EA Continues The Xbox Live Rip-off
Apparently they just don’t get it over at EA. This time, they are offering gamers to buy unlockable content for the Xbox360 version of Need For Speed Carbon. Players can play for endless hours in order to unlock items, or, in good EA fashion, they can pay for it. Same way they did with Godfather and and Tiger Woods PGA 07.
The game itself is available in regular and Collector’s Edition, retailing for $59.99 and $69.99, respectively. In addition to that, a total of 11 pieces of content can be bought on Xbox Live, for a total price of 3780 Microsoft Points, roughly $50. That makes Need For Speed Carbon a potential $120 dollar game.
EA always defends itself by saying “it’s a choice, you don’t have to buy”, but the “choice” is narrowing down all the time. Now the choice might be “cars”, next time, maybe it’s “150 MS points to fill your car up with gas”, and so on. It seems to me Microsoft should set some decent guidelines for developers and publishers before people completely lose interest and respect for Xbox Live Marketplace.
As for EA, the rip-off isn’t surprising at all, but it’s striking that they apparently aren’t listening to anyone talking, posting, blogging about the whole issue. Even the bad PR should reach some of the decision makers at EA.
Read (2old2play)
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:01 pm
That’s why I’ve never bought a game from EA… I downloaded a bunch, and they all sucked.
Lol at the image btw, so true
November 3rd, 2006 at 12:32 am
Tis not good. Doesn’t EA realise how unsubtle they are being, endlessly trying to find new things they can charge us for that we never had to pay for before? I do think paying for unlockable content is ridiculous, and yeah maybe we need some independant agency to make sure this sort of thing is governed properly.
I guess as we are the ‘vocal minority’, they are happy to let the rest of the buyers get ripped off, while a few of us try to make a stand in vain.
I loved Battlefield 2, think it is one of the best modern multiplayer games I’ve played, even defining the genre, but there is no way I’m going to buy EA again. And I am not the sort of person to ‘not buy a game’ on principle.
Its a real sign when a games website like this is voicing opinion alongside fact. Articles like these should usually be unbiased, but I can totally see why they are now becoming angry and frustrated with what they are reporting about.
Let’s hope UBI don’t follow the same trend with Splinter Cell…
November 3rd, 2006 at 1:00 am
yep … most people who are regulars around here know what I have been saying and will always say about those coporate gaming criminals. I recently traded in the last of the EA titles I bought and now I honestly can’t see myself even getting Crysis. The thought of a company like EA getting anymore of my money is sickening and just will not happen until they seriously change their practices.
I really can’t see the other successful huge publishing houses doing this … surely they are aware of the negative backlash from all of this. I can only hope though .. but man what if EA has just opened our own Pandora’s box of horrible gaming company practices? Man that would be a nightmare.
November 3rd, 2006 at 1:55 am
I think where money is to be made, this sort of corporate money-making attitude will always appear, no matter what the subject matter – music, fashion, games etc. What with advertising etc in games there is big money to be made and we just need to make sure that there are always people in the industry who are fighting for the gamers! Everyone understands businesses need to make money but they are games first, money-makers second, and the game needs to take priority.
grrr….
November 3rd, 2006 at 3:25 am
DON’T BUY THERE GAMES – NEVER – YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THEM!