EA Sports to charge $10 to play used games online

[Lordbob75]

EA Sports to charge $10 to play used games online

EA does not like when you buy used games, and it keeps coming up with ways to incent gamers to avoid the used game section at their local retailer. With Mass Effect 2, you were given access to new content at launch with a one-time use code included in the box. With Bad Company 2 it was a day-one map pack. If you bought the game new, you got the goods. If you bought it used, you had to pay $10. With its sports games, however, EA is playing hardball: it will cost you an extra $10 if you want to play online with a secondhand game.

Source: EA Sports to charge $10 to play used games online


WHY!?!?!?!?!
Leave our used games alone you greedy *******s!
Haven't you done enough damage with the new DRM crap?

~Lordbob

 

[adt]

And they complain about piracy....

 

[pparks1]

And they complain about piracy....

And wouldn't you if you were a software or game manufacturer and people were taking your work for free?

 

[stew2]

Yeah i would but they need to come up with a better method of securing the software. Things like this in movies-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRVHUbrbEUA

and all that steam crap and other drm's are just plain annoying and slow down the actual launch of the game etc. You don't have to deal with all that rubbish if you download a pirated copy and so in the end all this does is annoy those of us who actually purchase a game ...

 

[Lordbob75]

Yeah i would but they need to come up with a better method of securing the software. Things like this in movies-

YouTube - U.K. Anti-Piracy Advert - Parody of this annoying trailer!

and all that steam crap and other drm's are just plain annoying and slow down the actual launch of the game etc. You don't have to deal with all that rubbish if you download a pirated copy and so in the end all this does is annoy those of us who actually purchase a game ...

I actually like the idea of steam.

I think the DRM is overdone however. I am of the opinion that if they made the games better, and just forgot about piracy, they would gain more money. Most of the pirated games would not have been bought in the first place, so it's not lost revenue at all.

~Lordbob

 

[kucing13]

DRM changing civilian into villain

buying games---> downloading pirate games

 

[Richardc269]

LOL. And EA Games wonders why people pirate their games. I think it's a bit obvious. People don't like having to put their stupid cd in the drive everytime they want to play a single game. It's why "cd-cracks" were invented.

If these morons weren't such greedy sacks of trash, then people might buy their games more often, and not pirate games. Get rid of the cd-protection BS that's out there, and most people won't get cd-cracks or pirate games. This isn't about the companies worrying about their customers, it's about money. That's all. Most game companies (including EA Games most of all) are just money greedy a$$holes. Just like most companies in the United States. It's not about piracy, it's all about money, plain and simple.

Companies are always trying to find ways to make it so their games can't be pirated, but since most gaming companies in the US are such money breathing morons, they're more concerned about money than making the actual game, that they probably don't make the game 100%. I can't really buy games though since I don't have an income. People like me can't buy the games, so most in the "not having" money issue, will download games instead and won't really care about it, unlike most people who actually DO have the money to buy it.

Maybe instead of EA Games being money greedy dillweeds, they should focus more on creating their games instead of pirates who download it. What the original poster also tells you about what EA Games is really about. MONEY GREEDY A$$HOLES! They don't want you buying used games. They want you to spend $50+ on a friggen cd that's easily broken so you have to buy another one later! Yeah...great concept, a$$holes.

 

[pparks1]

. Most game companies (including EA Games most of all) are just money greedy a$$holes. Just like most companies in the United States. It's not about piracy, it's all about money, plain and simple.

Of course, in a capitalistic society, it's always going to be about money. And if you aren't the company making enough money, another company is going to come by and swallow you alive. Keep in mind, that these companies have extraordinary expenses, and salaries to pay and employee benefits, etc. Their mission statement probably doesn't include the concept of designing and marketing great games and giving it away to those who would rather not pay anything for it.

If you don't like what EA stands for...just don't use their products. Why perpetuate product use have by pirating of the game? Perhaps it's because there aren't suitable alternatives out there who do it any differently or cost less. If nobody is buying or playing their games...they will have to do something.

They want you to spend $50+ on a friggen cd that's easily broken so you have to buy another one later! Yeah...great concept, a$$holes.

I've never broken a music cd or a game cd, or a movie DVD in my life.

 

[mpcrsc562]

Haven't read thru each post, but from the title... That is exactly why EA has fallen from their throne of preeminence in the video game world.

