Why would anyone call EA Access a scam?!?

[Landguy]

Intrinsic said:

Landguy said:

Intrinsic said:

You know the industry is going to shit when a publisher fixes bugs in their microtransaction code before they make fixes to the game code that actually makes the game perform better. General Media is moving away from tiered services (TV) and things like netflix. amazon prime or even stuf like popcorn tme that makes all those other services a joke are springing up... yet gamers are marching with their eyes wide open right into the exact same thing. Do people realize that at one point cable TV was "free"? 

Not sure where you were at that cable tv was free?

Before cable tv, there were a number of different companies offering direct beam channels that you could pay monthly for.  Not free at all.

THen cable became available with it's 5-7 channels.  It was not free then.  It was a monthly cost.  A lot of apartments and older buildings offered it for free, as cable providers would charge the building owner a bulk rate for the whole building.  But still, it was not free.  Later, as cable companies technology got a lot better, they realized that to keep the overall cost of cable down, they would need to hook up subscribers independantly to get them to pick their channels and pay for what they wanted.

The only thing that was free around here was the PS service.  But even that wasn't free.  You had/have to buy a $200 console to get any use out of it.

Nothing is free.

Ever heard of OTA television? At one point, with nothing more than an antenna you would get a couple of free channels (local). Still happens now. However, when we started having national channels, the need for a special box that recieves the channels became necessary. At first, that box was just a way to get channels from other areas and then channels started being made specifically for people that had that  box. Yes people paid for the box, and then started paying as little as $2 a month for a monthly service charge. 

Fastforward 35years, paying for that box can cost you as much as $50/month. Point is, cause something starts cheap today, doesn't mean it will always be that way. Point is, we should not make the same mistakes made (and currently being fought against) in the TV industry in the gaming industry, when we have 40years worth of evidence to see why we shouldn't. Point is, I support that things need to be different in the gaming industry but I firmly belive that where the publishers are investing their time and efforts to are generally all anti-consumer and ultimately not good for the industry as a whole. Point is, I don't just believe, but know there are much better ways to go about all this, but the publishers stand to make more money from less people this way than doing it the other way.. or at least thats what they think. They are wrong though.

I agree that things started out cheap and eventually change to something more expensive.  But, the product that people receive is generally way more attractive than the original item too.  For intance, we had the Beamed transmission(over the air) system in my home back then.  That was the shit back then.  We had to buy a "special" antenna and the box for the tv.  If I remember right, we paid something like $50 for the Box and $75 for the antenna.  The service cost $10 a month.  That would be the equivelant of about $30 today.  That was for 2 channels, that had programming for only most of the day.  Today, you are right, that the minimum package is $50.  But, that $50 gets you 50 channels.  

Just like EA or other similar deals are now, they offer very little and charge only small amounts.  But, when the do as you predict and get more content and maybe even some smaller publishers games, they will have to charge more.  But, the buyer will also get more.

The problem you seem to really have is that PS+ is already providing some of the same or similar content now, and you seem to not want to rock the boat and create an additional cost to you/consumer and not get much more in return.  At first glance, that is somewhat true.  But, the model that you suggest isn't the reality long term.  Almost every content creator now has an ability to provide that content through the internet at no middle man cost.  Sure, consoles have a HISTORICALLY controlled that interface.  For the consoles to remain relevant long term, they need to cater to the masses that want to pick and choose exactly what they are interested in.  

Why do you think so many people are dropping cable/Satellite TV?  Lack of choice.  They would rather just pay netflix $9 a month and get their classic tv/older movie fix with no commercials.  They can get Hulu if they want current TV.  They can get HBO direct soon and buy that if they really want it.  Why pay $50 for 50 channels, when you can pay $20 and get all that you may need personally?  CHOICE.  

If you only have the PS4, Sony has made that CHOICE for you.