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The Pirate Ship => ARR! => Topic started by: Noodle on 2006 November 12, 04:03:33



Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Noodle on 2006 November 12, 04:03:33
Just a rant... :x
Thanks to the pay/donation sites, EA has discovered there are many TS2 fans willing to shell out cash for additional items. Hence, they happily obliged us with their "stuff packs".  To add insult to injury, they include *hidden* items in these stuff packs for us to find, or worse, to force those of us that do not know how to extract these items to visit fan sites, encouraging us to download Maxis made items from places other than the official website.  

I, for one, receive these stuff packs from wonderful family members who believe anything to do with TS2 would make a nice gift and, if I didn't already have it, I must want it!   :roll:

Today I notice the "Happy Holiday Stuff" is once again to come out onto the store shelves. Oh NO! I must alert all relatives this is the same pack and I do not want it under the Christmas tree! But NO! It is not the same...EA has added 20..yes, twenty new items! Do not despair if you have this pack and want to "Celebrate the Season with All-New Must-Have Holiday Items for Your Sims!" ..Introducing the brand spanking new "Happy Holiday Mini Pack"! Available only via digital download from the EA Game Store! All this for only $6.99 USD!

I have the 2005 version (Thanks Mom!) I know it cost the same as the 2006 version, so on top of all the FREE holiday items they released last Holiday Season (which is one of the reasons I never intended to buy it last year anyway) I have a reason to feel doubly cheated out of a REAL Christmas present!

 :x  How do the guys at EA walk with such big balls?


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 04:06:14
no ones forcing you to buy it


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: DelMita on 2006 November 12, 04:11:08
Quote
How do the guys at EA walk with such big balls?


Slowly and bowlegged like.  Kinda a swaddle/swagger thing.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Noodle on 2006 November 12, 04:19:53
Quote from: "PirateBooty"
no ones forcing you to buy it


I'm not going to buy that crap. Thank God it is only available in download so I won't have to receive it as a gift in lieu of something really useful. If I did not make it clear, let me explain a little better what I mean to say: EA's Stuff Packs perpetuates the idea that items on fan sites are worth paying for; $6.99 for 20 objects? 8 of which are clothes and the rest are decorative...where is the value?


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: jesserocket on 2006 November 12, 04:21:06
True, there's no forcebuying, but...I personally buy expansion packs, and by the same token, stuff packs, cos I know people will make recolours, or find 'hidden' things, or make things from the objects in it...and expecially when it's relatives who have a vague knowlege of one's interests, and try and buy something slightly of that ilk....I first got TS1 from my grandad, who knew I liked SimCity, which turned out to be for teh win, but in general...well-meanong relatives can really fuck up sometimes..:(


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 04:23:43
Their idea is that it reaches the ones that don't download sims stuff online.

Sure it's all a big scam but who gives a shit?

Paysites or no paysites it was bound to happen sooner or later. The company is all about the bottom line.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Noodle on 2006 November 12, 04:27:47
^The new mini-pack is only available as a download.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Plum on 2006 November 12, 04:47:11
Whatever.  I just download 'em on BitTorrent anyway.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 04:55:22
Quote from: "Noodle"
^The new mini-pack is only available as a download.


I said the ones that don't download sims stuff online. Like custom content. They may still use the eadownloader for their stuff.

Anyway, that's just what EA/Maxis has said. It's not for me to justify.

Like I said, regardless of paysites it was going to happen.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Lauren on 2006 November 12, 04:59:16
Personally I'd rather give my money to EA than to paysites. I know with EA that the items are good quality, and look nice in my game.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 05:01:20
Wow, I can't stand maxis crap. I'd rather give mine to paysites if the choice was between them and EA.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: sickpuppy on 2006 November 12, 05:09:12
Well, the whole stuff pack deal pisses me off no end.  Maxis USED to offer new stuff online for FREE all the time, but now they gouge us, following the paysite lead. And I agree: 20 NEW items is just crap.

It IS this that MaxiodTom and I got into it over (BTW, he doesn't post anymore because of it). I feel bad for him because he was doing the job EA set before him but I think he knew it was crap too. And if he didn't, then t's good he's no longer a Sims2 team member. EA needs to get in touch with it's fan base and contrary to popluar opionion i can not believe the fan base consists of mostly 13 yos or that the 13 yos are completely stupid. EA seems to believe this is true.

IMO, EA has shit all over their faithful fans. I will NEVER buy a stuff pack, ever. I doubt if I ever buy another EP! They can't make the stuff in an EP work right, I don't want it. I will NOT buy into this 'got to have every ing sim, got to have it" mentality because that perpetuates EA selling crap. If they can sell crap, then that's what they will continue to sell cuz it's cheaper to produce!

I loved Sims 1. I was so excited about Sims2 when it came out. But with each passing EP I have been more and more disappointed.

I still play my game, and I will. But I love it because of the mods and the CC. The EPs have been full of bugs and they just make me mad. Next time I pass.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 05:12:50
I have no plans to pay for anymore of their expansions or stuff packs myself  :twisted:


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Solowren on 2006 November 12, 05:16:00
Quote from: "DelMita"
Quote
How do the guys at EA walk with such big balls?


