NCAA Football 12 News Post

New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

09:13 AM - May 26, 2011 by Steve_OS

Kotaku's Owen Good chimes in with some of his thoughts surrounding the latest micro-transactions to make their way into NCAA Football 12.

Quote:


	There may not be any optimal time to tell gamers about all the microtransactions and DLC for which they can expect to pay extra in an upcoming release. But the official reveal of a game's main features -- the stuff folks expect to come with the $59.99 retail price -- would probably be the least optimal.

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# 161 coogrfan @ 05/27/11 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	My problem isn't with DLC in games. However, I'm not really sure what other sports games have DLC other than EA games so I can't speak 100% accurate on the DLC in sports genre issue. The problem I have is that the way EA does it just SEEMS wrong, can you at least agree to that? While other DLC will be almost full new games from what I've seen, EA is charging you for recruiting adviser, AFL unis (that were worn during regular season, they didn't just create them and add them for the hell of it, they took something the NFL was doing special for the year and made you pay for them), keeping a player on a team, boost packs for online single player experiences which pretty much ruin the mode unless you pay for them or obtain them someway, extra commentary languages, etc etc. None of those features are a new game, some are simply options that should be in a single player mode as is. Also, I won't be buying NCAA this year I don't think, but I do like football sports games and so I probably will purchase Madden down the line. I suppose I could buy it used to take away some EA profits but I'll still have to pay for online pass which goes in their pockets anyway. That's the problem with the monopoly because if I want an NFL football game, I have to buy an EA sports product or I simply can't have one. It's pretty crappy for the consumer.

So...you aren't actually addressing the subject at hand (NCAA 12's online dynasty enhancements) at all, are you?

# 162 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 03:43 PM

also, they already have charged for other modes. AFL mode in Madden. So obviously no doorway opened there since it's already swinging wide open as is.

# 163 coogrfan @ 05/27/11 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	EA Fifa Ultimate Team has online access for free. FIFA is their #1 selling game and you bet your *** plenty of people are using that and on those servers far longer than they would be to just advance a week in OD. Why is that? So then why even waste ANY money on mascot mode? If it takes up any space at all it's as much space as I'm implying.

Because they aren't making the game solely for you?

# 164 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Please link me where your $60.00 is going for in EA. As the poster above you said, the $3.00 is going towards the maintenance of the servers, not the production of the game. Your $60.00 is a standard price for a video game that goes back into the production budget of next years game. Everything else is an extra service with an additional cost. Do you see a problem with that?

Keywords in bold.

And yes, I do have a problem with that.

As I already stated, my $60 from last year went ,at least partially, towards the creation and coding of an online dynasty control system, did it not? Or are you telling me they put this project on layaway and are paying for it with the DLC transactions? The budget they had, which was paid for with the consumers' $60 from last year, was for everything NCAA 12, graphics, gameplay, advertising, marketing, coding, web features, review payoffs, EVERYTHING. So, my $60 and your $60 from last year at least somewhat went towards this "new feature". And now we have to pay extra to use it.

Problem with that?

It's just funny that in the same post where you are asking me where my $60 went, you mention that it goes to production for next years game, which is exactly where I said it went. So why even ask me?

# 165 mattbooty @ 05/27/11 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	The problem I have is that the way EA does it just SEEMS wrong, can you at least agree to that?

The very word "SEEMS" makes it difficult for everyone to agree. What may SEEM one way to you could SEEM entirely different to someone else. So anyone who was already disagreeing with you on the DLC will probably not be able to agree with you on this either.

I too have very limited knowledge of DLC in sports games as the last few years NCAA is the only one I've bought. I think the web-enabled content is a fair DLC (as I've stated) and as another poster mentioned I think it is actually a great way to get some of the features in that hardcore fans want but is a niche feature and wouldn't appeal to a wide enough audience for it to normally justify development time.

