EA's "Extended Download Service" Ruffles Feathers
See Full ImageThe debate regarding physical vs. digital media will continue to rage for quite some time, but if you think it'll always be cheaper to download a game from home, new evidence may contradict that belief.
As most of you understand, when you purchase something online, it downloads to your machine - be it PC, PS3 or whatever - and this seems like a relatively straightforward process. If the Internet is disconnected during this time or your system fails and the download is interrupted, you can still download it at a later time. You've already purchased the product; you need only go into your download history and try again. But what if someone decided to make the game re-downloadable for a fixed period of time? Leave it to EA to think of that... An ArsTechnica writer stumbled upon a little caveat when going to EA's online store to pick up Spore. Upon doing so, he was charged an automatic $6.99 fee for an "Extended Download Service" (think of GameStop's "Extended Service Agreement"), where EA would keep your game on file for two years in case your system collapses and you lose it. See, there doesn't appear to be an indefinite download option, and if you want access to that game in the future, you need the "EDS," which is evidently mandatory. The upside to this is that if your system does indeed fail and you lose the game entirely, you can redownload it without purchasing it again.
For PC users, Steam doesn't have this EDS thing, and PS3 and 360 owners don't have to worry about it on the Store and Marketplace. But how much longer will this last? How much longer before everyone else picks up on the concept and begins to focus more on digital distribution? The idea is still in its infancy stages, and when it begins to grow, certain companies will quickly find ways to increase their cash flow. So the question is, what else might they be able to charge us for in the future?
12/31/2008 Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (53 posts)
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:32:31 PM
0 up, 0 down
tlpn99
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:10:01 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
kreate
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:11:34 AM
Reply
digital download is a form of control. its good for companies but bad for consumers.
i wont be able to let my friend borrow my movie or game for them to enjoy. what if i downloaded a movie on xboxlive but my xbox breaks so i want to switch the movie over to my ps3?
what if i am in a area with no internet?
what about ppl who uses 28k modem?
the internet speed in america for the price we pay for actually s@cks compared to countries like japan and korea where the average citizen has super saiyan internet speed that owns the average american internet speed.
i still have old classic games in my closet. if i had it in digital. it would be in a harddrive? what if the harddrive breaks? what if the company goes down like sega? how do i re-download my games i bought 15 years ago?
companies comes and go. companies abandon older machines.
its a inevitable deal, everything will eventually become digital. there isnt much freedom in america as much as ppl think they have. we only have freedom within the realm of what our laws gives us. we need to fight against this digital download as much as possible.
microsoft is the biggest supporter in this digital downloading arena and consumers should be informed of the dangers of letting major companies take over like this.
most consumers in general are ignorant or misinformed by the big corporations.
Last edited by kreate on 12/31/2008 11:22:13 AM
6 up, 0 down
zerostar39
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:21:37 PM
1 up, 0 down
MetalHead09
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:32:22 PM
2 up, 0 down
Qubex
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:58:32 PM
Q!
"i aM hOMe"
Last edited by Qubex on 12/31/2008 12:58:56 PM
0 up, 0 down
NiteKrawler
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:25:30 PM
0 up, 0 down
somethingrandom
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:25:27 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jed
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 9:09:15 PM
0 up, 0 down
kreate
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 4:08:52 AM
tens of thousands of ppl downloading at the same time on the launch day?
would servers hold out? or would the network crash?
when ps3's HOME first came out, ppl had a hard time signing in let alone actually playing the HOME service.
its ok to have both hardcopies as well as digital downloads, but corporations will eventually eliminate hardcopies and go with only digitals.
what about the sweet @ss deals we get from gamestop? the buy2 get 1 free deals? + the 10% off on all used games? no more of that =(
0 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:22:40 AM
stack that onto the fact that an avid gamer will be more of a bandwidth leech than the weird guy down the street who sits and downloads movies on bittorrent all day, and then the ISPs have a good reason to cap everyones bandwidth, like comcast.
thats bad.
