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A SimCity Update

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Re: A SimCity Update

#21

Post by UnoriginalGuy »

socillion wrote: post #10
jader201 wrote: post #3

> And to get us back in your good graces, we’re going to offer you a free PC download game from the EA portfolio. > I know that’s a little contrived – kind of like buying a present for a friend after you did something crummy. But we feel bad about what happened. We’re hoping you won’t stay mad and that we’ll be friends again when SimCity is running at 100 percent. To me, this seems insulting. They know most of their…

It is worth noting that Blizzard has a policy of 30day refunds, which had no noticeable affect on the PR catastrophe called Diablo 3.

Even without DIII's always-on DRM it was always going to have a bumpy launch. People's expectations were just insane by the time the game actually hit and they were bound to be left disappointed no matter what. The always-on DRM and downtime just added insult to injury.

I think in retrospect, instead of going the refund route, Blizzard could have listened to people and then set out a plan for the game in the first few months (i.e. how they'll address a lot of the issues).

But frankly if they were going to do that they would have done so during the extended "beta" where most of the same issue were brought up.

Re: A SimCity Update

#22

Post by praxeologist »

kevinconroy wrote: post #8

"And a result of this public outcry, we've decided to remove the DRM that is crippling this otherwise great software." - Said no company ever

Is there any hope that this game will ever be pirated? I understand that there is some type of online-only DRM, but aren't some games like WoW played on private servers? I liked the old SimCity games, but probably won't even bother looking into this one for a while.

It's a bit of a different type of game, Diablo 2-esque, but if anyone hasn't tried Path of Exile, I suggest it. A small, independent studio just launched much more smoothly than EA can, is pretty good about how they treat players and is adding content weekly.

Re: A SimCity Update

#23

Post by scottchin »

> And to get us back in your good graces, we’re going to offer you a free PC download game from the EA portfolio.

I can't help but think of the "20$ off your next purchase" pre-order bonus. Which, if you read the fine print, must be used within 2 weeks, and from a select list of really old games, and only applies to a purchase of 30$.

Re: A SimCity Update

#24

Post by dclowd9901 »

socialist_coder wrote: post #2

Who wants to bet that the free game will be limited to 2+ year old titles? And still no acknowledgment for the people that either don't care to play online or can't maintain a stable internet connection. Want to play while travelling? Want to play while in the military & deployed? Fuck you!

$100 says its Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012). Just new enough to not feel like a cheap jab, but not so new it hurts them in any way.

Re: A SimCity Update

#25

Post by lighthazard »

praxeologist wrote: post #22
kevinconroy wrote: post #8

"And a result of this public outcry, we've decided to remove the DRM that is crippling this otherwise great software." - Said no company ever

Is there any hope that this game will ever be pirated? I understand that there is some type of online-only DRM, but aren't some games like WoW played on private servers? I liked the old SimCity games, but probably won't even bother looking into this one for a while. It's a bit of a different type of game, Diablo 2-esque, but if anyone hasn't tried Path of Exile, I suggest it. A small, independent studio just launched…

From what I've seen, it's certainly a possibility. I'm not sure how it works but I know that a fake server would be used. This has been done for another game http://torrentfreak.com/ubisofts-uber-drm-cracked-within-a-d...

Re: A SimCity Update

#26

Post by zanny »

praxeologist wrote: post #22
kevinconroy wrote: post #8

"And a result of this public outcry, we've decided to remove the DRM that is crippling this otherwise great software." - Said no company ever

Is there any hope that this game will ever be pirated? I understand that there is some type of online-only DRM, but aren't some games like WoW played on private servers? I liked the old SimCity games, but probably won't even bother looking into this one for a while. It's a bit of a different type of game, Diablo 2-esque, but if anyone hasn't tried Path of Exile, I suggest it. A small, independent studio just launched…

Starcraft 2 got its always-online cracked, as did most of the Ubisoft titles forcing it like Assassins Creed 2. I think the only example without good cracks is Diablo 3, and I know if I was a game cracker I wouldn't even bother, just because D3 sucked for me.

I imagine SimCity has enough publicity the warez crowd is jumping all over the opportunity to be first to crack it. People I know that have played it called BS on all the allegations that anything critical to the game running is server side, because the servers can go down while they are playing and they only lose saves and achievements.

Re: A SimCity Update

#27

Post by bobx11 »

kevinconroy wrote: post #8

"And a result of this public outcry, we've decided to remove the DRM that is crippling this otherwise great software." - Said no company ever

I always thought I was not the crazy one that wouldn't buy a game because of the DRM, but I'm finally that guy. I love the Sim City games and remember playing them since the 90's, but I can't pay into a company which preferred the DRM over playability and kept the DRM even when it meant making people wait instead of releasing a patch with more responsible DRM to truly fix the problem.

Re: A SimCity Update

#28

Post by tfe »

jaggederest wrote: post #17
jmspring wrote: post #12

Can someone explain the following - People are upset with the game -- sounds like it is unplayable Most of those people paid with credit card. I understand the desire to want to play the game, but if EA is being a sh*t, why not go the charge dispute route?

EA will ban your Origin account. So if you own any other games, you lose them. Parenthetically, this move by them also ensures that everyone who purchased it will lose two games if they charge back the purchase...

How can this be allowed by their merchant agreements with the card companies?

Re: A SimCity Update

#29

Post by deminature »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #15
kevinconroy wrote: post #8

"And a result of this public outcry, we've decided to remove the DRM that is crippling this otherwise great software." - Said no company ever

It sometimes happens: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/05/the-witcher-2-patch-re...

Assuming you agree with CD Projekt's approach to gathering piracy statistics, the community rewarded them by pirating the game in extraordinarily large numbers, despite the gesture of good faith http://gamespot.com/news/the-witcher-2-pirated-45-million-ti...

Re: A SimCity Update

#30

Post by yohui »

rdl wrote: post #11
socialist_coder wrote: post #2

Who wants to bet that the free game will be limited to 2+ year old titles? And still no acknowledgment for the people that either don't care to play online or can't maintain a stable internet connection. Want to play while travelling? Want to play while in the military & deployed? Fuck you!

Doubtful, since most of the EA games I see on origin are either old or are "buy the game cheap, buy lots of expensive expansion packs" model. Giving SimCity buyers who bought on pre-order or release day a copy of Battlefield or The Sims is probably a great economic choice for Maxis/EA; they're the same people who will likely buy lots of expansions. The exception is what, Mass Effect (old now)? I guess there's Far Cry…

> Far Cry 3 and Assassin's Creed III

Could EA give away Ubisoft title? I expect they'd have to pay Ubisoft for each redemption if they did.

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