xanadian: I could care less about iOS, coz I don't have a stupidphone. This, however, irks me. Seems very Zynga-like.

So you do care then? Personally I couldn't care less.

xanadian: I could care less about iOS, coz I don't have a stupidphone. This, however, irks me. Seems very Zynga-like.

Out of curiosity what irks you about it? They tried putting a stop to it back in the Diablo 2 days, but it just wasn't possible. Blizzard didn't endorse people selling accounts or items for real money. However, once they realized there was no stopping it they started to endorse it in WoW. Just seems to me like they want to offer players an alternative to ebay that might be safer(by letting Blizzard handle the auction, players are assured to get what they pay for/get their money). If ebay takes a cut, why wouldn't Blizzard do the same? Seems like a smart move to me, and they're not being egregious with their pricing.

I dunno how it works on the devices, Walker: Lawsuit time. Although you'll have to pay a lawyer $700.00 an hour to get back the $2.99 you spent for an app that will no longer work.

That's why you try to get a class action.

/which will net each complainant $0.68.

You have EA doing this and now Apple won't approve any app that links with Dropbox because you can buy more storage from Dropbox through the third party app. The only reason they're doing this is because all purchases must go through them. And they're probably not happy with Dropbox's instant photo uploading because it takes away from the wonder and magic of iCloud.

Walled gardens suck.

cman: Snarcoleptic_Hoosier: And piracy continues rise.

What does piracy have to do with it?

Why would you pay for a product they can turn off at any time? Why not just pirate it, so when the dickish company that produces said product decides to turn it off and not issue a refund for your wasted money/time you don't care?

Seriously, when will software publishers/mpaa/riaa realize they are the biggest contributor to the piracy problem? Keep jacking the price up, minimizing customer value/return, and/or shutting off a product you farking paid for with little to no warning. That'll ensure nobody wants to just steal your product.

Of course, I only have a crappy iPod touch 1g anyways...

EA is only interested in supporting their current products. They continually shut down servers for games that are no longer making them money, even though they continue to sell them. Older copies of Madden Football games are still being sold new in stores despite the fact that the online servers were shut down years ago.

Personally I wont buy an EA game.

cman: Snarcoleptic_Hoosier: And piracy continues rise.

What does piracy have to do with it?

The fark doesn't this have to do with piracy? Why would you expect the consumer to purchase goods from you if you've shown them that you have absolutely no problem with disabling or deleting said goods?

xanadian: I could care less about iOS, coz I don't have a stupidphone. This, however, irks me. Seems very Zynga-like.

If you're stupid enough to use a real-money 'auction house' for in-game items, you deserve to get fleeced.

imontheinternet: NutznGum: You have EA doing this and now Apple won't approve any app that links with Dropbox because you can buy more storage from Dropbox through the third party app. The only reason they're doing this is because all purchases must go through them. And they're probably not happy with Dropbox's instant photo uploading because it takes away from the wonder and magic of iCloud.

Walled gardens suck.

[imgs.xkcd.com image 640x304]

/oblig

I always wonder about those open source champions who say we should use something else, and have no viable alternative ever.

/Really it's a better *program*!
//You just have to compile it yourself!!
///Every time you want to use it!!!
////What do you mean that doesn't sound fun to you? You're too dumb to use a computer.

imontheinternet: NutznGum: You have EA doing this and now Apple won't approve any app that links with Dropbox because you can buy more storage from Dropbox through the third party app. The only reason they're doing this is because all purchases must go through them. And they're probably not happy with Dropbox's instant photo uploading because it takes away from the wonder and magic of iCloud.

Walled gardens suck.

[imgs.xkcd.com image 640x304]

/oblig

Nah, XKCD still comes off as smugly thinking he is superior and is probably autistic.

ReapTheChaos: EA is only interested in supporting their current products. They continually shut down servers for games that are no longer making them money, even though they continue to sell them. Older copies of Madden Football games are still being sold new in stores despite the fact that the online servers were shut down years ago.

Personally I wont buy an EA game.

So they are supposed to maintain the online servers for old games forever? You don't need to go online to play the game and should expect that only the newest version of Madden Football will be available for online game play. And if you don't realize that the "New" copy of Madden 2006 that is on the shelf in the store and that is selling for $15 isn't the newest version of Madden, then the problem is with you and not EA.

Disposable Rob: Nah, XKCD still comes off as smugly thinking he is superior and is probably autistic.

I knew the guy when his webcomic was still just doodles in his notebooks.

