Is EA going away from in-game advertising? According to Edge, they might be.
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"In-game advertising has not delivered the expected levels of revenue, with microtransactions proving far more lucrative for EA.
The publisher’s general manager of free-to-play, Ben Cousins, told us: “We actually aren’t getting much from ad revenue at all. The in-game advertising business hasn’t grown as fast as people expected it to.”
He points to the success enjoyed by Zynga, the publisher that has enjoyed huge revenues from microtransactions in its Facebook games, as evidence of his claim. “If you think about how fast the virtual goods business has grown in the last year or so, it’s been much quicker and become a much more reliable source of revenue."
I don't have a problem with EA wanting to add more DLC. I do have a problem if it takes features away from a mode. I don't purchase Madden or NCAA for the play now games or online gaming. I purchase both game for the franchise/dynasty modes. If I have to pay $59.99 for the game then have to spend more money to just play those features then I will not purchase the games at all. I have always felt like the DLC is marketed for the casual gamers which is not what I would consider myself. I don't mind them offering add-ons like the recruiting adviser in NCAA or max training. Those things don't bother me. Now if they started making roster updates as DLC then I would have an issue.
A place where I always thought EA dropped the ball was the naming of stadium rights. We have names like Tee Maker automakers. There was nothing I hate more then seeing 4-5 stadiums with the same name. I think if they had went about it a different way then they could make money.
A place where I always thought EA dropped the ball was the naming of stadium rights. We have names like Tee Maker automakers. There was nothing I hate more then seeing 4-5 stadiums with the same name. I think if they had went about it a different way then they could make money.
That has sort of baffled me too, but I figure that if the game allowed you to rename Gillette Stadium as Pepsi Stadium, Gillette's parent (Procter & Gamble) might have a problem with it, moreso than if you rename it with an absurd fictional name like Vandelay Bank. But that's just a guess.
I remember Madden cards during the PS2. I don't like paying for things that used to be free. I also want value when a company can put all those MT in a game but doesn't touch their franchise mode. If anyone think the profits from MT is going to the development of the game, then I have a bridge to sell.
Doesn't it seem kind of a fine line here. You are ok with them making money but only so much? What is the threshold for too much money? When should they start giving you things for free?
If you feel they aren't treating you correctly, do not give them your money. Otherwise its just simple supply and demand. If people are willing to pay then why not charge?
I admit that I don't follow other videos games as intently as I do sports games, especially the Madden franchise. But I feel, year after year, that I hear more about how EA plans to generate more revenue than I do about how they plan to simply make a better, stronger game for their avid fan base.
I am not against anyone making money that is just capitalism,BUT do they really need to make more money i mean it is not like they are not already making money hand over fist on madden they sell what 4-5 million copies atleast every year at $60 a pop,that is what around 240 million(in no way i am saying those numbers are correct) or so,no biggie really i guess just seems a little excessive.
Im not sure if you have paid attention to the news but EA is not hand over fist in money. If EA had "too much" money I dont think they would lay people off. Also I dont think anyone can have "too much" money. They are free to make as much money as they like.
Why are people so against companies attempting to make money?
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Grunt
I remember Madden cards during the PS2. I don't like paying for things that used to be free. I also want value when a company can put all those MT in a game but doesn't touch their franchise mode. If anyone think the profits from MT is going to the development of the game, then I have a bridge to sell
This is how I feel as well. It doesn't bother me EA tries to make money, it bothers me they ignore franchise, superstar, the minigames and online franchise modes and proceed to pour most of their resources into MUT and Facebook apps.
Being the only football game getting produced, that's disrepectful to their fanbase and just plain greedy to me.
Sounds like they are going to to make an average game, and then decide that they are going to charge $60 for it, but only allow you to play 60-70% of the game and make you pay for the rest of it. At the same time they will be making a second version to be released next year.
If EA makes a game that everyone wants to play then they can work on getting DLC later on to sell. The DLC should be added stuff that they didnt have enough time to add to the game by release and would have been left out.
Doesn't it seem kind of a fine line here. You are ok with them making money but only so much? What is the threshold for too much money? When should they start giving you things for free?
If you feel they aren't treating you correctly, do not give them your money. Otherwise its just simple supply and demand. If people are willing to pay then why not charge?
I take exception with your word "free" here. It would be nice to get stuff for free, but you don't get anything for free. At the very least, you pay $60 for the initial purchase.
As to your second paragraph, users understandably want to play a game. The problem is that EA is the only maker of NFL games, so people craving NFL games need to give their money to EA or not own such games at all. That's why people are more sickened that this comes from EA than another company; EA is already monopolizing the industry and screwing consumers in other ways.
This hatred towards Paying for DLC is pretty offbase. EA is charging for cheats and Ultimate team(which was developed as free DLC and you can play for free). When EA starts charging extra for Franchise mode or stuff that was already in the game, then you will have a argument.
As of Right now, Not buying any of EA's DLC for madden will not alter the experience.
Sounds like they are going to to make an average game, and then decide that they are going to charge $60 for it, but only allow you to play 60-70% of the game and make you pay for the rest of it. At the same time they will be making a second version to be released next year.
If EA makes a game that everyone wants to play then they can work on getting DLC later on to sell. The DLC should be added stuff that they didnt have enough time to add to the game by release and would have been left out.
well look what EA did with battlefield bad company 2, i play it on PC regularly and freakin love it. there were numerous patch updates continuing to improve the game, which is also a series...released every few years.
they recently came out with a $15 DLC product called battlefield vietnam, which for $15 dollars is like playing a whole new game. when i compare this game to madden (in terms of sales and marketing) i don't even know how its the same company. i would love to see madden take battlefields approach and release a new game every few years that is truley amazing with DLC and roster updates in between...but we already know this won't happen, bc2 isn't the only FPS therefore the game is actually really good and well produced.
