Home Gaming Would you pay for demos?

Would you pay for demos?

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649-kixeye-zynga-money-kid

EA is known for doing some pretty despicable things over the years. Season Passes, shoe-horned micro-transactions,  Origin and more – like trying to market Dungeon Keeper as a “free to play” game. There’s a reason (vocal idiots, mostly) that they were voted worst company in America for two years in a row, and now they’ve just made themselves strong contenders once again. On the good authority of Geoff, I took a look at the demos of FIFA 14 and EA Sports UFC on my Xbox One and come across something quite interesting. Usually when you’re browsing for a demo you don’t expect to be hit with a pay wall, but EA clearly loves taking stupidity to new heights. If you want a taste of either of the two EA demos available on Xbox LIVE, you’re expected to fork out no less than $4.99.

That’s right, you have to pay for a demo now. Should we start a slow clap? I took a few snapchats photos so that the internet could archive this insanity forever.

Before you get your pitchforks out, do realise that this was likely a mere pricing error, still take a look:

IMG_4367 IMG_4371

Even Messi is looking confused. More than he is in that really terrible Lays advert.

Thankfully, this isn’t an early taste of EA’s future. It seems to be a simple pricing is an error on their side, and the problem should be fixed within the next few minutes. Although if there ever was a company that would try and pull something like this off, I would put my money on EA.

Then again, I guess Hideo Kojima already claimed that honour with Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. Of course, those armed with tinfoil hats would say that this could be a test-run, with EA trying to see just how willing people are to pay for demos. We really, really don’t think this is the case, but you never really know, do you?

Last Updated: July 4, 2014

No Comments

  1. That is just stupid…

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 4, 2014 at 08:37

      I’ve never been so happy not to be buying EA games.

      Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 4, 2014 at 08:38

        Amen to that

        Reply

      • Brenz

        July 4, 2014 at 09:52

        Small sacrifice for the greater good.

        Reply

    • Liquid Kaz (Umar)

      July 4, 2014 at 08:39

      That is one long dick

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        July 4, 2014 at 08:40

        DRM and DLC

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        July 4, 2014 at 09:08

        That is one long Peter*. fixed.

        Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 08:41

      WIN!

      Reply

    • HvR - Still dislikes Random.or

      July 4, 2014 at 08:52

      New slogon:
      EA is Love, EA is Life

      Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      July 4, 2014 at 09:11

      • Ottokie

        July 4, 2014 at 09:22

        Hehehe my bad 😛

        Would love to go watch some anime thx to that GIF, instead of working!

        Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Fairburne

    July 4, 2014 at 08:32

    All aboard to nopeville on the nopenoway-train

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief Fairburne

    July 4, 2014 at 08:32

    Will they give you discount if you buy the full version then?

    Reply

    • Ottokie

      July 4, 2014 at 08:43

      That would be the correct way to go, but then you will feel kind of obligated to buy the game.

      Reply

    • HvR - Still dislikes Random.or

      July 4, 2014 at 08:47

      ROFL!!!!

      Reply

    • Sith JJ

      July 4, 2014 at 08:48

      We’re talking about EA here.
      They’ll charge you for being loyal if they can.

      Reply

    • Weanerdog

      July 4, 2014 at 11:45

      Buy the demo and you get to unlock the following if you buy the game at full price. Free Horse armour, exclusive shitty ported map from last years edition of the franchise, exclusive hermaphrodite skins and a virtual tub of lube.

      Hope that I am not giving EA any ideas

      Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 4, 2014 at 08:32

    We should start calling him NeoGeoff.

    Reply

  5. Rince&pop

    July 4, 2014 at 08:33

    Where would I take a loo to though?!

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 4, 2014 at 08:34

      The no.2 line to Poop Town?

      Reply

      • Rince&pop

        July 4, 2014 at 08:40

        Pooop Poooop!

        Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 4, 2014 at 08:34

    Well I have learnt something from this article. I did not know that it was Messi in the Lays advert. I thought it was just some random clueless model.

    Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 08:40

      I think it still is?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        July 4, 2014 at 08:44

        No. It’s not random.

        Reply

        • Rince&pop

          July 4, 2014 at 08:48

          At least you are still using ‘it’s’ 😉

          Reply

    • Sith JJ

      July 4, 2014 at 08:46

      I’d believe you either way.

      The only thing in the world cup that I can identify without fail every time is the ball.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        July 4, 2014 at 08:48

        I can’t even do that. I saw a bit the other day & wondered how a second ball had ended up on the pitch while they’re still playing… then they zoomed in & it turned out to be a couple of balloons.

        Reply

      • Weanerdog

        July 4, 2014 at 11:47

        I can pick out Hulk in the Brazilian team, he is the big guy.

        Reply

  7. Rince&pop

    July 4, 2014 at 08:34

    You’ve got to be kidding? Pay for a demo? Back in the day I’d buy a magazine and it would come with free DEMOS, plural. Man I do miss those days.

