EA - project 10 dollars

[JoPh]

how will this affect gamefly and such services....


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EA just announced the next step of its "Project Ten Dollar" initiative, one that's likely to affect a lot of people much more deeply than the allure of some extra DLC. Starting with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, out June 8, EA Sports games for PS3 and Xbox 360 will include a title-specific "Online Pass" that enables access to "online services, features, and bonus content." If the code has already been redeemed (i.e. if you bought the game used) additional Online Passes will be available for (you guessed it!) ten dollars. Each game will include a seven-day free trial.

The online services under the Online Pass vary by game, but an EA rep told us they can include basic online multiplayer, as well as group/league features, roster and playbook updates, downloads of user-created content (like Photo Game Faces) and tournament support.

We'd think GameStop would be most upset about this plan, given that it's basically the destination for trade-ins of last year's sports games toward the new model, but CEO Dan DeMatteo offers a cheerful quote in the announcement. "GameStop is excited to partner with such a forward-thinking publisher as Electronic Arts," DeMatteo said. "This relationship allows us to capitalize on our investments to market and sell downloadable content online, as well as through our network of stores worldwide."

 

[Terzo]

There's a line where people will accept that some features are "Extra" that need the code while some features are expected regardless of the game's used status. Seems like EA is trying their best to find that line and toe it.

You pose an interesting question about gamefly. Perhaps they'll work out a special deal with EA where their rented discs are exempt from the code requirement? At a cost, of course.

 

[Tristicus]

Sony did this with Fireteam Bravo 3- people raged (was $25).

 

[fantolay]

EA rep told us they can include basic online multiplayer, as well as group/league features, roster and playbook updates, downloads of user-created content (like Photo Game Faces) and tournament support.

Does EA really need more of our money? Games used to be $49.99- now for $59.99 I feel like I already am paying an extra ten every time I buy a game.

How could a "basic" feature like multiplayer be sold as extra?

 

[Imported]

.. $10 to play Madden online if I get it used? I better hope I find a good deal come release time..

 

[TheVrolok]

The only way I'm ok with this is if they provide some incredibly updated/improved multiplayer experience. If it's the same 'ol, they're just continuing to be asshats.

 

[Cuda1447]

I hate EA. When I started seeing advertisements during GAMEPLAY in Madden 10, I decided I was fucking done with their shit. Forever. I don't care what the game is.

 

[mugs]

Does EA really need more of our money? Games used to be $49.99- now for $59.99 I feel like I already am paying an extra ten every time I buy a game.

How could a "basic" feature like multiplayer be sold as extra?

Development costs used to be a fraction of what they are now.

 

[Shadowknight]

I'm not okay with this, but to put some perspective on the matter, below is a couple of items from a summary of their last quarterly report.


http://biz.yahoo.com/e/100209/erts10-q.html

Total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $1,243 million, down $411 million as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2008.

...
Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $82 million as compared to a net loss of $641 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

 

[I4AT]

There was a time when I would've lol'd at this. But since I already decided to boycott EA multiplayer games a long time ago thanks to their 30 days notice online features retirement clause, I'll just say doesn't surprise me, won't affect me.

 

[Cuda1447]

I'm not okay with this, but to put some perspective on the matter, below is a couple of items from a summary of their last quarterly report.


http://biz.yahoo.com/e/100209/erts10-q.html

Now, is that because of higher development costs or lower sales?

 

[fatpat268]

I never really did play madden online (there's just too many players waiting to exploit every part of the gameplay not play a realistic game), but I find it ridiculous that EA wants to charge another $10 on top of charge I'm paying for xbox live just to play online should I buy a copy used.

I'm not opposed to paying $10 in general, but this is a slippery slope. $10 here, $15 there. Where does it end?

It's almost kinda like the food industry. Put less food in the box and charge the same price because they're afraid of raising prices. That's what video game publishers are doing lately. Putting less and less in the game, and then coming out and selling the rest (which they used to include in the past for free) for a fee after the fact.

 

[Kabob]

+1, where does it end? They've already been paid in full for their product, now they're dipping their hands into the used market products.

