What the heck is all this "online pass" for video games!?!?

I have bought dozens of games in my life, and i've never need a "code" except for the regristation key. I have an XBOX 360 Elite and gaming PC.What the heck is all this "online pass" for video games!?!?
Its to stop the developers from losing profits. they put a pass in the game so that if you buy it new you get a pass. ( they get profit this way) but if you trade games in and they sell again they don't make profit. so they put a pass in so no one will want to buy second hand game as they wont have a pass. in other words they are *male Genitalia*What the heck is all this "online pass" for video games!?!?
you obviously haven't bought any games that can be played online.



some games (madden, mw3) requires you to enter the online pass code if you want to play online. it's a way for companies to recoup their losses from gamers renting games or buying used games.What the heck is all this "online pass" for video games!?!?
its only something wierd that EA does you have to have your pass to play online because EA requires you to be over 12 and up to play online. Its really lame.
Its not to do with age the online pass is away for companies to make money off of second hand sales.



When a game is sold by a game shop as a pre-owned copy the publishers make no money from that sale its all profit for the game store. To combat this Online passes have been brought it.



If you buy a second hand game the online pass is more than likely already been claimed, to unlock that feature you have to go to the publishers say EA and buy a new code to access the multiplayer.



Therefore they make some profit off of second hand sales.