Suprising to no one, EA is in it for the money says Ex-BioWare Dev
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So I didn't see this posted on NeoGAF before the colapse, and I haven't actually listened to the podcast yet but in a recent episode of Waypoint Radio, ex-BioWare developer Manveer Heir came out and said:
Source: Vice Waypoint via Game Debate
[EA] only care about the highest return on investment. They don't actually care about what the players want, they care about what players will pay for. Those are subtly different things.Now I don't think this is suprising to anyone. Weir didn't stop there though, continuing to go into detail about how micro-transactions affected Mass Effect 3 and possibly how EA looks at games as a whole.
You need to understand the amount of money that's at play with microtransactions, I'm not allowed to say the number but I can tell you that when Mass Effect 3 multiplayer came out, those card packs we were selling, the amount of money we made just off those card packs was so significant that's the reason Dragon Age has multiplayer, that's the reason other EA products started getting multiplayer that hadn't really had them before, because we nailed it and brought in a ton of money. It's repeatable income versus one-time income. I've seen people literally spend $15,000 on Mass Effect multiplayer cards.
Source: Vice Waypoint via Game Debate
EA went out and got themselves some corporate sponsors. They're in it for the money, not the gaming.
It really should surprise no one. I get the fact that developing costs are rising, but I think there should be a balance, a healthy midpoint between not earning enough money to pay the devs and consumers getting fleeced (even willingly) by anti-consumer practices.
God I hate this microtransaction and lootboxes bullshit.
God I hate this microtransaction and lootboxes bullshit.
I've seen people literally spend $15,000 on Mass Effect multiplayer cards.Fuck?
I'm curious about how much money people spend on FIFA UT cards.
I've seen people literally spend $15,000 on Mass Effect multiplayer cards.
Absolutely bonkers. But yeah, EA being all in for the money is pretty damn obvious.
Even if i had that sort of money laying around i would never spend it on micro-transactions, it's just the principle of it all and simply just thinking of it of what i could spend 15 grand on lol.
It was cool hearing how candid he was on his experience working with them. Of course EA was in it for the money but the AAA arms race isn't feasible for the long run without trying to find alternate ways to find it. I'm no fan of tacked on multiplayer and needless loot boxes though.
By Ruga Go To PostSo like every major large company.Exactly. Every company ever wants to maintain a healthy and growing ROI (return on investment); that's how business works.
I get it, we all love to hate Electronic Arts, but this is hardly something to crucify them for.
By DY_nasty Go To Postyou can't prove it was me
You the only one I've seen risk it appears for ME3 MP so I think we can.
15k wtf
By DJ Lushious Go To PostExactly. Every company ever wants to maintain a healthy and growing ROI (return on investment); that's how business works.
I get it, we all love to hate Electronic Arts, but this is hardly something to crucify them for.
I'm sorry, I thought all these large companies and conglomerate really cared about me and my wellbeing :'(
I mean, all those ads and PR said so. HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO ME HOW COULD THEY
By DY_nasty Go To Postyou can't prove it was meI blame you anyway
To be fair to the ME3 multiplayer: that shit was solid as fuck. I would have dropped cash on ME:A multiplayer if it was a better version of the ME3 one.
I've seen people literally spend $15,000 on Mass Effect multiplayer cards.
people?
more than one person?
By rvy Go To Postpeople?You would be suprised how much money people waste on their Ultimate Team on Fifa for example.
more than one person?
Known plenty of people who spend like 2000€ per year on it, now imagine what someone with a different income would do.
It doesn't really surprise me. When you have people who go to Ivy League schools that grow up playing games (or people with trust funds) they're going to spend that disposable income when they get out of school. Heard about it a lot in mobile games, but the fact it's happening in AAA games isn't shocking.
