EA creates way to charge people who purchase EA games used.......

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

A really disappointing move by EA. NBA Live has a much-hyped DNA feature this year in their game. In a move to make money off used game sales of the game, the DNA feature must be activated. In new games, there is a code to activate the feature. However, if you buy the game used, you must pay $20 to activate the feature.

It's a shame that they decided to make this move at a point where the Live franchise was actually starting to improve as a whole. Worse yet, the NBA 2K game already has a feature set similar to the DNA feature in their game with no strings attached.

[KWhit]

What is a DNA feature?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by KWhit

What is a DNA feature?

NBA Live 09 Dynamic DNA Explained | Bleacher Report

NBA Live 09 Dynamic DNA Explained

When I load up a sports game, the first thing I do is look at the top players in the game; then I compare those ratings to what I think the real-life counterparts actually deserve.

Typically there are discrepancies, especially as the season progresses. It's safe to say, Mike Mussina (13-6 with a 3.26 ERA) wasn’t rated as an elite player in either MLB game this year, and Erik Bedard (6-4 with a 3.67 ERA) was probably expected to perform at a higher level.

Nonetheless, many game makers consider roster updates a luxury rather than a need -- or they simply don't want to sacrifice the manpower to work on a roster update, much to the chagrin of the hardcore gaming community. The problem with that philosophy is it not only shows a lack of concern for the people who buy a company’s video game, but it doesn’t account for the unpredictability of sports as a whole. No one can accurately determine who is going to have a breakout season or a sub-par one at that.

MLB 08: The Show is probably the only current game to have weekly updates to the lineups, accounting for position changes, ratings alterations and injuries. Sony’s support really gives the community a good feeling knowing that strides are continuously being made in order to create the best baseball simulation possible. Yet even those folks don’t completely take into account streaks and tendencies. This is where the newly announced "Dynamic DNA" comes in.

Dynamic DNA was recently announced as a specific feature for NBA Live 09, and it's expected to be the answer to the dilemma explained above. For those who don’t know, Dynamic DNA is actually a very intriguing idea. The concept is that daily updates would be supplied to the game -- taking into account recent hot/cold streaks and player tendencies -- by utilizing statistics and other information to alter the way the athletes play inside the video game.

If LeBron is tearing up the NBA in the current month, expect him to be taking your team apart as well in the game -- unless of course you decide to use him and provide the pain to the opposition instead. That is just the beginning.

Say a sixth man like of Manu Ginobili has been making a lot of mid-range field goals as of late, but hasn’t been having any luck from beyond the arc. Presumably that should mean he won't be draining many threes in NBA Live 09 either. Players will be given patterns similar to stocks, showing their recent progression or regression in certain areas. The game then utilizes the information over time to mimic real life within the video game. Essentially, every day you load up the game, the players will execute differently -- assuming you download the latest file.

The biggest implication of this revelation is in online play. Instead of everyone playing with the most hyped team, such as the Celtics and Lakers in '08, they would play with a team that has the player with the hot hand or is on a big-time winning streak. With the ability to mimic the real-world counterparts and starting lineups, the online matchups would have a much sweeter feel to them.

Some may say this provides an imbalance in gameplay however, and that remains to be seen, but it would be nice to see what teams are the most popular at any given time. In the same regard, it would be obnoxious if you enjoyed playing with a certain team, but at different points in the season you struggled due to underperforming players in real life.

Still, the implications of this development in sports gaming can not be emphasized enough. If you are fanatical like many of our readers, you have spent countless hours on forums trying to find out when the next roster download would be coming. Now imagine if you could play with the actual rosters every day of a game’s existence, without worry.

Taking this idea even further, this feature could be adapted into all of EA Sports' games. How fun would it be to not play every online game of Madden against Tom Brady and the Patriots or Romo and the Boys. NFL rosters can have a completely different look on a weekly basis, with nagging injuries bringing down players’ ratings or making them inactive, not to mention players shuffling around the depth chart due to good or poor performances. This would provide a much different strategy when selecting a team.

Without a doubt, EA Sports is on to something because 2K has released details about the next NBA 2K game, and included is a DNA-lite feature that seems to be based more on real-time happenings in the game, rather than real-life data downloads, which is even more exciting in a way. (And In defense of 2K, no one knows who had the idea first, nor are they identical features by any means.)

Providing updates on a constant basis only gives gamers more justification to shell out $60 on a brand new game year after year. Logging in daily, knowing you'll be rewarded with fresh gameplay and the ability to experience something new potentially every time builds up trust and accountability.

[A-Husker-4-Life]

PUKE.. EA always finds a way to alienate it's self.. I'm not for sure if they know the meaning of "Customer Service"..

[Logan]

I think that's very cool that they're doing it (the feature, not the charging for it) but I also could see it being insanely annoying.

[Mustang]

I'll probably get blasted, but... I don't see this as any different then say, buying a used copy of World of Warcraft and having to pay for your first month even though the first month was free when originally purchased.

