Evil Avatar member Cutter99 sent me a PM to let me know about a little whoooo-ha-ha that's going on over at Electronic Arts.
Electronic Arts has shut down their EA Link download service and replaced it with the new EA Store and the EA Downloader.
Apparently purchases made through the new service only have access rights for six months. That means if you want to re download the game after 6 months...you can't. This can be extended for two years if you spend an extra $6 at purchase time.
There's no word on what people who used EA Link to purchase there games can do to get the games they own. EA Customer service hasn't returned or replied to Cutter99's calls/emails.
So wait, you pay full price for a game and you only get to play it for 6 months unless you pony up an extra $6? I looked in the EULA and couldn't verify this, perhaps we can get some confirming sources?
Last edited by bapenguin; 09-21-2007 at 09:24 AM..
Even without confirming sources, this wouldn't surprise me. I really do not like Electronic Arts.
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[360] NHL09 / Tales of Vesperia / PGA09
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I guess there's a change they may change their ways on this, back flip or whatever. But if they don't, fuck EA, go Steam. I don't play pc games so much this days, but I was barely a click away from prepurchasing C&C3 over EALink after liking the demo quite a bit, just so convenient. Luckily it wasn't actually available for play for a few more days, and after that time the impulse passed.
It seems most people are pretty happy with Steam these days though.
Think of this as your digital safety net for those unexpected occurrences - like your hard drive frying or a virus infection. EDS means that with the purchase of your digital product, we'll keep a copy of your file for two full years, so you don't have to. This is in addition to the complimentary coverage we provide for 6 months with any digital purchase from the EA STORE. You'll gain peace of mind knowing that we have your program stored and ready for you to download again at your convenience.
A little extra protection on your order to keep your products safe? Why not!
Sounds to me like you own it but can only redownload it for 6 months if you delete or loose an HD or something.
I can't believe that they'd do this. I would be pissed if I actually cared about playing BF2 or BF2142 anymore. Sadly I don't and this sort of thing will only cause me to buy retail boxes from EA if I even buy anything from them.
This is a disturbing trend in software downloads, Symantec pulls the same BS, 50 bucks for the AV, 6 bucks if you want access to it again tomorrow. I understand why EA does this, they, of all publishers, have a lot to lose if they anger the BMs with too much digital distribution. I am just glad that this is not becoming a trend for games.
I installed HL2 after buying it shortly after it came out, more than a year since I even touched steam.
no probs. worked first time, remembered all of my games.
EA... poor imitation, and your lust for money does you no credit.
I havent bought an EA game since NFS Carbon, and I think that may be my last. There are more than enough good pc games for me to buy without needing to dirty my computers hard drive with the filth that EA calls games.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxonian
The last time someone went around being tolerant of everyone around him, we nailed him to a fucking cross for being a preachy asshole.
Think of this as your digital safety net for those unexpected occurrences - like your hard drive frying or a virus infection. EDS means that with the purchase of your digital product, we'll keep a copy of your file for two full years, so you don't have to. This is in addition to the complimentary coverage we provide for 6 months with any digital purchase from the EA STORE. You'll gain peace of mind knowing that we have your program stored and ready for you to download again at your convenience.
A little extra protection on your order to keep your products safe? Why not!
Sounds to me like you own it but can only redownload it for 6 months if you delete or loose an HD or something.
Quoted again with emphasis.
Relax, folks -- we all hate EA as much as taking fresh-steamed bamboo shards up the urethra, but it looks like they're not raping any kittens this time. This is just a $6 charge for the right to re-download their crappy crap up to two years from the point of becoming a sucker.
This is a disturbing trend in software downloads, Symantec pulls the same BS, 50 bucks for the AV, 6 bucks if you want access to it again tomorrow. I understand why EA does this, they, of all publishers, have a lot to lose if they anger the BMs with too much digital distribution. I am just glad that this is not becoming a trend for games.
I disagree. It will be the trend in a matter of time. Play something up front for the download, and keep paying subscription-style to keep it where you want it.
Since the 'Net is technically free...this is going to be the next wave.
Hey it works for the porn industry, why not the gaming industry?
Likewise. I purchased 2142 on EA Link a few eeks back. This is...interesting news.
As did I. Along with the booster pack and the previous boosters for BF2. I was actually going to download them again last night after my TF2 matches. I am going to check this out tonight. If any of this holds true it will be the last time I touch an EA product.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrackZero
Ugh, that's such a pet peeve of mine. "People in quotes must be respected and right, because a quote of someone who's dead or famous must mean something." - Some other guy getting quoted.o.O
If you buy from EA, you deserve to get screwed, as far as I'm concerned.
I have around 250 games, and six or seven are from EA (I regret all but one of them). I'll buy Spore whenever it finally arrives. Other titles? I don't think so.
I hate EA. I don't care if there's any reason not to. I hate EA.
