EA embraces micro-transactions for all future games

[zanfire]

EA heads did an interview yesterday and unleashed some nuggets about how they say the consumers are "embracing" microtransactions and they plan to put it in every game. http://www.destructoid.com/ea-plans-a-future-of-microtransactions-update--247138.phtml


I guess me and many other who were so against Dead Space 3 because its "features" would crawl their way into everything else are right. I'm thanking EA right now for making my decision to either pirate or completely ignore their games such an easy choice.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-undecided-on-next-gen-pricing-6404527

"We haven't yet set pricing on our [next-generation games], but you'll probably see a similar trend during the start of the next cycle."

This is them talking about pricing, which they might have go up from what the standard is now, so 70$ may be what they are looking at.

 

[beta4attack]

Oh, greed... How much I despise you -_-

 

[FAST6191]

One (though I will still call $70 a ripoff), the other or you had better be making something of unsurpassed quality.
Roll on computer game crash of 2014.

 

[Wombo Combo]

Screw that looks like I'm sticking with PC gaming.

 

[Gahars]

Put down the pitchforks.

[Update: According to TheSixthAxis, EA's CFO "misspoke" on the subject of game prices, and is actually expecting games to cost between $49 and $59, rather than the $69 he original talked about. Don't worry, they can always make up that missing ten bucks with more DLC!]

Dat objective reporting.

And you know, if they handle microtransactions like they did in Dead Space 3 (where they're absolutely unnecessary, and only for people too stupid/lazy to play the damn game), I'm totally okay with that.

Oh, sorry, I meant GOD, EA, SO GREEDY. LITERALLY HITLER.

 

[donaldgx]

EA eh, what games do they publish again?

I just "buy" FIFA from EA sports, so whatever.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Oh, sorry, I meant GOD, EA, SO GREEDY. LITERALLY HITLER.

Hitler may have killed millions of Jews but he didn't use microtransactions!

 

[Gahars]

Hitler may have killed millions of Jews but he didn't use microtransactions!

They think they were oppressed? Pfft. They didn't even have to deal with DRM.

 

[geishroy]

Screw that looks like I'm sticking with pirating.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I've omitted the part about "$70 games" because it's incorrect and a misspeak on EA's part.

However the microtransactions bit is correct.

 

[The Catboy]

I guess it's a good thing that I pretty much never buy EA games.

 

[LockeCole_101629]

if only maxis & westwood was bought by another publisher.

look at simcity on facebook, it is so sad.
and they planning to do the same with Command Conquer series.
I always wish they went bankrupt every years, but people keep buying things from them.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

Totally didn't see this coming after Dragon Age

"Help! My house is burning and my son is trapped in there"
I Will help ma-am!
"Please enter your credit card number to unlock this mission!"
Fuck yo' kid! *Stomps off*

 

[zanfire]

Put down the pitchforks.



Dat objective reporting.

And you know, if they handle microtransactions like they did in Dead Space 3 (where they're absolutely unnecessary, and only for people too stupid/lazy to play the damn game), I'm totally okay with that.

Oh, sorry, I meant GOD, EA, SO GREEDY. LITERALLY HITLER.

Do you really think they won't mess with games to get you to buy into microtransactions? People said they wouldn't put it in much when it came to DS3, and a short time later we know it's going in everything. They will keep crossing the line as long as we pay, so if you're blind enough to think they won't find a way to disrupt or make parts of a game a massive annoyance just so you can spring some extra crash, you're smoking some awesome stuff and I want some.

Also you should not omit all of the argument of raising the price, it's still a possibility according to them, they may have used the wrong numbers as an example, but his point was to charge more when a cycle starts and it lowers over time: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-undecided-on-next-gen-pricing-6404527

"We haven't yet set pricing on our [next-generation games], but you'll probably see a similar trend during the start of the next cycle."

 

[BORTZ]

Westwood died a terrible death didnt they?

Anyways. I dont know how i feel about this.

 

[Ethevion]

I'm glad I haven't purchased an EA game in years, and it looks like I'm not about to start.

 

[Janthran]

Oh, greed... How much I despise you -_-

You're the greedy one, not wanting to give your money to corporations

 

[Gahars]

Do you really think they won't mess with games to get you to buy into microtransactions? People said they wouldn't put it in much when it came to DS3, and a short time later we know it's going in everything. They will keep crossing the line as long as we pay, so if you're blind enough to think they won't find a way to disrupt or make parts of a game a massive annoyance just so you can spring some extra crash, you're smoking some awesome stuff and I want some.

Also you should not omit all of the argument of raising the price, it's still a possibility according to them, they may have used the wrong numbers as an example, but his point was to charge more when a cycle starts and it lowers over time: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-undecided-on-next-gen-pricing-6404527

"We haven't yet set pricing on our [next-generation games], but you'll probably see a similar trend during the start of the next cycle."

I think you were trying to make an argument, but it was hard to hear over all the tears and wailing.

Seriously, though...
1) Dead Space 3 is a fine example of microtransactions done right, so citing it as a negative isn't exactly helping. It's entirely, 100% optional - the game is scaled with the expectation that the player will not purchase it, so the player isn't pressured to put money down in order to progress. Like I said, if this is the model they want to stick by, more power to them.

Besides, that's hardly the only example. EA handled DLC extremely well with Mass Effect 3 - we've gotten loads upon loads of characters and maps for absolutely nothing. You can purchase points so you can unlock classes/guns/etc. faster, but it's hardly necessary. And they've provided several meaty expansions to the story for a fairly reasonable price.

2) If you feel like EA mishandles the DLC, you are not powerless as a consumer. Don't buy the DLC or don't buy the game as a whole. The gaming market's plenty healthy right now anyway, so there are always plenty of alternatives. EA's going to take lost sales much more seriously than forum whining.

Has EA messed up with DLC in the past? Sure, but so has pretty much every company. Teach them the error of their ways with sales. It's not hard.

3) Sony has already set the pricing standard of the PS4 at $0.99 to $60. I don't think companies are going to be too willing to deviate from that unless they want their sales to take a hit.

Does EA make mistakes? Certainly. Has it made colossal mistakes? Sure. Is it the greedy monstrosity r/gaming circlejerks over? Hardly.

 

[narutofan777]

can't even have the full experience of a game anymore.

you @#%^T#$^% companies.

and paying for lightning for ff 13-2 to get the full experience was some @#$%#@$ stuff.

 

[JoostinOnline]

Maybe I just don't understand the article (please explain it if I'm missing some key point), but it seems to me like games won't change at all except that you can skip "farming" if you want to pay money. Farming, while annoying, has been a necessity in a larger percentage of games for decades. I don't see how normal users miss out on anything.