The other DLC in NCAA has all been stuff I can live with... I don't buy any of the "cheats", and any OD I commish I turn off the use of them. I would agree with you here if EA allowed those cheats regardless of whether we wanted them or not, but to their credit they did a pretty good job when they were introduced to quickly provide a way to turn them off in dynasties.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	While other DLC will be almost full new games from what I've seen

I play a lot of games in other genre's and where there are the occasional large expansion pack, most DLC I've seen is more like this, small "upgrades" that cost 2 or 3 bucks and most people will ignore.

# 166 roadman @ 05/27/11 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	Problem with that? It's just funny that in the same post where you are asking me where my $60 went, you mention that it goes to production for next years game, which is exactly where I said it went. So why even ask me?

Yes, because now it's more than just a $3.00 charge for you.

We get it, you don't like it and you don't like EA sports in general.

Time to move on.

# 167 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbooty


	I think this is a fallacy... your $60 isn't paying for the production/maintenance of the web-enabled content (or ANY part of the game for that matter). Your $60 buys you whatever incarnation of NCAA 12 EA sports decides to put on the disc. EA pays for the development of the game and then they hope enough people buy it to make that money back (and some profit obviously)... you didn't FUND the development of the McDonald's secret sauce either, you just bought a burger with it on it (I don't eat at McDonald's they may not even have a secret sauce so feel free to flame if I flubbed that analogy). In no way were these features made with "your" money. Now if EA came out back in July after 11 came out and said "OK people, we want to start working on NCAA 12, here is the features we hope to incorporate, but we need to get some cash so we can get it made, who can give us $60 right now so we can make a game with these features".... THEN they came out afterwards and said some of the those features were going to cost additional money... then yes, they spent your money on developing this game and cheated you out of promised features. They are telling you 6 weeks ahead of the game coming out what features are included in the boxed copy of the game and what will cost extra $$$. You have that time to decide if you will or will not purchase the game. If you do purchase the game you are doing so with full knowledge of what product you are getting. If you feel the game is only worth $60 IF you get those web features for free... then this year's version isn't for you... but I see no way that Ea is trying to trick you.

It's impossible to argue with people who obviously don't understand how budgeting works. When you pay for a McDonalds burger, you are paying for everything included with the production of that burger whether you think you are or not. You are paying for the production, research & development, taste testing, and all of the components of the product OTHERWISE the company would be out of business. So yes, you ARE paying for the secret sauce development because that is part of the price they establish for their item.

So what you are telling me is currently they haven't paid a dime for anything regarding the online dynasty DLC features? Otherwise it came out of the budget for this years game which was created from last years sales revenue. No offense intended whatsoever, but it's really not that difficult to understand...

# 168 kevj349 @ 05/27/11 03:57 PM

I think these forums should just be for improving the game. People who want to argue over price and market politics should find a forum meant for that. I'm not saying don't complain because we need voices to be heard, but I come here, as do most, to talk about the game, not unbased opinions on what market value is for things in the game. I'm so tired of the "what if" posts where we are heading down a "slippery slope". Come on I go to college and deliver pizza as my job and I can afford a $60 +/- a few without getting worked up. Everyone is making it sound like this is the only purchase we can afford and it is either putting food on the table or dlc. Just come on.

# 169 mattbooty @ 05/27/11 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	Keywords in bold. And yes, I do have a problem with that. As I already stated, my $60 from last year went ,at least partially, towards the creation and coding of an online dynasty control system, did it not? Or are you telling me they put this project on layaway and are paying for it with the DLC transactions? The budget they had, which was paid for with the consumers' $60 from last year, was for everything NCAA 12, graphics, gameplay, advertising, marketing, coding, web features, review payoffs, EVERYTHING. So, my $60 and your $60 from last year at least somewhat went towards this "new feature". And now we have to pay extra to use it. Problem with that? It's just funny that in the same post where you are asking me where my $60 went, you mention that it goes to production for next years game, which is exactly where I said it went. So why even ask me?

As in my previous post, I disagree that any of our money from last year's version went specifically into this year's version... It isn't like EA has a separate bank account and all the NCAA money goes in there and they say "we made $10 million off of NCAA 11 so that's how much we are spending on NCAA 12". Its totally different. They budget $XXX towards development of a game, which could shift somewhat based on the sales of the previous version, but for the most part the budget for NCAA 12 was set before NCAA 11 released. They know approximately how much they are going to make off each version before it ever comes out.

