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[Geek] Online Pass buyers lose out as EA announces server shutdown

post #1 of 29
3/19/12 at 7:05am
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Quote:
The move to offer more online and multiplayer content with every game purchase is great when a new game is released, but it’s easy to forget that online isn’t forever, and ceases to be a feature as soon as the publisher turns off the server for a specific title.

EA is well-known for this practice. It regularly reviews the games running on its servers, and if they have dropped below a certain threshold of popularity (typically 1% of peak players), they switch off access. The problem is, with the introduction of EA’s Online Pass some gamers are spending $10 on a used game only to find their online access is set to disappear in a few months.

Server Shutdown: March 31, 2012

Battlefield 3: Aftershock
Fantasy Safari
Ghost Harvest

Server Shutdown: April 13, 2012

Boom Blox
Burnout Revenge
EA Create
EA Sports Active 2.0
EA Sports Active NFL Training
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FIFA 10
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The Saboteur
Spare Parts

Source

Man that blows!
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post #2 of 29
3/19/12 at 7:14am
Considering battlefield 3 Aftershock was never released, I dont think it will be a problem if they shut down the server for that game...

Dont think anyone will care about the others either.


Also, what is this online pass they are talking about? Do they mean a product key? None of these games are MMOs... none of them have monthly fees to play online so this just doesnt make sense. Seems like this is just pointless EA bashing.
Edited by Kirby1 - 3/19/12 at 7:16am
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post #3 of 29
3/19/12 at 7:21am
This is exactly why buying a pass is a horrible idea.
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post #4 of 29
3/19/12 at 7:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirby1 View Post

Considering battlefield 3 Aftershock was never released, I dont think it will be a problem if they shut down the server for that game...
Dont think anyone will care about the others either.
Also, what is this online pass they are talking about? Do they mean a product key? None of these games are MMOs... none of them have monthly fees to play online so this just doesnt make sense. Seems like this is just pointless EA bashing.

It's basically their way of preventing used game sales, without them getting a finger in the pie.

Someone else has already used the key for online content? Then buy another one for $10 from us. Don't know if it extends to single player content and DLC as well.

Anyways, as always I'm extremely wary of buying games these day for this reason. If the company doesn't release software to make private servers for their multiplayer content when they shut down the main servers, I think they should be sue-able.
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post #5 of 29
3/19/12 at 7:39am
Hey! I like and own the Saboteur...
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post #6 of 29
3/19/12 at 10:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirby1 View Post

Considering battlefield 3 Aftershock was never released, I dont think it will be a problem if they shut down the server for that game...
Dont think anyone will care about the others either.
Also, what is this online pass they are talking about? Do they mean a product key? None of these games are MMOs... none of them have monthly fees to play online so this just doesnt make sense. Seems like this is just pointless EA bashing.

BF3 Aftershock is an iOS game.
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post #7 of 29
3/19/12 at 10:35am
They shutdown the server if it drops below 1% peak players?

Sounds fair to me. If it's a ghost town, no need to continue wasting resources that could be redistributed to other thriving online games.
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post #8 of 29
3/19/12 at 11:23am
I have a serious question about this.

If this renders these games unusable when the servers shutdown, wouldn't you think this would promote piracy as the only way they can play their beloved game would be downloading it through grey-websites.

I'd be pissed if I owned any of these games and could no longer play after said date. This is another reason why I prefer to support developers/publishers that allows you to use their products both online/offline in a lan environment only (if you want) and have both a client and server available to the public.

Hell that's why Counter-strike is still one of the largest played pc games still to date. It's called a great mod community with 1000's of tools to build your own...anything. And you can host it all yourself and have complete control over your server.

But I digress as this is nothing new and will more then likely become the trend. gunner.gif
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post #9 of 29
3/19/12 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KusH View Post

I have a serious question about this.
If this renders these games unusable when the servers shutdown, wouldn't you think this would promote piracy as the only way they can play their beloved game would be downloading it through grey-websites.
I'd be pissed if I owned any of these games and could no longer play after said date. This is another reason why I prefer to support developers/publishers that allows you to use their products both online/offline in a lan environment only (if you want) and have both a client and server available to the public.
Hell that's why Counter-strike is still one of the largest played pc games still to date. It's called a great mod community with 1000's of tools to build your own...anything. And you can host it all yourself and have complete control over your server.
But I digress as this is nothing new and will more then likely become the trend. gunner.gif

If we're talking about 1.6, the biggest reason that game has tons of players on has more to do with the fact that it's the top competitive FPS e-Sports title. Mods and all take a good part in the CS 1.6 community, but no where even near the amount of users in the competitive scene.
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post #10 of 29
3/19/12 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waylo88 View Post

BF3 Aftershock is an iOS game.

o. smile.gif
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