Another player sent me an interesting article today. I'm just leaving it here for the rest of my herd of milking cows to see, just so we know that we're milking cows, and not, say, paying customers with justifiable expectations and legal rights [audience laugh on queue].
http://www.pcgamer.c...nues-this-year/
You know, I'm glad you finally realized how the US economy works. I don't care what the company sells or does, if it's a for profit company, the public is the cash cow, they want to mmilk every dollar they can out of us. Sure they offer customer service and support because, if it's bad enough to get a good number of us cows to stop giving money milk, they have to fix it or, do something to appease us so we'll give money milk again.
Now, there are a few amazing support folks over at EA, I know this form personal experience, spent nearly a year with one working on resolving issues with another EA game. Lots of back and forth email, live chat, this and that diagnostics or error report sent, etc... We solved the problem and, the support agent I worked with compensated me well. (posters, t- shirts and, two free games - one of which was DA:O not long after it's release. So I don't feel too bad being one of their cash cows. 
You know, I'm glad you finally realized how the US economy works. I don't care what the company sells or does, if it's a for profit company, the public is the cash cow, they want to mmilk every dollar they can out of us. Sure they offer customer service and support because, if it's bad enough to get a good number of us cows to stop giving money milk, they have to fix it or, do something to appease us so we'll give money milk again.
Now, there are a few amazing support folks over at EA, I know this form personal experience, spent nearly a year with one working on resolving issues with another EA game. Lots of back and forth email, live chat, this and that diagnostics or error report sent, etc... We solved the problem and, the support agent I worked with compensated me well. (posters, t- shirts and, two free games - one of which was DA:O not long after it's release. So I don't feel too bad being one of their cash cows.
Really? Awesome customer support people at EA? Where precisely? Cause last time someone addressed some issues of ours at the http://forum.bioware...x-these-issues/they basically said shut the **** up and take it like good little cows. Your argument about good support is falling on very many deaf ears around these parts mate. But good for you if you don't have issues to solve with the game.
Really? Awesome customer support people at EA? Where precisely? Cause last time someone addressed some issues of ours at the http://forum.bioware...x-these-issues/they basically said shut the **** up and take it like good little cows. Your argument about good support is falling on very many deaf ears around these parts mate. But good for you if you don't have issues to solve with the game.
Are these Pics real? LOL!!! that's horrible.
Are these Pics real? LOL!!! that's horrible.
Unfortunately they are and they aren't even the worse.
EA won.
Cute avatar. Sims3 or Sims4?
Sims 4. It's impossible to make this in Sims 3.
Anyway, this sim is in the gallery since the demo, it's named Vagita Dict. You can download and play her whenever you please. I'm not the author, but she's sorta celebrity there.
Sims 3 nonexpansions and nongameplay rip-off DLC is absolutely on topic here, except of course discontinued Katy Perry Sweet Treats garbage.
That one can still be bought on amazon for ONLY $50.
And you're surprised EA plans a billion?
Add to it never_on_discount Bioware Points.
Let's also not forget another on topic game:
Sims 4. It's impossible to make this in Sims 3.
Anyway, this sim is in the gallery since the demo, it's named Vagita Dict. You can download and play her whenever you please. I'm not the author, but she's sorta celebrity there.
Sims 3 nonexpansions and nongameplay rip-off DLC is absolutely on topic here, except of course discontinued Katy Perry Sweet Treats garbage.
That one can still be bought on amazon for ONLY $50.
And you're surprised EA plans a billion?
Add to it never_on_discount Bioware Points.
Let's also not forget another on topic game:
Yeah I didn't wanna say anything about the correlation this time round, glad someone else brought it up. And I really didn't know you had such flexibility in 4, have to try a bit out of my normal creation perspective I suppose.
I believe Sims 4 is 30% off on Origin currently, do try it out, it's fun.
Make sure you buy standard or limited edition, don't go for deluxe! Sims 4 has ten times more bugs than DA3, I don't know why Maxis didn't patch those already and the reason I suggest not going for deluxe version is because it adds even more bugs!
But Sims 4 is actually not ontopic - so far the game got pools and ghosts as a freebie inside game updates and actual holidays DLC is free.
The point is... Years ago there was a decision all EA games have to contain multiplayer or have to be MMO.
Seems it was just a smokebomb for masses. Seems that the actual plan was all EA games have to earn more cash on selling DLC than on selling base games.
I'll pay what I can, whatever it takes!
Money rules. It also rules human beings.
It should be the other way around?
If a product doesn't generate money you will not have companies creating big games like Dragon Age Inquisition. I can't imagine a game of this size being created on volunteers.
On the other hand nobody forces anyone to buy the product. Do they?
But you're right. When profit is the goal things tend to go bad.
The question is: Does the consumer decide when comapines get too big and dominating?
Good, I hope they do get their DLC quota. Means they will continue to make Dragon Age/Mass Effect games
I will definitely purchase any story related DLC for sure.
... seriously your just waking up to this? How long have you lived in a free market socitiy? And your just waking up to this?? Ummm, Congratz on opening your eyes to the 'real' world.
