EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

[Hooe]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

It means they eventually want to make you download the game to your system for 59.99. That way you can't trade it in on them.

It's not the people trading the game in that hurts EA (and every video game publisher), it's the used game sales that is hurting the industry. Gamestop makes billions off of used game sales, and video game publishers want their cut they feel they rightly deserve.

As someone who will be interning at a video game developer this summer (and hopefully having a job at one thereafter), I fully understand the move. Blame EA all you want, but this is the direction the entire industry is headed.

[KBLover]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer

I definitely don't think they would charge for roster updates.

I don't know. Someone mentioned in that "are games too expensive" poll thread about how they could have a subscription for roster updates, almost in the line where some AV programs charge for subscriptions so you can get up to date virus database upgrades.

The whole purpose was to keep people from trading games in. If people couldn't get their roster updates, the game would become pretty much useless halfway through the season when the surprise teams were showing up. It would really suck if the Raiders had a 10-0 record in real life , but you had to play with the default rosters that shipped with the game.

LOL - I'd love that if the Raiders were 10-0, that might be one update I'd pay for!

But, the game being useless could make people dump it, but it could also be motive for people to get those updates, and if the game goes to a Steam-esque style of being bought, you can't trade it in no matter what.

Without a doubt, I'd trade it in( I never buy DLC for ANY game). I'm sure many others would do the same. In turn, it would defeat the purpose of trying to get people to pay for it, because people would trade in the game because of it.

Right, which is probably why it would coincide with the game being a paid download. Can't trade in a bunch of files on your HD or Memory Stick.

SO, I think the core game will still be there. I just think there will be more DLC nonsense. I didn't have a problem with that part of the comment. The problem I had with the comments had to do with the "taking advantage of" part.

Ah, but what is the "core game"? And then, to take it further, what is the "core" of franchise mode? Draft, 16-games, Playoffs, Super Bowl?

Nothing can stop them from making multiple progression during the season an "accelerator" you have to pay for. Or releasing a "Training Camp Pack" like they did with the AFL stuff.

For now it's just "extras" like unis or stadiums and pure cheat-type things. However, it could always expand - which is why EA's answer of what the "core game" or "core franchise" is becomes important, imo.

I mean, the AFL 50th anniversary stuff should have been in, I mean it was a part of the NFL this year and anyone who can type "AFL start year" in google and do subtraction can figure out this past season was the 50th season it started - and we had to pay for it...

[ChampN252]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

It's not the people trading the game in that hurts EA (and every video game publisher), it's the used game sales that is hurting the industry. Gamestop makes billions off of used game sales, and video game publishers want their cut they feel they rightly deserve.

As someone who will be interning at a video game developer this summer (and hopefully having a job at one thereafter), I fully understand the move. Blame EA all you want, but this is the direction the entire industry is headed.

It is truly ridiculous when you you buy a game for $65 and trade it in the next day for $30. Then they relabel it at $55 and it usually stays there until the next version is released no matter how low the trade in value gets.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

It's not the people trading the game in that hurts EA (and every video game publisher), it's the used game sales that is hurting the industry. Gamestop makes billions off of used game sales, and video game publishers want their cut they feel they rightly deserve.

As someone who will be interning at a video game developer this summer (and hopefully having a job at one thereafter), I fully understand the move. Blame EA all you want, but this is the direction the entire industry is headed.

I understand that is the direction and I understand and respect that. A game like God of War or Dantes Inferno has little replay value once you finish the mission, so the consumers can buy, finish their game and trade it in within a week really, and game developers get hurt badly by used game sales.

This article however, is talking specifically of sports games. Games with yearly cycles (less time and money spent) that have value for the entire sports season, and for many, the whole year if the game is good. In my opinion, with sports games it has more to do with game quality as far as why it's traded in when it still has value to Gamestop.

[CreatineKasey]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

Wow! I"m really surprised at this hostile response from OSers! I know exactly where you guys are coming from though. I don't agree with the downloadable stuff at all unless they lower game prices. This is coming from someone that doesn't trade games. Instead, I buy 3 per year... at most. It's too bad. I'd like to try new games but like you guys point out the cost is unjustifiable.

The further exploit comment is a big misstep by them. There's no way to make that look good in my opinion.

As always, I'm on a wait and see approach. Of course the release of other football games may lessen the pull M10 has on me... both Tecmo and BB.

[Tick32]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer

I love how the EA is trying to extend the life of madden this coming year. Even when some people trying to give madden a bad rep. Madden is a great game that just needs some better graphics and tweaks here and all . I am glad to see ps2 been dropped from the support now. Now they can focus more on the next Gen system madden to make it much more fun to play in the near future. Can't wait for the first blog from Ian and company later this month.

