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Tormy-
Join Date 02/2006
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EA To Charge For Game Demos?

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March 23, 2010 9:09:02 AM from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Kohato brings word of a new Electronic Arts marketing strategy that aims to start monetizing game demos. According to industry analyst Michael Patcher after an EA investor visit, the publisher will start selling “premium downloadable content” prior to a game’s release for $10-$15 that is essentially a longer-than-usual demo. Patcher said, “I think that the plan is to release PDLC at $15 that has 3-4 hours of gameplay, so [it has] a very high perceived value, then [EA will] take the feedback from the community (press and players) to tweak the follow-on full game that will be released at a normal packaged price point.” He also made reference to a comment from EA’s CEO John Riccitiello that “the line between packaged product sales and digital revenues would soon begin to blur.”

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What can I say? Craziness...

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Tormy-
imbiginjapan
Join Date 03/2008
+1
Reply #1 March 23, 2010 9:24:25 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Since the assets are already created for the "full" game there is hardly any additional cost to EA to pull this off. There are enough fans that are rabidly eager to get an early taste of a game that it will pay off... sort of like offering Beta access with a preorder!

 

 

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Magicke
Join Date 01/2010
+6
Reply #2 March 23, 2010 9:51:51 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

  Saw that facepalm article.  Bad corporate decision making I hope.  I hope people don't buy this but  I'm afraid many will.

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SwerydAss
Join Date 05/2008
+14
Reply #3 March 23, 2010 10:36:29 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Its just EA's way to get money off of poorly made games... For example CnC 4 had a public beta.. Everyone tried it found out it sucked and didnt buy it..  They dont want that ot happen again so now they will charge for it.. I have already stopped buying any games with EA on it so it won't effect me!!!

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Tormy-
Tormy-
Join Date 02/2006
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Reply #4 March 23, 2010 10:49:05 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting SwerydAss,
reply 3
Its just EA's way to get money off of poorly made games... For example CnC 4 had a public beta.. Everyone tried it found out it sucked and didnt buy it..  They dont want that ot happen again so now they will charge for it.. I have already stopped buying any games with EA on it so it won't effect me!!!

Indeed. EA was a decent company many years ago.....now....they are FUBAR.

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mbar8
Join Date 01/2009
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Reply #5 March 23, 2010 11:05:13 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

 

The gaming industry just keeps getting weirder and weirder. I think I must be getting too old for this crap. I'm getting beyond the point of outrage and traveling into the I don't give a s*** anymore. I'm glad my kids aren't into gaming. I'd hate to have to tell them there is no way we are ever buying into paying for demos, persistent server connections for single player games, and activation limits.

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Tamren
Join Date 03/2008
+34
Reply #6 March 23, 2010 11:20:38 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Hold up a second. Read that again:

Quoting ,
quoting post
According to industry analyst Michael Patcher

These guys are basically astrologers, only they get paid better. I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

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SwerydAss
Join Date 05/2008
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Reply #7 March 23, 2010 11:36:38 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

These guys are basically astrologers, only they get paid better. I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

true all these guys do is make statements to effect the stock market in their favor.  They must think this will show up as more possible revenue for Ea which equals stock price increase.

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lbgsloan
Join Date 04/2008
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Reply #8 March 23, 2010 11:59:39 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Ah, so that early paid Spore demo was a test.  I guess enough idiots must have bought it for them to think this idea will not end in total failure.  Shareware (demos that were essentially 1/4-1/3 of the full game) worked back in the day because the shareware was free.  Oh well, EA can do what they want.  I'm still not going to buy anything from them.

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klaxton499
Join Date 04/2009
+6
Reply #9 March 23, 2010 4:13:00 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

2kGames did this last fall with NBA2k10 Draft Combine.

Also, I wouldn't worry too much about this stuff.  The path is already laid out.  Everything will go free digital download with micro-transactions in this decade.  Steady income streams are easier to manage.  Don't you feel the not so gentle push in this direction (read: DLC).  This isn't all bad for the consumer.  Overall we'll likely spend more tomorrow for the games we like.  However, we'll spend much less for those we want to try but ultimately do not like.  In the end a micro-transaction model will reward good developers and should punish the rest.

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Nesrie
Join Date 09/2008
+25
Reply #10 March 23, 2010 7:09:18 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

EA already did something like this before... Spore Creature Creator anyone?

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Crassmaster
Join Date 09/2008
+3
Reply #11 March 24, 2010 1:31:44 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Tamren,
reply 6
Hold up a second. Read that again:


quoting postAccording to industry analyst Michael Patcher
These guys are basically astrologers, only they get paid better. I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

 

And Pachter seems to be an increasingly dumb analyst.

Anyway, EA have already clarified that they aren't charging for demos. They might release prequel game content to those who want to buy it. It would be shorter than the full game, and cost less. It's purely optional.

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ZehDon
Join Date 04/2009
+115
Reply #12 March 24, 2010 2:37:39 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

This isn't the only article to present this. The information originated from an internal EA meeting, if I recall correctly. EA Higher-ups have refused to go into detail about this proposal as it's simply that: a proposal.

If it becomes a reality, and I see no reason why it wouldn't, most educated people will see this type of pricing system as the blind greed based money grab it is. However, I believe that unfortunately enough people will pay the asking price and give EA yet another revenue stream besides striping features out of their games and selling them back to their players, and shipping only part of the game at retail and allowing the players to download the rest to destroy the second hand games market. Looking at EA's history, this feels about right.

Quoting Crassmaster,
reply 11
Anyway, EA have already clarified that they aren't charging for demos. They might release prequel game content to those who want to buy it. It would be shorter than the full game, and cost less. It's purely optional.

Technically 'Prequel game content' could equate much to the same as the original Starcraft Demo. This featured a short campaign which was a prequel of sorts to the main game while still being considered a Demo. Either way you dice it, EA is looking to charge for what has always been free.
True, it could be a 'Prequal game' and enhance or expand upon the retail product. However, what would be the point of this? Hype? Hardly, EA know that the vast majority of their games are utter garbage and long term sales are killed by word of mouth. This is why they release so many games a year and give Developers two year development deadlines to ensure profit margins. This 'prequel' content would cost as much as the content in the retail game to produce, so why sell it at discount price? EA don't give away anything for free.

Most likely, what EA are actually suggesting is charging for BETA access in different words, if they indeed intend to act upon their players feedback. As I've already said: either way you dice it, EA is looking to charge for what has always been free.

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Tormy-
Join Date 02/2006
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Reply #13 March 24, 2010 10:09:34 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Nesrie,
reply 10
EA already did something like this before... Spore Creature Creator anyone?

Heh yeah, and it was an awesome marketing decision. Why? Because the Creature Creator is the only good stuff in that game...

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Ynglaur
Join Date 05/2006
+11
Reply #14 March 24, 2010 10:49:23 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Tamren,
reply 6
Hold up a second. Read that again:


quoting postAccording to industry analyst Michael Patcher
These guys are basically astrologers, only they get paid better. I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

I asked a boss once how Gartner came up with some up its forecast numbers for growth within certain markets.  His reply was great: "Analysts are like weathermen."

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SwerydAss
Join Date 05/2008
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Reply #15 March 24, 2010 2:56:23 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Anyway, EA have already clarified that they aren't charging for demos. They might release prequel game content to those who want to buy it

 

Wow does george bush work for them. If people dont like the word then change what you call it right!!!!

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