EA Executive Clarifies "Microtransactions In All Games" Comment

[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.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

*snip*

I couldn't agree more.

No, really, my doctor actually set a limit otherwise I may have a stroke from agreeing so much...

Seriously though, I definitely see what you mean, the way they handle PR and situations like this could definitely use some work, I just think that some people are kinda taking it to the extreme with their disagreement. To the point where one would be led to believe they have a personal vendetta against EA, presumably because of the possible poor treatment on the company's part to puppies and kittens. I mean if that was the case, then EA would no doubt be an evil empire that needs to be burned to the ground for their heinous crimes. But that isn't the case, sooooo...no, they aren't and no, they don't need to be.

Yeah, I digress...

 

[james.sponge]

Translation: Once we kill off Bioware, all we'll release is mobile games.

I think you would be surprised, EA can live off their sports games. People are buying tons of those every year for some reason and they don't seem to be fed up by them.

 

[FoolKiller]

Hmm... free mobile games, huh?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ea.games.meinfiltrator_na&feature=search_result

do any of those games seem free?

I guess his concept of "free" is just like his use of the word "all"

 

[martyrdrebel27]

so he says something stupid, then claims we misunderstood his direct quote? can we please just quit bitching about EA and ACTUALLY boycott them? i have. it's not always easy. i really wanted to check out the new Most Wanted, but I won'. I will in fact never again buy an EA title, and more of us need to quit being being robo-consumers and let our voices be heard. it will be uncomfortable and not always easy. maybe all your friends are playing Mass Effect 5:Return of The Space Magic, but you have to be willing to do not what is easiest, but what is right.

we need to do the same with this whole microtransaction model, we need active non-participation. go look at the new tomb riader game and the items you can already download, guns and skins and such. microtransactions have their place in free-to-play models, but we're being blatantly abused. and we seem to collectively have Stockholm Syndrome.

 

[squid5580]

EA's incompetence is only matched by its evilness. At least Activision is content to release yearly Call of Duty sequels and stay in their little niche. EA somehow manages to fuck up everything they touch.

I find it hard to hate activision because these days it never really does anything wrong, or insults customers or whatever. It just kinda sits their printing money for itself, which I can't fault it for really. When the COD sales slow down they might throw some of their giant money pile at a new engine or something.

It's funny because I blame Acti-Blizzard for the mess we find ourselves in these days. Well not all of it but a good chunk. They were the ones who decided to sell a skin for a mount for $25 in a game that they charge $15 a month to play. That sold millions. You mean to tell me that other companies didn't take notice when they got away with selling horse armor for 25 bucks in a subscription based game?

 

[The White Hunter]

EA's incompetence is only matched by its evilness. At least Activision is content to release yearly Call of Duty sequels and stay in their little niche. EA somehow manages to fuck up everything they touch.

I find it hard to hate activision because these days it never really does anything wrong, or insults customers or whatever. It just kinda sits their printing money for itself, which I can't fault it for really. When the COD sales slow down they might throw some of their giant money pile at a new engine or something.

It's funny because I blame Acti-Blizzard for the mess we find ourselves in these days. Well not all of it but a good chunk. They were the ones who decided to sell a skin for a mount for $25 in a game that they charge $15 a month to play. That sold millions. You mean to tell me that other companies didn't take notice when they got away with selling horse armor for 25 bucks in a subscription based game?

I was more focusing on the CoD side of things to be honest, I don't know much of the Activendizzard dealigns with MMO's and shit dude, I don't do MMO's unfortuneately.

However in the situation you mentioned I can't really blame them for that, if people are dumb enough to pay it I'd do the exact same thing in that situation and milk the hell out of it. I more blame the companies that copy them with overpriced DLC, undeveloped yearly sequels and no real imagination to new titles.

 

[The White Hunter]

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.

THOUSAND HOURS!? Dude my most played game of all time that records playtime is Bad Company 2 and I'm at 450 hours.

I haven't spent that much on any of my favourite games!

What the hell? D:

They're being thrown off by the people who sit on their ass all day every day playing Battlefield 3.

 

[Frostbyte666]

Yeah pull the other one EA it's got bells on.

I really am suspicious of their choice of language, these 'extensions' could in fact just be DLC (possible) or expansions (not likely), but then why didn't he say either of those 2 well established terms? So yeah I'm guessing his extensions is really just a way around him saying micro transactions. We'll find out on their next couple of released games what he really means by extensions.

 

[GAunderrated]

Actions are louder than words EA, get back to me when you actually DO something right and I'll get back to caring about your fuck ups.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Translation: Once we kill off Bioware, all we'll release is mobile games.

Don't forget DICE. I assume they'll continue to make them release a game every couple of years at least.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Let EA do whatever the fuck they want, just buy what you want and don't buy whatever you think is terrible value.

so he says something stupid, then claims we misunderstood his direct quote? can we please just quit bitching about EA and ACTUALLY boycott them? i have. it's not always easy. i really wanted to check out the new Most Wanted, but I won'. I will in fact never again buy an EA title, and more of us need to quit being being robo-consumers and let our voices be heard. it will be uncomfortable and not always easy. maybe all your friends are playing Mass Effect 5:Return of The Space Magic, but you have to be willing to do not what is easiest, but what is right.

we need to do the same with this whole microtransaction model, we need active non-participation. go look at the new tomb riader game and the items you can already download, guns and skins and such. microtransactions have their place in free-to-play models, but we're being blatantly abused. and we seem to collectively have Stockholm Syndrome.