I completely disagree with this whole concept that we somehow paid for NCAA 12 to get made and so we are entitled to a specific feature-set. It just doesn't work that way.

# 170 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	So...you aren't actually addressing the subject at hand (NCAA 12's* online dynasty enhancements) at all, are you?*

I was addressing another comment that was made.

But yes, this boils down to NCAA 12 online dynasty somehow burdening servers more than anything else in the world so much so that each person has to pay $6 to use it.

# 171 MrJ2006 @ 05/27/11 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	What exactly am I supposed to be thankful for testing here? To see if the advance from a remote location actually works? I know what the feature is, does, and will do. It's simply a marketing tactic, the fact you think it's to test is a joke.

Again, so what if it's a marketing tactic? How many companies allow people a TRIAL (which is what EA is doing here) and TRY (again, EA doesn't have to do this) to see if the money they are charging is worth it. All other DLC you basically buy, and if you're disappointed, oh well looks like you're S.O.L. People can now see if they're going to use this for a few months or if it's not going to be used all that much. You might know what it is, but you haven't tried it yet. Now you get that option for a week and decide if you want to spend the money. Even if it's a marketing tactic, it's still a 7 day TRIAL, and you don't have to spend money on it if you don't like it. Really difficult to understand?

# 172 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Because they aren't making the game solely for you?

Ok then I'll trade Mascot Mode for the full functioning online dynasty mode. Because if you don't have these features included then you don't have a fully functioning online dynasty mode do you?

I forgot, they only make DLC "soley for me"

# 173 mattbooty @ 05/27/11 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	It's impossible to argue with people who obviously don't understand how budgeting works. When you pay for a McDonalds burger, you are paying for everything included with the production of that burger whether you think you are or not. You are paying for the production, research & development, taste testing, and all of the components of the product OTHERWISE the company would be out of business. So yes, you ARE paying for the secret sauce development because that is part of the price they establish for their item. So what you are telling me is currently they haven't paid a dime for anything regarding the online dynasty DLC features? Otherwise it came out of the budget for this years game which was created from last years sales revenue. No offense intended whatsoever, but it's really not that difficult to understand...

Yes they absolutely paid for the development of the web-enabled features, but there is no direct correlation between your NCAA 11 $60 and that getting done. That $60 became EA's money period, not NCAA money. By that token anyone who has EVER purchased ANY Electronic Arts title EVER is entitled to some special treatment for NCAA 12 because a penny of their money may be involved in its development. Its a great concept but it doesn't work that way.

Yes, I understand budgetting 100%. And yes, McDonald's needs to make money to stay in business, but you are not buying development time, you are buying a burger, plain and simple. McDonald's sets a price based on what they need to cover their costs and make a profit, but this isn't like the old "I pay your salary with my tax dollars" argument, you chose to buy a burger, you can't call up McDonalds and demand they change the way it tastes because you have some stake in their company having spent a few bucks there. Same with NCAA, you are entitled to nothing because you bought a previous game. That $60 bought you NCAA 11, there are no future guarantees.

# 174 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Yes, because now it's more than just a $3.00 charge for you. We get it, you don't like it and you don't like EA sports in general. Time to move on.

I don't even know what you are talking about with the bold statement. I went back and reread what you posted and what I posted in response, and then this quoted response and I still have no idea what you mean by it. What do you mean now it's more than just a $3 charge for me?

I dislike EA Sports nickel and diming us and expanding that to different avenues of the game. I have a problem that the majority are fine with it. Pretty soon it'll be too late and I'll be saying I told ya so.

# 175 jeremym480 @ 05/27/11 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrJ2006


	Again, so what if it's a marketing tactic? How many companies allow people a TRIAL (which is what EA is doing here) and TRY (again, EA doesn't have to do this) to see if the money they are charging is worth it. All other DLC you basically buy, and if you're disappointed, oh well looks like you're S.O.L. People can now see if they're going to use this for a few months or if it's not going to be used all that much. You might know what it is, but you haven't tried it yet. Now you get that option for a week and decide if you want to spend the money. Even if it's a marketing tactic, it's still a 7 day TRIAL, and you don't have to spend money on it if you don't like it. Really difficult to understand?

