EA's Online Passes Have a Limited Shelf Life

[Kae]

If I still had a modern console I would be so pissed by this, but since I don't I can just not care for now, but when I get either a new console or a good PC again I will be so pissed in the mean time, CURSE YOU FORD EXPLORER!!!!

 

[TheMadJack]

You would think reckoning day will hit EA pretty fast with the many stakes to the hearth they're inflicting upon themselves.

The more it goes, the less time they have. It is, somehow, sad, but that's what happens when you act the way they do.

Let's just hope their replacement will get a better understanding of PR and customer relationship.

 

[Ralphfromdk]

Wait... What?

Why would they make them expire, if you can just get a new one for free? Isn't that just more work for their support hotline? And more money used that way?

EA, I don't understand this.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Was I the only one to figure that out? I knew it a 4 months ago when I bought BBC 2

Nope. The article was about some other guy who ALSO figured it out. Looks like you weren't the only one. Strange.

 

[Baresark]

Good old EA. They could, as an option, not have them expire. It's not like it's beyond their technical prowess to make that happen. So, we can chalk this up to them being massive douche bags and yet another reason why they do not deserve your money. And I know you can get them replaced for free, it's the part where you have to jump through hoops to make it happen, which shouldn't be expected of paying customers.

 

[Beautiful End]

Oh, gods, really EA? REALLY?! Isn't it enough that you're being the only dick in the industry who charges people extra if they buy the game used? (Let's not get into that whole used games vs. new games issue! PLEASE!) Now the Online Pass expires? So then...what's the point in buying the game new if the pass will expire eventually anyway?

Honestly, I don't play a lot of EA games online because of that bull, which is why I barely found out about this. I decided to not support them that way. Yes, I love me some Dragon Age, but it's alright. I don't need to play online. There's better games that offer a superb online experience. But...I say we need to teach EA a lesson. It seems they believe they can make us bend over lower and lower without any consequences. Not only that but they think they're setting up the mark; they expect other developers to be equally malicious as them. Well, it might seem insignificant, but they've lost a customer.

I'm never giving my money to EA again. I don't feel bad about buying used games because the developers do see a share of that profit (Let's not get into that! Screw it if I'm wrong or right!), but at any rate, I'll happily buy used EA games with no online pass. As it is, I'm waiting for DA2's price to go down so I can buy it.

Sorry, EA. Keep up with your dicks moves and you'll just keep alienating your customers more and more. Now you've managed to alienate even those few who still supported you. Bravo, sir. Bravo indeed.

 

[Kinguendo]

EA and Activision... both huge companies, probably the biggest gaming ones and both are d-bags. The rest of my comment belongs in Religion & Politics so I will end here.

 

[-Dragmire-]

Adding yet another hoop for consumers to jump through to an already unpopular system seems like an odd move, even for EA, so I'd wait for more clarification on the issue before setting your rage dials to 'incomprehensible.' We'll keep you updated on any further developments.

Sounds par for the coarse for EA to me...

 

[Frizzle]

One day soon, there's going to be some positive news about EA.

I hope.

It does raise serious questions though about "What do their PR people actually do?"

Are they going the Ubisoft route and just throwing PR to the wind?

You know, in this tough economy sometimes you have to let people go. And you always start out with the ones doing the least for your company. In this case.... well I don't think the PR people came to work anyway.

 

[Stormz]

Guess it's a good thing Bioware is starting to go down the tubes. I'm having even less a need to purchase games from EA. This is yet another reason to hate those ass holes. Until they stop treating me like garbage they can fuck right off.

 

[Sixcess]

I'm really starting to think EA are doing this on purpose. It's like they've secretly invented a machine that converts gamer hatred into money and they're doing their best to keep it fuelled.

 

[Yopaz]

My friend noticed the expiry thing when he purchased Dragon Age: Origins, though that was DLC, not online pass. Also for some reason the code worked even though it expired a few months before he redeemed it.
This just confirms I made a good choice in getting Hot Pursuit for PC. I hate filling in codes using a controller, waste of time and I haven't even used the multiplayer once.

 

[seraphy]

I like that picture!

I am starting to think I can't play Mass Effect 3 anymore after all this nonsense. I assume it will need origin to play it on pc. I really wish Bioware wouldn't have sold itself to EA sometimes.

Such a shame.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

I guess that ever expanding group of people who are bad and deserve to be punished for not bending over includes people who wait a while before buying games. Lovely. If I thought I would ever play that piece of shit DA2 ever again I might go back and check to see if I actually downloaded that bonus store thing.

 

[Frostbite3789]

They expire because they go bad like fruit right? oh wait they are a digital good that never goes bad? Gasp then why would EA do this? Wait this is a shameless money grab, because in the end they don't care about customers only the money in your wallet, and why should they worry about repeat business? Between them and Activision who else would you buy shooter 2012 from?

In what way does this have to do with money? If anything this idiotic nonsense is costing themselves money, not the consumer.

I mean, I'm all for being angry, but lets be angry about the right things.

 

[Frostbite3789]

My friend noticed the expiry thing when he purchased Dragon Age: Origins, though that was DLC, not online pass. Also for some reason the code worked even though it expired a few months before he redeemed it.
This just confirms I made a good choice in getting Hot Pursuit for PC. I hate filling in codes using a controller, waste of time and I haven't even used the multiplayer once.

You play PC games. You've had to jump through this very same hoop since the beginning of time. Except for a PC they're called a CD key. It serves the exact same purpose.

 

[Adzma]

Oh dear EA. I normally defend online passes because, while it adds a minor degree of inconvenience to those of us who buy games new, you're generating money from pre-owned sales. Something which I have always felt you should be entitled to. The retailers deserve nothing.

I however can not, and will not defend this action. Ever. You better fix this before you really go down the shitter.

 

[Stormz]

I'm really starting to think EA are doing this on purpose. It's like they've secretly invented a machine that converts gamer hatred into money and they're doing their best to keep it fuelled.

Hell, if that's the case then I bet you most publishers have them.

 

[Something Amyss]

anc[is]I guess that ever expanding group of people who are bad and deserve to be punished for not bending over includes people who wait a while before buying games.

You knew it was coming.

In what way does this have to do with money? If anything this idiotic nonsense is costing themselves money, not the consumer.

Seems straightforward to me. The consumer buys the game with online features, finds he can't use them, ostensibly has to buy pass (even though he bought new and paid for what he thought included a pass).

Seems like they come out on top, especially in the case of consumers who buy the pass after.

 

[Booze Zombie]

This is how game companies commit seppuku.