You're probably right. I suspect though, he's mellowed out quite a bit since his wife got cancer though. That's the sort of awful thing that really slaps the superior asshole out of you.

/Nobody deserves cancer.

ongbok: ReapTheChaos: EA is only interested in supporting their current products. They continually shut down servers for games that are no longer making them money, even though they continue to sell them. Older copies of Madden Football games are still being sold new in stores despite the fact that the online servers were shut down years ago.

Personally I wont buy an EA game.

So they are supposed to maintain the online servers for old games forever? You don't need to go online to play the game and should expect that only the newest version of Madden Football will be available for online game play. And if you don't realize that the "New" copy of Madden 2006 that is on the shelf in the store and that is selling for $15 isn't the newest version of Madden, then the problem is with you and not EA.

Or, and I know this is just a CRAZY thought, EA could stop forcing Microsoft to allow them to run their own servers for x-box live. And let Microsoft run the game indefinitely. Perhaps via some sort of peer to peer online setup...

EA wanted to run their own chunk of live so they could continuously shut down older titles under the guise of "no longer financially viable to maintain the servers." Which forces consumers to go and shell out top dollar for the latest and greatest titles for the privilege of using all the features contained in the products they pay for.

It's a scummy business practice that shouldn't exist with the technology available. If I can jump online and play the original Modern Warfare still, there's no farkin reason I shouldn't be able to play *insert EA game from the last 3 - 5 years*.

Huh... That sucks. It's probably a pretty popular game, so I'm guessing it would be trivially easy to load a pirated copy on an Android device if they did that on Google.

That said, before I get too smug..... I used to have an awesome Android app called "Lyrics" which would automatically download lyrics for any song that was currently playing on any of the popular music players. You'd just open up your system tray, hit the link to the app and you'd get a window with the lyrics. It even pulled down Japanese lyrics - with an English translation following - for songs I've got from the GITS soundtrack.

A few months ago it stopped working and periodically gave me errors. I didn't think much of it since I didn't use it every day, but when I finally went to fix it a few weeks later by deleting and then re-installing it.... I found it, and every other app with similar "automatically pull down or link to lyrics" functionality had been deleted from the app store.

I'd like to know why, though even better I'd just like another app which does that, or know where I could find a working illicit copy I could install.

ArcadianRefugee: I dunno how it works on the devices, Walker: Lawsuit time. Although you'll have to pay a lawyer $700.00 an hour to get back the $2.99 you spent for an app that will no longer work.

That's why you try to get a class action.

/which will net each complainant $0.68.

When they've probably modified the EULA for this to say, no, sorry, no class action, arbitration only?

Good luck with that.

scottydoesntknow: Strategeryz0r: xanadian: I could care less about iOS, coz I don't have a stupidphone. This, however, irks me. Seems very Zynga-like.

Out of curiosity what irks you about it? They tried putting a stop to it back in the Diablo 2 days, but it just wasn't possible. Blizzard didn't endorse people selling accounts or items for real money. However, once they realized there was no stopping it they started to endorse it in WoW. Just seems to me like they want to offer players an alternative to ebay that might be safer(by letting Blizzard handle the auction, players are assured to get what they pay for/get their money). If ebay takes a cut, why wouldn't Blizzard do the same? Seems like a smart move to me, and they're not being egregious with their pricing.

The thing that bugs me is they control the distribution of items in-game, as well as the prices regarding them. They have the ability to flood or restrict the market at any time (by raising/lowering the drop rate), without any competition. If they weren't taking a cut, I wouldn't really see much wrong with it.

So they see that a lot of people are interested in the Zod rune. They lower the drop rate, increase the rarity, and therefore skyrocket the price of the rune on the marketplace. Then they take a sweet 15% cut of every one sold.

I can see your point there. Frankly I don't know how popular it'll really prove to be. I always thought paying real dollars for fake items is ridiculous. Plus it removes 99% of the fun of a game like Diablo. If I wasn't constantly grinding and looting to find the ultra-rare item I really wanted, and instead just hopped on the market place and bought one for 20 real american dollars, I don't think I would play it very long. Loot is the entire reason to keep playing, though someone as committed to looting like I am might actually make a killing off this auction house.


hmmmmm... *strokes goatee*

ongbok: So they are supposed to maintain the online servers for old games forever? You don't need to go online to play the game and should expect that only the newest version of Madden Football will be available for online game play. And if you don't realize that the "New" copy of Madden 2006 that is on the shelf in the store and that is selling for $15 isn't the newest version of Madden, then the problem is with you and not EA.

