EA Going Away From In-Game Ads? Microtransactions Proving Far More Lucrative

[Shinyhubcaps]

Quote: Originally Posted by toadiev

You paid $60 for the out of the box game. Not the additional downloads. Which are all optional. If you don't buy the product and it doesn't sell then there will be no renewal of the exclusive license. Take exception to what you want but the fact is you want the extras that EA offers with its game free of charge or easily. When you buy you know the $60 does not include these features. Every business in the world charges for the things they can. Trust me no one is in business to make your life easy or work for free. Its tough to run a business and its incredibly narrow minded to assume that the $60 covers everything easily. The overhead? Salaries? R & D?

Woah buddy, I was just saying that you incorrectly said that people want content for "free." They know it's not free, but rather, stuff should be included on the disc for $60 especially since they're not exhausting any resources to put it there.

The premise that we're discussing from the article is that, if suddenly intrigued by microtransactions, EA will start abstaining basic stuff instead of stretching the $60 outlay into a respectable product. If EA were actually making a new deliverable that can only be released via DLC, then I agree. But if they make microtransactions and advertising sound like they're mutually exclusive, it means that they will probably nickel-and-dime people for basic content to ensure a flow of revenue without exhausting any incremental resources.

See this for an illustration: http://www.hiwiller.com/2010/04/29/if-mario-was-designed-in-2010/

[grunt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shinyhubcaps

Woah buddy, I was just saying that you incorrectly said that people want content for "free." They know it's not free, but rather, stuff should be included on the disc for $60 especially since they're not exhausting any resources to put it there. The premise that we're discussing from the article is that, if suddenly intrigued by microtransactions, EA will start abstaining basic stuff instead of stretching the $60 outlay into a respectable product. If EA were actually making a new deliverable that can only be released via DLC, then I agree. But if they make microtransactions and advertising sound like they're mutually exclusive, it means that they will probably nickel-and-dime people for basic content to ensure a flow of revenue without exhausting any incremental resources. See this for an illustration: http://www.hiwiller.com/2010/04/29/i...igned-in-2010/

This is the post of the year. I can't understand how so many people are laying down for this garbage.

DLC is killing gaming for me. I haven't seen much value added to games via DLC. I am not just talking about Madden but all games. FPS are raping gamers with maps. We are paying 10-20 dollars more for games this generation. We are paying for XBOX Live. Just to get less games.

2000 coins for a Madden moment. EA, please

I just wait for the game of the year edition. Forza 3 Ultimate with all the downloads for 30 bones.

[Keenan G.]

Quote: Originally Posted by grunt

This is the post of the year. I can't understand how so many people are laying down for this garbage. DLC is killing gaming for me. I haven't seen much value added to games via DLC. I am not just talking about Madden but all games. FPS are raping gamers with maps. We are paying 10-20 dollars more for games this generation. We are paying for XBOX Live. Just to get less games. 2000 coins for a Madden moment. EA, please I just wait for the game of the year edition. Forza 3 Ultimate with all the downloads for 30 bones.

Best thing to do is wait a year or so and get the game of the year edition or whatever that has everything on it. That's what I do unless the game is an A+ title like UnCharted 2 or God of War 3.

[BezO]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

Why are people so against companies attempting to make money?

For me, myself, personally...

I'm against the WAY they attempt to make money. As of now, the game needs a LOT of work. I'll clap when I perceive EA putting as much time & energy into improving the game as they do "making money".

Anyone take Marketing 101? Money is not always made with the best product. Most of the time, great advertisement & a CONSISTENT product does the job. Madden is like the McDonalds of sports video games. The commercials are catchy and that burger will taste the same every time. If you liked it last time, you like it the next. Just stay away from those gourmet burgers if you want to continue enjoying McDonalds.

[Layoneil]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

Why are people so against companies attempting to make money?

i don't want to ever see the day where i buy a sports game for 60 bucks and still have to pay 10 bucks to start franchise mode.

[grunt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Keenan G.

Best thing to do is wait a year or so and get the game of the year edition or whatever that has everything on it. That's what I do unless the game is an A+ title like UnCharted 2 or God of War 3.

Yeah, I wait a year now anyway. I have a nice back log of games.

[tlc12576]

In-game advertising is like giving someone criticism, it's how do it, that matters most. It seems that whoever the powers that be over at EA are, reside in some decision making bubble that commonsense can not permeate. To see so many random posters say the same similar idea of "I don't mind seeing advertising and paying for DLC IF the advertising is intergrated naturally like real sports and the DLC enhances the gaming experience without cheating the game or decreasing "out of box" features."

With that general idea as the foundation, EA could use Madden to increase revenue, exponentially. The way they integrated Verizon and Old Spice in Madden 11 was a good start but like someone else posted, that's limiting the revenue potential with "out the box" advertising. The real "gold mine" seems to be in online advertising because they can rotate different ads.

Have ads play online during the loading screen before we get to the actual game. Have a broadcast style "this game is brought to you by ____" screen at the beginning and end of the online game. Utilize those big dynamic stadium video scoreboards to display ads and the stadium PA system for repetitive audio sponsor plugs instead of the commentators. Also, I have read for years how gamers would like an online Spectator Mode to watch games that are being played, that would be a great place to integrate natural advertising to those viewers. Make timeouts into 'tv timeouts" for online games, so ads can run for a set time (30-60 sec) while users can make their team adjustments if they want. (This is realistic because teams rarely use a timeout and still hurry back on to the field.) And while I'm on the subject, they should eliminate Pause option, for online ranked games and have pause menu options accessible in placycalling screen and during timeouts/pregame/halftime.

DLC should be things like extra Madden Moments, custom tribute armbands/patches like the Redskins had for Sean Taylor or Bengals for Chris Henry but allow users to add any number or initials they want, mini games, retired coaches like Bill Cowher, Joe Gibbs and Jimmy Johnson available in Franchise Mode, extreme weather conditions (if weather affected players) like the mess in Minnesota and new draft classes.

Reasonable people don't mind paying extra for a new experience or enduring well implemented profit driven advertisements. However, the have a problem with it all being done in a manner that implies "**** you, Pay Me!" LOL

[Pared]

Get ready to start paying for all those accessories you've always wanted!