EA responds to the microtransaction frenzy |
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A new week, a new set of weird things to talk about. We should really consider having a "Headdesk of the Week" segment just for those rather frustrating bits of news. Obviously, this isn't happy news, and since it's about Electronic Arts, you can be sure aliens are listening into the collective groan of every single gamer on earth right about now.During Major Nelson's usual podcast, Chip Lange, Vice President of Online Commerce at EA, defended their company's current stance on microtransactions. In this case, EA was offering people the option of just paying to unlock something than go through needless tedium of trying to get it through long hours of play. He also stated that only 20% of people actually went through the trouble of doing that.
On a more incendiary point, the podcast also talked about something we've discussed previously: charging for cheats. Lange's argument was essentially along the lines of websites getting the cheats, posting it, and then getting revenue through advertising. "There are places where cheat codes are free but those are on websites and those websites are making money by selling advertising," goes his argument. EA's stance, therefore, is that Xbox's Marketplace is just a new way for people to get the stuff they want from the game.
Here's the thing: how is it a new way for people to get the stuff they want if there are no other options for them to get said stuff? One way is by going through the tedium of unlocking the content, and another is by inputting an existing cheat code for it. Of this, IGN cites the perfect example: The Xbox version of The Godfather has cheats, and these were taken out for the 360 version.
During the podcast, Lange assured people that they weren't short-changing gamers, though he anticipates the company will be staying the course and continuing the microtransaction idea. "As the gaming industry becomes more online centric," he says, "that's going to provide a whole lot more choice to the consumer base provided that the basic package continues to be robust and rewarding." Do gamers have to remind him that the choice should not be between "Pay" and "Suffer"?
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Comments [refresh]
We, the video gaming consumer, know that EA is nothing but a money hungry conglomorate. I for one will never purchase another EA title until their anti-gaming habits change or they go the way of 3DO. EA will fail, oh yes, they will.
I agree with you DaPhatty. While the games themselves can be pretty solid and fun like battlefield and need for speed, the ends don't justify the means to me. I'm on a similar boycott of any EA titles. I pirate them all for PC if I dare want to play em, but even then, thats been over a year since i've bothered to do even that. The only way they will get our message is with dollar signs. Stop allowing them to do this ***** gamers.
I listened to the netcast and I think Major forgot or didn't have the courage to mention EA's FIFA 07. The 360 version is crippled with less leagues and less stadiums than FIFA 07 for current-gen consoles. Boycott of EA games is still standing.
Here's the proof (from menu, check stadiums and leagues):
http://fifa07.ea.com/extra/?id=4724
i wont buy another game from them untill they change their greedy ways i.e sniffing (nosing) around way too much of our personal imformation, making us use their crappy servers instead of microsofts normally excellent servers via xbox live service and it gives xbox live a bad name.
and now we've got the money grabbers exploting customers goodwill once more with micro transactions its a pitty because their games are usually top notch.
i would call this company ANTI-SOCIAL
Last EA game i bought Was Need 4 Speed most wanted and was i dissapointed.
I think this whole microtransactio n is b/s on xbox live anyway and now with EA it completely sux.
oh, EA is known 4 this. Have you guys heard of the spyware included in battlefield 2042? scans ur comp and sends to ad companies who put ads in the game. gotta love it. EA gets the dosh from ad companies and we don't even get a cheaper game, but have 2 pay fuill price 4 a game with spyware... no thanks.