are, as I haven't been paying much attention as I know I am buying the game

  • asphaltcowboy #50 4 months ago

    @Eraysor Ok, how's this: If you want to perpetuate the stupidity of comparing two completely disparate entities, why don't we consider this stuff to be the equivalent of optional extras.

    Or put another way: when you don't get aircon and bucket seats as standard, do you complain to the manufacturer that they should be providing that included in the price standard price?

  • super_monty #51 4 months ago

    This was a day one purchase for me, not so sure now.

  • keithwithteeth #52 4 months ago

    all this online shit about this game,
    i fear it will be TOO online orientated.
    debating my purchase now..