EA's Project Ten Dollar Fuck

[Madrun Badrun]

So all of this years EA titles will have DLC and they are going to continue the shitty trend of shipping some of the games content locked so that people who buy used games get fucked. 

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I'm pretty sure DA and HL2 360 are the only EA games I own

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You may have noticed that in the past few months, EA has begun to provide content that's free to purchasers of new games, but costs serious money for those buying second-hand. It's no co-incidence. It's called "Project Ten Dollar".

As part of the company's attempts to combat the sale of pre-owned games - where profits go to the retailer, not the publisher - Electronic Arts boss John Riccitiello assembled his executives in New York City last year for a "brainstorming session". What they came up with was "Project Ten Dollar".

With a name that like that, I hope Riccitiello didn't just say "yeah, approved" or something equally dull. I hope he leaned back in his chair, pointed at a dossier and said "Men...commence Project Ten Dollar". Then took a drag of a cigarette, gazed out the window, and muttered "and may God help us all....."

Project Ten Dollar made its debut in Dragon Age and, more publicly, with Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network, but you can expect to see it a lot more going forwards. I mean, it has a codename! You know a company is serious about a campaign when it's given a snappy codename.

With all of EA's 2011 titles to feature DLC of some kind, it'd be safe to assume that most of those games, if not all of them, will feature the same kind of system, whereby DLC that's free for purchasers of new games costs $10 for anyone buying the game second-hand.

[Van Cruncheon]

i got no problem with this, it doesn't shit on the used market, but it gives incentives to buy new.

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, I don't really care either.

[Great Rumbler]

If they do it like ME2, I don't really have a problem with it.

[Stoney Mason]

I gamefly their games anyway so I don't really care. However the line between Project 10 Dollar and Dragon Age style fuckery I'm sure will be blurred quite a bit since they do both styles.

[Madrun Badrun]

I don't mind it, as long as legit buyers get the DLC for free, like they are doing with Mass Effect 2 (so far).
Once they start to charge for download keys, that's crossing the line.

The keys expire after a certain time length.  So even if you by it new you may still have to pay extra.

[Great Rumbler]

Yes, they do expire. After TWO YEARS.

[Madrun Badrun]

Yes, they do expire. After TWO YEARS.

Wasn't the DA one only like 5 months or something?  I'll check when I get home, but I'm sure it was a short amount of time.

[The Fake Shemp]

To be fair, who really cares if EA gouges you for Dragon-Age DLC? There charging $40 for an expansion just months after the game is released, and it looks like there is another expansion on the way this Fall. Fans are just getting fucked.

If Mass Effect 2 is the template, then it's all good.

[Eel O'Brian]

Just checked, Dragon Age DLC codes expire on April 30, 2010

I have no problem with the practice, but if they're gonna do it there shouldn't be any expiration codes at all

As it stands now, if you buy a brand new copy of DA on May 1st you gotta cough up the dough, and that's bullshit

[The Fake Shemp]

Yes, but Dragon Age: Awakening will be out by then!

[Stoney Mason]

To be fair, who really cares if EA gouges you for Dragon-Age DLC? There charging $40 for an expansion just months after the game is released, and it looks like there is another expansion on the way this Fall.

If Mass Effect 2 is the template, then it's all good.

Oh I don't have a problem with DLC or Dragon Age DLC. I think those Day 1 content stuff from Dragon Age that had features that should have been in the regular game is what bugged me there.

They can and will crank out a shitload of DLC for Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 which they will do.

I don't have a problem with them trying to incentivize new game sales over used game sales as long as they don't rape the actual game in the process or just use it as a backdoor method to charge for DLC in general that either should be in the game proper or imbalances the game. (Here I'm referencing the idea that they will sell things in Bad Company 2, however since we know nothing about that yet, I won't say anything. That could be completely harmless)

[Madrun Badrun]

Exactly.  There isn't even a need for a code really and they are a pain to input when you really just want to play the game.  You should just be able to put in the game and download, then EA can keep track of which games have downloaded already.  The only time you need the code is for someone who doesn't have online access.     

[Stoney Mason]

Just checked, Dragon Age DLC codes expire on April 30, 2010

I have no problem with the practice, but if they're gonna do it there shouldn't be any expiration codes at all

As it stands now, if you buy a brand new copy of DA on May 1st you gotta cough up the dough, and that's bullshit

Agreed.

Some of their games also have stuff in them where if you didn't preorder the game you aren't getting access to certain modes for a limited time. That's also kind of bullshit imo. You are telling me if I go down to the store and buy your game on launch day that still isn't good enough for me to play the full game?

They are free to do it of course but it personally makes me not buy certain EA product if that is going to be the case.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

this is a great idea and I totally support it, unconditionally

gamers have no one to blame but themselves and their willingness to pay $57.99 for a used copy of a $59.99 game

[Madrun Badrun]

Also my guess is we are all going to be fucked when we try and play these games on the next xbox.  I'd assume that Microsoft will have some solution to transfer xbla games and other content but EA being EA will initiate plan Project Ten Dollar Fuck Again. 

[TripleA]

i got no problem with this, it doesn't shit on the used market, but it gives incentives to buy new.

So fuck me without the lube, so long as I don't bleed it's cool.

Right.

[Stoney Mason]

If Mass Effect 2 is the template they use, it's fine by me. Please reward me for spending the $60 but don't fuck me over by cutting maps or weapons from the game, then try to charge me extra for it.

I also don't have a problem if Mass Effect is the template. I did gamefly on it and bought the Cerberus Network. So they got $10 from me they normally wouldn't have which I'm fine with. Especially since it was a great game.

Was it worth the $10 dollars?

Extra character that doesn't really talk and access to a room that otherwise I wouldn't have been able to enter that serves no purpose, A  normandy mission. Some weapons and armor.

Probably not. But I'm not offended and I willingly did it so.

[demi]

Dont care, I got hookups that get codes for free.

Renting ME2, getting free Cerberus Network

[archie4208]

Wait, so if I bought the OG Dragon Age off Steam in June, I'd have to spend an extra $10 for the DLC?  That's pretty dumb.

[Madrun Badrun]

Wait, so if I bought the OG Dragon Age off Steam in June, I'd have to spend an extra $10 for the DLC?  That's pretty dumb.

Not only that but it's only about a half hour of extra game play (and a character).

[magus]

what's the extra content of mass effect? dumb stuff like costumes and shit like that?

[demi]

what's the extra content of mass effect? dumb stuff like costumes and shit like that?

New character (plus mission), new place to explore, new armor and weapons

Future content planned (or rumored): Another new character, missions involving a vehicle, level cap increase to 60 (probably some huge ass expansion)

[maxy]

I think that this free is stuff is just a way to get people to embrace the service,after that it will be,money please.

[Stoney Mason]

I think that this free is stuff is just a way to get people to embrace the service,after that it will be,money please.

There will definitely be paid DLC through it. They have said as much.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

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[ManaByte]

Anything that makes Gamestop squirm is good.

Companies that fuck over the second hand market = awesome

Companies that delay digital download versions of their games to suck Gamestops dick = distinguished mentally-challenged fellows

[Beezy]

This thread reminded me that I need to finally get the DLC for Mirror's Edge and Burnout Paradise. Maybe Lost Odyssey too.

[Cravis]

Anything that makes Gamestop squirm is good.

Companies that fuck over the second hand market = awesome

Amen. I'll glady pay an extra $3-5 just so I don't have to get all of Gamestop's nasty used stickers off my cases. Now they're even sticking them on the game's spine. To pour salt on the wound they're putting them on the actual insert! 

[ManaByte]

You have EA doing this, but then you have idiots like Gearbox who delay the digital download (Steam, D2D) version of Borderlands just to make Gamestop happy.

[originalz]

Ten dolla!

Dem 10bux would better be used for a Something Awful forum account!

[fistfulofmetal]

what exactly is Mass Effect 2's template? You get access to the Cerberus network and you get access to the DLC? So far everything has been free, will that continue?

[The Fake Shemp]

Of course not.

[ManaByte]

what exactly is Mass Effect 2's template? You get access to the Cerberus network and you get access to the DLC? So far everything has been free, will that continue?

Better than paying $12 for Cerberus if you buy a used ME2 though.

[brob]

As long as it isn't a fucking hassle I don't care.

  EA account, Bioware account, linked to saves, etc. 

[Bebpo]

Ten dolla!

Dem 10bux would better be used for a Something Awful forum account!

What about Cave games leaving off black label and selling it day1 for $15 =P

[originalz]

Well, the BL expansions aren't really day 1 DLC, and they're based on different versions of the arcade which often play differently enough to make for a whole different game.  Something comparable would be how Deathsmiles had the voice pack, or Mushihime had the 1.01 card only available in new purchases, which did annoy a lot of people since there's no way to get the content otherwise.

[Bebpo]

I dunno.  They seem like a bigger ripoff than anything anyone else is doing with day 1 DLC.

and I'm a Cave fan who still buys them anyways, but they are pretty much screwing over their niche fanbase for extra $$$

[Trent Dole]

As long as it isn't a fucking hassle I don't care.

  EA account, Bioware account, linked to saves, etc. 

Yeah, that's total bullshit.

In order to grab the Cerberus pack I needed three fucking accounts (EA/XBL/BW). Come the fuck on, EA.

Are you serious? Screw that.