Electronic Arts confirmed their focused drive toward incentivizing new game purchasers earlier this year with EA Sports' Online Pass. This week at E3, they opened up a new program for shooter loyalists called Gun Club that will serve a similar purpose. Members will gain access to new beta tests, in-game content and news, according to EA's sell.
"Today, we're unveiling Gun Club, a rewards program specifically designed for gamers," EA senior director of online marketing Katrina Strafford explained at E3 Monday. "Gun Club rewards gamers for playing their favorite EA games, games like 'Battlefield,' 'Dead Space,' 'Medal of Honor' and others. Gun Club members receive early access to news, events and more of what they really love."
The plan kicks off with "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" offerings and is already taking names over at GunClub.EA.com. If you scope out the terms of use in the FAQ, though, you'll notice a familiar proposition:
"REQUIRES FULL RETAIL, NEW PURCHASE OF BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 (“BFBC2”) and MEDAL OF HONOR ("MOH"), WHERE THE OWNER HAS SUCCESSFULLY ENTERED THE VIP CODE INCLUDED IN THEIR COPY OF BFBC2 (ON PLAYSTATION 3 OR XBOX 360), OR PLAYED BCBC2 ONLINE IN A MULTIPLAYER SESSION (ON PC, WHERE USERS NEED NOT ENTER VIP CODE). OFFER NONTRANSFERABLE."
In other words, if you're a deal-snatching, used game buyer, be ready to pony up some extra dough for a new VIP code. Only then will you get the same privileges allotted to EA's chosen class of new-game owners.
What do you think of EA's new Gun Club system? Will it make a difference when you decide whether to buy used or new? Share your reactions in the comment section below.