Steam rules supreme! And, they have added Mac to their fold... Juggernaut.

If in the future an EA game stands out that much to entice me to buy, then it will be thru Steam.

 

[Richardc269]

. Most game companies (including EA Games most of all) are just money greedy a$$holes. Just like most companies in the United States. It's not about piracy, it's all about money, plain and simple.

Of course, in a capitalistic society, it's always going to be about money. And if you aren't the company making enough money, another company is going to come by and swallow you alive. Keep in mind, that these companies have extraordinary expenses, and salaries to pay and employee benefits, etc. Their mission statement probably doesn't include the concept of designing and marketing great games and giving it away to those who would rather not pay anything for it.

If you don't like what EA stands for...just don't use their products. Why perpetuate product use have by pirating of the game? Perhaps it's because there aren't suitable alternatives out there who do it any differently or cost less. If nobody is buying or playing their games...they will have to do something.

They want you to spend $50+ on a friggen cd that's easily broken so you have to buy another one later! Yeah...great concept, a$$holes.

I've never broken a music cd or a game cd, or a movie DVD in my life.

And people pirate games because of the first issue, or second: 1: They don't have an income, or simply just don't care. Or 2: Because they put up these anti-pirate programs that no one really wants to deal with, hence, pirating and cd-cracks. If game companies didn't worry so much about pirating, then they'd make a lot more money. Cd-Keys are another anti-pirate method, but they use cd-keys so that they can only put it on 1 computer (or that's the idea anyway), and that more than 1 person can't use the same key online (in some cases, LAN).

The only game of EA I even own is Battlefield 2. Of course, it took EA 4 or 5 years to put out the 1.5 patch and get rid of their cd-checking crap.

Also, not everyone is really that careful with cd's (myself included), or a lot of people in general anyway. Which is why I download the games whenever I actually do own an original, and then I have an .iso on my harddrive so I don't have the chance of ruining my fragile cd's. (there's another item that I won't go into).

My main point stands true anyway. If companies didn't worry so much about the game being pirated or cracked, then they'd have more time on their hands to create a better game. Take Battlefield 2 for instance, it came out in 2005, and since 2005, it has tons of mods that add to the game. In all honesty, Battlefield 2 vanilla could have been made a lot better, but since EA is more concerned about money than the game, they actually put the borderline minimal effort into the game, and could have added a lot more items to the game when they didn't. This is why capitalism is full of fail because it creates greed. Just take a look at our economy across the globe, and you'll see why. It all started with greed.

Haven't read thru each post, but from the title... That is exactly why EA has fallen from their throne of preeminence in the video game world.

Steam rules supreme! And, they have added Mac to their fold... Juggernaut.

If in the future an EA game stands out that much to entice me to buy, then it will be thru Steam.

I disagree with you. I think Steam is another bull$hit program. I seriously don't want to have to install my games through a 3rd party program instead of the Windows installer, just to "activate" my game with a valid cd-key. This is yet another company that cares more about their money than their customers.

The same could be said about Blizzard Entertainment as well. (The company who created Diablo, StarCraft, etc.)

 

[Everlong]

I remember reading an article about a survey that looked at pirated software, and the average of any given software was 20% pirated, which, and I'm not saying "that's a low number, it's fine to pirate", but it is blown out of proportion. Modern Warfare 2 still managed to net in quite a large amount of money.

I've different views on this latest move by EA though. It doesn't really affect me as I buy most of my games through Steam now, but when you do have a game shop selling second hand games, they do get all the profit from that game, and a lot of the time, if it's a new game, they charge near full price for it.

But then, there is the point that someone has already paid for that game, so in essence they can do what they want with it.

 

[Richardc269]

I remember reading an article about a survey that looked at pirated software, and the average of any given software was 20% pirated, which, and I'm not saying "that's a low number, it's fine to pirate", but it is blown out of proportion. Modern Warfare 2 still managed to net in quite a large amount of money.

I've different views on this latest move by EA though. It doesn't really affect me as I buy most of my games through Steam now, but when you do have a game shop selling second hand games, they do get all the profit from that game, and a lot of the time, if it's a new game, they charge near full price for it.

But then, there is the point that someone has already paid for that game, so in essence they can do what they want with it.

