Electronic Arts will be launching the new one-time registration program to enhance the sales of new games, while offering the pass with used games for $10. The move is designed to offer additional downloadable content to members that sign up with the purchase of a new game in the form of exclusive content and matchmaking tournament opportunities. EA plans on unveiling the Pass with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, and will subsequently release the Pass for all EA sports titles.
EA Sports boss Peter Moore spoke highly of the new direction in online subscription-based downloadable content: "This is an important inflection point in our business, because it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhance premium online services to the entire robust EA Sports online community."
Many gamers might look at this and think that GameStop would be against the trend, but even more would be surprised to hear that GameStop is looking at this as an opportunity. "This relationship allows us to capitalize on our investments to market and sell downloadable content online, as well as through our network of stores worldwide," said GameStop president Dan DeMatteo.
While this is not a totally new practice, the information presented gives telling evidence that EA could charge players a one-time fee to be able to play online multiplayer games. Importantly, EA Sports has confirmed to IndustryGamers that it means purchasers of used games will now no longer be able to play online, unless they spend the additional $10 for the Online Pass. This goes far beyond what gamers are used to with downloadable content and early incentives for buying new games.
What might worry consumers the most though, is that EA has stated that the new pass will even control the ability to play online and in specific matchmaking settings. The website dedicated to the new pass has posted an online question and answer section with Andrew Wilson, Senior Vice President of World Wide Development, in which they describe the purpose of the new system, and exactly what it is capable of doing: “It’s quite simple – every game will come with a game-specific, one-time use registration code with each unit sold new at retail. With your Online Pass, you’ll have access to multiplayer online play, group features like online dynasty and leagues, user created content, and bonus downloadable content for your game including, for example, a new driver in Tiger.” Looking even further into the description of the program, “we think it’s fair to get paid for the services we provide and to reserve these online services for people who pay EA to access them. In return, we’ll continue to invest in creating great games and offer industry-leading online services to extend the game experience to everyone. I don’t think even the harshest cynic can argue with that and instead I think fans will see the value we’re committing to deliver when they see all the services, features and bonus content that is extending the life of their products."
Whether or not this holds any repercussions for the future of online play still remains to be seen. On first glance, this is an opportunity for EA to control the ability of gamers to play their games online, regardless of existing services such as Xbox Live.
8 Comments
May 10, 2010
It's not fair to the consumer who already pays for xbox live. It was EA's decision to maintain their own servers for their games as opposed to letting Microsoft take care of it. Now they want people to pay them for their services on top of xbox live? I really don't like the direction games are heading, especially in regards to subscriptions and downloadable content, and neither should you, the consumer.
May 11, 2010
There comes a price when a video game becomes 'not worth it'. They are treating the industry like we are all some kind of junkie and we will pay for whatever they make us pay for. I for one will just stop playing fight night all together. And I bought every single one. I will just go out and play golf for real instead. All of us should boycott this garbage. We know how much money they make for a successful game. There is no reason why we as consumers should support this crap.
May 11, 2010
Actually, the reasoning for EA maintaining their own servers was because back in the day, EA was protecting their IP. Any server code given to Microsoft would be something that would jeopardize their IP and code protection so ti was decided early on that this not be done with Xbox Live. In the intervening years, EA has continued this practice as it makes it easier for them to completely own their customers as opposed to being beholden to Microsoft for access to them.
Personally, I am more against paying a subscription to a service provider who, based on the my expense (not theirs) cannot provide proper policing of the games on offer against racism and other bias. While people can say that the same goes for PSN or Nintendo's online offerings, those are free and you get what you pay for. If Microsoft wants to be taken more seriously in this regard, particularly since they will most likely be first to market with their new console, they should look into how this issue can be better addressed as it has long been a joke within the gaming community. I think in this way, the idea of paying a little extra for their service (as well as a subscription fee for upcoming DLC), wouldn't be so much of an issue.
May 11, 2010
I think this is an interesting move and one that could end up hurting the game retailers if they don't adjust accordingly. For example, if a new EA game costs $50 and the used version costs $40, it makes no sense to buy the used game because you have the $10 "online gamer tax" looming over your head. This could mean that the game retailers will end up having to essentially share some of that revenue to avoid ending up with backrooms bursting with used games nobody wants. I'm not sure of what the proverbial piechart looks like when it comes "who gets what" in used game revenue but I'm willing to bet that if they do reduce their prices of used games, something else will get cut to compensate. Hopefully that "something else" won't be jobs.
Personally, when I buy used games, I don't necessarily avoid one game developer over another. However, with this news in mind, I feel I will be less likely to buy an EA game (especially used) knowing in the back of my head that they might charge me for "additional features" I thought I already paid for.
May 11, 2010
I, as a consumer, do not like it. Hope it goes off as the DRM...
May 11, 2010
So this is what paying for Live has lead to. Not only are Sony and Nintendo most likely going to copy but now Just Publishers are charging for their online? Of course everyone who loves paying for live will be on board and if new generations come into a world of gaming like this then this course of action is here to stay. This for an industry where most games are average or below that. At this point I don't even feel Angry. It just like, 'Oh, Another Game Company Made a anti-consumer decision'.
Do these companies get together and place a bet to see who can destroy gaming faster or get the most people to quit gaming? At some point i'll leave gaming behind. Maybe sooner than I thought originally. I'm just unhappy with developers and publishers and the way the Industry is headed. I fully intended to pre-order Crysis 2 and Medal of Honor. They were in my top 5 for the year but I think i'll pass. My plans just changed again. I'll get them for $20 or probably used in a few months after release if at all and just stick to the Single Player regardless. Multiplayer can be fun sometimes but this just doesn't sit right with me. As a consumer I just feel like i'm being attacked for liking video games.
This just goes in line with even needing updates to keep using a system you bought. I'm going to miss the days of simply buying a system and that's it. You buy games for as long as games are released for them without having to do anything Extra. Man, gaming is starting to be a nuisance. It like someone you once really liked and now simply feel like you should avoid.
May 11, 2010
This is why it pays to not be a sports gaming fan, lol. I haven't played sports games regularly since the NES days. I know why EA is doing this(to discourage used game sales) but it's still riping off the people who need to save that extra money by purchasing games used. And like others have already said, we already pay for Xbox live(although Sony and Nintendo are both comptemplating charging a fee as well).
I don't think gamers of any of the big three consoles should have to pay an extra fee(on top of live for 360 users)to play online unless it's for an mmo. And thats pretty much the reason why we don't have any mmo's on consoles right now.
June 16, 2010
Online pass to access any online features is 10 dollars if you buy the game used.Not there will be online attribute bonuses that cost money, along with attribute bonuses against the CPU offline for money.This EA online pass is very much like a ticket to the online gaming portion of any EA Sports Title being released
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