Does this Dynamic DNA HAVE to be used? Also, in career play, if you are say 4 seasons in and Lebron is having a cold streak in real like, that mean he is having a cold streak then?

[boberot]

Eh . . .

I'd rather see a more developed algorithm incorporated into the game that realistically simulates hot / cold streaks, "breakthrough" seasons, etc. independently, not reliant on what the pros are doing.

I don't like that it will simply mimic the real players' season.

Just my 2 cents.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by boberot

Eh . . .

I'd rather see a more developed algorithm incorporated into the game that realistically simulates hot / cold streaks, "breakthrough" seasons, etc. independently, not reliant on what the pros are doing.

I don't like that it will simply mimic the real players' season.

Just my 2 cents.

FWIW....I agree with this. That doesn't change the fact that it's a feature of the game and the methodology makes it painfully obvious that it's a passive way of attacking the resellers.

[sterlingice]

Because used EA games weren't worthless and clogging used game stores as soon as the next year's came out already

SI

[Subby]

Big deal. If people don't want it they won't pay for it.

You socialist republicans are all the same

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by boberot

Eh . . .

I'd rather see a more developed algorithm incorporated into the game that realistically simulates hot / cold streaks, "breakthrough" seasons, etc. independently, not reliant on what the pros are doing.

I don't like that it will simply mimic the real players' season.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree with this. It seems to me that instead of working on career progression, they did this instead.

[DaddyTorgo]

i agree with boberot -- that seems like it'd take a lot of the fun out of doing anything except playing h2h

[Fighter of Foo]

This will be hacked like every other DRM within a month.

[DaddyTorgo]

that's a good question though, does the DNA feature have to be enabled? or can you play with it off? because if it has to be enabled that's akin to charging a monthly fee to play the game and then they can go fuck themselves cuz nobody but an idiot would pay $60 for the game PLUS a monthly fee

[Raiders Army]

The whole deal sounds stupid.

[MizzouRah]

Sounds like a useless feature to me.

When is too much.. well, too much?

If you're going to mimic the real world almost to a "T", why even play games anymore? I just don't see how that's fun.. I want some variance from RL and this feature seems like it's taking that away.

[terpkristin]

That sounds pretty...well, annoying. I guess that with that, though, people would probably stop buying EA games used. I doubt it will significantly change their overall first-time sales, though.

/tk

[Big Fo]

Man, seventeen posts and nobody said "lol who plays NBA Live."

[saldana]

i would like to hear what this feature does if you arent playing during the real life season...if i am playing baseball in the middle of the winter, how will it update anything?

how many people actually play these games in real time aligned with the real life season?

[wishbone]

Didn't Super Tecmo Bowl have dynamic "condition" for players throughout the season. I remember that if Montana and Rice were both in bad condition it would be a tough game, but when they were in excellent condition every pass was good.

Although maybe Super Tecmo Bowl was just the perfect game...

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by wishbone

Didn't Super Tecmo Bowl have dynamic "condition" for players throughout the season. I remember that if Montana and Rice were both in bad condition it would be a tough game, but when they were in excellent condition every pass was good.

Although maybe Super Tecmo Bowl was just the perfect game...

Yeah, but the players' condition wasn't based upon how they were paying in the real life NFL season at the time, it was random.

And even in bad condition Montana to Rice was still unstoppable in that game.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by saldana

how many people actually play these games in real time aligned with the real life season?

Since the game comes out within a few weeks of the season starting, I would imagine that most people are.

Anyway, I just can't get upset about EA asking people to pay $20 for this feature. If I understand it correctly, the only people who'd need to pay it are people who buy a used copy (or who otherwise get a copy with a registration that's already in use). Also, it's just a one-time charge. On top of that, it's completely optional! If you don't want the "DNA" feature, don't pay for it. The game will still work. Sure, it could have been free, but there's no reason that it has to be free.

In any case, I think the DNA thing is pointless if you're playing in franchise mode. For online play, I can see the benefit, but there are so many cheesers out there that it doesn't really matter. People will find their money plays and just pick the best team at the time, and they'll roll over most people who hate playing that way. Not worth $20 to me, but hey, I don't even play NBA Live.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

A really disappointing move by EA. NBA Live has a much-hyped DNA feature this year in their game. In a move to make money off used game sales of the game, the DNA feature must be activated. In new games, there is a code to activate the feature. However, if you buy the game used, you must pay $20 to activate the feature.

It's a shame that they decided to make this move at a point where the Live franchise was actually starting to improve as a whole. Worse yet, the NBA 2K game already has a feature set similar to the DNA feature in their game with no strings attached.

I don't have a console, always been a computer guy. So I think I am missing something here. But I'll ask anyway. If the guy who bought it new activated it, why wouldn't it already be activated when you bought it used?

