So, game number two has arrived.

Last week, Warner interactive announced that the heavily marketed Catwoman sections of Batman: Arkham City are going to be locked behind a one-time use code.

Catwoman's section represent around 10% of the single-player experience. If I have understood what I have read correctly, then the Catwoman sections of Arkham City are not only part of the single-player, but drastically alter the story's narrative. This is yet another unacceptable use of the online code, in my humble opinion of course.

I am curious as to the point of this.

Developers and publishers tell us (without EVER showing profit and loss numbers) that the online code is used to retrieve lost revenue due to used sales. Now if this is true, someone needs to explain to me how any revenue is regained when suddenly a deal appeared with Gamestop giving buyers of used copies a one-time code printed upon their receipt.

So besides the glaring flaw in the argument for reteiving lost money, what else is there?

For starters, this is an extremly busy time of year for gamers. From here to Christmas, I can count AT LEAST six games that I want to play. I think it's perfectly feasible that there would be a game that I want to rent. Especially one that comes out a week before Battlefield 3, a game I have been excited about all year and plan to lose weeks to the online. So now I can't play all of the single-player for a game because I have to save a little cash leading up to Christmas and decide that this is the game I'm going to rent?

Not to mention the people that don't have internet. Or what happens if, for example, the PSN goes down again.

Unacceptable!

Just as a sidenote. I was positive that the rules for games on XBox were that it should be possible to 100% a games achievements without the used of codes and paid content? Surely taking access from a playable character, who's skills are required to go hunting for puzzles, violates these rules?

So I went the pre-owned route and bought Rage on E-Bay, and even managed to get one with an unused code :)

I will be trying for the same with Batman: Arkham City. I honestly cannot believe that publishers are doing this and more amazing to me, is that gamers are allowing this to happen.

It seems that the majority of gamers, even those that appear to be against these disgusting practices, will still be buying the game new on day one. I, for one, will not be. The same way I wouldn't visit a cinema that expected me to dance around a few fires AFTER paying my entry, otherwise the sound will intermittently cut out.

The gaming community needs to stand up and be heard!

Would you be happy with putting in a DVD that you rented, only to be given half the film? Would you accept buying a car, new or used, to discover that you had to jump through hoops to get the passenger seat installed?

We shouldn't accept this as the way forward. However, that seems to be the way gaming is going.

It's like they are screaming for piracy!