EA Planning To Release Paid DLC Before Boxed Games

[Starkiller]

Demos nowadays are practically commodities, but they aren't complete reflections of how well a game will sell. Not everyone who partakes in the million-selling machine of big titles has access to these demos or even chooses to download them.

When were they not? Back in the day it I got all my demos through the mail from the Playstation Underground. They never expected those to reflect how well the games would sell.

 

[Deak Starkiller]

EA can piss up a rope, and Eff Activision for charging $5 more for MW2 Map Packs and only 3 out of the maps are new. Bullspit farggin' iceholes.

 

[plasmid303]

When were they not? Back in the day it I got all my demos through the mail from the Playstation Underground. They never expected those to reflect how well the games would sell.

This really wasn't the point of my last post, but I guess I meant that demos today are more like commodities because they are made for a singular purpose (to market the game to audiences) and are mostly the same in how they are produced and made available. Back then, demos were made available to attract people to the magazines or websites they came from. It would be difficult to gauge exactly how many people accessed them, whereas Nowadays they're a ubiquitous property that can be accessed easily from one or two prominent places -- XBLA or PSN, making it an easy way for companies to track how popular their demos are, which could have a corrolation to sales. But maybe not. I dunno.

Man, it sucked back then having to wait every month for a demo disc from a magazine subscription. And the magazines that included them were priced at a premium compared to other mags that didn't include a disc. Subscriptions made it cheaper, but on average at the newstand it was 9-10 dollars. The manufacturing of the disc didn't cost the extra $5-6. It was either going to the magazine or the game companies that provided the demos.

Actually, that's somewhat similar to what's going on with EA's extended demo. Somewhat.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

all i gotta say is no thanks.

anybody who would pay $10 to $15 for an extended demo, just to buy the full game for retail is a tardo.

 

[kain4521]

EA: We Won't Charge For Traditionally Free Game Demos
Written Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by Dan Webb

The internet was set alight yesterday with reports that EA were looking to charge for "very long game demos."

EA's VP of Corporate Corporations, Jeff Brown, was quick to clarify and go on the record with Kotaku and state that they are not planning to charge for traditionally free game demos.

"EA SPORTS, EA Games and EA Play are each experimenting with download strategies that deliver fresh game content in formats players want to experience," said Brown.

"To date, there is no set pricing strategy for the entire EA portfolio. And many of the proposals include free-to-play content on models similar to Madden Ultimate Team, Battlefield Heroes and Battlefield 1943," he continued.

"None of the proposals call for charging consumers for traditionally free game demos."

The idea according to Brown is to deliver "premium content to consumers before, during, and after the launch of a packaged-goods version of the game." Whatever that may mean.

https://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-4712-EA--We-Won-t-Charge-For-Traditionally-Free-Game-Demos.html

 

[jediknight120]

I don't agree with it but I don't think it will fail at all. All of those foul mouthed spoiled kids that can be found on LIVE will DL this stuff and it will sell. Mommy and Daddy will pay for it.

Exactly this. I hate this idea but as long as people buy this kind of crap, companies will do it.

 

[BadMoon]

Exactly this. I hate this idea but as long as people buy this kind of crap, companies will do it.

It's like collectors editions. My fear is that these $100 collectors editions are really testing the waters for yet another increase in regular games. I'm affraid game companies will see that people are willing to shell that out for an art book and a fancy case and raise the price when the new consoles come out. I would not be surprised if new games went up another $10 or $15.

 

[DinoDB1975]

Not exactly. the article explicitly states that the final boxed retail game would be released shortly after the DLC extended demo, which means at the point of which the demo comes out, the game should already be done in terms of development.

It's a less expensive marketing tool, a sort of acid test to see what gamers like and don't like about the game, essentially, and that's what could be changed: marketing.

Demos nowadays are practically commodities, but they aren't complete reflections of how well a game will sell. Not everyone who partakes in the million-selling machine of big titles has access to these demos or even chooses to download them.

You are correct; shame on me for skimming over it and not reading the press release fully. However, to quote anotehr poster:

I don't understand this at all. If you've already gotten to the point that you're releasing a demo, you need to release the game to recoup your cost. Their thinking is that if they release the demo and 5,000 people plunk down $15 and realize it sucks, they can save money??

I can understand using demos to gauge the market interest, but if you've gotten to the point of completing a game, go all in and release it.

And again, unless EA credits the money you pay for a demo towards the complete game, no for me.

 

[devastator's balls]

It's like collectors editions. My fear is that these $100 collectors editions are really testing the waters for yet another increase in regular games. I'm affraid game companies will see that people are willing to shell that out for an art book and a fancy case and raise the price when the new consoles come out. I would not be surprised if new games went up another $10 or $15.

Man if that happens, it'll be back to the SNES days of gaming! $75-$80 bucks for a game!!

 

[BadMoon]

Man if that happens, it'll be back to the SNES days of gaming! $75-$80 bucks for a game!!

I'm telling you I think it's gonna happen. People are paying for DLC like crazy. Not to mention the collectors editions. It's only a matter of time. I stopped buying CE's as well as purchasing DLC. If it doesn't come with the game then I don't need it. However, when Gears three comes out I will be forced to buy maps. LOL! That's right they will make me do it.

 

[devastator's balls]

I'm telling you I think it's gonna happen. People are paying for DLC like crazy. Not to mention the collectors editions. It's only a matter of time. I stopped buying CE's as well as purchasing DLC. If it doesn't come with the game then I don't need it. However, when Gears three comes out I will be forced to buy maps. LOL! That's right they will make me do it.

I agree with ya bro i didnt used to buy CE editions, but more and more I find myself doing so. And the same with DLC as well. I bought all of the DLC for Fallout 3 and I am purchasing all of the DLC for Mass Effect 2. It's crazy bro! So crazy that me and my bro bought all the alt. costumes for SF4

As for the pricing of games, it seems to go up every generation from the PSX onward:

1. PSX - About $40-$50 cant exactly remember
2. PS2 - $50+
3. PS3 - $60+
4. PS4 - $70 and up probably

It's just getting so out of hand, especially that dumb avatar clothing for the xbox 360. Why the hell are you gonna 5 bucks for a "virtual" tshirt for your avy?????? Just spend the money on the real damn shirt.

 

[IrishJedi]

It's almost like EA goes out of their way to find new ways to ruin gaming for everyone.

 

[BadMoon]

It's almost like EA goes out of their way to find new ways to ruin gaming for everyone.

I can't wait for their NFL licesnse to expire so we get Sega's version again.

 

[IrishJedi]

I can't wait for their NFL licesnse to expire so we get Sega's version again.

No kidding! I haven't played an NFL game since that happened. I've successfully boycotted all EA Sports games for over 5 years now. Hell, had they not bought up some of my favorite developers (BioWare, DICE, the now defunct Pandemic, etc) I'd probably tell 'em to go pound sand entirely.