New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

[jeremym480]

Quote: Originally Posted by sikolec

What has gaming come to? Remember the day when you paid the full price for a game and you got all the features it came with? I'm not so upset with EA for this specific, but the entire gaming industry. We have all these DLC for extra costs and exclusives if you pre-order with "insert retailer here". Why can't I just pay the $59.99 plus tax and get everything the game includes. Yes that $59.99 should include pro-combat uniforms (even if I don't pre-order with GameStop) and it should include all features of the game. I'm fed up with this and worry about the future of gaming. Little charges like these lead to more and more exclusives and DLC. Pretty soon we are going to have a bare bones game that you have to pay for everything little thing.

I also remember a time when game looked like this (insert any picture of a Atari or NES game here). When development teams consisted of five people or less and the costs of making games were considerably less that what it is today.

The bottom line the gaming world has changed astronomically in the last 20 years. In the 80s and 90s Developers didn't have to worry about maintaing their servers, paying their staff for working on patches, etc. Once a game was done it was done. So let's not compare apples to oranges here.

Like has been said before, EA is a business and they're in business to make money. No other NCAA game (before last year) has the Online Dynasty Wire feature yet, they all cost the same as NCAA with it. I'm sure that keeping the servers maintained costs a considerable amount of man-hours as well as money that they otherwise wouldn't have to spend. So with that extra expense in mind, it wouldn't make any business sense for them to eat that cost. Therefore, to increase profit margins they came up with a small fee which is only charged to customers who use it. It makes perfect business sense to me. Am I happy to pay it? No. But, I understand it and this service that is of value to me so, I'll gladly pay the small fee.

Quote: Originally Posted by Chardon

After this news, i think i may have to go look at Madden. I might have to reconsider the purchase. One cost 45,000 dollars, and the other costs 60. Awful comparison.

So your going to boycott one EA game to get another... Way to hold your ground there.

Also, the car comparison isn't as far fetched as you're making it out to be. The same basic principles apply. Perhaps you will like this one better since the price seems to be your issue with that analogy--- If I go to the local frozen yogurt shop I can get a basic frozen yogurt for around three bucks. Then I decide that I don't want the basic yogurt. I want to add toppings. Some toppings are free like chocolate syrup, whip cream, caramel, etc. However, if I want to add specialty toppings like strawberries, bananas, M&Ms, etc. I have to pay extra. Do I need the extra toppings to enjoy the yogurt? no... but, I want those toppings!

[RustyBlue]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevj349

Which brings me to another question, if this is such a problem is COD releasing map packs bad? They could have just waited a little to release the game and add them. What determines what goes into the original $60? Oblivion had like a whole expansion pack you could buy. If EA released the game then released these features a month or so later would you be upset that you had to buy them? I know I am rambling ha

Call of Duty map packs are also overpriced IMO. And plus most of the time DLC is something that can't fit on the disc and is an add-on to the game (Meaning around 400mb-800mb of space). The features in NCAA and Madden area already on the game but are more like unlocked than added on (180kb). Don't get me wrong you can't blame them for trying to squeeze the extra cash out of the consumer, but again, make it an extra feature and not something that is already on the game.

And to be honest I'm not all that mad about this because 1) I probably won't use it and 2) It might actually cost them a little more to add the feature. What gets me is what they did last year for NCAA and Madden (which I hope they don't do this year) when they make you pay for features like advanced scouting and convincing players to stay. These are things that IMO should already be a part of the game.

[kevj349]

This is an ad on to the game, in fact it is on the computer, not even possible to be in the game.

[RustyBlue]

You must not have read my whole reply

[Critical Kills]

I'm in favor of this because the alternative is the games overall price goes up to $64.99. The features being sold separately do not affect the actual game and are just what they say, bonus features. I'll be first in line to buy the pack too as it will be put to good use by my OD.

[BenGerman]

I don't have a problem with them doing this at all. I do however, have a problem with them announcing it as a new feature, and then making us pay extra. Because now, it will not be a new feature for a lot of us.

[Teddy_Long]

odogg, i'll pay extra to have a playable broadcast in a dlc or a zoom vertical cam........ lol


btw, love the new dreads? hehe

[poopoop]

Good to see kotaku speak out against this. Someone has to, because apparently a lot of people enjoy being charged more. Hopefully more gaming sites do so in the future.