By Pennywise Go To PostYou would be suprised how much money people waste on their Ultimate Team on Fifa for example.I would be surprised
Known plenty of people who spend like 2000€ per year on it, now imagine what someone with a different income would do.
but weren't the ME 2 cards consumables? In FIFA you get Ronaldo and Messi cards that are yours forever (until they close the servers)
is still stupid, but not as stupid
By rvy Go To PostI would be surprisedI got no idea, but honestly it doesn't suprise me that much.
but weren't the ME 2 cards consumables? In FIFA you get Ronaldo and Messi cards that are yours forever (until they close the servers)
is still stupid, but not as stupid
Remember all those trading cards as a kid? They sold so many of some freaking shitty cards, and kids were going wild.
Same thing in digital form.
I would have never believed that people spend a shitload of cash, for an ingame currency of an MMO either, until I sold mine from a smaller MMO and made like 990€.
By Pennywise Go To PostI got no idea, but honestly it doesn't suprise me that much.
Remember all those trading cards as a kid? They sold so many of some freaking shitty cards, and kids were going wild.
Same thing in digital form.
I would have never believed that people spend a shitload of cash, for an ingame currency of an MMO either, until I sold mine from a smaller MMO and made like 990€.
I'm gonna look in my basement for my pokeyman cards
gotta be worth something
By rvy Go To PostI would be surprisedHow often do you get Ronaldo or Messi though? They also become useless as soon as a new Fifa comes and you start from scratch.
but weren't the ME 2 cards consumables? In FIFA you get Ronaldo and Messi cards that are yours forever (until they close the servers)
is still stupid, but not as stupid
It's like you are collecting trading cards, and they cost a lot, and there are very rare cards...but after a year they become worthless because new cards with year+1 get released. Insane.
15k on those..... Man. Loot box stuff will be here to stay as long as there's no law to counter act it.
By Kill Your Masters Go To PostHow often do you get Ronaldo or Messi though? They also become useless as soon as a new Fifa comes and you start from scratch.u can get multiple ronaldos and messis for 15k tho, you can buy the specific overpriced cards you want
It's like you are collecting trading cards, and they cost a lot, and there are very rare cards…but after a year they become worthless because new cards with year+1 get released. Insane.
if the me2 cards were random consumables, which is how I remember them, 15k is far more insane than 15k on fifa
Whales ruining the hobby slowly but surely. Companies are arguing that without relying on microtransactions and lootboxes, they can't make full-featured games. So I guess that makes it okay for them to prey upon us with their bullshit? Haha
Yes. This is obvious.
This probably isn't the case for that Visceral SW game though. That game was most likely garbage.
This is never going to go away and it's up to the consumer to determine which game has the less exploitative monetization platform.
This probably isn't the case for that Visceral SW game though. That game was most likely garbage.
This is never going to go away and it's up to the consumer to determine which game has the less exploitative monetization platform.
By rvy Go To Postu can get multiple ronaldos and messis for 15k tho, you can buy the specific overpriced cards you wantAah I totally forgot, you're right. Gave up on UT I think with FIFA 16 when they decided to put limits on what certain players might be valued at and generally that you can't get shit in free gold packs.
if the me2 cards were random consumables, which is how I remember them, 15k is far more insane than 15k on fifa
Was listening to this podcast on my way to work today.
I think there's value in the "games as a service" model that's taken steam over the last couple of years, and 2017 especially. The issue lies in when publishers use that formula as a trojan horse to prey on users with loot boxes, microtransactions, etc.
EA and corporations like them only care about the bottom line; the absolute maximum level return they can make. It used to be an immediate return and thus we saw an influx of season passes, deluxe editions, and the $150 super duper deluxe editions. Then as that became a normalized part of the industry, we've seen them start adding what used to be "free to play" elements into full-priced games. Implemented in a balanced, conservative manner, this wouldn't necessarily be a problem. But nine times out of ten these practices are predatory and exploitative, especially towards people with addictive personalities.
Manveer hit the nail on the head. These major corporations willingly forced themselves into this narrative that only $60 triple A games with $100+ million budgets see any sort of return. It reminds me of the Tomb Raider 2013 reboot selling millions and still being deemed a commercial failure by Square Enix. Low budget games can still exist. $20 or $30 or $40 games can still exist without being made by indie developers.
