EA Executive Clarifies "Microtransactions In All Games" Comment

[Vie]

"Of course, microtransactions won't be built into all of our games. In some cases, you can only get them by first buying the microtransaction-access DLC."

Please suggest this to them, hard. I can think of no better way of guaranteeing the end of the company.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Well, time will tell. If they are going to put microtransactions in all their games we will know about it, it's not something they can hide.

I do like his invention of the word "Extensions" to describe ways in which EA will be adding extra consumer payment options in their full price games. Not DLC or Expansion packs; "Extensions". Nice.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

This thread is going right about where I thought it would go...

Anywho, glad to see he made that clarification to his former statement, at least I'll have less worry of the inclusion of it in future console titles.

Also, don't know why people are flipping shit at the phrasing ?extensions". I mean is that not what standard DLC is? An extension of the game?

I mean my goodness, it's like EA can't even scratch their own ass without putting people into an uproar...

 

[Screamarie]

Does anyone else think that Jorgenson was salivating when he originally said they were putting microtransactions in all their games?

Like I envision a bit of a flood as he thought of all the moneys he was thinking he was going to get...and a gollum voice.

I don't think that EA is the route of all gaming evil as some people do...but I do feel like they have some serious douches in the higher up chairs that do not care about consumers, do not care about games, and just want money. That pisses me off.

I can understand wanting money, a very large percentage of the population wishes they made a quarter of what EA execs make, but I can not understand bleeding your customers dry, cause guess what, once they're dry...you ain't getting shit from 'em. Much like a capri-sun bag, once you suck all the juicy goodness out, blowing air into it isn't going to get you more juicy goodness no matter how hard you try.

Also...what game besides say...Skyrim or Minecrat...can you get a thousand hours out of?

 

[joonsk]

This isn't bad news. Paradox has been doing stuff like this for ages, and they don't get as much hate as EA. EA has been doing lots of stupid stuff, but at least they're trying to fix there reputation.

 

[shiajun]

So, does this new "extensions" thing sound suspiciously like charging for mods to anyone else? No? OK.

EDIT: I meant to say that thinking back to the statements when they started charging for mods.

 

[synobal]

All EA had to do was be better than Activision, that isn't such a hard thing to do but apparently they are intent on seeing how much worse they can be.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

"Extensions" sounds like DLC. I've only ever bought one DLC (for Magicka) but I have nothing against the concept if the price matches the content.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

There is no clarification.

Original:

We are building into all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way

Backpedal:

the community read that to be 'all games,' and that's really not true

Yeah, it's our fault, we misinterpreted your very direct and unmistakeable statement. At least it's not true, or maybe it is and PC games/IP named "Dead Space" are considered "mobile" for this criteria. The good news is that apparently ears are listening whenever we *****. I have a strong feeling that big publishers have paid lurkers on forums everywhere, they already blatantly sign up for and boost Metacritic user scores. This post is too cynical and edgy...The rainbow outside is giving me the hugest endorphin rush! Thank God for all the beautiful things in this world : )

 

[thethird0611]

EA... I -try- to at least fight for you to be fairly judged... but this just doesn't help at all. You did state 'all' your games would have micro transactions, and then ...

"He described those extensions as premium services or add-ons "that allows someone to take a game that they might have played for a thousand hours, and play it for two thousand hours. We want to ensure that consumers are getting value.""

This is just a sly way of saying DLC. Ea. Stahp. I want you to be a good publisher. Also, when you say we get a 'value', DLC doesnt usually stand up to that.

 

[Callate]

I think it's entirely possible that Jorgensen actually mis-spoke about the scope of microtransaction inclusion in EA products.

I also think that there could be a difference between F2P microtransactions and the "extensions" he describes in premium-price games, even if a simple concrete and distinguishing definition eludes me at this moment.

But I have no doubt in my mind: the kind of statements EA allow to enter the public forum highlights that as far as public relations goes, EA is an eight-car-and-a-jackknifed-semi wreck.

(Unavoidable, horrific, catastrophic, and you just can't look away...)

 

[Ziggy]

You can't go to any gaming site anymore without some bashing EA.

Is this a new thing? Did i travel back in time?

 

[thethird0611]

This thread is going right about where I thought it would go...

Anywho, glad to see he made that clarification to his former statement, at least I'll have less worry of the inclusion of it in future console titles.

Also, don't know why people are flipping shit at the phrasing ?extensions". I mean is that not what standard DLC is? An extension of the game?

I mean my goodness, it's like EA can't even scratch their own ass without putting people into an uproar...

Im pretty sure this article is quite alot different than most EA stuff. Heck, im even shaking my head at EA this time, and I actually think EA has a good side.

Many PR statements that were set out before now were actually moving in the right direction. Like the SimCity EULA. They said right out, "Were sorry, thats not what it was meant to say, we will change that. We dont ban anyone for not reporting bugs." Now in this article, the CEO seriously goes back against exactly what he said before, "Micro transactions in -ALL- games". All he is doing is trying to save face and make himself look good. This also applies to the 'extension' comment, since -everyone- know that it means DLC, and we hate this pseudo politically correct comment.