What game were u playing man? Madden looks very good, but the gameplay is way below par. Im not sure they understand the rules of football at all. the last gen maddens did, but they also had competition then.

[Goethe88]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer

Yeah I'll give Madden their props in the graphics department. This game is scrumptious looking and would go great with whipped creme

[raz77]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

EA has to be careful here.

Backbreaker has a lot to prove, but if it delivers it has the ability to eventually do to Madden what Skate did to the Tony Hawk series, what Call of Duty did to Medal of Honor, etc,etc. It just has that "Wow" factor when you first see it that Madden hasn't had in years.


Nothing is certain, but these kind of statements by Moore aren't exactly tipping the odds in EA's favor.

[Vikes1]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

They should. I know that I impact a good 40 to 50 people a year when it comes to EA's image, and with regards to their buying decision of Madden. That's just family, friends, and coworkers, and not counting the web.

I agree Val.

I'm thinking more in terms of the power/influence of the internet.

To underestimate the power/influence of the internet, sure seems to me...to be a mistake. I mean...just 20 years ago, people between the ages of 12-35, we're nearly all sitting in front of their tv's. Now...countless numbers of those people are doing what we're doing at this moment...on the Web.

Of course it's just my opinion...but I've always believed internet boards like OS, and however many others like it...and the Web in general, has more influence in the gaming world, than maybe many realize. I think just the fact that EA reps were/are on internet boards, speaks volumes of how important it is. If our numbers were truly as small and insignificant as some think...those reps would never had bothered to come here...imo.

[rootofalleli]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

Of course it's just my opinion...but I've always believed internet boards like OS, and however many others like it...and the Web in general, has more influence in the gaming world, than maybe many realize. I think just the fact that EA reps were/are on internet boards, speaks volumes of how important it is. If our numbers were truly as small and insignificant as some think...those reps would never had bothered to come here...imo.

As a longtime lurker, I think this board does a good job of staying objective. The mods don't put up with trolling, and the constant rage that characterizes the EA forums doesn't happen here. If people here are offended or losing faith, EA needs to work on its PR a bit.

I've bought Madden almost every year of the last decade, and I played it a lot before that in college, bumming off friends. I could accept some of the technical limitations of the N64 and the Playstation. Two generations later, we're just not seeing the same innovation that other sports franchises are.

At this point I pretty much just play a lot of WoW. It gets frequent, high-quality updates. Game mechanics (i.e. what the numbers mean) can be found all over the web. The developers are reasonable and accessible- they give trolls a smack-down and actually answer questions from the players.

If Madden adopted an MMO style payment plan (probably not for the same cost as WoW though), it could be successful *if the quality was there*. If Madden continues to rely on yearly updates and tries to make up for its faults with DLC content, I only see nostalgia as a motivation to keep buying. Gamers have a lot of sophisticated options in front of them, so delivering a game that is only a marginal upgrade isn't going to fly. A sequel can't be "just a little better" anymore.

[djordan]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

I never understood the argument that the Devs don't work hard on the game. That never made sense to me.

Most coders with enough responsibility to have an impact on the way a blockbuster title is coded are pretty accomplished. The mere fact that they hold those positions are a testament to their work ethic.

I don't think the Devs ever sit back and say "hey lets be lazy we have the license hahaha"

It's more technical than that.

If EA is spending $350M per year on an exclusive license, and another $150M per year on expensive prime time TV ads, it simply doesn't leave a lot of budget left for actual hands on coding/developing.

The devs aren't responsible for a middling development budget.

Anyway that was a bit off point, but as a long time lurker here, it bothers me when people think the Devs are sitting around "being lazy" because "they" have the license.

Co-Sign! I feel the same way.

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

yep if theres one thing that will kill gaming for me its the abuse of "DLC"


Whats next ea....an extra subscription for online play......Practice Mode activation codes???????


people need to close their wallets to the fluff they put up on Milk-It-Place

[Cydonia]

Madden is crap.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

Amen. It's not lack of 'digital content' that causes gamers to trade in the game. It's the quality. Quality games stay in the console, not on the shelf, or traded in 4 weeks later. End of story.

Focus on quality of YOUR product Mr. Moore, instead of trying to bleed your customer base. That's business 101.

Bingo. EA has thought for a long time that adding fluff is more important than refining core gameplay. Apparently Peter Moore is no different than those before him.

[wheelman990]

Re: EA Sports Plans To Digitize Madden 11 Consumer (IGN)

If I understand this article, they are wanting to make Madden a download only option. The only thing I see that doing is taking away our trade in credit, and making everyone pay $60 for the game, as long as EA decides to charge it.

Make it a $20 download, and Im all for it. Anything over $30 for a download Madden, NO WAY!