I expect them to keep the servers on for the retail life of the console and/or the game, yes. If that means they have to monetize server use in some way (fees, advertising), then that's what they have to do. If I can buy your game new in a store, it needs to work as advertised. If you need to put "Up to 3 years online" support on the box and instruct your retailers to pull the game 3 years before your scheduled server pull, fine.

Let's talk about Facebreaker. Facebreaker is an EA game, the entire gimmick of which is that you can upload your face into the game and get it punched. This feature does not work with local storage.

The server was taken offline around the same time the game was re-priced as a budget title. This has nothing to do with online play vs local play - this is just a core feature, advertised on the cover, made online-only for marketing reasons, and then broken intentionally while the game was still being actively sold new in stores.

If you can't afford to run that many servers, or can't justify the means of supporting them, then you can't afford to put out yearly versions of your game. And you know what? For the type of traffic that would be on them, EA damn well can afford to run that many servers.

fluffy2097: imontheinternet: NutznGum: You have EA doing this and now Apple won't approve any app that links with Dropbox because you can buy more storage from Dropbox through the third party app. The only reason they're doing this is because all purchases must go through them. And they're probably not happy with Dropbox's instant photo uploading because it takes away from the wonder and magic of iCloud.

Walled gardens suck.

[imgs.xkcd.com image 640x304]

/oblig

I always wonder about those open source champions who say we should use something else, and have no viable alternative ever.

/Really it's a better *program*!
//You just have to compile it yourself!!
///Every time you want to use it!!!
////What do you mean that doesn't sound fun to you? You're too dumb to use a computer.


Like Open Office? That has been around for every major OS, including Mac and Windows, for a long time now and you don't have to compile anything, just install it. I use a few pieces of open source software here and there and haven't ever had any more problems with it than closed-source...

mongbiohazard: Like Open Office? That has been around for every major OS, including Mac and Windows, for a long time now and you don't have to compile anything, just install it. I use a few pieces of open source software here and there and haven't ever had any more problems with it than closed-source...

Because it's really the *.doc format that is keeping the internet down right now...

So some internet poll asks a bunch of game playing geeks who spend too much time on the internet who the worst company is, eh? And how wouldn't they come up EA? Video game geeks obsess over bashing video game companies and their decisions.

gingerjet: So some internet poll asks a bunch of game playing geeks who spend too much time on the internet who the worst company is, eh? And how wouldn't they come up EA? Video game geeks obsess over bashing video game companies and their decisions.

Anyone who keeps tabs on the news would probably agree that EA is one of, if not the worst, company around. They got sued for not paying an excessive amount of overtime wages to their employees, work their people to the bone while paying them pennies on the dollar, screw their customers over on an almost constant basis, rehash the same titles year after year(when there are cheaper update alternatives that are better for the customer), and in general just partake in some of the scummiest business practices around.

It has nothing to do with asking a bunch of game playing geeks on the internet. It has everything to do with the fact EA is truly one of the shiattiest companies around. Yet anyone who games owns dozens of their products.

gingerjet: So some internet poll asks a bunch of game playing geeks who spend too much time on the internet who the worst company is, eh? And how wouldn't they come up EA? Video game geeks obsess over bashing video game companies and their decisions.

EA has fan boys?

fluffy2097: mongbiohazard: Like Open Office? That has been around for every major OS, including Mac and Windows, for a long time now and you don't have to compile anything, just install it. I use a few pieces of open source software here and there and haven't ever had any more problems with it than closed-source...

Because it's really the *.doc format that is keeping the internet down right now...


Just the first example that came to mind, and one of the most popular open source programs. And it does speak to your point about open source programs being a supposed pain in the ass.

Open source programs aren't always a pain in the ass, and I've never had more trouble with an open source program then I have with a closed source one. Heck, I actually ended up using a few open source programs because the closed source ones were giving me problems and so I was open to trying alternatives and ended up loving the alternatives I found, like FileZilla and PowerDNS.

Fano: Strategeryz0r: cman: Snarcoleptic_Hoosier: And piracy continues rise.

What does piracy have to do with it?

Why would you pay for a product they can turn off at any time? Why not just pirate it, so when the dickish company that produces said product decides to turn it off and not issue a refund for your wasted money/time you don't care?

Seriously, when will software publishers/mpaa/riaa realize they are the biggest contributor to the piracy problem? Keep jacking the price up, minimizing customer value/return, and/or shutting off a product you farking paid for with little to no warning. That'll ensure nobody wants to just steal your product.

[cdn-www.i-am-bored.com image 640x660]

Nice to know they just don't get it.

