I'm discounting it because it's utter nonsense man. Either people really care about this stuff or they don't, you can't have an in between here as EA won't give a shit unless you have an extreme on either side of it. If everyone is off playing split-screen then GREAT, this doesn't really affect many people so why are we here? More vocal minority stuff? Why would you even make that argument, it's silly?

You're discounting the fact that many (most?) people play console sports games via split-screen with a friend in the room, so they aren't actively "supporting" EA's habit of shutting down servers, sometimes seemingly a bit prematurely, just by buying it.

This comment was edited on Jan 4, 2010, 15:28.

What are you talking about? Plenty of people support it year in and year out by continually buying their products. The people that don't support it who are also gamers are probably the minority judging by their sales figures. It's no different than Intuit's bullshit with Quickbooks or Microsoft doing forced sunsetting of software. It's a reality that people will basically tolerate this bullshit. An unfortunate reality but one all the same.

This may be a new trend we are seeing. Perhaps the industry will all shift this way. Server support for only a year.

You can give thanks to idiots like Caveman. This guy has to work for EA because no real gamer would support this sort of corporate nonsense.

But then I saw madden 09 x360 and ps3 ( there is no way that too few people are playing those games) and unless it's a typo, I just can't believe it. It really makes EA look like the pits.

Ditto, most of the games on the list were older PS2, PC, and PSP games or games that I thought might be light on players. But Madden 09 for the 360/PS3 makes it clear what is going on.

I'm not surprised...it makes sense. Not as many people are buying your newest game, Madden 10, so make features in 09 stop working that people like in favor of getting those features in Madden 10. They mentioned all the other platforms that Madden 09 is on earlier, but then stuck the 2 most popular ones down at the bottom and one up from the last item I would assume to avoid being noticed...

I'm glad I don't frequent this franchise, for all the support players give the company there doesn't seem to be any appreciation.

This comment was edited on Jan 4, 2010, 12:16.

At first while going down the list, I was trying to find a reasonable reason for the decision. I thought I had that reason: maybe there are too few people playing these games. But then I saw madden 09 x360 and ps3 ( there is no way that too few people are playing those games) and unless it's a typo, I just can't believe it. It really makes EA look like the pits.

They would issue a no DRM patch, silly.

Madden 08 PC?!?! But... that's the last version of Madden for PC. SO, no online for Madden PC users at all?

Haven't been able to connect to Battlefield 1943 servers since early November. And I'm not alone in this either.

I suspect EA has massive server problems.

Well there are two other reasons that I haven't seen brought up in the comments yet. One, didn't all the 2010 games get the big push for in-game advertising, even in single player? This is a good way to make sure all the fans of the game are pushed to the new advertastic setup. And two, EA has whined for a while about used game sales. This is a delightful way to hamstring those.

Emo tears are so delicious that's why I love reading comments at Blue's!

Sepharo wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 18:29:

Madden 09 x360 and PS3

Can someone explain this one for me.

Maddening, I know.

Sorry, couldn't resist

5 - 10 year game, sure I can understand.

But games that are only 1 - 2 years old and the cut the lifeline?

Beelzebud wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 20:31:
This is a fine example of why we as gamers should reject any games coming out without a dedicated server. If they all go to a model where the user has no dedicated server to operate, it will spell doom for what we now enjoy. There are still people playing Quakeworld online. If they want to run the servers, and play the game, why shouldn't they be able to? Take away dedicated servers, and you take that away. It's not progress.

Dedicated Servers have nothing too do with it - what EA & co switch off is the master server, which handles the broadcast of server information in-between clients. Without it, the game just doesn't know where to look to find all the servers and games.

nullability wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 23:12:
...but this just sends a message to potential future customers: we may discontinue server support within a year of buying the game.

If you read the back of any EA game box, they already state that 'online services can be discontinued at any time and without notice'. I'm not sticking up for the practice, but we're lucky they have a community manager who's nice enough to brave the backdraft and post about what's going to be disappearing.

This comment was edited on Jan 4, 2010, 04:39.

Wow 6 months after the launch of Madden 09 they shut down the servers?

Damn.

My bag guess they launched it in August 08, but still.

This comment was edited on Jan 4, 2010, 01:51.

lol "negative perception"

they've done this before. it generates about as much negative perception as poisonous foods and wasted taxes.

that is to say almost no negative perception because almost nobody cares.

life is too good to give a fuck about the details.

That's a pretty lousy thing to do to your customers. Sure, it may be that not many people still play these games or that they weren't very successful, but this just sends a message to potential future customers: we may discontinue server support within a year of buying the game. Are the minimal costs of server administration really worth the negative customer perception that this will undoubtedly generate? It seems like quite a gamble to me, especially in this economy, when EA should be doing everything it can to retain its customers.

If they want to run the servers, and play the game, why shouldn't they be able to? Take away dedicated servers, and you take that away. It's not progress.

Now hold on there, buddy. Infinity Ward said that peer hosting is easier and more accessible then dedicated servers and therefore, everybody should love it. After all, that's what Xbox Live uses! The more PC gaming becomes like console gaming, the better.

Beelzebud wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 20:31:
This is a fine example of why we as gamers should reject any games coming out without a dedicated server. If they all go to a model where the user has no dedicated server to operate, it will spell doom for what we now enjoy. There are still people playing Quakeworld online. If they want to run the servers, and play the game, why shouldn't they be able to? Take away dedicated servers, and you take that away. It's not progress.

Ditto. Or at least make the server opensource, but they won't because it's all about $$ and control.

TurdFergasun wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 21:11:

Caveman wrote on Jan 3, 2010, 16:58:
Do any of you guys bitching play any of these games? If not, what the hell do you care honestly? If it's not cost efficient to keep the servers running, then shut them down.

so with your logic as long as you don't suffer from any of the ills in the world we should just stfu about them? so fuck the cancer kids, fuck the hungry, etc etc. right. you're pretty much in line with the ethos those running this world atm so i guess not much of a surprise for you to flock to that type of idea like the wool bearing mammal you appear to be.

what a bucket of hammers.

Possibly the most impressive leap of logic I've seen in at least a month.