You know, to make that much money in DLC revenue, they'll have to make some DLC that's so good that a bunch of people will decide it's worth $5 or $10 or $20 or however much they end up charging. You can't half-arse your way to a billion dollars' worth of DLC sales.
And frankly, given on how much clamor there already is for DLC, for this game alone, I doubt they will have much of a challenge reaching those numbers.
Keep in mind that EA owns a ton of titles. If, over the course of 2015, they issue just 2 DLC per current title/franchise they own and charge just $10 for each one - they'll easily hit that number. Also keep in mind that this isn't EA addressing customers; it's EA addressing stockholders. They have a vested interest in appearing profitable in a publication like Bloomberg.
If you resent paying for content, may I direct you to Project Gutenberg and YouTube? Otherwise... just because something is for sale doesn't mean you have to buy it.
You know, to make that much money in DLC revenue, they'll have to make some DLC that's so good that a bunch of people will decide it's worth $5 or $10 or $20 or however much they end up charging. You can't half-arse your way to a billion dollars' worth of DLC sales.
Or... you cut out elements of the finished game and sell them later. Mass Effect 3 first day DLC anyone?
No one denies that companies work to make profit, that they try to please their stockholders or that this is actually all business... BUT I don't think it's unrealistic to expect at least some integrity. That companies do their best to deliver quality because that's better for them longterm.
The problem is, EA isn't exactly about longterm. They buy up companies with excellent reputations and/or popular franchises and milk that for all it's worth. After that has run dry, they liquify the assets and do it all over again with the next company. That guarantees an increase in profit every year, which pleases the stockholders... and only them.
in counterpoint: Day 1 DLC has proven to be rather unpopular, and it appears as though EA is moving away from that particular practice.
DLC and microtransactions are still business models in their infancy - people still don't quite understand how to make them work as well as possible. So there will be some mistakes and some false starts along the way.
If it really bothers you - why not invest in some EA stock? That makes you a stockholder as well as a customer, and would let you make your voice heard more than posting on a forum.
I actually do own EA stock but I doubt my shares are significant enough to influence anything. Hey, they make a lot of money, some of that is mine and I want it back. 
Don't get me started on micro transactions... I have yet to see it being handled properly. Either it's a total rip off or useless.
Yes, they won't do Day 1 DLC again anytime soon... but only because the customers were unified in their outrage. Most of the time people are too divided.
ea and activision and lazy developers a virus to the gaming industrie
I actually do own EA stock but I doubt my shares are significant enough to influence anything. Hey, they make a lot of money, some of that is mine and I want it back.
Don't get me started on micro transactions... I have yet to see it being handled properly. Either it's a total rip off or useless.
Yes, they won't do Day 1 DLC again anytime soon... but only because the customers were unified in their outrage. Most of the time people are too divided.
Well, yes, that's how capitalism works. They made a product that created more ill will than it brought in money; so they won't be doing that again. Like when a fast food restaurant introduces a burger no one buys. They eventually take it off the menu and figure out something else to make that you'll pay for.
And you may want to look into what your stock ownership entitles you to - at the very least, you are likely owed yearly investor reports and possibly admittance into stockholder's meetings. However, as a stockholder, news that EA expects 1B in DLC sales can only be good news for you; as it shows every indication that the value of EA stock will go up.
MTX has worked out fairly well for some MMO titles and various mobile games; it appears that revenue model works ideally for those types of games and not as well for single-player games. I expect the trend of using MTX in single player games will likely end soon, especially after Ubisoft's remarkable screwups this last quarter.
Micro transactions work well for the company but not so much for the players. If you want the same experience as a player with a monthly subscription you are likely to pay more money.
Yes, every stockholder can voice their opinion during stockholder's meetings. That doesn't mean I can stand up and talk about an issue in a game a subsidiary released - not to mention that those meetings happen on the other side of the ocean. 
It's just not important enough or directly related to the business side of it all.
Money rules. It also rules human beings.
It should be the other way around?
The question is: Does the consumer decide when comapines get too big and dominating?
Yeah, we can. When they start disrespecting us, it's when they get too big and domineering. Good companies have good support, they listen to their fans, they interact with their fans more than to make dismissive comments and close down inappropriate threads, and take into consideration any problems reported. Granted, it's not viable to address every single player. But between ignoring people and complaints completely and instead releasing content DLCs and addressing every single player separately there's a middle ground. I'd like to see that middle ground sometime from EA, cause I haven't so far in 15 years of experience with them. With Bioware at least, there used to be a few people roaming around the forums listening and talking with people. Now that EA's on top, these have disappeared as well. So, yeah, I would hazard the suggestion that this disrespectful company has gotten big and domineering.
... seriously your just waking up to this? How long have you lived in a free market socitiy? And your just waking up to this?? Ummm, Congratz on opening your eyes to the 'real' world.
Yes, congratulations on the condescending post, ohmygod how all other players except you are ****** idiots who don't know shite. Well done princess.
Retour en haut