    Reply

  8. Sith JJ

    July 4, 2014 at 08:35

    No.
    It’s a damn DEMO. Demonstration of what you can expect. It’s supposed to be a selling point or a form of marketing. I’m not going to pay for a sample of eyeliner just so I can see if I want to possibly buy it. 🙂

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 4, 2014 at 08:39

      You brought that up far too easily. It makes me suspicious.

      Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 4, 2014 at 08:43

        Like Rince said. I’m a guy. Accepting the insult-based-humour and going along with it is what we do best.

        Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 08:41

      Nice boy 😉 Only men can take the piss out of themselves, I mean for wearing eye liner 0-O

      Reply

  9. Liquid Kaz (Umar)

    July 4, 2014 at 08:37

    Thank You Metal Gear fanboys…sheesh

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 4, 2014 at 08:38

      Talking to yourself? ;P

      Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 08:41

      lulz

      Reply

  10. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    July 4, 2014 at 08:38

    I don’t even play free demos…

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Fairburne

      July 4, 2014 at 08:39

      I haven’t played a demo in about 15 years

      Reply

      • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

        July 4, 2014 at 08:41

        I played the Stasis one from the SA developer… It taught me that demos are crap. Apparently I needed to learn that again.

        Reply

  11. Grant [_G_] Hancock

    July 4, 2014 at 08:38

    Back in my day we didn’t BUY demos ! … we bought a copy of NAG and got a CD full of Demos for free !

    Reply

    • Liquid Kaz (Umar)

      July 4, 2014 at 08:40

      And Cheatbook Database updates!!

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        July 4, 2014 at 08:45

        Wow that takes me down nostalgia lane.

        Reply

        • Liquid Kaz (Umar)

          July 4, 2014 at 08:46

          Yup, man used to love that. Cheats for games on all systems

          Reply

          • Labey-Kun

            July 4, 2014 at 09:39

            Lol ah Cheat Database man I used to wait every month for a new update and drivers, I those demos haha I wen’t crazy if it wasn’t a indie demo, and the Game Trailers I always Fancied those 😀

      • Spaffy

        July 4, 2014 at 08:59

        Used to get my ATI drivers off those cds

        Reply

        • Liquid Kaz (Umar)

          July 4, 2014 at 09:01

          Dude! Got all my updates from there as well, NVidia though…Oh snap….I see we’re rivals. We got beef now son!

          Reply

          • Spaffy

            July 4, 2014 at 09:02

            Yea? My ATI card will still beat your Nvidia crap lol

          • Kensei Seraph

            July 4, 2014 at 09:08

            Please, not in front of the peasants.

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 09:01

      The feels!

      Reply

      • Grant [_G_] Hancock

        July 4, 2014 at 09:11

        Think I got demo to Descent in one of those magazines ! Hexen too !

        Reply

    • geelslang

      July 4, 2014 at 09:07

      Not really, you bought NAG for the demos and got a magazine as bonus.

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        July 4, 2014 at 09:39

        This is more accurate, yeah.

        Reply

  12. oVg... what castle?

    July 4, 2014 at 08:44

    The question should be. “ARE YOU DUMB ENOUGH TO SPEND $40 FOR A 10 MINUTE DEMO?”
    That is why Im boycotting Metal Gear forever. That shit was inexcusable.
    Otherwise I am but a drop in the Ocean considering they sold 1million copies of that SHIT.

    Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 4, 2014 at 08:46

      What you said.

      Reply

      • oVg... what castle?

        July 4, 2014 at 08:47

        Game Producers are DRUG DEALERS and gamers are skinny little addicts that would give blow jobs if it meant they could get a different colour gun for $5.
        Whores.

        That is why EA are doing this. They know their market.

        Reply

  13. Sith JJ

    July 4, 2014 at 08:45

    E….A…..Sports
    It’s in the charges.

    Or is that?

    E….A….Games….
    Charge everything…

    Reply

    • oVg... what castle?

      July 4, 2014 at 08:45

      EA. Electronic Access. Its in the swipe.

      Reply

  14. Kensei Seraph

    July 4, 2014 at 08:45

    The pricing error is that the demos are supposed to be $9,99.

    Reply

  15. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 4, 2014 at 08:51

    A point no one has touched on… how did both these demos end up with 4 stars?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Fairburne

      July 4, 2014 at 08:53

      BOTS

      Reply

      • HvR - Still dislikes Random.or

        July 4, 2014 at 08:53

        Mr Moore

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          July 4, 2014 at 10:36

          Roger or Michael?

          Reply

      • Norm

        July 4, 2014 at 10:18

        Aliens

        Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      July 4, 2014 at 09:57

      You have a good point.

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      July 4, 2014 at 10:35

      Easy. Games get rated 5 stars before they have been released, by people that could not possibly have played them, on plenty of websites.

      Reply

  16. VampyreSquirrel

    July 4, 2014 at 08:52

    Lol… I wouldn’t pay for a Demo. But if I HAD to, I’d want every DLC for that game for free.

    Reply

  17. konfab aka derp

    July 4, 2014 at 08:59

    $5 ?