So yeah, to repeat what I said before, this whole statement was about him trying to save face, instead of coming out to say that they were possibly wrong.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

So can I can now cross off micro transactions in £40 games off my reasons not to buy EA games or are they just going to re-brand the micro-transactions as dlc in their AAA releases. At least I can rest easy knowing that the day where games charge for ammo clips is not as close as feared.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

*snip*

Even still, the fact that he made the change to the statement should be reason for people to ease up. Sure, he clearly doesn't like to admit his fault, but how many people in his position do? I mean really? However, pointing it out and getting even more outraged that the statement was made in the first place just sounds to me like people saying, "I know you altered your words for the better, but that doesn't matter, I'm still gonna take your original statement and mash it into your face so hard it'll look like a conjoined sibling by the time I'm done just because I don't agree with the statement that no longer holds any real power because you've clearly just changed it!! RAWRGLEFLARGLERAGE!!"

 

[thethird0611]

*snip*

Even still, the fact that he made the change to the statement should be reason for people to ease up. Sure, he clearly doesn't like to admit his fault, but how many people in his position do? I mean really? However, pointing it out and getting even more outraged that the statement was made in the first place just sounds to me like people saying, "I know you altered your words for the better, but that doesn't matter, I'm still gonna take your original statement and mash it into your face so hard it'll look like a conjoined sibling by the time I'm done just because I don't agree with the statement that no longer holds any real power because you've clearly just changed it!! RAWRGLEFLARGLERAGE!!"

Quite a few CEO's comment that they made a mistake on a venture. If EA's chair of directors was as strict as most of them, this guy would of been fired by now and been replaced because of the failure of many of his decisions, and his bad PR.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122443-Fired-Groupon-CEO-Compares-His-Career-to-Battletoads

There is just one example of a CEO saying he was wrong. Quite a few CEO's who step down know its their fault.

If he would of came out and actually said, "We were mistaken, we are trying another route, but will still have Micro transactions in mobile games", then we would have more faith in the company, instead of them pulling a "People just read what we said wrong, but we still have micro-transactions in mobiles and plan to make lots of DLC for all of our games." This relates just to like the screen at the end of ME3 that said "Buy our DLC". Those statements are looking at consumers as people to milk for money, not to provide a service that they -enjoy- and will want to buy more because of the experience.

This statement will make people mad, because EA DLC is like most DLC, overpriced, to much of it, and usually less than good.

I never thought I would say this, but either your looking at EA way to highly, or your being prideful and trying to see yourself above people criticizing EA. I hate seeing all the EA hate in this forum, because most of it is unwarranted, but this statement from EA is something to be angry about.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

*snip*

I may look at EA highly, and that's because I've enjoyed many of the games they've published. Sure they don't pump out gold 100% of the time (maybe not even 70% of the time) and their business practices oft times are questionable, but they didn't survive this long by intentionally tanking themselves. And I'm really not trying to put myself above anyone, I'm just trying to be reasonable. I hope this doesn't come off as pretentious, 'cause wouldn't that be counterproductive...

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

You can almost see the cogs turning in his brain as he hunts for a word that is not 'microtransactions', but means exactly the same thing...

 

[thethird0611]

*snip*

I may look at EA highly, and that's because I've enjoyed many of the games they've published. Sure they don't pump out gold 100% of the time (maybe not even 70% of the time) and their business practices oft times are questionable, but they didn't survive this long by intentionally tanking themselves. And I'm really not trying to put myself above anyone, I'm just trying to be reasonable. I hope this doesn't come off as pretentious, 'cause wouldn't that be counterproductive...

Far from it, I only put that out there because of the attitude of this site about their views being above everyone elses. (Ill just put out that im a religious conservative leaning American, maybe that would hint at it ). Im glad to know your real view though, im real sorry if I came off the wrong way to (Also just got a nap in, so im in a bit better mood, heh)

I am actually in your situation to, I enjoy -many- EA games, even those some people dont like (i.e. ME3, MoH, etc.), but to me, not as much as most people do now a days, EA needs to be criticized about what they say, like here. In the SimCity article of there EULA, I defended EA because they said outright (and this is going back to the point I keep saying), "Were sorry, were are going to fix that". They focused on the consumers to help make a profit, instead of saving face to make a profit.

Its mainly the way they are handling this situation. Gamers are highly invested in games because of the emotional experiences, either from social interaction, good story telling, etc., so companies in the gaming medium need to be more focused on their consumers, while they try to make a larger profit.

EDIT: I will say it is quite hard to fully discuss this point though because I still share the view you had in your first post, and alot of people who criticized this post are doing it just to bash on EA, instead of helpful criticizim.

 

[Weaver]

Wait.. ONE THOUSAND hours? Jesus EA, don't flatter yourselves.

No wonder they think all this DLC and nickle and diming is justified, they think people are spending $60 on a game and playing it for a fucking THOUSAND hours. If games lasted me that much I'd buy like two a year.