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EA actively investigating "free-to-start" console games
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
Been out for a while feels good, also I have been free of disappointment. I enjoy reading they hype treads only to see meltdowns in the review threads. Followed by sadness when the game is actually released.
There's a difference between a demo and what EA lets you do with EA access. Allowing me to play the full release of Dragon Age went a long way in me buying the game.
It's not, but it's EA so people gotta hate. I could just imagine the meltdowns if this were Ubisoft.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Bah, we had games like Doom, Rise of the Triad, Duke 3D, and Quake that were awesome shareware!
KingJ2002
Member
Yeah.. sounds like they need to release demo's again... with the option to purchase in game.
Thing is... they don't need to release demos "before" release... only after the first month. At this time... the people who would have bought the game day one already did... a demo one month later gets all the stragglers who are on the fence.
this "free-to-start" marketing scheme wont go over well with console gamers.
Thing is... they don't need to release demos "before" release... only after the first month. At this time... the people who would have bought the game day one already did... a demo one month later gets all the stragglers who are on the fence.
this "free-to-start" marketing scheme wont go over well with console gamers.
SneakyStephan
Banned
Nono, read it again
They basically want you to get a limited f2p version(maybe a trial version or demo version) but one that you then need to pay for to unlock WHILE having a cash shop ingame AND some form of membership/premium subscription
Basically think a browser or mobile f2p game but with a full price tag attached to it.
If you aren't familiar with this concept:
Here is what EA suits are jacking off to right now and would love to implement in a full priced game:
http://www.kongregate.com/games/r2games/wartune
(this vile facebook/mobile style game is now the template for hundreds of similar games, it is NOT a one off it's the standard now)
Give a finger leading down this path and they will take a hand (most people are already giving kidneys to EA monetisation scheme wise so AAA gaming is fucked)
edit: come on guys, EA and co have worked hard to make demos and any form of 'try before you buy' or even 'get information before you buy' a thing of the past, you really think they're going to give you shareware? The company that brought you bf4 is going to give you a chance to try their games properly before buying them without some kind of catch? hahaha
Puhleaaaase
Get ready for energy system limited 'demos' with premium/VIP levels and cash shops
Shareware also was a means of delivering new ideas in games.
EA seems averse to new ideas, so don't expect anything like shareware.
What EA said is they are exploring the different avenues, not that they are only looking into lumping it all together. They have already proven with EA access that the concept can be attractive to play a full release that's limited only in the time you can play it then give you the option to buy if you want to. It's not a bad model at all. I can see them expanding on it in the future of for whatever reason they do away with it being EA access only.
PhoenixFyre
Member
The part that's bad is them taking the idea of a demo and bastardizing it into a microtransaction/added fee farm.
That stupid idea that people are just "hating" on EA needs to die. People are wary of multi tiered pricing schemes from companies like EA because they've very rarely lead to an actual benefit. They usually end in the monetization and manipulation of games and their content beyond the initial purchase.
That stupid idea that people are just "hating" on EA needs to die. People are wary of multi tiered pricing schemes from companies like EA because they've very rarely lead to an actual benefit. They usually end in the monetization and manipulation of games and their content beyond the initial purchase.
BreezyLimbo
Banned
They definitely have an idea. League of Legends and DotA do it, that is, free to play but with certain elements behind a paywall. I don't see anything wrong with this.
Americanmushroom
Banned
Free to start sound like a demo to me. Nothing new
ArkkAngel007
Member
This already exists in a fashion and not much of a big deal. The major concern with it becoming a primary tool is how development, pricing, and marketing surrounds it. I can see it become an excuse to justify further fracturing costs or alternative revenue pushes to make up for all those possible losses due to the risk of demos.
I don't know, I think they've possibly found a bit of a sweet spot in their case with EA Early Access, but need to look into making it a part of Origin and available on PS4 (and eventually whatever Nintendo has if EA is supporting it). Get to try the games, and then can get a discount if they decide to purchase, all while still providing a revenue stream through the subscription. Don't need to further complicate things beyond that.
Again, not inherently a bad thing. Just not confident with the handling of the concept by modern AAA publishers.
I don't know, I think they've possibly found a bit of a sweet spot in their case with EA Early Access, but need to look into making it a part of Origin and available on PS4 (and eventually whatever Nintendo has if EA is supporting it). Get to try the games, and then can get a discount if they decide to purchase, all while still providing a revenue stream through the subscription. Don't need to further complicate things beyond that.
Again, not inherently a bad thing. Just not confident with the handling of the concept by modern AAA publishers.
GoodCoffeeJoey
Banned
Isn't EA already testing this with the EA access game trials?
LittleToaster
Member
Too bad this has been all but abandoned for new retail PS3 games on PSN in the last few years.
KojiKnight
Member
Am I the only one that is reading this like it's more like PSNow than PS+?
