So EA outdid themselves again

[LaoJim]

As much as I hate to defend EA, charging for demos is nothing new. Years ago you used to be able to buy sample versions of some PC games for $5. The displays for these would be everywhere, even in stores that didn't normally sell games.

Really? I'm interested in this as I don't think anything like it every existed in Britain. Years ago games magazines would often have a disk, or if you go far back enough a cassette, with a number of demos or in somecases full games, but those were nominally free, it was the magazine you were paying for. I don't think I've every bought, or even seen for sale, a demo (or sample) version of a game for sale individually. Maybe just down to "cultural differences". You mean one single demo would be on sale for 5 dollars? Sound's like a lot to me. What era are we talking about? (if you go back far enough even full games sold for less that 5 dollars.)

They only decided it was an "error" because people didn't like it, it's nothing but Microsoft-esque backtracking.

That would certainly be EA's modus operandi. Though I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt in this case and assume that it was an honest mistake.[/quote]

Taking things the other way around, if it was an honest mistake, hopefully not too many people bought the game for those five euros. We don't want EA getting any more ideas...

 

[Canadamus Prime]

As much as I hate to defend EA, charging for demos is nothing new. Years ago you used to be able to buy sample versions of some PC games for $5. The displays for these would be everywhere, even in stores that didn't normally sell games.

Really? I'm interested in this as I don't think anything like it every existed in Britain. Years ago games magazines would often have a disk, or if you go far back enough a cassette, with a number of demos or in somecases full games, but those were nominally free, it was the magazine you were paying for. I don't think I've every bought, or even seen for sale, a demo (or sample) version of a game for sale individually. Maybe just down to "cultural differences". You mean one single demo would be on sale for 5 dollars? Sound's like a lot to me. What era are we talking about? (if you go back far enough even full games sold for less that 5 dollars.)

I recall seeing those displays as late as 1992, I think.

 

[Erttheking]

*Takes deep breath*

Sorry to derail the hate train before it gets any kind of traction but all gaming sites are reporting that it was a system mistake and will be fixed (or has already been fixed but I don't have a Xbox One so I can't go look for myself):

http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/4/5870363/xbox-one-ea-charges-for-fifa-14-ea-sports-ufc-demos-error

http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/humorous-glitch-briefly-shows-5-ea-demos-fifa-14-ufc-xbox-one/

http://www.totalxbox.com/78962/paid-for-fifa-14-and-ea-sports-ufc-demos-are-an-error-ea-confirms/

...Well I supposed I should look on the bright side of this. Even EA is THAT stupid.

 

[RJ 17]

It was just an error guys, cool your jets. Not everything involving EA is a grand, evil conspiracy to part you with your cash, sometimes mistakes happen.

Yeah, these days that's Ubisoft's gig.

 

[RealRT]

I don't believe it to be just an error: the price is far too believable. And even if by some chance it is, it's EA's own fault people are so quick to blame them.

 

[Steppin Razor]

I wonder if anyone actually paid for the demo before they noticed the mistake.

Remember when the first chapter of Quake sold for $10 on CD and you could then buy the rest?

I still had the disc for that up until a few years ago when it was lost while moving house. Good memories.