Actually, I don't think it's quite as high as the companies think it is, in all honesty. They just want people to think that. Take WoW for instance, it sold a lot more copies out there than a lot of other games did, and Blizzard Entertainment makes millions of dollars a year just from that game alone, much less StarCraft and the other titles, despite the fact that there's also a lot of "free WoW servers" out there. Millions of people still play retail WoW, and Blizzard is always trying to bring down the private servers. Of course, they can't really do that when said private server is owned and being hosted by a person in the Netherlands, since they don't have that many internet laws in the first place.

 

[pparks1]

And people pirate games because of the first issue, or second: 1: They don't have an income, or simply just don't care.

I don't think a lack of income is a viable excuse. Where do you draw the line..is taking a car ok if you don't have a job???

Or 2: Because they put up these anti-pirate programs that no one really wants to deal with, hence, pirating and cd-cracks.

Piracy existing long before these anti pirate methods existed. People want something for nothing and with piracy since they don't physically steal a tangible good that procludes another from having it...they find it acceptable.

If game companies didn't worry so much about pirating, then they'd make a lot more money.

No they would not. if a company put out the exact same game, it cost the exact same as it does now, but included absolutely 0 measures against piracy...they would not sell tons of more copies of that game. To believe that is just downright silly.

This is why capitalism is full of fail because it creates greed. Just take a look at our economy across the globe, and you'll see why. It all started with greed.

And while I don't think greed is good, it's unfortunately the global standard. It's too bad that we don't have tons of open source free games that are outstanding. I gave up on software piracy years ago as there are plenty of free alternatives that do what I need. In the rare event they do not, then I am willing to pay for something that will.

 

[stormy13]

This is for those that didn't bother to read the article and just read the quote in the OP,

Starting in June with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, sports games will come with a one-time use code that will allow gamers to play online on the Xbox 360 or PS3 systems. If you rent the game, you can play online for seven days for free, but that only works one time per game. If you buy the game used and want to activate the online features, you'll have to buy the Online Pass directly from EA, for $10.

Nice to see how the entire thread went off track with the whole PC/piracy tirades when the article in question doesn't even have anything to do with the PC. What it basically is is an attempt to kill off the used console game market, which you will probably find that most of the game publishers think of in the same light as PC piracy.

 

[Wishmaster]

Some of the copy protections aren't nearly as bad as they are made out to be.
This IMHO is one thats not so bad. If you purchase the game, this will not effect you in the least.


Others, are just too far overboard.
For example:
Internet Connection required for one time activation is one thing.
Requiring that connection just to play (offline single player games) everytime its launched or it fails to work is a completely different matter.

When the protection is simply rediculous, I'll pass on that game.

They wonder why people pirate games. This all may be the cause.

However, theres no excuse for theft, plain and simple.

I have no issue paying for game a thats good. But regardless how good it is, to strict of a DRM and Ill take my buisiness elsewhere.

 

[Richardc269]

Some of the copy protections aren't nearly as bad as they are made out to be.
This IMHO is one thats not so bad. If you purchase the game, this will not effect you in the least.


Others, are just too far overboard.
For example:
Internet Connection required for one time activation is one thing.
Requiring that connection just to play (offline single player games) everytime its launched or it fails to work is a completely different matter.

When the protection is simply rediculous, I'll pass on that game.

They wonder why people pirate games. This all may be the cause.

However, theres no excuse for theft, plain and simple.

I have no issue paying for game a thats good. But regardless how good it is, to strict of a DRM and Ill take my buisiness elsewhere.

Which is exactly what I'm talking about. The people who DO pirate games, simply just don't care about stealing it, or simply because they don't want to deal with the bogus cd-protection crap that's out there.

I already said, if the companies don't have cd protection on their games, they'd make more money. More people out there are honest more than you think there are. The people who pirate games think they should get it for free simply because it's for a computer, and not say like a TV or something similar. CD's are easily ruined, and to have to buy another copy just because your cd broke or was damaged enough that you can't use and have to buy another is simply just bogus. The gaming companies have the ability to make better cd's, and add more protections to them, but seeing as how most are greedy dillweeds, they go more for profit, with low cost making of said item rather than putting money into better protections for cd's. This is also why people pirate games because companies care more about their money than anything else. Which is my entire point, and it's been proven the entire time.

