EA Boycott?

[dubious_wolf]

This kind of apathy is exactly why they are allowed to do this. If your reason for not doing so is simply "no one will care" then you've doomed any chance of change to failure.

 

[Uzi-Bazooka]

I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this, but...http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/3857-BOYCOTT

 

[Panorama]

Is this like the 4 or 5th this year, and they just make to many games i want, so not happening for me to boycott.

 

[FaceFaceFace]

oooooooooooooooh one less sale from a faceless poster on a message board, that'll learn em.
i can respect your passion but ea will react the same way a giant does when i hit him with an iron dagger when i'm level 1.

This is the attitude I meant. If everyone who thought like this actually tried the boycott instead it might actually hurt.

How many people are on the Escapist forums? Or any gaming forums at all? Games, especially those made by EA, are mainstream, and millions of people buy them. Even if everyone here boycotted them for the rest of eternity, EA would hardly notice.

On topic, I don't play many EA games anyway, but I wouldn't refuse to if I was interested in one. I'm mainly a console gamer so I don't even know what problems you people are on about.

 

[Albino Boo]

Because to reconcile your analogy with his...actually, no, your analogy is poor. A game is, and should always be, permanent merchandise, regardless of whether it's digital or not. You buy a game, a toaster, a TV, etc., you as a consumer should have a reasonable expectation of being able to keep that item until you can literally no longer use it. Now, when it comes to online gaming, things are considerably shadier. Personally, I have no problem if a person gets banned from a multiplayer game or its forums (so long as they actually deserved it), but when you are banned from using the single-player aspect of your property, that's taking it too far.

That's where we can reconcile your analogy: a bar is akin to the multiplayer aspect of a game, and likewise akin to online forums. If you misbehave and disturb the other patrons, you can be asked or forced to leave without recompense; you can not, however, lose your ability to consume alcohol in the comfort of your own home. And before you say "well probation yada yada yada," that requires a serious altercation in which you were arrested--the only possible online equivalent is actively hacking other forum/gamegoers, i.e. an act which is punished under Federal law. Going into a bar to drink is a privilege bestowed by the establishment (the multiplayer/forum aspet); the ability to drink in your home THAT YOU OWN is a right, along with owning the house (the right to own and use single-player games you've purchased.)

At no point do you own the game like a toaster, or whatever product you care to mention but merely the right to use it them. If you violate the terms of use, by example by insulting someone, that's it game over. Just like any other service.

Actually it would be more like going to a bar, ordering a beer with the consequence of giving the barman the keys to your apartment and allowing him to rifle through your stuff. Just to get kicked out of the bar if some other guy insults the barman while yelling your name.

You must hang around in posher bars than I did in my youth. Many a time I've been searched on the way into bars and clubs as a precondition of entry. I have even been thrown out of few and you know what, it was NEVER my fault. No one is ever the villain their own story.

 

[dubious_wolf]

I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this, but...http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/3857-BOYCOTT

No I don't think so. He's got some great points, things I agree with.
I'm sticking to it. It doesn't matter if there are a lot of people doing so. It's the legitimate impression that there are a lot of people that matters.

 

[Kingjackl]

It's lovely that people are passionate about this, but...let's face it, boycotts never work. A better idea for all of us would be to stop taking the questionable buisness practices of these companies so personally, and instead just buy the games they publish that interest you, and ignore the ones that don't.

Refusing to buy these sort of games based on principle is pointless, because it robs you of the fun of playing the game, and they don't even notice that you never brought it amid the millions of sales they recieve from normal people who just want to play a fun game and don't care that the corporations are 'exploting the developers' or 'fucking over PC gamers', or whatever the latest travesty is.

 

[Garyn Dakari]

Only thing EA has that I care about atm is Mass Effect 3, and The Old Republic.