There's a new ugly trend every few years, and we're hitting max overload of this one.
I think there's value in the "games as a service" model that's taken steam over the last couple of years, and 2017 especially. The issue lies in when publishers use that formula as a trojan horse to prey on users with loot boxes, microtransactions, etc.
EA and corporations like them only care about the bottom line; the absolute maximum level return they can make. It used to be an immediate return and thus we saw an influx of season passes, deluxe editions, and the $150 super duper deluxe editions. Then as that became a normalized part of the industry, we've seen them start adding what used to be "free to play" elements into full-priced games. Implemented in a balanced, conservative manner, this wouldn't necessarily be a problem. But nine times out of ten these practices are predatory and exploitative, especially towards people with addictive personalities.
Manveer hit the nail on the head. These major corporations willingly forced themselves into this narrative that only $60 triple A games with $100+ million budgets see any sort of return. It reminds me of the Tomb Raider 2013 reboot selling millions and still being deemed a commercial failure by Square Enix. Low budget games can still exist. $20 or $30 or $40 games can still exist without being made by indie developers.
There's a new ugly trend every few years, and we're hitting max overload of this one.
Sure, EA can choose to put all that stuff into their games.
I can choose to not buy any of them. No harm done.
I can choose to not buy any of them. No harm done.
Of course they're about making money. They're a for profit enterprise. Get every last dime.
Though on the other hand...
They're going to rue the day they came up against the extreme.
Though on the other hand...
By EvilChameleon Go To PostEA went out and got themselves some corporate sponsors. They're in it for the money, not the gaming.
They're going to rue the day they came up against the extreme.
By Phoenix RISING Go To PostThis is why I won't care one iota if AAA gaming dies.
Not all AAA gaming is bad, EA is pretty shit but considering all they make is shooters and sports games who cares? ironic considering i'm looking forward to Battlefront 2 but you get the picture. I'd find myself worrying a lot if EA actually made great games. A lot of the other stuff i see from other companies i'm good with.
Seeing friends that earn minimum wage still blow 100€ p/month(so around a sixth of their wage) on Fifa cards for each new early Fifa has pretty much desensitized me to stories about micro transaction whales, for every person screaming boycott(that will probably buy the game anyway) there's someone else blowing hundreds or thousands in micro transactions.
That one 15k user is worth 250 60$ purchases.
That one 15k user is worth 250 60$ purchases.
By Pennywise Go To PostI got no idea, but honestly it doesn't suprise me that much.Yup. I still have a notebook full of Jose Canseco cards in my closet.
Remember all those trading cards as a kid? They sold so many of some freaking shitty cards, and kids were going wild.
Same thing in digital form.
I would have never believed that people spend a shitload of cash, for an ingame currency of an MMO either, until I sold mine from a smaller MMO and made like 990€.
It's a very sad thing that EA has taken the Star Wars license as hostage... EA is where our dreams go to die.
I don't believe it. EA are good and just, they make nothing but quality titles released shimmering with polish. They'd never stoop to this sort of money grubbing low.
Don't blame them, but it's still shit for the franchise. I was looking forward to my singleplayer linear sw game
The latest Game Informer podcast about the continued monetization of games beyond a single upfront cost was kind of sobering. Microtransactions, DLC, loot boxes, season passes, and more have really changed what video game companies aim for these days. There's business and there's exploitation. This feels more like the latter.
I've seen people literally spend $15,000 on Mass Effect multiplayer cards.
That is some insanity....holy crap. I love the multiplayer and Andromedas multiplayer with its gameplay was actually a ton of fun. But I never felt like I need to spend....$15 grand.
But it doesn't surprise me. We have seen the recent outings with Battlefront 2 (its unlocks and card system) and how well they have handled the DLC and everything from Battlefield 1. I would not be surprised if Amy Hennigs Star Wars game didn't present enough opportunity to use loot boxes or some micro transaction system for full profit gain.
It's depressing because with how good Anthem looks, it has a company like EA sitting behind them as the publisher ready to ruin it with some form of monetization