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Forums - Gaming - EA's Strategy to Counter Used Games Sales

Kasz216 on 25 February 2010
WilliamWatts said:
Kasz216 said:
JaggedSac said:
It all depends on how the development process went for these maps. All maps have to be complete well before testing and gold status is reached. These new maps could have been placed into development at a time where they could not be finished before release. Perhaps they were maps that needed some extra time to get right and could not make the deadline. These would be optimistic views though :)

Which is the issue, you never know. Which is why preexisting content is the only thing that makes sense. It's just as likely they had stuff done and didn't release it because they needed day 1 conetent. Or they had time to get it done, but decided to wait because they needed day 1 DLC and instead spent time working on other projects. Even EA probably couldn't tell you definitivly and that's the rub with DLC espeically DLC withing the first month. In fact the ony reason you wouldn't use prexisting games and things like MS points is infact the negative view that this was all planned from the outset and held back... afterall otherwise it makes so much more sense to use something that takes no additional effort.

Even if the content is pre-existing. Its still up to them what content they include in the final package. You pay for the content they offer and not for the content they have. There are many games where they have extra content not delivered in the original game, for example expansion packs on PC are a prime example of things which were cut (for whatever reason) and then released later as extra content.


which of course is corporate BS to justify companies figuring out just how little they can put in the original game to maximize profits and nickle and dime the computer to death.

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WilliamWatts on 25 February 2010
Kasz216 said:
WilliamWatts said:

Even if the content is pre-existing. Its still up to them what content they include in the final package. You pay for the content they offer and not for the content they have. There are many games where they have extra content not delivered in the original game, for example expansion packs on PC are a prime example of things which were cut (for whatever reason) and then released later as extra content.

which of course is corporate BS to justify companies figuring out just how little they can put in the original game to maximize profits and nickle and dime the computer to death.

Actually at this point its all a ploy to reduce losses by reducing the value of 2nd hand copies of the game to make it easier to sell them new. Since content is expensive there would probably be less content than there is at present if DLC didn't exist.



Kasz216 on 25 February 2010
WilliamWatts said:
Kasz216 said:
WilliamWatts said:

Even if the content is pre-existing. Its still up to them what content they include in the final package. You pay for the content they offer and not for the content they have. There are many games where they have extra content not delivered in the original game, for example expansion packs on PC are a prime example of things which were cut (for whatever reason) and then released later as extra content.

which of course is corporate BS to justify companies figuring out just how little they can put in the original game to maximize profits and nickle and dime the computer to death.

Actually at this point its all a ploy to reduce losses by reducing the value of 2nd hand copies of the game to make it easier to sell them new. Since content is expensive there would probably be less content than there is at present if DLC didn't exist.


Yeah, and DRMs are actually trying to stop piracy even though a lot of the stuff they do doesn't even effect piracy.

JaggedSac on 25 February 2010

Well, it seems EA is going to make all DLC free to those who get the game new. At least this is what is going on with Mass Effect 2. The upcoming March DLC is free to those who bought new.



Akvod on 25 February 2010
KylieDog said:
c0rd said:
nightsurge said:
Exactly. I mean used games are only ever like $5 cheaper than the new price until they are 2 years old or so, so why not just buy new?

Uh, where are we buying our used games? I occasionally buy used, and it sure as hell isn't only $5 cheaper than new.

I'm not really a fan of this strategy, as it makes the original copy worth less. When the used games are worth less, the copy you potentially want to sell is worth less (you'd get less money from reselling if you were dissatisfied with the copy if you used your code). More of the original game's value moves to "unsellable," whether it's due to additional content or not.

I was hoping their strategy to counter used game sales were something more along the lines of... oh, something like making the game worth keeping! That's how it always used to be, the only difference today is the companies can't seem to support themselves with current costs. I don't see why that should be affecting used games, of all things...

 

Keeping dreaming for the bolded.  Even the most amazing games they everyone should want to keep forever you'll find plenty of in used games sales.

Especially with all the "perfect" games that are given 10/10's.



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Nizut76 on 25 February 2010

This will also effect anyone who rents games. So game rentals of certain titles may drop also. I agree with bonus content to those who buy new . but i think 15 dollars for 2 maps is a bit steep. should be like 5 .



Darc Requiem on 25 February 2010

I really don't have a problem with this. It's one thing to pull a Capcom and charge for DLC that's already on the game disc. This doesn't effect gamers that buy games new. This does effect Gamestop, but I could careless. I don't trade in my games to those bastards anyway. Even assuming what Kaz says is true and they are taking content out of the game and allowing for it to be downloaded for free later, it's still only effecting second hand game buyers.



RVDondaPC on 25 February 2010

People that buy used games are not EA customers. They are Game Stop customers or whoever sold the used game. Electronic Arts has no obligation to serve those that are not Electronic Art Customers. So they are not screwing anyone. The only problem I would have with this is if I bring my copy of the game over to my brother's house or my friend's house to play would I be able to download the content? Is it tied to my online account so I can download it everywhere when on my account like with PSN games? If so I don't mind then.



Galaki on 25 February 2010
strunge said:

you know absolutely nothing about what you are talking about.  you never own the intellectual property of anything that you buy.  when you buy a car, you don't own the brand -- the IP, you simply own the physical car. 

with veido games, you never own the IP -- you only have a right to play the game.  sure, you own the physical disc, but you don't own the content.  the courts have ruled on this concept long ago, you really should do some research and grasp the dynamics you are trying to dispute, unless you aren't interested in being right but simply looking smart to the people who are too dumb to know better. 

but for the rest of us that do, everything you said is simply downright stupid and doesn't reflect the realty of the scenario you are attempting to comment on.  logic, it won;t kill you, don't be afraid to use it.

 

you are allowed to sell your copy of the game, nobody is preventing that.  how are you confused about that? 

By your logic, you own the rights to drive your car but don't actually own the car...



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Nizut76 on 25 February 2010
Galaki said:
strunge said:

you know absolutely nothing about what you are talking about.  you never own the intellectual property of anything that you buy.  when you buy a car, you don't own the brand -- the IP, you simply own the physical car. 

with veido games, you never own the IP -- you only have a right to play the game.  sure, you own the physical disc, but you don't own the content.  the courts have ruled on this concept long ago, you really should do some research and grasp the dynamics you are trying to dispute, unless you aren't interested in being right but simply looking smart to the people who are too dumb to know better. 

but for the rest of us that do, everything you said is simply downright stupid and doesn't reflect the realty of the scenario you are attempting to comment on.  logic, it won;t kill you, don't be afraid to use it.

 

you are allowed to sell your copy of the game, nobody is preventing that.  how are you confused about that? 

By your logic, you own the rights to drive your car but don't actually own the car...


So i guess if you sell your car you should keep paying the insurance since it was insured when the other person bought it.