I love that picture. Everytime piracy gets brought up, that needs to be the only argument given. You can go on about price and artist compensation, but really it all comes down to I just want what I paid for, not a bunch of bullshiat the studio wants to throw at me for the priviledge of watching their movie/listening to their music/playing their game. Don't force me to watch bullshiat ads. Don't force me to listen only in approved devices. Don't force me to be online connected to your servers in order to play. I am paying for a product, and through that payment I am reserving the right to use that product when and where I see fit. If they are so greedy/controlling that they cannot respect that right, then fark them, I will take what I want and they will get nothing.

I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Are you saying your real outrage is used on white people video game problems, while saving your internet outrage for actual problems?

Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Uh, considering this news, may be EA being the publisher should affect your purchasing decisions. This isn't just disabling online content, removing games from appstore. This is stopping people who purchased the game from playing it, period, with one month notice.

Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Masso: Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Uh, considering this news, may be EA being the publisher should affect your purchasing decisions. This isn't just disabling online content, removing games from appstore. This is stopping people who purchased the game from playing it, period, with one month notice.

Shhhh. Let him conserve his internet outrage for actual problems. We'll see how long that lasts when something he spent his hard earned money on no longer works.

Masso: Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Uh, considering this news, may be EA being the publisher should affect your purchasing decisions. This isn't just disabling online content, removing games from appstore. This is stopping people who purchased the game from playing it, period, with one month notice.

You are talking to a user, who's name literally translates to English as "Lesbian girl with a penis and a vagina"

Strategeryz0r: Masso: Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Uh, considering this news, may be EA being the publisher should affect your purchasing decisions. This isn't just disabling online content, removing games from appstore. This is stopping people who purchased the game from playing it, period, with one month notice.

Shhhh. Let him conserve his internet outrage for actual problems. We'll see how long that lasts when something he spent his hard earned money on no longer works.

I must conserve, my outrage refills slowly. Most of it is spent when the hot pocket takes too long to nuke.

DSF6969: ...white people video game problems.

What? Is that a thing?

Yuri Futanari: Strategeryz0r: Masso: Yuri Futanari: I buy games based on the game, not the publisher. EA being voted worst company has zero impact on my purchasing decisions, if I like the look of a game I'll buy it - regardless if its indie or corporate. I'll save my rare internet outrage for actual problems, not white people video game problems.

Uh, considering this news, may be EA being the publisher should affect your purchasing decisions. This isn't just disabling online content, removing games from appstore. This is stopping people who purchased the game from playing it, period, with one month notice.

Shhhh. Let him conserve his internet outrage for actual problems. We'll see how long that lasts when something he spent his hard earned money on no longer works.

I must conserve, my outrage refills slowly. Most of it is spent when the hot pocket takes too long to nuke.

Say the maker of that hot pocket, that you're already outraged took too long to cook(development delays!), now came with a remotely activated cooling switch. At any time, and entirely at the discretion of the Hot Pocket corporation, they can decide to no longer support your enjoyment of the hot pocket you just paid for by flicking the auto-cool switch. By doing so your hot pocket is immediately chilled to the items natural freezing point, and ensures that no amount of microwaving will ever heat it up again.

Wouldn't you be outraged?

Back in the day I bought some "power cells" for Eliminate Pro when it was a fun game. Now, it's all cheaters and hacks. forget that.

Uniwar was totally awesome... until they updated to HD graphics which look like crap on my iPhone and I can't tell the difference (though I totally got my $2 worth of that game).

And I bought Spectre for the memories.

Strategeryz0r: Say the maker of that hot pocket, that you're already outraged took too long to cook(development delays!), now came with a remotely activated cooling switch. At any time, and entirely at the discretion of the Hot Pocket corporation, they can decide to no longer support your enjoyment of the hot pocket you just paid for by flicking the auto-cool switch. By doing so your hot pocket is immediately chilled to the items natural freezing point, and ensures that no amount of microwaving will ever heat it up again.

Wouldn't you be outraged?

Can you please never make another analogy again?

wildstarr: DSF6969: ...white people video game problems.

What? Is that a thing?



Strategeryz0r: Say the maker of that hot pocket, that you're already outraged took too long to cook(development delays!), now came with a remotely activated cooling switch. At any time, and entirely at the discretion of the Hot Pocket corporation, they can decide to no longer support your enjoyment of the hot pocket you just paid for by flicking the auto-cool switch. By doing so your hot pocket is immediately chilled to the items natural freezing point, and ensures that no amount of microwaving will ever heat it up again.

Wouldn't you be outraged?

I'd be hungry :(