Slowly and bowlegged like.  Kinda a swaddle/swagger thing.


Like cowboys? :o


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: wicked_one on 2006 November 12, 06:17:29
my favorite part of the whole "download only" deal:

you're required to connect and login to the ea site in order to play your game at all

no internet connection available? too bad, you can't play the game you paid for...ea site down for a few hours? oh well guess you can't play your game, unless you want to temporarily uninstall whichever one(s) you downloaded from them

Quote
Do I need EA Link to play EA games on my PC?

Yes, you need EA Link to play PC games you have purchased via the EA Downloader or EA Link.  In addition to enabling faster downloading of EA games, pre-loading, and game patch updates, EA Link provides security for your downloadable games.  Instead of inserting a disc in the drive, you simply login to EA Link periodically to start your game.  If you are already logged in to EA Link, you won't be prompted to login before starting your game.  As an added benefit, EA Link's security enables you to install your game on up to 3 machines - so you can play at work and at home!


I'd rather be able to play whenever the hell i want than have the extra 20 "holiday" items (that are all CHRISTMAS related again anyways lol)


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 06:18:50
that's easily worked around. I bought one (and only one - never again) EA downloader thing. I would log into it, launch the game and log out. It wouldn't make me log in again for days and days and days - pretty much until I rebooted my computer or if the software itself forced an update


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Lauren on 2006 November 12, 06:23:36
Is that why I never have a problem logging in? My EA Downloader/Link is never logged in.

Personally, I like the Maxis way of clothes/hair ect. I don't like the real looking Sims wearing stuff I wouldn't be caught dead in. The objects I get online, but most of my clothes are Maxis ones.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: wicked_one on 2006 November 12, 07:13:20
i've not tried the ea downloader thing, some of my friends did though, one of them was having problems because the ea site wasn't connecting, giving them error messages, etc but they also shut down their computer at night so that might explain why they had to sign in each time they turned on the game to take screenshots or to play. (empathy annoyance on my part I guess)

It sort of punishes the ones that bought last year's holiday pack, like we should have waited and assumed they were going to repackage the same crap this year and add a few small things like a greeting card decor thing

Doesnt really matter though because the holiday items will be available for free online the same day it's released just like last year.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Sherry on 2006 November 12, 07:38:58
I don't personally mind the EA gorge too much.  I never buy the stuff packs, though I do have all the expansions.  Probably will break for the christmas stuff though, I love christmas stuff *hint to bluesoup, I will need you to do some testing for me next week*

I think I would be more upset by EA gorging, if their weren't so many paysites much worse.  I mean at least EA has a staff, developed the game ect.

I am not saying it's particulary wonderful that they do crap like this, I guess I just am not too upset by it.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: PirateBooty on 2006 November 12, 08:52:17
i think that if the holiday pack last year had been released like one of the stuff packs we get now, they wouldn't be redoing it at all.

last years was just a little installer with no serial no nothing - super easy to share, no disc required for play, no registration etc.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Pescado on 2006 November 12, 09:13:59
The EA downloader is spyware. Never, ever, buy EA downloader versions.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Rovam on 2006 November 12, 11:44:35
Why am I not surprised?  :roll:  Not that I'd ever download anything from EA/buy a stuff pack anyhow.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Pescado on 2006 November 12, 12:12:43
You really should tell BlueSoup where to get an avatar like yours. She needs one. I see her face staring back at me everytime I see your avatar. It's uncanny.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Rovam on 2006 November 12, 12:31:43
http://ppkh.davidsonlinegallery.com/pixel/basesmain.php

Big headed avatar bases for all! Piratey features not included.  :P


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Pescado on 2006 November 12, 12:35:45
I didn't understand how to use that. Make one for BlueSoup.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Caedre on 2006 November 12, 13:08:18
See it from the bright side, they didn't include the fugly christmas crap in the base game!

No, now you can choose what crap you want in your game!





I hate christmas   :)


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Blodeuwedd on 2006 November 12, 14:25:03
I hope it is released in my country this time....Last year it wasn't..... :?


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: Noodle on 2006 November 12, 15:44:01
These 20 new items should be offered up as a Holiday gift, like the 12 Days of Christmas thing they did last year. Some of us old-timers were spoiled with the Simday of yore making the idea of a "mini add-on pack" even less palatable. They are pouring salt in the wound by putting out an add-on pack to an add-on pack already bought and paid for!

I want a gift from EA dammit! If I must pillage for these items so be it! ARR!


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: jesserocket on 2006 November 12, 16:53:01
I miss SimDay...it was normally some bollocks interview or something, but sometimes, just sometimes, they'd release a A THING, and it was grand. What was the last THING they released for TS2? That pennant thing, back when the World Cup was on? Dude, that sucked.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: snadradeocconer on 2006 November 12, 17:28:18
i so know what u are talking aobut

i really would just downlode the mini pack for free, but because u need a cd for it i won't.


Title: Top it off with another gouge from EA
Post by: rosebud on 2006 November 13, 03:54:25
Yep, simming won't be the same again, ever.  :cry: