Support NeoGAF

[rac]

well they still can. if they want this ea access crap they are free to go buy xbox and for the record i dont want masses of ill-informed public making these type of decisions

What about the users on the PS4 that would like to pay for it? Just ill-informed right, what a joke.

 

[DangerMouse]

now why do you need to pay netflix if the studios/publishers have a subscription model? wouldn't you rather cut the middle man and pay the content creators directly?

Not if I'd have to pay a monthly fee to each movie publisher separately which would be a ton of subscriptions, in such a case I'd rather pay one monthly fee to Netflix (or whoever) that provides movies and TV shows from multiple publishers.

 

[EdgeXL]

well they still can. if they want this ea access crap they are free to go buy xbox and for the record i dont want masses of ill-informed public making these type of decisions

You may not want people buying things you do not like or voting the way you do not like either. I for one am glad that there is considerable competition in this industry.

 

[CosmicQueso]

The indie defense force always comes out if anyone ever expresses they'd like retail games to be provided in PS4 PS+. Nothing is wrong with the indie experiences but this isn't all people expect from PS+, and you can't tell me Knack and KZ are still selling like hot cakes. They should be permanents on the list, much like Uncharted was on PS+ Vita.

Theoretical... EA's service launches. Has the 4 games listed, couple more get added over time. These are big games that once launched at $60 that are older now, maybe cost $20 retail.

Sony's been running mostly smaller games, occasional bigger game, on PS4 PS+. Seeing EA's offering, does no one think Sony would be incentivized or pushed to add more games to the PS+ offering? Or, as you mention, make some more permanent, like on the Vita?

Not if I'd have to pay a monthly fee to each movie publisher separately which would be a ton of subscriptions, in such a case I'd rather pay one monthly fee to Netflix (or whoever) that provides movies and TV shows from multiple publishers.

So no one here gets or likes HBOGo?

 

[FiggyCal]

We really don't need every game publisher to create their own subscription plans on top of what Sony and Microsoft are already offering. It's like having prime, Netflix and Redbox subscriptions.

 

[Scully Scully Scoo]

Who cares if their purpose is the same, if the publishers are more inclined to offer different, additional content on their own service than they would on Sony's? It is fine that you are happy to remain ignorant about what publishers might offer in terms of monthly bundles and deals on Playstation if they weren't strictly confined to playing by Sony's rules. Other people might be willing to find out and make the choice between these other services and PSPlus.

so sony/ms have been holding ea back? ea must have been ready to give us all 50% off bf4 at launch right but the bad guys over at sony/ms said no. this has nothing to do with offering customers better value, i dont see how people are not understanding this

 

[bebop24]

Even though this might be a good business decision for Sony, its a bad one for consumers. Sony gamers are not given the choice to whether or not to use the service.

 

[Alienous]

I'd rather have Fez than Madden, thanks. And this coming from someone with marginally non-zero interest in Fez.

And I'm sure you'd rather have Road Not Taken over Battlefield 4 or Peggle 2. It doesn't really matter, the option is what's important. An option that PS4 consumers are being denied, because reasons.

 

[Rurunaki]

EA Vault: It's where we keep our Value-ables

 

[Afrikan]

i also wonder if this begins to explain EA's extreme favoritism toward Xbox One given the obvious market conditions. I mean there are other easy reasons, and Microsoft is paying up of course, but I wonder if EA has been trying to have these discussions with Sony for a while and Sony just told them no. Since this is probably going to be a big part of EA's business going forward (or so they hope), they would potentially be a decent reason to give massive preference to Xbox.

I just hope this would lead to Sony not kissing EA's ass anymore, and creating an American Football game again....doesn't need to be licensed. But a FULLY customizable football game, with Euphoria physics...and Road to the Show type single player.

I mean EA is eventually going to try to cut into Sony's Baseball Market and release MVP Baseball..and heck might even get help funding from Microsoft and have it MS exclusive.

 

[Neuromancer]

As for Sony's response, I don't know what else they could have said. They could have come up with a better excuse though, Sony's PR has been excellent up until now. This is their first real blunder.

Would you go so far as to say that they've shot themselves in the foot?

 

[jem0208]

games a year old or more cost $60? lol, and the 10% discount on all titles well why cant they just offer that through xbl/psn right now? purchase an ea title get 10% off another one, whats stopping them from doing it right now?

I'm referring to if you were buying a brand new game.

And what's wrong with them offering this? Sure they could do that, but they aren't. They're doing this and currently this is a pretty good deal.

Would you go so far as to say that they've shot themselves in the foot?

Eh, it's not too bad. Still it's not exactly positive, and Sony's PR so far has been pretty damn perfect. Which makes it all the more worse.

 

[DoubleTake]

Is there a reason that EA Vault couldn't be an app like Netflix? Do people always call Sony if Netflix has a problem?

I get that games are not movies and there is more of a chance for confusion, but doesn't seem like a good excuse. Especially since we don't know how it will be implemented.

EA Vault does not have a wide array of content from different sources like Netflix so there is no comparison.

Netflix is the host for the content which is provided by differing sources(DC, Paramount, Etc), so if there is a problem people will go to Netflix for answers.

Your comment makes no sense...

 

[FleetFeet]

You may not want people buying things you do not like or voting the way you do not like either. I for one am glad that there is considerable competition in this industry.

To you it's competition, to me it's eroding the rights we have as consumers... this will eventually lead to a digital only future with EA as a gatekeeper. Just stop for a moment and think about that. Think about when EA has actually done something in the benefit for the consumer, I mean when has EA not tried to pull a fast one on consumers for a quick buck. Now try to imagine what that future would be like.

 

[Karl Hawk]

Would you go so far as to say that they've shot themselves in the foot?

And that the age of Sony is over? /s

 

[EdgeXL]

We really don't need every game publisher to create their own subscription plans on top of what Sony and Microsoft are already offering. It's like having prime, Netflix and Redbox subscriptions.

If you truly believe that then I trust you have no problems letting companies offer their subscription plans and letting them fail if the market does not think it is a good value?

 

[icespide]

Would you go so far as to say that they've shot themselves in the foot?

I'm surprised no one has pulled out that meme yet

 

[EdwardTeach]

I agree with sony. I am happy with PS+ I wouldn't want there to be 3 or 4 publisher subscriptions on top of that. If that happened we would all be paying more and PS+ will be a worse service as the top publishers wont release their games on it.

 

[2 Slice Toaster]

so sony/ms have been holding ea back? ea must have been ready to give us all 50% off bf4 at launch right but the bad guys over at sony/ms said no. this has nothing to do with offering customers better value, i dont see how people are not understanding this

Well yes, Sony blocking this is not about offering customers a better value, I will agree with you on that point.

 

[Scully Scully Scoo]

What about the users on the PS4 that would like to pay for it? Just ill-informed right, what a joke.

u mean like the users that didnt want to have to pay for multiplayer but now have to because of this so called consumer choice crap thats trapped everyone under the same umbrella now?

You may not want people buying things you do not like or voting the way you do not like either. I for one am glad that there is considerable competition in this industry.

competition is good but this isnt competing with ps+ or ps now. this is ea pulling some bullshit again

 

[CosmicQueso]

If you truly believe that then I trust you have no problems letting companies offer their subscription plans and letting them fail if the market does not think it is a good value?

Right, people said the same things about HBOGo and that seems to have worked out okay.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Would you go so far as to say that they've shot themselves in the foot?

They took an arrow to the knee.

 

[EdgeXL]

To you it's competition, to me it's eroding the rights we have as consumers... this will eventually lead to a digital only future with EA as a gatekeeper. Just stop for a moment and think about that. Think about when EA has actually done something in the benefit for the consumer, I mean when has EA not tried to pull a fast one on consumers for a quick buck. Now try to imagine what that future would be like.

No, it won't.

Physical game sales will still be around for quite a while.

EA is not a gatekeeper. In the case of PlayStation Sony is the gatekeeper. In the case of Xbox Microsoft is the gatekeeper. We will still be able to choose the gatekeeper that are more appealing to us.

Think about when EA has actually done something in the benefit for the consumer,

The EA Humble Bundle

The Origin On The House program (what is wrong with truly free games?)

Titanfall 50% off.

 

[Amir0x]

Momentary fulfillment of my entitlement to options will lead to future gouging of my wallet and yours.

I mean that may be true, but in principle I just prefer if companies let people vote with their wallets on an issue like this. Gamers might give in anyway down the line, and then it'd be an industry I wouldn't want to be a part of. But that's my problem. In principle, I prefer the ability for gamers to have the option. That side of me slightly won out in this argument in my head, but it did win out.

It's slightly different from changing the core fundamental rule of how ALL games would function through a console, for example.

 

[Afrikan]

Even though this might be a good business decision for Sony, its a bad one for consumers. Sony gamers are not given the choice to whether or not to use the service.

um.......can't the same be said with all the other stuff Microsoft has on Live, compared to PSN. Like all those APPS?

what about Sony being F2P friendly and having all these free games for people...and they don't hide it behind the paywall. Yet Microsoft is not giving their gamers a choice for those types of F2P games?

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Dunno, we'll see what happens I guess.

Right now, as a PS4 owner, I don't care. Yes, it sounds like a good deal. But its a single publisher, and the games they are starting off with dont entice me too much.

What is this service going to look like 6 months down the road, when all of a sudden EA has tried up their current gen catalogue?

 

[tbm24]

To you it's competition, to me it's eroding the rights we have as consumers... this will eventually lead to a digital only future with EA as a gatekeeper. Just stop for a moment and think about that. Think about when EA has actually done something in the benefit for the consumer, I mean when has EA not tried to pull a fast one on consumers for a quick buck. Now try to imagine what that future would be like.

Only way this would happen is if the next generation consoles come without disc drives. Seeing how well that when this time around, I don't think it's likely to be a popular idea for the next generation. With that being the case, I don't see why EA would ever stop selling retail games. Why is it unlikely that both will exist?

 

[EdgeXL]

u mean like the users that didnt want to have to pay for multiplayer but now have to because of this so called consumer choice crap thats trapped everyone under the same umbrella now?

competition is good but this isnt competing with ps+ or ps now. this is ea pulling some bullshit again

What bullshit? Letting people choose to access older EA games and early access on newer titles while still having the option to buy games the way they have been for decades?

 

[Neuromancer]

And I'm sure you'd rather have Road Not Taken over Battlefield 4 or Peggle 2. It doesn't really matter, the option is what's important. An option that PS4 consumers are being denied, because reasons.

You're right, I would.

Here's the problem: this option unequivocally undercuts Sony's own games program and subscription service. It doesn't make much sense for Sony to allow it and as the shopkeeper of sorts it's completely within their rights to protect their self interests, and honestly the interests of their customers. (Which is to say, if I'm already a PS+ member, and for some reason I like EA, then I want EA games to show up there and not on a competing service on the same platform)

The only reason MS agreed to it, probably, is the same reason they promised to give EA a cut of every Xbox Gold subscription as they were getting ready to launch the 360, which is to say, they're EA's bitches sometimes.

 

[Alienous]

We really don't need every game publisher to create their own subscription plans on top of what Sony and Microsoft are already offering. It's like having prime, Netflix and Redbox subscriptions.

That's a misinformed idea. There aren't many publishers that could offer enough to maintain a subscription service. Similarly, there aren't many publishers that have an online game distribution service. Activision doesn't have a Steam competitor for instance.

 

[rac]

u mean like the users that didnt want to have to pay for multiplayer but now have to because of this so called consumer choice crap thats trapped everyone under the same umbrella now?

No one is forced to pay for mp. You still have a choice, I guess you are just ill-informed.

 

[flkraven]

Are you seriously trying to frame BF Premium as actual benefit for consumers because it didn't exist during BF:BC??? Ummm... I dunno, maybe like limiting the number of maps available for vanilla BF customers... breaking the community up due to the fact that majority of the maps are locked behind a DLC paywall... the actual value of said maps is almost equal to the full asking price of the game itself. Oh did it forget to mention how the shipped the game while it was a broken mess, and still is months after? Yeah... great value add, for sure.

