Topic: EA Link shut down, new bullshit takes its place

[idolminds]

Hooray digital distribution?

Apparently purchases made through the new service only have access rights for six months. That means if you want to re download the game after 6 months...you can't. This can be extended for two years if you spend an extra $6 at purchase time.

So you shell out full price for whatever it is you're buying on this download service. You download it, and then you only have a 6 month window to download it as many times as you like. Soon as that expires, you better have had that shit backed up to a DVD or you don't get to download it again. Or hey...give us even MORE money for an extended limited time.

While its stupid, I honestly can't say I entirely blame them. This is an issue that will crop up with any of the major digital distribution players. Like Steam, for example. I got into a short discussion about it, that Steam will eventually have to have ads in the client. Its inevitable.

Reason being is bandwidth isn't free. Ok, say I pay $50 for Orange Box on Steam and then download it. Obviously those $50 help pay for the bandwidth. But how many downloads of this data can I make before it starts costing Valve more than what I paid? Thats several GB per game, times however many games I have. Plus...games are only going to get larger and larger, and the price isn't going to match it.

I'm not the best case here because I don't download huge things like that. I back my shit up so I hopefully never have to download it again. But other people aren't like me. If they want to play HL2 on their laptop or work PC they don't copy the files to a disc and transfer them around, they load Steam and download everything from scratch on those other computers. Thats a lot of data transfer for only $50 (and some of that is, you know, for the games development). Not to mention the patching that happens for various games.

So eventually the free ride will end. First Valve will put ads in the client to help offset the cost. They already tinkered with in-game ads for CS1.6, so that may become more common. Then they'll add download limits such as "once a week" or "once a month" or something. Who knows where it might stop and become sustainable, they may even go all the way to where EA is now.

[Pugnate]

Why would someone download the same game multiple times in a week anyway?

Anyway I found it incredible from that link how many gamers had bought EA games through their now defunct download service. They seem fairly intelligent, so why would they be so dumb?

[Cobra951]

Why would someone download the same game multiple times in a week anyway?

Anyway I found it incredible from that link how many gamers had bought EA games through their now defunct download service. They seem fairly intelligent, so why would they be so dumb?

"I found it incredible how many gamers bought Steam games through their now defunct download service. They seem fairly intelligent, so why would they be so dumb?"

The future?   

[Pugnate]

Not that STEAM is perfect, but I'd trust that service or Valve over EA any day.

[MysterD]

Fuck this game-rental downloading bullshit!

[Jedi]

Fuck this game-rental downloading bullshit!

Umm the game doesn't become locked after 6 months or 2 years D, so it's hardly a rental. I could see why you might need to download the game again but if you back it up then you should never need to, so you wont need to pay for it again. Call me old fashion but I still perfer store bought games it's just so much easier.

[MysterD]

Umm the game doesn't become locked after 6 months or 2 years D, so it's hardly a rental.

So, you can still keep it then?

I could see why you might need to download the game again but if you back it up then you should never need to, so you wont need to pay for it again.

True, but I feel if I do buy a game to download, I should be able to re-download it as long as this corp. is in business.

Call me old fashion but I still perfer store bought games it's just so much easier.

Amen to this, brother.

[Xessive]

Ok hang on, suppsoe I have the game on disc i.e. HL2.. The updates (since that version) are practically the size of downloading the whole game over anyway! How will they treat patching and updating?

[Quemaqua]

This is why I buy a retail box or I don't buy anything at all.  I'll download from a service, sure, but only if I'm getting a retail product shipped to me in the mail at the same time.

[MysterD]

This is why I buy a retail box or I don't buy anything at all.

Amen, bro.

I'll download from a service, sure, but only if I'm getting a retail product shipped to me in the mail at the same time.

Amen.

Does anyone else besides Stardock do that, Que?

[Quemaqua]

Lots of small indy companies will do that, yeah.  Moonpod, for instance, or Introversion.

[MysterD]

Lots of small indy companies will do that, yeah.  Moonpod, for instance, or Introversion.

Seems that not enough companies are doing it, Que.

We need more companies like Stardock, Moonpod and Introversion -- yes, if I download your game and pay for it, send me a physical copy, dammit!

[Xessive]

Heck, I'd buy it online and just wait for the retail disc to arrive. Being able to download it and play it before it arrives in the mail is more of a convenience for me (a much appreciated one).

If the downloading is going to be limited then they have to provide retail discs.

[Pugnate]

Yes, that is actually pretty cool.