EA Kills Online Pass

[splff3000]

Note: This is the Online Pass, not the Season Pass

http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/#rGKlmxfwC1h8B0KH.02

EA is doing away with its Online Pass program from this point forward, a decision the video game publisher says is partially based on player response.

“Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass,” EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg confirmed to GamesBeat in an e-mail. “None of our new EA titles will include that feature.”

The modern military first-person shooter Battlefield 3 and a number of other EA games such as Madden NFL use Online Pass. You need it in order to play many of a game’s online features, including multiplayer. A code activates the Pass, which has a one-time use. You need a new code (which the publisher offers, of course, for a fee) if you’re playing the game on another console or if you bought the software used and the original owner redeemed the original. But players never embraced this feature.

“Initially launched as an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format,” Reseburg said. “We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”

This is a pretty big shift in company philosophy. Maybe the new CEO is trying to change EA's image so they don't "win" worst company of the year again. This is a good first move to do that.

[roadman]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

They have a new CEO?

Ugh, there we go again with worst company in the US. Only on the net.

[splff3000]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

They have a new CEO?

Ugh, there we go again with worst company in the US. Only on the net.

Yes, they do.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/18/ea-ceo-john-riccitiello-steps-down-larry-probst-becomes-executive-chairman/

Yeah, as for the worst company thing, I voted for Wells Fargo lol. That was based on personal experiences. Still, you can't be messing with people's foosball and thinking you're gonna get away with it lol.

[Skyboxer]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

Good for them if true as to why they did it.
Not trying to be that guy but there has to be more to it than "We listened to the feedback"...
There's other things in the mix if I was be a betting man..

Maybe there isn't a reason... guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Hooe]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

Well. This is unexpected.

I wouldn't be surprised if the sole motivation for this was to get microtransaction-based modes such as Ultimate Team in the hands of more people.

[californ14]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

I thought I read something about the next-gen systems being set to attach new software to the system, thus eliminating the ability of places like Gamestop to sell and purchase used games?

If this is the case, wouldn't next-gen be eliminating the need for the online pass? Maybe making this decision and announcement sort of moot?

[Cubfan]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

Good for them if true as to why they did it.
Not trying to be that guy but there has to be more to it than "We listened to the feedback"...
There's other things in the mix if I was be a betting man..

Maybe there isn't a reason... guess we'll find out soon enough.

Yeah my first thought is what are they replacing it with.

[splff3000]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

Good for them if true as to why they did it.
Not trying to be that guy but there has to be more to it than "We listened to the feedback"...
There's other things in the mix if I was be a betting man..

Maybe there isn't a reason... guess we'll find out soon enough.

I would assume, and this is just my opinion, that "winning" worst company in America (TWICE) in any fashion, on any site, is bad publicity for the company. I know some say that the results from a poll on consumerist.com is meaningless, but I saw those results on Yahoo, MSN, and numerous other mainstream sites on the web so the poll might have been meaningless, but the effects of the results are most certainly not. I'm assuming this is EA trying to do right by the consumers .......... for a change.

[splff3000]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

I thought I read something about the next-gen systems being set to attach new software to the system, thus eliminating the ability of places like Gamestop to sell and purchase used games?

If this is the case, wouldn't next-gen be eliminating the need for the online pass? Maybe making this decision and announcement sort of moot?

There are several rumors similar to this about next gen systems. Neither Sony nor Microsoft has confirmed anything tho.

Either way, there are still several more years before the next gen systems become mainstream so the announcement might be moot in 3 or 4 years from now, but it's certainly not moot now while games are still being developed mostly for this gen.

[Caveman24]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

[Skyboxer]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

I would assume, and this is just my opinion, that "winning" worst company in America (TWICE) in any fashion, on any site, is bad publicity for the company. I know some say that the results from a poll on consumerist.com is meaningless, but I saw those results on Yahoo, MSN, and numerous other mainstream sites on the web so the poll might have been meaningless, but the effects of the results are most certainly not. I'm assuming this is EA trying to do right by the consumers .......... for a change.

I just don't see this. The online pass came with every new game and only affected used games. Yeah you also needed one per machine so it did affect those that wanted to go online at a different system but I don't see how EA (New CEO or not) all of a sudden got into the mind set.. "Lets get rid of Online Pass and make it right"..

More likely they realized they weren't making enough money to justify keeping the system alive and decided to spin it like they did it for the consumer.

[roadman]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

Yes, they do.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/18/ea-ceo-john-riccitiello-steps-down-larry-probst-becomes-executive-chairman/

Yeah, as for the worst company thing, I voted for Wells Fargo lol. That was based on personal experiences. Still, you can't be messing with people's foosball and thinking you're gonna get away with it lol.

Actually, the article states they have a tempory CEO, he's leading the search for a new one.

As far as the USA worst company thing, I've never seen that survey at the WSJ or Forbes.lol.

Edit- Seen your responses later. I feel EA needs to be in the discussion, but don't see it as worst.

[splff3000]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

I just don't see this. The online pass came with every new game and only affected used games. Yeah you also needed one per machine so it did affect those that wanted to go online at a different system but I don't see how EA (New CEO or not) all of a sudden got into the mind set.. "Lets get rid of Online Pass and make it right"..

More likely they realized they weren't making enough money to justify keeping the system alive and decided to spin it like they did it for the consumer.

Yeah, you're probably right. Your reasoning is much more likely than mine lol.

[iRepIndiana]

Re: EA Kills Online Pass

EAis doing away with its Online Pass program from this point forward, a decision the video game publisher says is partially based on player response.

“Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass,” EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg confirmed to GamesBeat in an e-mail. “None of our new EA titles will include that feature.”

The modern military first-person shooter Battlefield 3 and a number of other EA games such as Madden NFL use Online Pass. You need it in order to play many of a game’s online features, including multiplayer. A code activates the Pass, which has a one-time use. You need a new code (which the publisher offers, of course, for a fee) if you’re playing the game on another console or if you bought the software used and the original owner redeemed the original. But players never embraced this feature.

“Initially launched as an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format,” Reseburg said. “We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”

customers didnt respond because it was a way to make an extra buck off of customers. cmon EA were not dumb.

[JaymeeAwesome]

Honestly I thought the Online Pass was a genius idea as a company. With the used game market so big, they were able to claim at least $10 off these people that buy games used. I know I spent the $10 on a few occasions.

I'm confused on what the real reason could be on this.