Streaming would allow people to pick up something instantly then decide on a subscription if they wanted to continue playing... In fact, this is 100% how OnLive originally worked, including first hour free to try.
Streaming would allow people to pick up something instantly then decide on a subscription if they wanted to continue playing... In fact, this is 100% how OnLive originally worked, including first hour free to try.
It's EA, so you already know you're avoiding AAA gaming.
Thread delivers. My thoughts exactly
Makes more sense to me to think of it similar to how EA Access is doing it. Download full game, try it out for X amount of hours, unlock the rest of the content for the purchasing price.
Lmao, nothing about this sounds bad and demos have basically disappeared, so what's the problem again? Lots of weird anger in here.
Explain how that's bad or what could go wrong? How many demos are on the PS4/XB1? Is sounds like the trials on EA Access which are great and it sounds like you might even get the full game with the option to buy microtransactions. The worst thing I could see is them forcing you to buy them every couple of hours to continue playing, which is an eh idea, but it's still not bad if you get at least an hour of gameplay free. A lot of posts in here sound like hate just because it's EA,
List two reasons this is bad or ways this could end up being exploitive. I'm really curious.
Explain how that's bad or what could go wrong? How many demos are on the PS4/XB1? Is sounds like the trials on EA Access which are great and it sounds like you might even get the full game with the option to buy microtransactions. The worst thing I could see is them forcing you to buy them every couple of hours to continue playing, which is an eh idea, but it's still not bad if you get at least an hour of gameplay free. A lot of posts in here sound like hate just because it's EA,
List two reasons this is bad or ways this could end up being exploitive. I'm really curious.
Neuromancer
Member
I see literally no way that this could go wrong. All my trust is in EA to deliver on this concept in a fashion that is consumer friendly and not exploitative at all.
NYCmetsfan
Banned
I don't understand what the problem with this is. This is the same thing as demos and trials.
As long as they let you buy the full game afterwards I like the idea of letting me try without an upfront expense
As long as they let you buy the full game afterwards I like the idea of letting me try without an upfront expense
More_Badass
Member
You should drop by the Indie Games threads, we're always looking for new perspectives and people to discuss stuff
Aside from occasional big release like GTA V and TLOU, I'm all indie, all the time
Neuromancer
Member
Well I'm sure EA would never do this but since you asked, here's one reason:
Here's another reason from another thread:
EA Will Charge For Fuel (as a stamina bar) In Need For Speed: No Limits (Mobile)
But again EA is totes cool <3 so I bet they'd never do that for a console game.
GHG
Member
ActuallyHulk
Banned
Rather than post the likely over inflammatory comment I almost did I will simply say that I can't see any good coming from this.
CaptainSlow
Member
Holy fuck what an overreaction. There's been these things called "demos" or "trials" around for a long time.
One of my favorite parts of EA Access is the 6 hour head starts on games. Making this available for everyone can only be a good thing as most people would try a game and see if it's garbage before shelling out $60. It's a shame most people didn't take advantage of the demos on 360 and PS3.
ArkkAngel007
Member
The problem is, they already do this for EA Access. Why would they toss out that revenue stream that can be further pursued?
Either this means that EA Access is getting expanded (which I have no issues with), or there's going to be a catch to make up for that revenue being lost for undermining one of the major selling points of their subscription service (albeit one only currently available on XBO).
Demo's have more or less been abandoned before release for the majority significant titles. Share Play hasn't caught unfortunately. Most of the plans implemented by publishers these past few years has been about bringing revenue ahead of a products release, including post-release content, and have been testing out asking for more as soon as the software boots up.
It's obviously not a bad thing in of itself. Just like DLC, micro transactions, and season passes. But somehow all of these things have become problems.
It doesn't warrant quite a bit of the reactions in this thread so far and what is to likely be said after this, but given the above it most certainly warrants looking into.
Neuromancer
Member
What's your source on this? Everyone I know with a 360 took advantage of every XBLA game having a free trial not to mention other demos. Some demos became genuine events, such as Crackdown and Just Cause 2.
So they're gonna give their free to start games the option to be bought out right, paid through microtransactions or paid with a subscription; what's bad about that again?
Lol, you're comparing a mobile game to a console one. You think they're gonna implement a stamina bar in the next NFS because they added one on mobile like all other mobile developers?
Edit: oh, like the poster below, you're thinking they'll do all three at once. I doubt that, but I guess we'll see. That wouldn't really make sense, unless the full game demo price is substantially less than the actual price. If so, that kinda becomes more like a digital rental system which is something people have been asking for anyways.
I bet EA would gladly sell us this shit. Here have a quick look at the game first then pay us full-price, a monthly fee and additional you can buy ingame money to speed things up.
Or you know EA, you just could give us the good'old demos again for your damn games which are not called FIFA
<swearing>
Because they are marketing a term for something that already exists. Every game on the 360 for xbla had a demo and once you bought it you were good to go and continue. The way that they are talking about it sounds like they would milk you hard.