0 up, 0 down
shreevin
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:31:53 AM
Reply
I kinda like having a digital copy of my games. It's like having a game jukebox on my PS3. Tired of playing one game, quit and start up a new one without getting off my lazy ass! ;)
0 up, 0 down
Cuetes
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:42:56 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Tim Speed24
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:07:31 PM
Reply
Digital downloads are just fine for the 10 to 20 dollar games IMO.
0 up, 0 down
King James
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:13:59 PM
Reply
Last edited by King James on 12/31/2008 12:14:33 PM
1 up, 0 down
crapreviews
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:41:34 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
city96
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 1:00:42 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:40:55 PM
0 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:29:30 PM
PIRACY. The PSP and PS2 suffer from it so badly, that they're not going to open up the ps3. although it would be bloddy good.
0 up, 0 down
Qubex
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 1:00:52 PM
Reply
Q!
"i aM hOMe"
0 up, 0 down
Qubex
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 1:07:33 PM
Reply
Headline:
"Users baffled as Zune MP3 players freeze up"
- go to tech section to read this story on CNN.com... to be honest I wasn't surprised... after all this is M$
Q!
"i aM hOMe"
Last edited by Qubex on 12/31/2008 1:13:29 PM
1 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:28:10 PM
i'm only half suprised, but i like the zune. i hate ipod coz it dominates the market leaving everything else decent with no designers willing to make accessories. And yes, their are many other players better than the ipod. Sansa Fuze is much cheaper and has tonnes more capabilities and is cooler. and i got 8gb storage for £50. 8gb on ipod? £106 WTf!!!!
0 up, 0 down
NiteKrawler
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:30:55 PM
My god, how long is it going to take before M$ users stop being "baffled" by these things and start to EXPECT them? Two words that never belong in the same sentence are "Microsoft" and "Stability". Oops! I just did it!
1 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:25:27 AM
=D
0 up, 0 down
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:33:39 PM
Reply
Remember going to the store to pick up that hot new game to realize there isn't any left? Say goodbuy..
Remember when you got that brand new title and it accidentally broke? Bye bye.
How about all the money the developers will save in packaging and sales. I for one would LOVE that I can get the game I want the day it comes out without having to wrestle with crazy people in walmart or bestbuy.
You know deep down its going to happen anyway. So look at the bright side.
0 up, 0 down
www
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:14:06 PM
On a disc u r assured it's not scratched or broken once u get it fresh off the shelves.
1 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:24:33 PM
0 up, 0 down
daus26
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:35:42 PM
As for costs on packaging, think bout the cost of fast internet connections n backup services n whatnot. If you've been online shopping u will see that digital downloads n physical copies r priced jus bout the same anyway.
1 up, 0 down
GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 6:51:29 PM
Same can be said when the servers are down because of heavy traffic.
---Remember when you got that brand new title and it accidentally broke? Bye bye.
Remeber when your whole game collection went "bye bye" because of a hard drive failure?
---How about all the money the developers will save in packaging and sales. I for one would LOVE that I can get the game I want the day it comes out without having to wrestle with crazy people in walmart or bestbuy.
Great, the dev's will save. what do the consumers get? No more collectors editions with limited edition art and action figures.
Also, No more hard to find games. Games that don't sell good on DD will be wiped from the company's servers. After all, that game is taking up space that another game that sells better can use. So now, instead of possibly being able to find a discontinued game on amazon or ebay, you won't be able to find it. Anywhere. Why not? Because of Digital Distribution.
1 up, 0 down
Wage SLAVES
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:36:14 PM
0 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:29:05 AM
0 up, 0 down
King James
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 2:57:15 PM
0 up, 0 down
englishgolfer
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:44:01 PM
Reply
true what you say about the developers saving money on packaging and sales but will this money be passed onto us, the customers, or the share holders????