It's only a minority complaining about this I think, so a boycott from all EA games will have little effect.

Maybe if enough influential people at the level of Total Biscuit for example ask everyone to rally against EA then something might get done.

Also, I love me some Gogol Bordello!

 

[Nurb]

"Just the mobile ones"

There are microtransactions for two just released EA games

Going from one lie to another. How expected

I feel like this clarification may be directly related to negative backlash from consumers. You can't go to any gaming site anymore without some bashing EA.

I'll go with "Things EA Obviously Deserves" for 200, Alex!

 

[martyrdrebel27]

Let EA do whatever the fuck they want, just buy what you want and don't buy whatever you think is terrible value.

so he says something stupid, then claims we misunderstood his direct quote? can we please just quit bitching about EA and ACTUALLY boycott them? i have. it's not always easy. i really wanted to check out the new Most Wanted, but I won'. I will in fact never again buy an EA title, and more of us need to quit being being robo-consumers and let our voices be heard. it will be uncomfortable and not always easy. maybe all your friends are playing Mass Effect 5:Return of The Space Magic, but you have to be willing to do not what is easiest, but what is right.

we need to do the same with this whole microtransaction model, we need active non-participation. go look at the new tomb riader game and the items you can already download, guns and skins and such. microtransactions have their place in free-to-play models, but we're being blatantly abused. and we seem to collectively have Stockholm Syndrome.

It's only a minority complaining about this I think, so a boycott from all EA games will have little effect.

Maybe if enough influential people at the level of Total Biscuit for example ask everyone to rally against EA then something might get done.

Also, I love me some Gogol Bordello!

this particular topic may only have a vocal minority irate, but the disdain for EA is universal, based on a long history of general shitheadery. there is no reason for us to keep taking this shit from them. and even worse, if EA continues to get away with it, it will become the norm and our beloved industry will become something entirely horrid at it's core. games are slowly becoming less about the gameplay and more about the payday. and games areing built from the ground up on this premise. this started congealing in my mind when playing a particularly fun game on facebook called tripletown. that game has a structure that could allow it to be played like any other casual game, however they added arbitrary turn limits in an attempt to monetize it. i would have paid for the game, but when they hold the game hostage for a few dollars here and there, i feel the disgusting tentacles of anti-gamer capitalism creeping in. and look at zynga, admitting to making games aimed at addiction and compulsory spending rather than an enjoyable, fulfilling game. i see that as the most treasonous affront to gaming culture since escapist added commercialized captchas (still raging at you 'scapey!)

again i ranted. dammit. oh well, it all felt important in the moment.

i would also like to point out that i fully support project ten dollar and season pass things, when handled right. rockstar handles season passes right, nearly everyone else doesn't.

/rant

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Regardless of what they say, we'll see if microtransactions start showing up in their games more frequently and base our opinions on that.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Let EA do whatever the fuck they want, just buy what you want and don't buy whatever you think is terrible value.

so he says something stupid, then claims we misunderstood his direct quote? can we please just quit bitching about EA and ACTUALLY boycott them? i have. it's not always easy. i really wanted to check out the new Most Wanted, but I won'. I will in fact never again buy an EA title, and more of us need to quit being being robo-consumers and let our voices be heard. it will be uncomfortable and not always easy. maybe all your friends are playing Mass Effect 5:Return of The Space Magic, but you have to be willing to do not what is easiest, but what is right.

we need to do the same with this whole microtransaction model, we need active non-participation. go look at the new tomb riader game and the items you can already download, guns and skins and such. microtransactions have their place in free-to-play models, but we're being blatantly abused. and we seem to collectively have Stockholm Syndrome.

It's only a minority complaining about this I think, so a boycott from all EA games will have little effect.

Maybe if enough influential people at the level of Total Biscuit for example ask everyone to rally against EA then something might get done.

Also, I love me some Gogol Bordello!

this particular topic may only have a vocal minority irate, but the disdain for EA is universal, based on a long history of general shitheadery. there is no reason for us to keep taking this shit from them. and even worse, if EA continues to get away with it, it will become the norm and our beloved industry will become something entirely horrid at it's core. games are slowly becoming less about the gameplay and more about the payday. and games areing built from the ground up on this premise. this started congealing in my mind when playing a particularly fun game on facebook called tripletown. that game has a structure that could allow it to be played like any other casual game, however they added arbitrary turn limits in an attempt to monetize it. i would have paid for the game, but when they hold the game hostage for a few dollars here and there, i feel the disgusting tentacles of anti-gamer capitalism creeping in. and look at zynga, admitting to making games aimed at addiction and compulsory spending rather than an enjoyable, fulfilling game. i see that as the most treasonous affront to gaming culture since escapist added commercialized captchas (still raging at you 'scapey!)

again i ranted. dammit. oh well, it all felt important in the moment.

i would also like to point out that i fully support project ten dollar and season pass things, when handled right. rockstar handles season passes right, nearly everyone else doesn't.

/rant

The entire industry doesn't copy EA, nor Zynga, nor Activision/Blizzard. There will always be companies that are run by people who care about games.

There will always be companies that try to appease vocally opinionated gamers. There will always be games for a niche audience. There will always be games at least trying to innovate.

The industry isn't some black hole that will converge into a single entity with one goal, one vision.

 

[RevRaptor]

so how are these extensions different from micro transactions. Seems like he is just giving a new word to the thing and hoping we won't notice.
This is why I try not to buy EA games any more.

 

[Lord_Jaroh]

Maybe people should stop buying games from companies that wish to screw them...