I wish another video game company that made a certain Mafia game (that also makes sports game) would have allowed me a free 7 day trail of their DLC... Because I had to pay $5 to see some boobies that should have been included in with the $30 that I paid for the game in the first place.

# 176 coogrfan @ 05/27/11 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	Ok then I'll trade Mascot Mode for the full functioning online dynasty mode. Because if you don't have these features included then you don't have a fully functioning online dynasty mode do you? I forgot, they only make DLC "soley for me"

The items being offered are enhancements. It is entirely possible to play a fully featured online dynasty without purchasing either of the items in question.

# 177 mattbooty @ 05/27/11 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevj349


	I think these forums should just be for improving the game. People who want to argue over price and market politics should find a forum meant for that. I'm not saying don't complain because we need voices to be heard, but I come here, as do most, to talk about the game, not unbased opinions on what market value is for things in the game. I'm so tired of the "what if" posts where we are heading down a "slippery slope". Come on I go to college and deliver pizza as my job and I can afford a $60 +/- a few without getting worked up. Everyone is making it sound like this is the only purchase we can afford and it is either putting food on the table or dlc. Just come on.

This is a thread created by OS specifically to discuss how some new features will not be free in NCAA 12, what else should we be discussing in this thread? If you don't want to be part of this particular discussion this thread isn't for you, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't discuss it within the confines of this thread. I'm not trying to be a jerk please don't take it that way.

I personally am enjoying this discussion. I feel no ill will towards those who do not share my view in this thread, and as far as I can tell it hasn't turned nasty in any way, its just a healthy discussion.

# 178 kbmnm247 @ 05/27/11 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevj349


	I think these forums should just be for improving the game. People who want to argue over price and market politics should find a forum meant for that. I'm not saying don't complain because we need voices to be heard, but I come here, as do most, to talk about the game, not unbased opinions on what market value is for things in the game. I'm so tired of the "what if" posts where we are heading down a "slippery slope". Come on I go to college and deliver pizza as my job and I can afford a $60 +/- a few without getting worked up. Everyone is making it sound like this is the only purchase we can afford and it is either putting food on the table or dlc. Just come on.

And this is the mentality that forces it to continue and eventually get out of control. And for some, yes, they can only spend a certain amount on a game. Some are not as lucky as you and I where a few dollars might not throw them off budget but they still want a fully featured game that they paid for.

Also this thread specifically is about the price and market, if you don't like the arguing over the mentality behind these choices and the debating about whether it is fair or not and you want to talk about the game and it's options, there are many other threads on this forum to do so...

# 179 ODogg @ 05/27/11 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	Because there were games played during the regular season with teams wearing said uniforms. Why do they owe you any uniforms at all? ODogg, you're obviously a mature adult if you've played Atari 2600, so how can you just be accepting all of this and what is given to you and siding with these huge power corps? Why do they owe you anything year to year? Why are you asking questions that are just going to create horrible situations in the future for gaming consumer if all of us just accept all of this as standard?

Because unlike some folks here I understand what it takes to create these games, football specifically and I'd rather see them stay around and improve then let a overblown sense of entitlement run them into a no profit zone in which they are no longer made or made as an afterthought. I've seen it happen before with other of my favorite games and don't want to see it happen again.

The DLC is a great way to keep the games profitable and give consumers choice. The bottom line here is that most of you who are against it are against it because of some scary distant reality that is highly unlikely to happen as opposed to what it's actually being used for now.

# 180 mattbooty @ 05/27/11 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmnm247


	And this is the mentality that forces it to continue and eventually get out of control. And for some, yes, they can only spend a certain amount on a game. Some are not as lucky as you and I where a few dollars might not throw them off budget but they still want a fully featured game that they paid for.

Yeah I get the impression that most people who are arguing it are not arguing that they can't AFFORD the $7, they are just against the idea that they have to. It's something they feel should have just been included for free. Its not something I agree with but I understand where they are coming from.

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