Cool your jets dude. My argument was that these options don't affect me, so your slippery slope argument was invalid. Just because these options exist doesn't mean I get any less content. Almost all of your arguments hold no water. Can you provide evidence that vanilla bf4 has substantially less maps than previous? We're the quality and scope of those maps the same? The community breakup has not been a problem since vanilla gamers can still easily find full servers. The value of the dlc is irrelevant since you don't have to buy it, and the broken ass state of the game has nothing to do with Premium. So you've proven nothing.

 

[icespide]

I'd subscribe to Platinum Games Access

 

[Alienous]

You're right, I would.

Here's the problem: this option unequivocally undercuts Sony's own games program and subscription service. It doesn't make much sense for Sony to allow it and as the shopkeeper of sorts it's completely within their rights to protect their self interests, and honestly the interests of their customers.

The only reason MS agreed to it, probably, is the same reason they promised to give EA a cut of every Xbox Gold subscription as they were getting ready to launch the 360, which is to say, they're EA's bitches sometimes.

Fine, you get it. Others don't. They think Sony is protecting them.

They're just protecting their own interests. It is blatantly anti-consumer.

 

[Dunlop]

No one is forced to pay for mp. You still have a choice, I guess you are just ill-informed.

Odd statement, if you want to play mp then you are forced
Not seeing the original quote, my statement is true for ps4

 

[Rurunaki]

What bullshit? Letting people choose to access older EA games and early access on newer titles while still having the option to buy games the way they have been for decades?

So, why can't they work that out with Sony on PSNow? People mentioned that this EA Vault is a collaborative effort from both EA and MS. Why would EA insists on having their own subscription system when you can easily incorporate that to PS+ or Gold Live?

 

[Amentallica]

Do some of you lose your nerves when you realize that options available to iOS or Android are not available on the other?

Poorly worded, I mean, yea, inaccessibility to basic functionalities piss me off. Actually, I don't know where I'm going with this. Forget what I said.

 

[FranXico]

Odd statement, if you want to play mp then you are forced

Unless it's a F2P game.

 

[Scully Scully Scoo]

I'm referring to if you were buying a brand new game.

And what's wrong with them offering this? Sure they could do that, but they aren't. They're doing this and currently this is a pretty good deal.

so they could just offer great deal in the model that currently exists but they are choosing not to lol typical ea wanting to create a walled garden. and no way in hell ea offers new games, min 1 year old + without any dlc

I agree with sony. I am happy with PS+ I wouldn't want there to be 3 or 4 publisher subscriptions on top of that. If that happened we would all be paying more and PS+ will be a worse service as the top publishers wont release their games on it.

preach

Well yes, Sony blocking this is not about offering customers a better value, I will agree with you on that point.

if u think ea is doing this for customer value i dont think u know who ea are

 

[FranXico]

I'd subscribe to Platinum Games Access

Funny you should mention that. I played MGR through PS+ and bought Vanquish with a PS+ discount.

 

[Neuromancer]

Fine, you get it. Others don't. They think Sony is protecting them.

They're just protecting their own interests. It is blatantly anti-consumer.

I disagree completely that in protecting their own interests they're being anti-consumer. Another analogy but this is like a shop deciding not to carry a product they think sucks. Is that anti consumer? Of course not.

I'd subscribe to Platinum Games Access

Shh let's not give them ideas...

 

[EdgeXL]

So, why can't they work that out with Sony on PSNow? People mentioned that this EA Vault is a collaborative effort from both EA and MS. Why would EA insists on having their own subscription system when you can easily incorporate that to PS+ or Gold Live?

Perhaps because EA has plans to extend this service to Origin or even tablets in the future?

I honestly see PS Now and EA Access as good choices to have.

 

[FleetFeet]

No, it won't.

Physical game sales will still be around for quite a while.

EA is not a gatekeeper. In the case of PlayStation Sony is the gatekeeper. In the case of Xbox Microsoft is the gatekeeper. We will still be able to choose the gatekeeper that are more appealing to us.


The EA Humble Bundle

The Origin On The House program (what is wrong with truly free games?)

Titanfall 50% off.