0 up, 0 down
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:57:37 PM
Think about it. If we have strong healthy developers they will have the cash to create great games. Im sure you already heard about Take Two and EA,s position?
Everyone is struggling..Whats good for them is good for us.
0 up, 1 down
NiteKrawler
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:35:41 PM
Wow, you certainly have an optimistic outlook on huge corporations. I always remain cynical myself.
1 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:35:18 AM
public relations? a facade. they dont care what you think.
customer service? a relic from a bygone era that is kept on ONLY to make you happy. if everyone dropped customer service at the same time, it would stay dropped.
and everyone is struggling? since when? maybe people have tightened their belts recently, but 2008 was the best year for gaming, and its only getting better. i'll give you that they're trimming back on unnecessary ventures, but struggling? thats a bit of a stretch.
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:45:43 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
www
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:07:02 PM
Reply
IF many of u support this digital dist. which personally i don't,it's definitely going to grow once it's widely accepted.We consumers have a hand in this n it's up to us to support this or abandon it.
CONSUMERS wake up!!!!!!
Last edited by www on 12/31/2008 3:09:29 PM
0 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:21:53 PM
0 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:20:16 PM
Reply
one, possible risk of corruption, unlikely but possible.
two, pricing, take GT5:P for example, if you got it off the store , it cost £25, i got mine as a physical copy for £15. 10 quid cheaper. and as a 14 yr old, 10 quid is a bit. that's 25% of a new game or two or three PSNstore items.
three, transportability, i couldn't take GT5:P if it was on my HDD but i could if it was a physical copy, and that's one of the advantages.
my main issues are the last price, if it goes down promised, then i'm all for it. transportibility can wait. but a solution must come eventually. and as for this EDS system, hell yeah, why not. coz if pricing goes down, an extra 5 quid won't hurt. if it's more than 5 quid, sony are fleecing us out of our money.
A little more on pricing just to finish: u get deals buy buying physical. deals including:
BurnoutParadise - £13
GT5:P - £15
COD5 - £28
MotorStorm:PR - £26
LBP - £20
MGS4 - £30
COD4- £30
Mirror's Edge - £18
and all not that long after release. and all bloody good games.
0 up, 0 down
daus26
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:20:33 PM
Reply
For those who think the goods of this outweighs the cons pls think again. Should we hve a choice like we do now or be forced into internet n downloading. Somebody just tell me wat is wrong with the way things r right now.
0 up, 0 down
shaydey77
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:35:32 PM
Reply
Also why cant you take a harddrive with you? Ive never tried changing mine yet but i heard its relatively easy and they are relatively light..so taking your hard drive to a friends house and putting it into his/her PS3 would work?
I accept I could be totally wrong here and if people want to give out go ahead!im just here for the learning!!
0 up, 0 down
Jed
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 9:13:24 PM
0 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:40:51 AM
so you COULD, it just wouldnt be very practical.
0 up, 0 down
Wage SLAVES
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 11:46:00 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
souljah92
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 12:35:25 AM
Reply
Last edited by souljah92 on 1/1/2009 12:35:52 AM
0 up, 0 down
SHADOW [Moderator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 6:09:28 AM
Reply
STEAM MOTHER F***ERS!
EA is actually starting put there games out on the world's premiere digital distributor. EA's store is failing miserably and it will probably disappear by the end of this year (2009). We don't have to worry about this horrible idea spreading because... well... it's a horrible idea. Steam, PSN, (i don't know anything about LIVE so they might be here too) all have built in ways of allowing you to redownload your content without easily opening itself up to easy pirating.
Digital Distribution is probably the only way that publishers can successfully curtail piracy. It takes a lot more work to crack a Steam game then a disc based game.
0 up, 0 down
LightShow
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 9:45:36 AM
0 up, 0 down
SHADOW [Moderator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 3:11:25 PM
0 up, 0 down
shreevin
Friday, January 02, 2009 @ 9:54:29 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
GuinnessGulper
Reply
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 10:59:03 AM