Though publishers team up with major used game dealers to promote their latest games, they also bemoan the fact that they lose a considerable amount of money from second-hand sales.

Used game have pushed many third-party publishers to charge additional money for services, such as play. While Electronic Arts was the first company to introduce this strategy, the software publisher recently told Edge Magazine that their Online Pass was more about emphasizing the value of online play, rather than fighting second-had games sales.

"I dont think [Online Pass] prohibits second-hand games at all - what it does do is recognise the value of online play, a realisation that there is very real value there to a consumer that also comes with a very real cost to us", said Andrew Wilson, the senior vice president of EA's global online group.

"We want to continue to invest in online, outside of the disc - and as we do that more and more the investment behind that grows".

Several other publishers have introduced similar measures. For example, recently implemented an online pass for Undisputed 2010.

By Nicholas Gasse