I don't doubt they will, but this service is a way to greatly increase the transition to an all digital future... and while EA might use the MS storefront as a facilitator for their products, they still have final say over what you and cannot do with your games. EA has all their rights reserved to take away your titles if they see fit... to me that speaks gatekeeper.

Fair points, but...

Humble bundle is only PC, right? That's nice PC gamers get the benefit, but what about us console gamers?

The Origin deal, I feel is more like a way to actually entice people to sign up to origin... but hey, I'm just very cynical when it comes to EA.

And Titanfall for 50% to me says that they did not meet expectations and are trying to increase sales, which in the end does lead to great deals for consumers, so I guess you got me there!

 

[Alienous]

I agree with sony. I am happy with PS+ I wouldn't want there to be 3 or 4 publisher subscriptions on top of that. If that happened we would all be paying more and PS+ will be a worse service as the top publishers wont release their games on it.

Gah!

EA Vault doesn't stop you from buying games outside of it. That would be a different issue.

Maybe it will be different one day. It isn't now. And Sony's excuse for refusing it is horseshit.

 

[Scully Scully Scoo]

No one is forced to pay for mp. You still have a choice, I guess you are just ill-informed.

and no one is forcing ps4 owners to keep the damn thing, sell it and buy xbox. 2 way street

What bullshit? Letting people choose to access older EA games and early access on newer titles while still having the option to buy games the way they have been for decades?

why cant they offer those same games through xbl/ps+ right now? why cant they provide the early access thing right now? whats stopping them?

 

[jem0208]

so they could just offer great deal in the model that currently exists but they are choosing not to lol typical ea wanting to create a walled garden. and no way in hell ea offers new games, min 1 year old + without any dlc

Huh?

So essentially getting paid $1 for a month of free games is bad value?

If you are set on buying a new game, this is nothing but good value. This isn't a walled garden.

 

[FiggyCal]

If you truly believe that then I trust you have no problems letting companies offer their subscription plans and letting them fail if the market does not think it is a good value?

I don't think they'd fail. I just don't like the idea of every publisher deciding to start their own subscription plans and not put value into ps plus (which I have an account with for the next couple of years).

 

[sunnz]

I mean... "the best of everything"?

Or, for $5 more a month I can throw BF and Madden or whatever on the list?

I always download the PS+ games, but let's be real here. Fez is a hell of a good game, but it ain't exactly a screaming deal. The effort is there, sure, but what's wrong with additional options.

The additional options is the part that makes this deal from EA sound great.

BUT remember THIS IS EA we are talking about. I would bet $200 that a couple months from now we will start seeing exclusive content for games being available ONLY to those with this subscription. I don't mean content created specifically for people with the subscription, I mean content that was created for the game but then locked off for those who pay extra, like how "DLC" is offered now a days, both day 1 DLC and retailer DLC.

BF5, get our vault service and get exclusive guns/camo and heck, we might even see exclusive maps...

I love the idea of this and want it to work how we all want and expect it to, I want SONY to do a 180 and try to offer it but it most likely wont be what we expect it to be, because EA.

If worse comes to worse and it gets big, next we will see others do the exact same, we might be in a place were you pay $60 for 50% of a game, get the other 20% from a exclusive retailer, other 10% from day 1 downloadable DLC you can buy and the other 20% from being a part of there subscription service...



Expectations.

 

[jackdoe]

Sony is almost definitely not allowing this because it could set a precedent and hurt Playstation Plus. However, they are right about the EA Access plan being a horrible value. EA doesn't have a hell of a lot of Xbox One or PS4 games right now and most of their titles are sports titles. And most of their upcoming titles within the year are sports titles. So if you're an EA sports fan, then I guess this plan is for you. If you're not, then save that $30 and pick up Dragon Age Inquisition for $40 two weeks later.

Now, if EA retooled this to be a plan that is supported on 360, Xbox One, PC, PS3, and PS4 and included a vast library of older titles, then it could be a worthwhile bargain.

 

[Amentallica]

Gah!

EA Vault doesn't stop you from buying games outside of it. That would be a different issue.

Maybe it will be different one day. It isn't now. And Sony's excuse for refusing it is horseshit.

Sony's refusal to allow EA Vault doesn't stop you from buying EA games, either.