I can't afford either, so I"ll be buying ME3 used or on sale, and I'll just skip TOR.(Sadly)

So, whether I boycott or not, it makes no difference

 

[idarkphoenixi]

Well for once thing it would never work. Most people who buy EA's products probably dont know or care about the "evils of Electronic Arts". Even the whole PC market would make very little difference to them, they've made it very clear they don't care for people like me.

However, I already have boycotted them and now it's even easier with the arrival of Origin and the fact that all the big releases will the exclusive to it pretty much (not on steam I mean).

EA boycotts are nothing new, I've been doing it since around the time of Army of Two. Makes very little difference to their pockets but at least my conscience is clear.

 

[Grey_Focks]

Eh, I'm good. They have never done anything to me, personally, and until they do, I'll just continue buying whatever I want. It also helps that I buy all their games on console, so no Origin.

Also, why the hell would anyone want to go on any sort of EA forums to begin with? Hell, this site's really the only internet forum I go on anymore, and that's just because of the strict moderation and it not being tied to any individual game or dev/publisher.

 

[Trucken]

I love the Mass Effect series, Saint's Row and I have fond memories of the Sims 2 & 3 from my childhood.

Um, I'm looking at my copy of Saints Row 3 right now and it says that THQ is the publisher... I think it's great that you actually write a company and voice your concerns, but this is a major blunder and, honestly, one you shouldn't have made. Otherwise, I support you, but EA might not take you seriously after this.

 

[Something Amyss]

Can't remember the last time I bought an EA game. Maybe if they put out something I wanted, I'd be tempted.

I will continue to buy EA games new, and I will continue not to troll them, so I won't get banned. I encourage everyone else not to troll as well.

And if that was the only way you could get banned, that might be a good idea.

 

[Bvenged]

Even a group of 1000 still wouldn't suffice to make them change. They're a corporate fuckbag who won't change for a profitable worse. they know we'll all end up buying again, should we boycott.

Besides, if I boycott EA I would have to boycott Activision first. Oh wait, I have been for the past year.
That's not for political movement or anything like that; I just hate their business practice, the damage they're doing to the industry and while a boycott is impractical, as it is in this case, I've got some peace of mind knowing not a single penny of my money is fuelling their mega-corporate greedy ways.

 

[Richardplex]

I find it amusing how loads of people here will scream their little hearts out that pre-owned games don't hurt the industry, but are planning to buy pre-owned to.... hurt the industry.

Boycotting EA makes the developers suffer, I'll enjoy the games instead thanks.

 

[babinro]

While I don't agree with everything EA does...they are hardly a terrible or evil company. They also help produce or publish many of the best games in the industry on a consistent basis.

I actually like that someone's actions in the EA forums can get them punished from playing the video games they bought. People deserve to be held accountable for their actions where appropriate.

I've also never had problems with Origin, where I've had a few minor issues with Steam. You have every right to boycott EA. Personally, they don't inconvenience me any more than your average gaming company does.

 

[Marcus Thomas]

Good, we need to speak up when we don't like what the industry does. But I wonder if EA will mistake any drop in sales as "piracy losses".

 

[GenesisCEO]

When was the last time EA cared what we thought? Boycott away but it won't change shit.

 

[Blunderboy]

EA has never done anything to annoy or upset me. Yeah, sucks for these people, but then i don't care about them.

I will keep buying games that i will enjoy, regardless of who made/published them.

Well spoken sir.
Really, these boycotts never take off or achieve anything anyway. If you're aware of this, this is really just another 'look at me' thread, gunning for that Hot Topic badge.
Yes, I'm a cynic.

 

[cdstephens]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/3857-BOYCOTT

Oh the irony of this type of post being on the Escapist...

 

[MadHatter1993]

all you can do is really support other companies more than EA, say if you supported Bethesda, and they notice the amount of success they're getting compared to them, then they might rethink of what they're doing, but in the end this is EA, and most likely will not work. but it's a hell of a lot better than cutting out some really good games. pretty much i'm saying is just buy what you "need" from EA, and stop there.