This is just wrong IMHO.

 

[mmntech]

EA got their act together on the PC side, so now they're screwing over the console side. Dick move. It's like Honda saying I need to pay an extra 10% to them if I buy a used car.

 

[Razgriz]

more BS from EA...why am I not surprised. I'm glad I stopped buying EA games a long time ago.

 

[smackababy]

Hopefully, this lowers prices on used EA sports games. I maybe pick a couple up. I've always enjoyed FIFA (at least a few years ago), but I never felt it worth the full retail price. Maybe now I can get a used copy for the cheap. Since I wouldn't play it online anyway, no loss for me.

 

[Narmer]

I wouldn't have a problem with this if their sports game were playable online more than a year after release.

 

[ZOOYUKA]

.. $10 to play Madden online if I get it used? I better hope I find a good deal come release time..

Right now if you order it through Amazon you get a $20 credit and release day delivery. I dont think you will find anything better than that.

 

[Imported]

Right now if you order it through Amazon you get a $20 credit and release day delivery. I dont think you will find anything better than that.

Awesome. Ordered!

 

[purbeast0]

good for EA.

they make absolutely nothing from the used market, so maybe now they will make $10 off of used items, but maybe not.

this isnt going to hurt them in the least because it won't effect people who buy their games new.

 

[ChaoZ]

Trololololol.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

good for EA.

they make absolutely nothing from the used market, so maybe now they will make $10 off of used items, but maybe not.

this isnt going to hurt them in the least because it won't effect people who buy their games new.

It will when they decide to sell the game.

 

[artemicion]

I'm not opposed to paying $10 in general, but this is a slippery slope. $10 here, $15 there. Where does it end?

Ok, well in introductory microeconomics, we have something called a "demand curve". A "demand curve" is a downward slopping linear (or slightly convex) line graphed based on the relationship between "Price" (along the y-axis) and "Demand" (along the x-axis).

When a vendor increases a price beyond a particular price point, sales volume decreases. Thus, the price point at which a vendor sells a product is set at a point on the curve where (demand * price) is maximized.

Thus, to answer your question, EA's price inflation ends when they go beyond that price point. There is, in fact, no slippery slope.

Don't get me wrong, I think EA is a bad company that makes bad games marketed toward the ignorant masses that'll scoop up anual copies of Madden for all eternity, but, hey, we live in a capitalist society. You do what you do to make your paper.

 

[fatpat268]

Look, I don't need a lesson in economics. I'm well educated enough to know supply and demand.

Sure, there's definitely a limit to what people will pay, I know that.

Like I said, the Game industry is exploiting that little trick where Cereal companies will put 16.23 oz in box and charge the same price as they used to with a 22 oz box. I don't mind prices going up. I realize that costs go up to produce said items, thus they need to charge more. However, I don't appreciate when companies think we're fools when they put less and less inside a package and charge us the same.

It's becoming that way with the video game industry. I don't mind DLC at all. I see them as bite sized expansion packs. I don't even mind the day one DLC that bioware puts out, because I understand the complexities of developing these addons. What, again, I don't appreciate is when game companies put said DLC on the disc, and then charges you for it.

Just take Madden as one example. In the past, we always got alternate uniforms and perhaps an extra (old) stadium or two, for free. It was packaged on the disc, completely free with no obligations. Nowadays, to get that same content on the newer versions, they start charging you for it. I'm not saying I feel obligated to such content for free, everything has a price of course, but it's just a dick move in general by publishers/developers.

Back to the topic at hand:

EA's project ten dollar is actually a pretty good idea, provided it adds content that's non-essential to the game. Mass Effect 2's cerberus network was a prime example of that. It added some various DLCs like characters, a mission, outfits, and some weapons, none of which significantly adds to the core game. However, the online component of a sports game is pretty significant, and to hold that mode hostage from used games is ridiculous. The project ten dollar for sports games should be stuff like extra uniforms, golf courses, football stadiums, etc.

 

[slayer202]

fuck EA, they won't get any money from me