[Abe Sargent]

Im not sure how much I even like it. Part of the fun of sports gaming is taking the lousy team and turn it around. iutd be even harder to win with the Cards or Lions now.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I don't have a console, always been a computer guy. So I think I am missing something here. But I'll ask anyway. If the guy who bought it new activated it, why wouldn't it already be activated when you bought it used?

It's probably locked to the original guy's Xbox Live/PS3 profile.

[Deattribution]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I don't have a console, always been a computer guy. So I think I am missing something here. But I'll ask anyway. If the guy who bought it new activated it, why wouldn't it already be activated when you bought it used?

I'm gonna guess they are going to tie it into your xbox live account, and your PS3 online account.

[stevew]

Im suprised they haven't tried to bypass retail altogether on certain titles and just release yearly updates to older games. For instance, if you have Madden 2009, you could buy the 2010 update for, say, 40 bucks. They'd have to make more that way than selling a copy for 60 in a store.

[RainMaker]

I don't see a big deal with the move. The DNA feature will work like shit like every new EA feature, but it's an interesting concept.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Deattribution

I'm gonna guess they are going to tie it into your xbox live account, and your PS3 online account.

Once the account is activated, it's a one time thing. Even if you got the original code card with a used copy, the only way you could use it is if the original owner never activated it.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Once the account is activated, it's a one time thing. Even if you got the original code card with a used copy, the only way you could use it is if the original owner never activated it.

Probably a solid possibility.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Mustang

I'll probably get blasted, but... I don't see this as any different then say, buying a used copy of World of Warcraft and having to pay for your first month even though the first month was free when originally purchased.

Does this Dynamic DNA HAVE to be used? Also, in career play, if you are say 4 seasons in and Lebron is having a cold streak in real like, that mean he is having a cold streak then?

I am thinking the same thing. Maybe I am missing something but I thought they were losing money when people bought used games. It seems to me they are trying to recoup the loss of the new game purchase.

[Deattribution]

I think that the argument that they are losing money because their games are being traded is weak. Every game created is traded nowadays, and EA has the most anti-trade model there is already with releasing a new game EVERY year, so at best users trade their games for a few months instead of waiting another month or two to pick up the game for 9.99 right before the next version comes out.

If other companies can get by with their games being traded when they only release one version, or one every 3-4 years, then EA definitely can.

EA's real problem is their sales are dropping and they want to blame everything but the quality of their products.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Deattribution

I think that the argument that they are losing money because their games are being traded is weak. Every game created is traded nowadays, and EA has the most anti-trade model there is already with releasing a new game EVERY year, so at best users trade their games for a few months instead of waiting another month or two to pick up the game for 9.99 right before the next version comes out.

If other companies can get by with their games being traded when they only release one version, or one every 3-4 years, then EA definitely can.

EA's real problem is their sales are dropping and they want to blame everything but the quality of their products.

+1. Not only that, it appears that EA is the only one not to understand that.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm tickled because I'm sure people will spend the $20 to activate DNA on a used copy of NBA Live. Anyone else think that EA will pull the plug on DNA for NBA Live 09 soon after NBA Live 2010 comes out? In a way, I feel sorry for the consumers who buy a used NBA Live 09 in April or May, activate the DNA for $20, and then have it be completely useless halfway through the next season. Then again, I also think that it would be completely hilarious.

[Maple Leafs]

You just know this is going to be like every other EA Sports feature -- nice idea in theory, but taken way to far in the actual game.

You watch, Chris Bosh will have a decent game in real life on Wednesday and score 150 points against you in NBA Live on Thursday.

Oh, and like all EA features the in-game commentators will talk about it constantly.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

You just know this is going to be like every other EA Sports feature -- nice idea in theory, but taken way to far in the actual game.

You watch, Chris Bosh will have a decent game in real life on Wednesday and score 150 points against you in NBA Live on Thursday.

Oh, and like all EA features the in-game commentators will talk about it constantly.

and that will be the last update before its abandoned...rendering the entire game useless..

[Pumpy Tudors]

I love how the DNA feature is supposed to track injuries, too. Imagine if real life injuries affected NBA Live franchises. Your team is fighting for a playoff spot, and you have to play the CPU-controlled Lakers late in the season. You'll be praying for Kobe Bryant to break his ass for real in some meaningless December game so you don't have to face him in NBA Live. Thugs will be waiting in the tunnels of NBA arenas just so they can beat the hell out of players and injure them in NBA Live. THE NBA IS FAN-TASTIC!

[RainMaker]

And the easiest way to keep your game off the secondhand market is to make it good.

[Raiders Army]

After actually reading through this, I recant my previous statement. This is pretty cool....for a certain set of gamers.

I think most of us are Franchise players and don't necessarily play as many games on Live or PSN. We're not the target audience. The target audience are those players that play online.

Question: When do the roster updates shut off? When a new game comes out? It would actually be cool to have a roster update in 2010 for my Madden 2009. I wouldn't have to spend money every year for small upgrades. (I know this will never happen as they just want our money)