mhg83

MS has stated recently they plan to do a live game show similar to 1 vs 100. I hope it's good!

Decker

So I relented and entered my CC number so I could get EA Access. They still haven't answered the question of do things get taken out of the vault, and what happens if they do. You'd think people would want to know that, especially before buying something like BF4 Premium.
I had just assumed they would do something like PS Plus where you "Buy" the available free titles to tie your account to the game license (within the parameters of an active PS Plus subscription), but it doesn't look like they do that. I don't know how to access a Download List like PS4, PS3 and 360 have online, but checking my transactions, I see the EA Access subscription, but no $0.00 for FIFA. If they remove a game from the Vault and you have deleted it, I have no idea if you'd ever have access to the content download again.

Matthew Chmiel

If the game is not titled Destiny, throw it right into the bargain bin.

From EA: "Games will continue to be added to The Vault, and we currently have no plans to remove any game from The Vault, but we might not be able to keep games in The Vault forever. That said, you’ll be updated if and when a game is scheduled to leave The Vault. Before games leave The Vault you can use your EA Access 10% discount to purchase them for your digital collection."

While a game like Battlefield 4 might stay in The Vault forever (as EA owns both DICE and the Battlefield franchise), a sport game might be removed if EA loses the license to publish that sport franchise's game. While I don't see that happening under Madden/NFL, the jury is still out on the other sport franchises (e.g. NBA, NHL, and UFC).

chuckd21

Pretty good answer.

Brack

I don't think EA would ever want to lose FIFA either.

Dan

Yeah, I'm happy with that answer for sure.

Raul3

Yup. And again $30 looks like a great deal.

Decker

Yeah thanks for the answer Matt. You do a better job explaining than EA or the gaming websites do.
Really if they aren't swapping out, people might be better off waiting to join until there is more content in the vault. Anyway I'm in for a year.

Matthew Chmiel

I spent the $29.99 to play Battlefield 4 again (I already own Peggle 2 and its DLC, Madden 25 and FIFA 14 are add-ons). Like the idiot I am, I then purchased Battlefield 4 Premium for $32.99 during last week's GWG deal. I could see EA making more money off these games' DLC (even at 10% off) than actual physical sales. It'll be interesting to see how EA Access evolves over the next year or two. I hate EA with every inch in my body, but I'm willing to risk $29.99 to see how this pays off or fails.

I wouldn't be surprised if NBA Live 14 and Need for Speed Rivals are added by the end of the year.

Going back to the Xbox One itself, I just had to have my console replaced as my disc drive had started to fail and was having issues reading game discs and Blu-rays.

Thursday, July 31st: Call Microsoft to setup advance replacement.
Monday, August 4th: Replacement console is shipped.
Wednesday, August 6th: Replacement console arrives.
Thursday, August 7th: I ship the replacement console back to Microsoft.

Microsoft waived the $15 advanced replacement cost as I was apart of the Xbox preview program, but I'll have the $400+tax hold on my Discover card until Microsoft receives the console.

I really wish Microsoft would do the advance replacements for all Xbox One products. I shipped out my Titanfall controller on July 22nd and I still haven't received my replacement yet.

Dan

Just curious... what happened to your controller?

Matthew Chmiel

It would begin to disconnect after a minute. Tried new batteries, tried repairing, tried to do a hard reset on the console, etc. Nothing worked.

Got fed up and reached out to Microsoft.

According to FedEx, I'll have the controller back either tomorrow or Saturday.

In the eight months I've owned this console, I've now had a console, controller, and a chat headset replaced... and that's why you buy the extended warranty for $69 (like I did the moment Amazon delivered my Day One package).

MoviePage

One of my controllers does the same thing. Keeps disconnecting even though the battery is fully charged. Very annoying.

MoviePage

EA has responded to some of the concerns mentioned earlier in this very thread.

EA Access library will be 'permanent and substantial'
This all sounds too good to be true, especially coming from EA. My only theory is that they're likely moving to a model where DLC is even more of a focus than it already is.

Dan

I think you're spot on. This could be good or bad, depending on how it all plays out. They'll need to find a balance to make it work. I imagine they've crunched a ton of numbers and they are likely thinking that they can increase the average revenue per user by going with this model, which surely must be the goal.

Hell, if their number of subscribers reaches a critical mass (in terms of % of overall XO owners), they could start giving AAA games out to subscribers for free, and just charge them for DLC later on (if they do day-1 mandatory DLC, then they'll face the wrath of GAF). It's all in the numbers. They could do bundles of EA Access with cable or internet subscriptions (music streaming services are already doing this), or something even more ridiculous. These are not necessarily bad things if it makes gamers feel like they're getting a good value.

I've dumped over $500 into streaming music over the last four years at $10/month, knowing that nothing I listen to on their service is mine to keep. At this point, come to think of it, I've probably spent more there than I would have if I actually was still buying CDs today. But, even still, I think it's an immense value because I have access to nearly everything I would ever want to listen to.

I think EA is going for the same type of thing for the long haul. They know they can't sell every game to every gamer, but if they can sell a subscription to MOST gamers, then they might actually be onto something...

Decker

I, for one will never purchase another EA game (except Titanfall 2 as we know it's excluded from the program).

Dan

Well yeah, me too. Maybe NFS, but that's it.
But what if EA/Respawn/MS worked out the perfect money hat deal so Titanfall 2 was free on day 1 with EA Access?

Decker

Out-of-context celebration!

I still think they should rotate titles in and out like PS Plus does it (making it permanently available for active subscribers, but still giving incentive to people to keep their membership active - rather than just having the collection grow and grow so that there's no harm in waiting a year or two for the content to build up.

MoviePage

Bad. The correct answer is bad.

Decker

As someone who paid good money to purchase that King-of-consumables game Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare, I'll agree. It's bad.

Matthew Chmiel

Uh, you realize you don't have to spend money? Right?

Also, that feature was added to the game months after it shipped.

Rob V

It's $30! Even if another game wasn't added, you just got FIFA, Madden, PvZ and BF4 for $30. Controllers cost twice that... guys are spending $100+ on headsets. The best part is, you don't have to buy DLC if you don't want to. I can't believe there is even a modicum of outrage over EA's app but developers putting last gen content out for next gen systems is all the rage.

Raul3

It's Peggle 2, not PvZ.

Rob V

It could be Peggle v Zombies... it's a good deal.

Decker

Matthew was referring to my PvZ Garden Warfare comment relating to EA's obsession with DLC and microtransactions, NOT to the price of EA Access (which I've already purchased for a year) or dscussing which games are currently in the Vault.

Yes, I'm aware of both those things. My problem is that the game uses these consumable items in a way that's designed for microtransactions just as much as any greedy iphone game does. EA stating that microtransactions was only added later changes nothing, the game was designed for microtransactions.
I have a BIG problem with a game that offers split-screen co-op but almost requires you to use consumables. When my son wants to play some PvZ with me on the couch, the only mode available is Garden Ops - a horde-like mode - (and at only one difficulty level as well, I might add). Then we play some and without using my consumables we're quickly dead. Am I supposed to tell him he can't use them because we're running out? Once we're out of consumable defense plants, am I supposed to tell him to wait while I go play some online mode in hopes of earning some more in-game currency before we can play another round? Tell me how that's a good thing or a good trend in gaming.

Maxflier

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't expect to see their sports titles added to the vault until a month or two before the next iteration is released (ie: when it is almost irrelevant).