    I paid much, much more than that for GT5 prologue.
    Then again GT5 prologue was much more than a demo…

    Reply

  18. Pieter Smal

    July 4, 2014 at 09:08

    Despicable. Shame on them!

    Reply

  19. CypherGate

    July 4, 2014 at 09:29

    Simple answer…. no

    Reply

  20. Sageville

    July 4, 2014 at 09:37

    Fuck that shit!

    Reply

  21. Matthew Holliday

    July 4, 2014 at 09:37

    I can wait for the release date.

    I dont want demos spoiling my game experience.

    Reply

  22. Labey-Kun

    July 4, 2014 at 09:40

    It’s EA what do you expect, they luv their monies.

    Reply

  23. Brenz

    July 4, 2014 at 09:50

    I really do think they did it on purpose to test the waters and see the reaction, they obviously had a shit tidal wave come their way, so their back up plan was “pricing mistake, we would never do that.”
    If any company would be stupid enough to try this, it would be EA.

    Buy magazine, receive disk with loads of demos, thats how it was in the past.

    With regards to the question at hand, not a fuck twiddle apple pie will I ever pay for a demo.

    Reply

  24. Greylingad

    July 4, 2014 at 09:50

    Hmmm….as much as this seems like a minor error, the 5 dollar price is actually quite arbitrary, for a full game you’d pay 60 dollars, this now makes me wonder if it really is an error… Why list it as 5 dollars? Are we sure that they’re not working hand in hand with Mr. kojima?

    Reply

  25. DrKiller

    July 4, 2014 at 09:51

    I don’t even think I’m willing to pay $5 for the full version of Fifa

    Reply

    • Greylingad

      July 4, 2014 at 09:53

      I’m not willing to pay anything for an EA game anymore, to be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever play another EA title for that matter…

      Reply

      • oVg... what castle?

        July 4, 2014 at 09:54

        But… think of the starving people in the Bioware Basement 🙁

        Reply

        • Greylingad

          July 4, 2014 at 10:01

          I do think of them, that’s what makes me so upset… If only they were under a different publisher…

          Reply

      • DrKiller

        July 4, 2014 at 09:57

        lol I won’t be that harsh… I’ll try out a game and buy it if I’m happy with it… That being said, I think BF2142 was the last one… But Fifa is just a waste of time, its exactly the same as Fifa 2000 😉

        Reply

      • Johan du Preez

        July 4, 2014 at 11:08

        +1 Their games are mediocre anyway, when last did they release anything worth playing ?

        Reply

  26. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    July 4, 2014 at 09:56

    So this is EA’s version of the new golden age of gaming?

    I reckon they wanted to charge and are only saying that it was an error because of the backlash they got.

    Reply

  27. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    July 4, 2014 at 10:01

    seriously though… @disqus_DoEH3TsffU:disqus has a very good point. Were there really over 2000 people in each case who voted the demos good? Were there actually people who paid for this?

    I highly doubt it. I just don’t see that happening. I think the rating system is faked. There’s no way over 2000 people would pay $5 for a demo.

    So even if the pricing is an error there’s still something not right there

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      July 4, 2014 at 10:33

      I have long thought the Xbox live rating system simply does not work. Games that are slated on many sites by bother users and critics score 4. The rest score 4.5 or 5. What is up with that?

      A game with a 3 on Xbox rating must be truly shoddy. note I do not play or spend much time looking at Arcade titles, so they may be different

      Reply

  28. Craig Lotter

    July 4, 2014 at 10:14

    What are you talking about, that Lays advert is pure fun.

    Reply

  29. Norm

    July 4, 2014 at 10:17

    Paying of demos like that latest Metal Gear Solid?
    Nope.

    Reply

  30. Ryanza

    July 4, 2014 at 11:27

    I don’t buy EA games anymore. I’ve not been buying EA games for a long time now. So I’m not EA’s target market anymore. So if EA’s new target market is so great, why are they selling demos for money.
    or am I missing something here. Are these EA games so good that even a demo of the game is worth money.
    Is EA’s new target market retarded people. But that’s not fair to retarded people because not even retarded people won’t buy into this shit. But this says a lot about EA’s “new generation” of gamers they marketing to. The ones born into this always on internet generation.

    Why do I feel like EA is looking between my couch for change. Why do I feel that EA is holding their customers by the ankles and shaking the money out of their pockets.

    Don’t support EA.
    Don’t support DRM.

    Reply

  31. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    July 4, 2014 at 12:57

    Don’t we already? Titanfall 1 is essentially a lame demo for a potential Titanfall 2. If you really think about it what else ships with limited or removed features? Yes a DEMO! They didn’t even bother to throw in a single-player mode because… IT’s A DEMO!

    Reply

  32. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    July 4, 2014 at 12:59

    Peter Moore’s secret plan to destroy gaming!

    Reply

  33. mrhertz

    July 4, 2014 at 23:19

    EA – promoting pirates for free.

    Reply

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