Game companies are trying to always blame the piraters out there no matter what the game company is at fault with. And that's mainly due to the cd-issue, as well as people thinking they should either get computer games free, or at a lower price, when in reality of the whole thing, is that most companies period, care more about money than they do their customers. It's a common fact. Banks do the same crap, as well as credit card companies.

I myself, hate the fact that with every game I own, I'm required to put my stupid cd into the cd-rom drive, just to play a single game. It's annoying, ridiculous, and simply put, just plain retarded in the first place. Every time you have to put in a cd, you have the chance of dropping it, scratching it, and ruining it, no matter how organized, patient, level-headed, or plain just have good hand skills. You'll sooner or later, ruin the cd. Then what? You gotta buy a new one. And that means more money for the gaming company simply because they don't add any protections to the cd's they produce for their games. I have had to go through countless cd's for my games simply because I drop them by accident, and have to pick them up. I'm not willing to buy another copy because I accidentally dropped it countless times.

 

[pparks1]

I already said, if the companies don't have cd protection on their games, they'd make more money. More people out there are honest more than you think there are.

So, why so much effort placed on piracy over the years? I think the only reason more people are honest today is that it's getting harder to play online and such with hacked/pirated copies of games and gamers are being forced to pay to play.

I myself, hate the fact that with every game I own, I'm required to put my stupid cd into the cd-rom drive, just to play a single game. It's annoying, ridiculous, and simply put, just plain retarded in the first place. Every time you have to put in a cd, you have the chance of dropping it, scratching it, and ruining it, no matter how organized, patient, level-headed, or plain just have good hand skills. You'll sooner or later, ruin the cd. Then what? You gotta buy a new one. And that means more money for the gaming company simply because they don't add any protections to the cd's they produce for their games. I have had to go through countless cd's for my games simply because I drop them by accident, and have to pick them up. I'm not willing to buy another copy because I accidentally dropped it countless times.

It's annoying...yes I agree. Seems like you have a seriously hard time with these disks though. Like I said before, I don't believe that I have ever cracked or flat out broken a cd/dvd by simply dropping it a handful of times and I'm 35 and have been handling them for over 20 years now.

 

[Lordbob75]

Lets get back to talking about the EA change.

They are going to charge $10 to play a used game on a console.

~Lordbob

 

[kucing13]

Lets get back to talking about the EA change.

They are going to charge $10 to play a used game on a console.

~Lordbob

going back to where we began. LOL

 

[Richardc269]

I already said, if the companies don't have cd protection on their games, they'd make more money. More people out there are honest more than you think there are.

So, why so much effort placed on piracy over the years? I think the only reason more people are honest today is that it's getting harder to play online and such with hacked/pirated copies of games and gamers are being forced to pay to play.

I myself, hate the fact that with every game I own, I'm required to put my stupid cd into the cd-rom drive, just to play a single game. It's annoying, ridiculous, and simply put, just plain retarded in the first place. Every time you have to put in a cd, you have the chance of dropping it, scratching it, and ruining it, no matter how organized, patient, level-headed, or plain just have good hand skills. You'll sooner or later, ruin the cd. Then what? You gotta buy a new one. And that means more money for the gaming company simply because they don't add any protections to the cd's they produce for their games. I have had to go through countless cd's for my games simply because I drop them by accident, and have to pick them up. I'm not willing to buy another copy because I accidentally dropped it countless times.

It's annoying...yes I agree. Seems like you have a seriously hard time with these disks though. Like I said before, I don't believe that I have ever cracked or flat out broken a cd/dvd by simply dropping it a handful of times and I'm 35 and have been handling them for over 20 years now.

The average person is honest. I didn't say all of them are. Not everyone is.

As for the disks, I don't even bother with sticking them in the drive. I just create .iso files so I don't have to deal with that garbage. Even if they don't crack/break when dropped, they still get scratched when you have to pick it up off of the floor. Do it enough times and the scratches become too much, then the cd-rom can't read it. It's pretty normal for people to drop them by accident. This is why I said the companies need to put better protections onto their cd's, instead of the way most are.

As for the original discussion, I thought it was for PC's, and not consoles. Never liked consoles and I never will. I don't even own a console, and I sold the old Playstation I had in 11th grade simply because I hardly ever used it. Sold it for $30.