Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

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Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby sticky-fingers on Mon Feb 03, 2020 8:35 pm

https://www.ladbible.com/technology/gam ... s-20200131

EA Made Nearly $1 Billion From Microtransactions In Just Three Months
...
thanks to titles like Apex Legends and Battlefield V, and game series with Ultimate Team modes, like FIFA and Madden.


So even if EA would come back with a good NBA game, be sure that they would use the same approach than Take 2...
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby [Q] on Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:07 am

Damn, that's a lot of money. I can see why they went with the loot crate system for Live 19. I feel like with 20 cancelled, anything they come back with will be a money grab
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Andrew on Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:48 am

It's possible, but I think that'd be a huge mistake given the goodwill and trust they need to rebuild. I think it's inevitable that they follow in NBA 2K's footsteps, though I do think they'll see fit to build up to it first. Right now, their aversion to it and separate currencies for attribute upgrades and clothing items is a potential selling point in its own right.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby sticky-fingers on Tue Feb 04, 2020 4:46 pm

Unfortunately i think we cant separate the devs who want to make the best possible game, and their management who want to make money even if the game isnt good.

My only Hope about microtransactions is a law to forbid this shit.
It will take time but if some countries forbid it, those big corp. would probably drop MT.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Andrew on Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:53 pm

Pretty much. Unless the bubble bursts and gamers collectively get sick of it (seemingly unlikely), or the laws change (more likely but I'm not confident enough countries will get on board), this is gaming now.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby ThaLiveKing on Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:34 pm

People don't mind putting more money into the games if they are having fun with it IMO, the thing with Live, it's like they are neglecting the fact that their product is bare and want to make anyone buy their game for the sake of buying it rather than making a game people want to play. That's why people will choose 2K over them because they know what they will get. I made the jump to PC with 2K and man, the possibilities are endless, can't go back to console lol.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Andrew on Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:07 pm

Absolutely, quality and enjoyment counts for a lot. GTA Online is proof of that. Sure, there was some controversy when they opened the casino, but apart from that, people seem to be fine with the approach. We can debate whether or not that's a good or savvy thing as consumers, but it is what it is.

For my part, I've been happy to spend money on DLC for the Fallout series because I enjoyed the base game so much, and also enjoyed the added stories and quests that the DLC provided. I felt like I was getting value for money. I even spent a bit of pocket change on Ultimate Team in NBA Live 18 because I was enjoying it, and the Legends Packs actually guaranteed getting one of the Legends. Normally I wouldn't do that because there's no guarantee and I'm generally against microtransactions in AAA games, but I can't deny it's something I'll consider if there is value and I'm enjoying the experience.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby mp3 on Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:42 am

Even if EA took 2k's approach with VC it's still upto the player if they want to invest more money into the game they just need to do it where it isn't such a grind to build your player up making people want to get it done faster and pay for VC.

It is our choice to buy or not but that pressure would be put on parents by kids who want to level up quickly and that's wrong I think but again it's a choice and I still choose not to buy into the VC tactics.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby sticky-fingers on Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:44 am

i'm not agree.
If you want to put microtransactions in a game, then release it as a free to play, dont sell it 60-90 bucks, dont turn it in an online pay to win game.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby mp3 on Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:02 am

I agree it shouldn't be a pay to win which is what I mean by shouldn't be a grind without buying VC but again it's a choice.

Unfortunately we live in a games world where games dont end with just the cost at retail but from seeing just how much they are making I expect a better franchise mode and better place holder faces is a scan isn't ready.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Andrew on Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:45 pm

The problem is that if microtransactions are added, it will inevitably become more grindy and the mechanics will do their best to steer people in the direction of paying, meaning anyone who doesn't will be at a disadvantage to those who are willing to buy a shortcut. After all, if the experience is completely unaffected by choosing not to pay, it's not going to reap the revenue that approach seeks. NBA 2K has provided a perfect example of that, with their recurrent revenue mechanics getting more aggressive and intrusive. It's still something we can avoid, but online play in particular presents a situation where you're forced to either grind hard or pay if you want to be competitive, and have an optimal experience. It'll be a choice, but choosing not to means putting in work to enjoy the game.

Another potential issue if they go with a paid currency outside Ultimate Team is the removal of Reward Points, or making them a separate premium currency. Right now, NBA Live has an unusually generous system with its separate Skill Points and Reward Points - all earned in-game - making cosmetic items free (albeit many of them earned in random loot box drops, rather than purchasing them directly). If we have to ration a new premium currency between upgrades and cosmetic items - as in NBA 2K - that's going to be a problem. Again, we can just avoid playing dress-up, but the problem is that cosmetic items have become a part of online culture. One only has to look at kids who are bullied for not using premium Fortnite skins, or Playground gamers in NBA 2K judging each other by their styles and using it as a makeshift matchmaking system. Unfortunately, cosmetic items have become more than "look at this silly hat my avatar is wearing"; they're status symbols, and it's something that publishers are cashing in on.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby sticky-fingers on Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:44 pm

mp3 wrote:Unfortunately we live in a games world where games dont end with just the cost at retail

No, especially for AAA sold by millions.
Microtransactions are just easy extra bucks.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Ermolli on Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:09 am

If the game isn't good enough it doesn't matter much if it has microtransactions or not because it wouldn't affect their revenue in a significant way.

NBA Live’s player base is still too small for EA to make a dent in revenue. That’s why they earn that much money in those games (FIFA, Madden, Battlefield, etc) because they’re leaders (or big enough) in their categories, FIFA outsells PES by a lot, Madden has no competition, Battlefield is huge, etc. Even if EA decides to ramp up microtransactions to Live like 2K does, it wouldn’t make a difference.

In order to improve the amount of players they could adopt PES strategy. They release their base game as always fully-fledged with its modes at $ 60 and then release a FTP version a couple months later with only MyClub (their Ultimate Team version) and exhibition demo. That way they gain their loyal customers first plus the ones interested in their release and then attract new players massively who would be more willing to spend extra since they got their version for free.

All that doesn’t matter in the end if their games keep with the same quality as their last releases, they need to improve considerably to even attract people’s attention. A bad free game still is a bad game after all.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby sticky-fingers on Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:15 am

PES is a perfect example.
It was the king of football/soccer game. Then around 08-09, EA took the lead by far with FIFA (exactly like 2K did with 2K11).
It took years to PES to come back but it's possible with good will and listening their community.
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Re: Why we shoudnt expect anything more from EA

Postby Andrew on Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:33 pm

Ermolli wrote:All that doesn’t matter in the end if their games keep with the same quality as their last releases, they need to improve considerably to even attract people’s attention. A bad free game still is a bad game after all.


That's what it comes down to. They have to hit that level of quality, focus on all aspects of the game (and not forget about the NBA part of NBA Live), and then really bring it with the previews showing off all those improvements in-depth.
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