Home Gaming All future EA games to have micro-transactions

All future EA games to have micro-transactions

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EA happens to be in a spot of bother lately. The company isn’t exactly raking in cash lately, and they’ve actually been losing said money year over year for a while now. So what’s EA supposed to do? Take a risky start becoming a tad more innovative? Testicles to that idea, you dirty liberal. It’s time to start throwing in more micro-transactions.

“We are building into all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way; to get to a higher level,” CFO Blake Jorgensen said at a recent investors conference via EDGE. “And consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of business.”

If you’re doing microtransactions and you’re processing credit cards for every one of those microtransactions you’ll get eaten alive. And so Rajat’s team has built an amazing backend to manage that and manage that much more profitably. We’ve outsourced a lot of that stuff historically; we’re bringing that all in-house now.

Jorgensen also mentioned games costing an extra $10 in the future, but EA later shot this down, saying that he had “mispoke” about those costs, according to TheSixthAxis. Games will still be in the usual $49-$59 range then. Riiiiiiiiight.

See, this is one of the problems with games today. It’s all well and fine to have Crysis 3 and FIFA: Penalty Oscar Acting Edition out every year, but sooner or later, gamers are going to get bored. There’s a clear lack of innovation in the industry today, something that was kind of highlighted by the recent Sony Playstation 4 conference.

We saw several sequels announced, and David Cage confusing high end graphics for compelling gameplay once again. The thing is, you don’t have to break the bank on creating a game, or at least, so damn many of them. And adding this financial model to all games is just going to piss people off. You’re already paying in excess of R500 for a full game, with extras that used to be part of the package now costing you extra. Like Capcom did when they cocked that idea up by charging for cheat codes in Dead Rising 2: Off the record.

Still, EA is somehow making such vast quantities of cash in the digital sector anyway, meaning that people are willing to pay.No matter how pissed off they are. I get that EA needs to make some new business decisions in order to survive. But they can do better than this.

Last Updated: February 28, 2013

46 Comments

  1. lol That sounds like one of my rants. Did you sleep well Darryn? Have a muffin :p

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Erwin

      February 28, 2013 at 08:07

      Nice avatar!

      Reply

      • OVG

        February 28, 2013 at 08:10

        You to 🙂

        Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        February 28, 2013 at 08:32

        he changes his avatar more than his damn socks…

        Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        February 28, 2013 at 08:40

        He has shrunk o.0

        Reply

  2. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    February 28, 2013 at 08:01

    You know what? It’s our fault as gamers. We keep buying in to this crap over and over. It won’t stop until we stop.

    That saying that says “If it aint broke…” Yeah well, game companies won’t fix the micro-transaction crap until we as gamers stop using it and causing it to fall apart.

    I refuse to use microtransactions. Point. End of story. The same way I refuse to purchase games day1

    Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 28, 2013 at 08:28

      Agreed, I really wish more gamers would realise this fact man.kudos. we don’t realize the power we have. I wish more people would take a stand hey. I’m with you. and more people have to boycott this! this can’t be allowed to go further!

      Reply

    • Darth_Clericus_The_Ultimate

      February 28, 2013 at 09:57

      While I agree, we have to see things from their perspective too. If nobody buys in, EA continues to lose cash and eventually files for insovency.
      Then we all lose.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        February 28, 2013 at 10:01

        That’s just the thing. EA won’t let it get that far. They’d then change tactics and perhaps actually release something worth buying.

        Saying we all lose if they go down isn’t even valid. So it’s a a thing of deal with sucky games or don’t have the sucky games to begin with? I’d settle with not having the sucky games to begin with. It gives me more money to spend on games that are worth it when people actually start making games that are fun because they realise the easy route doesn’t work anymore and actually need to put in a bit of effort

        Sorry, I know I’m ranting a bit but it just grills me that our choices are “Shit microtransaction games or nothing” It’s just not right man

        Reply

    • Kobus Nel

      February 28, 2013 at 10:49

      If Premium counts as micro transactions, then I’m guilty on that count. But it’s the expansion packs and ALL the awesome stuff it brought with it, and was a pretty good deal. Other than that, I’ve never used micro transactions, ever! (if you count out Premium (and if it is classified as Micro-T))

      Reply

    • Mathias

      February 28, 2013 at 11:06

      Imagine every LG reader does this… Now add every IGN and Gamespot reader as well. Even in that situation it wouldn’t change a thing.

      Reply

    • Banana Jim

      February 28, 2013 at 13:14

      Anyone else get the feeling that the gaming industry is like an intestinal parasite? It consumes without considering consequence or the potential fallout in future years. It’s main concern is maximising profits in the here, rather than creating a sustainable industry that can last for decades.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        February 28, 2013 at 13:29

        Everytime I read about purchasing anything aditional to a game. I miss games that were complete. *goes to play Croc2*

        Reply

        • Banana Jim

          February 28, 2013 at 13:33

          Megaman… If the gaming industry failed tomorrow, I’d just give a momentary frown, and load up my old nintendo emulator and boot up Megaman.

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            February 28, 2013 at 13:34

            Or the monkey Island games!

          • Banana Jim

            February 28, 2013 at 13:36

            I loved the monkey island games… 😀 Yep, if the games industry collapsed, we’d be fine. Lots of games to replay.