I take exception with your word "free" here. It would be nice to get stuff for free, but you don't get anything for free. At the very least, you pay $60 for the initial purchase.
As to your second paragraph, users understandably want to play a game. The problem is that EA is the only maker of NFL games, so people craving NFL games need to give their money to EA or not own such games at all. That's why people are more sickened that this comes from EA than another company; EA is already monopolizing the industry and screwing consumers in other ways.
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?
I don't mind the in game advertising as long as it is wisely and creatively thought-out. In the lower right hand corner, just makes it annoying and make me NOT want to buy the product. However, the Verizon and Old Spice are well-thought out, but just so repetitive since they are the only two ads in the game.
However, allowing people to buy cards on MUT, DOES ruin the experience for others, because they almost always have the better teams, for much less time playing the game. I can speak for NHL, that buying attributes is what makes me NOT play OTP anymore, because I constantly played guys who were 99 ovr in everything, who clearly used money to get it. So, it's good for EA, bad for the non-buying customers.
Do not compare apples to oranges. Madden is a annual release and most other games that demand MT are usually out every 2-5 years. CoD, WoW, ect. EA has been very selfish in the past 3-4 years, and what used to be enough for EA has become less then enough. I have bought my last Madden in 2009, and until EA changes their business practices, I won't bother purchasing another EA game.
This is what seperates us from our grandparents. When they thought they were getting jobbed they would stop doing business with the companies they didn't trust, and if the companies changed, then it would take them time to regain the trust of the people. So, if you don't like how the product is or how you are treated, then stop purchasing the products.
I admit that I don't follow other videos games as intently as I do sports games, especially the Madden franchise. But I feel, year after year, that I hear more about how EA plans to generate more revenue than I do about how they plan to simply make a better, stronger game for their avid fan base.
QFT.
I'm not sure what I can and can't say due to fear of it being misconstrued as bashing. I'll try to word it nicely because the intent isn't negative, I am just making a comparison.
Madden 07 (PS2)- This game lived and breathed energy, IMO and is still the high point of the franchise. I still play it to this day. To me it was the pinnacle of everything leading up to it. Madden 01 all the way up to 07, and you felt and visibly saw the game improve year to year. Obviously the menu went through changes, the uniform selections became deeper, the graphics improved, but what really got me in love with that game was how much there was to do in it, and how occupied those things would keep you. You had a franchise mode that literally had almost everything in it, but all the little things to keep you coming back for more. You name it:
-Owner Mode
-Restricted Free Agency
-TWO UFA periods (I liked this better)
-In FA, the CPU would periodically update with offers so you didn't necessarily get first dibs at everyone until you sim a day
-The Draft had reactions for each pick, as limited as they were, it was huge
-Individual/National Newspapers..Fun to look around the league.
-CPU traded amongst themselves and made roster moves. It felt like a 32 team league rather than 16 field trips.
-On that note, seeing the EA Ticker come up when you played a game showing the scores of previous games or games going on currently.
-Player Morale/Player Roles: I've seen Sean Considine make it to 96 OVR, just as I've seen Reggie Bush get tagged "1st Round Bust".
-Tony Bruno Show: Cool for it's time, something I would want back in some capacity in a new form.
Training Camp/Position Battles...SO MUCH FUN. Especially seeing who may win what job.
I could go on and on, but I need to save space for the other things. Franchise as a whole felt like a real experience that took a long time to create, and it was very easy to appreciate the game because it felt as organic as it did.
If Franchise wasn't your thing, Superstar Mode had become a GREAT way to kill time. This mode was incredibly improved upon from the Madden 06 version, and again you could feel the time and effort enslaved into making the game respond as if it were real. You WANTED to spend all day playing this game because it made you enjoy the game of football that much more...at least I did.
One of my all time favorite additions to the Madden franchise did not make the jump to next-gen, which was Tournament Mode.
My little brother, now 13, and I used to go and randomly select teams to fill all 16 seeds and do a Double Elimination tournament. We'd guess the winners, and see who would get more picks right. Really didn't do anything as far as playing it, but it was fun to do that. Of course, it makes having Madden parties that much easier.
I guess all I'm saying is when you take a look at Madden 11, which is a good football game in it's own right, it just doesn't feel the same. When I flip on the game, I immediately notice the graphic updates and flashier appearance, but it feels like dating the girl based on purely looks. I don't feel that sense of living, breathing excitement going on anymore. Now, maybe part of it is because I'm not 16 anymore. However, being 20 seems to be average if not a little younger than most of the people who hardcore-frequent this place like I do, so obviously I'm not "too old". I miss the deep core of the Madden franchise and since the move to next-gen the game has appeared to look a little more frail each iteration. I still play nearly every day, but it feels like now it's because I'm hoping that I can force myself to enjoy it as I remember it like the old games. Ian has done a great job righting the ship since Madden 10...I truly believe in the direction of Madden if they are going away from In-Game Ads. My only fear is everyone else's fear.
-I already have to pay to keep a player out of retirement, something that has happened yearly with Favre and the three teams he has made pay
I can only hope the direction of M12 and beyond puts everything that is a natural part of the NFL game, lifestyle and business as a stock part of the disc I pay $60.00 for. All the extras, fine, charge all you want. If all that should be there is there, I'd be much more likely to purchase extra.
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/
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.
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.