The Monster That Is EA

[Biodeamon]

Not just sports games, everything. they make the best games for every genre: prime examples are deadspace, crysis and dragon age.

 

[tODDly]

One thing to consider from EA's perspective is the cost of having/maintaining/updating the games servers.

You say you love NHL 11, me too.

I love the way they track all your stats, whether it is in a pick-up game or during a monthly league. They police it for cheaters, so things are fair. Keep track of who is D'connecting when losing, Etc. Etc. Etc.

They do a darn good job keeping all the machinery and manpower in place so you can enjoy these games online all year.

A ten dollar fee to a used game consumer is more than reasonable to allow that person access to all the great options found on the dedicated servers, online.


As to another point you make, and this is the one that baffles me... is why is it EVIL EA, and POOR GameStop. GameStop are the ripoff artists, buying your used game for a fraction of the price then selling it for twice as much.

EA just wants to get paid for the online services they provide, and not give it away for free.

 

[razer17]

So my question now is: Why are you still paying full retail for an expansion pack, when said retail comes with intrusive DRM and other devious crap?

Oh herp derp ALL SPORTS GAEMS R TEH SAME!!11!! I'm pretty sure that The difference between Fifa 10 and 11 (Both of which I have spent many, many hours on) than a lot sequels to "action" games. Also, when was the last time you bought a console game with DRM?

Sports games are not all the same, EA sports games are all the same, with the only noticeable differences being a slightly better graphical detail and a roster update... Come to think of it these last few instalments are, exclusively, the latter. When was the last time I bought a console game with DRM? Did the Saturn games have DRM? Because that's the last console I ever bought games for.

Okay, going on the NHL and Fifa games, by EA, the new editions are extremely different to the 2010 version. The physics engines for both games were completely overhauled.This makes the games so different from a gameplay standpoint that most sequels to "conventional" games can't compete.

Considering that they update the games with new rosters online anyway, so it isn't just a roster update.

I'd say the difference between Fifa 2003 and 2011 is bigger than the difference between Halo 1 and Halo Reach

And my point with the DRM thing is that there is no DRM on consoles, so that's a non-issue. And since you can't buy PC games used anyway it makes literally no point in the discussion.

 

[M4t3us]

Okay, going on the NHL and Fifa games, by EA, the new editions are extremely different to the 2010 version. The physics engines for both games were completely overhauled.This makes the games so different from a gameplay standpoint that most sequels to "conventional" games can't compete.

Considering that they update the games with new rosters online anyway, so it isn't just a roster update.

I'd say the difference between Fifa 2003 and 2011 is bigger than the difference between Halo 1 and Halo Reach

And my point with the DRM thing is that there is no DRM on consoles, so that's a non-issue. And since you can't buy PC games used anyway it makes literally no point in the discussion.

If by completely overhauled you mean changes on how the players are given supernatural powers (especially the goalies) that not only unbalance the general gameplay but are very open to exploits, then I whole heartedly agree. Yes I have played the games, mostly because I had to, our regular sports game reviewer was laid off due to personnel cuts and I had to take over that ship for a bit, not just NHL and Fifa, mind you, NBA and Madden too.

I didn't know they updated it online, but I do know that that is one of the only noticeable changes from one to the other.

While there is a great level of difference between the 2003 and 2011 versions, most of that is due to increasing higher end gaming systems being available, or am missing something here? Btw, "hyperbolizing" my statements isn't doing your credibility any good. Oh and while we're at it, very poor analysis of me, using Halo, that is possibly the kind of game I despise the most, while at the same time respecting the revenue it generates from frat boys.

There is no DRM on consoles? Not the draconian kind you see on PC sure, but it is getting there, after all:

And yes, you can still buy used PC games, mostly older titles, true, but you can also find recent ones from companies that have realised that DRM harms the paying customer more than the pirate.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

There is no DRM on consoles?

Of course there is. Always was. Just that with consoles the DRM has mostly hardware/firmware based in the console itself rather than software based as it is with PCs.

 

[M4t3us]

There is no DRM on consoles?

Of course there is. Always was. Just that with consoles the DRM has mostly hardware/firmware based in the console itself rather than software based as it is with PCs.

Thank you! I guess I'm not the only one who sees that after all...

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

There is no DRM on consoles? Not the draconian kind you see on PC sure, but it is getting there, after all:

And yes, you can still buy used PC games, mostly older titles, true, but you can also find recent ones from companies that have realised that DRM harms the paying customer more than the pirate.