  3. umar bastra

    February 28, 2013 at 08:02

    SIES! EA you dirty vrekidel! It’s going to start off by micro transactions being optional as in DS3, and allowing people to buy resources but Fu*k, EA games are going to become cheaper and then what’s going to happen, they going to hit us with In Game Purchases. to unlock levels or modes and Shizz. So help me God if they start implementing a freemium model!!I am going to..POP…A HUGE CAP!!! IN YO AZZ!! FRUK you EA

    Reply

    • Slade Boender

      February 28, 2013 at 11:32

      upvoted for the use of the word “vrekidel”. I died.

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief Erwin

    February 28, 2013 at 08:07

    Ag fokkit

    Reply

    • Twakkie

      February 28, 2013 at 09:25

      MNR ERWIN, Sies!!! Jou mond sal met seep uitgewas word jong man! Stem nogsteeds saam 😉

      Reply

    • Banana Jim

      February 28, 2013 at 13:15

      Haai sies, en nou?

      Reply

  5. Tarisma

    February 28, 2013 at 08:12

    Now you have to pay to cheat at a game that you have bought. The days of the Konami code are gone.

    Reply

  6. Trevor Davies

    February 28, 2013 at 08:20

    How many times did Mr Jorgensen use the term “shareholder value” while speaking? Which is business speak for “Screw the customers, they’re stupid & all they do is buy our product, we need to concentrate on the people that really matter – our shareholders.”

    Reply

  7. Twakkie

    February 28, 2013 at 08:29

    Darryn there is one problem with your train of thought, and that is your using your braaaaains. We are consumers and as consumers we have no other right than to consume and accept whatever is thrown our way. We cant expect the CEO of EA and their stakeholders to innovate? Innovation is from the DEVIL, I tell you!!! It leaves a sulfuric taste in your mouth when you mention it in board and strategy meeting. It is much tastier to drink of the sweet nectar of micro transactions!

    Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 28, 2013 at 08:30

      We have more power than you think, if only more gamers would take a stand

      Reply

      • Twakkie

        February 28, 2013 at 08:54

        It was a tongue in the cheek comment. We actually have ALL the power but to get everyone to make a stand is a different story.

        Reply

        • umar bastra

          February 28, 2013 at 10:09

          lol …….. I feel dumb now 🙁

          Reply

          • Twakkie

            February 28, 2013 at 10:14

            Lol dude. Neewat tjomma. It happens to the best of us 🙂

          • umar bastra

            February 28, 2013 at 10:28

            🙂 lol guess I need to watch more House…..but in anycase F EA..have a good day

          • Twakkie

            February 28, 2013 at 11:01

            And to you too my fellow LG’ian! 😉

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        February 28, 2013 at 08:57

        I think he was being sarcastic 😉 And yes, we do have the power, time to show it to them people! POWER!

        Reply

        • Twakkie

          February 28, 2013 at 09:26

          😉

          Reply

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            February 28, 2013 at 10:27

            Hahaha! Winner 😉

        • umar bastra

          February 28, 2013 at 10:08

          🙁 …. lol look I was riled up by EA’s kak ….. I didn’t read his sarcasm too well….*SOB*

          Reply

    • Kobus Nel

      February 28, 2013 at 10:52

      Micro transactions can go jump off a cliff!

      Reply

  8. FoxOneZA

    February 28, 2013 at 08:38

    Microtransactions are an option to the gamer. Not something to hamper your experience. You don’t want it, don’t use it. Simple.

    Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 28, 2013 at 08:44

      yeah, that’s until they ask you to pay for things that actually matter, maybe a key to a door that leads to a new area? a certain weapon?…but indeed, no one should use it, but once they see that no one is using it they going to start making the things they want us to pay for more enticing … and knowing humans in general they going to give in

      Reply

    • Johan du Preez

      February 28, 2013 at 09:08

      Micro transactions is a free to play mechanic not a mechanic to be used in a game you already payed R500 for.

      Reply

  9. Lardus

    February 28, 2013 at 08:44

    “And consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of business.” – BOLLOCKS! They are paying because they feel they have no choice, not because they enjoy it or want it! I can see my gaming life going further and further downhill ;(

    Reply

    • Sir Captain Rincethis

      February 28, 2013 at 08:52

      Hands Bells, and drinks the rest of the bottle!

      Reply

  10. Sir Captain Rincethis

    February 28, 2013 at 08:51

    You have to be kidding me? We are going to see more fucking microtransactions? When people canned Dead Space 3 for that reason? I suppose the only people to blame are those that use those stupid services… YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

    Reply

  11. CypherGate

    February 28, 2013 at 09:23

    This is already in mobile games that says they “FREE” anyway when this starts being implemented by all of them that will be the day i stop supporting the new generation of gaming and ill just stick to my classic Sega, Nintendo games as well as xbox 360, PS2, PS3. There is more than enough games out there to keep me entertained.

    Reply

  12. riaan

    February 28, 2013 at 09:33

    “And consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of business.” – I don’t know if I agree with that one.

    Reply

  13. Sean Potgieter

    February 28, 2013 at 15:47

    How fortunate for companies like EA that gamers as a consumer base do not use their bargaining power (i.e. speak with their wallets to demand better products and practices). Many simply cough up, despite disagreeing with a business practice. I think micro-transactions are here to stay

    Reply

  14. Brendan

    February 28, 2013 at 16:07

    EA needs to root out the hackers and cheaters they are doing bugger all about it

    Reply

  15. iPrimal

    March 1, 2013 at 07:10

    I bought the cheats for DR2: OTR. It was fun.

    Reply

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