EA does it again

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

from www.gamespot.com-

"The Xbox 360 has been out for almost a year, and publishers are still experimenting to find the best way to make money and serve their customers with downloadable content for games. The latest approach comes from Electronic Arts, which has released a handful of downloadable add-ons for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 on the Xbox Live Marketplace today.

What makes some of these add-ons unusual is that they merely give players instant access to things they would normally have to unlock in the course of normal play. So gamers can download the Unlock Golfer and Unlock Courses add-ons for 200 points ($2.50) each and open up all the hidden golfers and courses in the game without ever having to set foot on the virtual fairways.

Players wanting to take a shortcut to greatness can also shell out 200 points for the Maxed-Out Player add-on, which will set their created golfers' stats to 110 percent across the board. Finally, the more expensive Pro Shop add-on (300 points, or $3.75) will unlock all of the pro shop gear for the player's use.

Not all of the Tiger Woods add-ons being offered can be earned by actually playing the game, however. The Sunday Tiger download (240 points, or $3) is exclusive to the Marketplace, and allows players to hit the links as Woods in his trademark tournament-ending red shirt.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the Xbox 360 is scheduled to release later this week. It is rated E for Everyone and will retail for $59.99. "

Yes, it's everybody's choice as to whether they want to purchase unlockables or not and I can see selling NEW downloadable content but to sell off stuff already "in the game" that you're supposed to earn (or will probably earn in time anyway)? What's next?

RivaOni · Full English! Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

It is a bit meh, but at the same time, many many people are bone idle and wouldnt give a crap about paying for it if it meant they could have everything thats waiting to be unlocked there for a price.

Look at all the people buying and selling college/uni papers online.....

Shurikane · Dim Panties As String Joined: 24 Sep 2002

That's existed for a while. Codemasters does the same thing. You get a unique code inside your game, call up Codemasters, pay a fee, and they give you back a code that lets you unlock everything in the game.

Hoth · Guitarist Gender: Joined: 10 Oct 2002

Yup and besides, I think its a great shortcut to not having to play golf for the rest of my life to get anywhere. eeeee.... virtual golf.

Daijaga · Chosen of Luck Gender: Joined: 17 Dec 2003

I just hope that we dont see a decline of actual cheat codes in favor of "pay codes". Thats just wrong.

Sebastian · Junior Otaku Gender: Joined: 27 Sep 2006

Wow. That would an actual end-of-the-world scenario

Daijaga · Chosen of Luck Gender: Joined: 17 Dec 2003

Dont put it past companies. They're out to sell content and make money. In the far reeches of video game making's past, making game wasn't a big money machine. These days even fledgling companies can make several hundred grand a year producing small time material. With the integration of the internet with consoles, youll see a ton of this microselling in the future. Personally, I think its ok. Its their content to sell, and no one gets paid more for putting easter eggs in a game, but you may sell more copies over time. This way you get what you want, and they make a buck too.

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

Sciler · Mistress Age: 46 Gender: Joined: 15 Sep 2002

/defensive on

Ok, dont just be blaming EA for this, many games out have been doing stuff like this since the release of the 360... not just EA. And if you dont want to spend the points/money... then dont, as you stated, its content that is already there if you actually have the time and patience to unlock things. if you do, kudos. I know that lately I havent had as much time to devote to long gaming sessions anymore, so stuff like this is actually not too bad to me, since I just dont have the time to unlock all the hidden goodies in games anymore.

Maybe I am a tad biased because my bf happens to work for them, and the games that EA sells, is what allows us a place to live and whatnot. He works 80 hr weeks sometimes for weeks at a time, to make sure that YOU guys the consumers can have games to play in a timely manner. So maybe when EA gets bashed I'm a tad sensitive, but to solely point the fingers at them is just wrong.

/defensive off

RivaOni · Full English! Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

Plus, Sciler, without EA's erm "generosity", Gamepulse wouldnt of gotten off the ground.

SO all of you think about that! If it werent for EA, Sciler would be homeless and her blokey would be jobless and I would be without free games.........

ignore that last part about me Wink