EA Shuts Down Four Free-to-Play Games

[Dawelio]

I just checked and I can literally still buy Crysis in most local game shops. I'd be proper bummed if I spend €15 on a game, only to find out that it no longer works, and you cannot return it because keycodes.

THISSS so many times over!!!

 

[Greenback]

I just checked and I can literally still buy Crysis in most local game shops. I'd be proper bummed if I spend €15 on a game, only to find out that it no longer works, and you cannot return it because keycodes.

Now, I do think games should have an expiry date when shops shouldn't sell them anymore (or at least for discount prices, but with no warranty as they might not work. That's for the buyer to do 5 minutes of research on prior to buying). So really is it EA's fault or shops that still sell old games?

Crysis is still available on steam for £9.99 though it has a big notice about no multiplayer. The thing is was Crysis sold as a multiplayer game or more as a really good single player with an option for multi, if I recall it was more the single player (maybe wrong)

The problem with a sale by date is who would foot the bill for unsold copies, and would this limit how many copies stores are willing to order

 

[Feronix]

Crysis is still available on steam for £9.99 though it has a big notice about no multiplayer. The thing is was Crysis sold as a multiplayer game or more as a really good single player with an option for multi, if I recall it was more the single player (maybe wrong)

The problem with a sale by date is who would foot the bill for unsold copies, and would this limit how many copies stores are willing to order

I understand this would be hard to realize, but what if every game store just has a bin/ shelf full of old games, where the buyer has no guarantee that the game will work, for instance with this multiplayer issue, or on their OS.

Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket these days, if you're at the shop and you see a game you like: See if it's compatible with your PC or if multiplayer servers are still up rather than taking a selfie for once.

No one has to lose money either cause the store can still sell it for slightly above the price they bought it for, but then at least the customer is aware of, and responsible for what they're buying. It's not like the stores can help it, but they are the ones that will have to deal with the angry customers.

Also, I get that the EU has better things to think about, but a law in this case wouldn't be a bad idea: "If you, as a developer or publisher sell a game with a multiplayer mode, you must support this for at least 5 years". Doesn't have to be active support but at least don't shut it down. Then after 5 years it can go in the Expired Games bin.

 

[Greenback]

I understand this would be hard to realize, but what if every game store just has a bin/ shelf full of old games, where the buyer has no guarantee that the game will work, for instance with this multiplayer issue, or on their OS.

Well tbh if you are buying a 7/8 year old game you should be thinking that no one plays the multiplayer any more, new games people move on

Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket these days, if you're at the shop and you see a game you like: See if it's compatible with your PC or if multiplayer servers are still up rather than taking a selfie for once.

No one has to lose money either cause the store can still sell it for slightly above the price they bought it for, but then at least the customer is aware of, and responsible for what they're buying. It's not like the stores can help it, but they are the ones that will have to deal with the angry customers.

Also, I get that the EU has better things to think about, but a law in this case wouldn't be a bad idea: "If you, as a developer or publisher sell a game with a multiplayer mode, you must support this for at least 5 years". Doesn't have to be active support but at least don't shut it down. Then after 5 years it can go in the Expired Games bin.

I've worked in shops and customers take no notice and will still complain even if there are signs up, they want them bigger in bright neon lights.

Here the definition of support would need clarification, as does a server in outer Mongolia laggy as hell count as support.

If I recall it was part of the complaint about SimCity being online only and EA's record of closing online server after 5-7 years making a game unplayable

 

[Feronix]

Oh no I agree fully with you, but customers are a bit ignorant these days. Half of them don't do any research on what they buy and just assume it will work.

Which is fair enough - if you buy a product in a shop, you can expect it work fully as described on the box. When it then doesn't (e.g no multiplayer even available (ignoring the fact if anyone still plays it)) then you've essentially not gotten what you thought you paid for.

 

[Greenback]

I think it would depend on the game in question in Crysis point you would still have the single player and considering how good that is, for 1/3 of the original game well worth the money imo.

But if the game is online only or some element of the game needs to connect (I think 1 of the Ass creed did ) Then there should be some form of warning b4 you buy, and this should come down to the shop staff telling you b4 they take your money to a point that you sign the receipt that you were told

 

[Dawelio]

Oh no I agree fully with you, but customers are a bit ignorant these days. Half of them don't do any research on what they buy and just assume it will work.

Which is fair enough - if you buy a product in a shop, you can expect it work fully as described on the box. When it then doesn't (e.g no multiplayer even available (ignoring the fact if anyone still plays it)) then you've essentially not gotten what you thought you paid for.

Isn't that, if you are really keen on it, isn't this kinda like/count as false advertisement on the box itself?...

 

[NeverBackDown]

Isn't that, if you are really keen on it, isn't this kinda like/count as false advertisement on the box itself?...

No they said it supports multiplayer. They didn't say it would forever or for how long. So a lawsuit wouldn't work. People are just sue happy these days. This current generation i live in is pathetic tbh. People just don't care about anything but themselves these days(not aimed at anyone here).. honestly look up the game you are about to buy that's super cheap. It's cheap for a reason. Find out about it and 1 minute later i'm sure you can find out the latest news about it. I still stand by my previous point. It's not their fault. They aren't forcing you to pay for the game. Hell the ones we are talking about are FREE. So if only 10 people play a week, no sense in keeping the servers up. Simple as. Plus i'm sure if you read the fine print and agreements you'll find something about all this.

 

[akumaburn]

Crysis still afaik works through steam (connection is handled by gamespy).

Just maybe not so anymore on origin.

 

[Greenback]

Crysis still afaik works through steam (connection is handled by gamespy).

Just maybe not so anymore on origin.

Steam has a notice on the store page saying Gamespy aren't supporting MP on it anymore

I agree with NeverBackDown there has to be a cut off point even WOW will hit it 1 day

 

[akumaburn]

If they made it P2P or gave people the server software and had a P2P serverlist though..

 

[barnsley]

If they weren't such arseholes they'd have released the stuff needed to host your own servers for the paid games.

 

[Dawelio]

If they weren't such arseholes they'd have released the stuff needed to host your own servers for the paid games.

^ +1 on this...