QFT. Consoles are nothing if not a form of DRM, and I buy used PC games all the time -- of the last four used games I bought (my last major game purchase) three were PC games. They were all fairly old, but that doesn't mean you can't find games from the current generation -- for example, I've bought used PC versions of Oblivion, F.E.A.R., Battlefield 2 and KoTOR, and they all worked right out of the box, with no cracks required. While Gamestop doesn't carry used PC games, thrift shops and record stores are full of them, and Amazon and Ebay have a pretty good trade in them.

 

[M4t3us]

QFT. Consoles are nothing if not a form of DRM, and I buy used PC games all the time -- of the last four used games I bought (my last major game purchase) three were PC games. They were all fairly old, but that doesn't mean you can't find games from the current generation -- for example, I've bought used PC versions of Oblivion, F.E.A.R., Battlefield 2 and KoTOR, and they all worked right out of the box, with no cracks required. While Gamestop doesn't carry used PC games, thrift shops and record stores are full of them, and Amazon and Ebay have a pretty good trade in them.

It's this guy who doesn't seem to get it:

And my point with the DRM thing is that there is no DRM on consoles, so that's a non-issue. And since you can't buy PC games used anyway it makes literally no point in the discussion.

^.^

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

QFT. Consoles are nothing if not a form of DRM, and I buy used PC games all the time -- of the last four used games I bought (my last major game purchase) three were PC games. They were all fairly old, but that doesn't mean you can't find games from the current generation -- for example, I've bought used PC versions of Oblivion, F.E.A.R., Battlefield 2 and KoTOR, and they all worked right out of the box, with no cracks required. While Gamestop doesn't carry used PC games, thrift shops and record stores are full of them, and Amazon and Ebay have a pretty good trade in them.

It's this guy who doesn't seem to get it:

And my point with the DRM thing is that there is no DRM on consoles, so that's a non-issue. And since you can't buy PC games used anyway it makes literally no point in the discussion.

^.^

Well, he's the one who needs to hear it, but I quoted with you to agree with you, not to argue with him. I haven't quoted the wrong person in a long time

 

[M4t3us]

Well, he's the one who needs to hear it, but I quoted with you to agree with you, not to argue with him. I haven't quoted the wrong person in a long time

Truth be told that post was more of a way to merge someone else's opinion on the matter and get him a little PM notification in the process. Cherry on top an' all that! ^.^

 

[-Samurai-]

They absolutely could, but they shouldn't and don't have to.

Which is why I found your original post very good to stand on its own. I just had to comment because someone actually thought it needed an extra hand. ^.^

I guess I misread tone(and somehow missed the emotes :/).

Whoops.

 

[-Samurai-]

argh double post

 

[Dragunai]

I dislike them but if I had to choose between them and Activision It would be an easy call.

That said if I was given a gun and 1 bullet and told to shoot EA, Activison or Mythic I would plant the shot into EA's liver, beat Activison to death with the gun before making love to Mythic on the Exsanguinating body of EA.

God, I wish we had signatures, cause that would be my new one.

EDIT: Wow, triple post. Sorry bout that.

Hahaha, Thanks man ^_^

 

[kemosabi4]

Act III of "How to Lose a Customer In Thirty Days" starring EA: The absolute malicious mistreatment of customers.

Like I said, I enjoy NHL 11. It's my favorite game at the time. But there is one extreme flaw to it. The EA Sports Hockey League is an online league in which you can form and join teams. However, much of your time on EASHL with be spent in drop-in games, games where up to 12 random players are split into two teams and play to gain experience. But, if you play NHL 11, you most likely know that it works not even half the time. Most of the attempts to join a drop-in game end in an infinite loading screen. Even those who aren't plagued by this glitch often experience frequent connection drops and bugs.

How does EA respond to this? By doing what every other billion-dollar multinational game company would do? No. Instead, they chose to simply ignore a large percentage of their fan base. They did nothing to solve the problem or to support those affected. EA has even promised those who complained about the problem that they would be contacted personally. All of these people have never received contact.

These are just a couple of examples of this belligerent treatment of customers:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/0/5150979.page#12420881

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/5320187.page

EA has even started deleting posts of people who try to bring up this topic again. Their excuse for this ridiculous behavior? They stop updating their games because they want to concentrate on the next installment. A billion-dollar company can not afford the time to iron out one small glitch in the newest edition of one of their highest-rated series and employ fascist tactics to avoid the subject. This edges past stupid business sense to the simply evil. This is nothing more than malicious. There is no reasoning behind this besides a simple disregard for the customers who brought them everything. Why EA chooses to do this, I do not know, but I can only hope that someday, EA will come to their senses.