EA goes Live

[Ruined]

Thanks Astrakan for pointing this out... Funny EA's big brass takes a walk, and now we have XBOX Live games. w00t! I'm definitely picking up NASCAR Thunder 2005!

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/508/508793p1.html

April 23, 2004 - After years of discussions, Electronic Arts and Microsoft are putting the final touches on a partnership enabling four of EA's sports titles, and possibly three non-sports games, to go online with Xbox Live this fall, IGN learned today. The Redwood City, Ca.-based publisher will announce its strategy at the annual Electronic Entertainment Exposition this May, but it may reveal plans earlier to investors this April 29, during its upcoming fiscal announcement.


"They're psyched," a former EA employee, who asked not to be identified, told IGN. "EA is going to bring its games to Live this year. It's finally happening."

Madden NFL 2005, NCAA College Football, NASCAR Thunder 2005, and NBA Live comprise the sports package for Xbox Live this fall. The non-sports games are less concrete, but as IGN has learned from several sources close to the company, Battlefield: Modern Combat, EA's new Goldeneye game, and perhaps Burnout 3 are first in line for Xbox online compatibility.

Other investigations point to EA's long-awaited move on two of these titles. Digital Illusions CE (DICE) said in 2002 it planned to make a second Battlefield game for both PC and Xbox. It quickly re-worded its statements to include only PC.

Two Wall Street analysts (UBS Warburg Equity Research and Banc of America Securities) reported in their weekly newsletters that EA will bring its games to Xbox Live, one specifically naming Battlefield as an Xbox Live candidate. "We do expect that to change this year, with Battlefield 1942 for Xbox expected to have Xbox Live capability," said a UBS report. "The popularity of Xbox Live, which is likely to be supported by Electronic Arts for the first time in 2004, also contributes to our confidence in strong Xbox hardware sales this year," reported Banc of America Securities.

Criterion told IGN in 2003 that Burnout 2 would have been Xbox Live compatible, but Microsoft was late delivering critical information, so Burnout 2: Critical Impact only had minimal support. The representative added that the next game in the series (Burnout 3) will fully support Xbox Live; this was prior to EA's announcement to publish Burnout 3.

The games have never been the problem, as EA has publicly stated its issues with Microsoft's successful online strategy: Content control and cash. Xbox owners must pay $69.99 for a starter kit (and $49.99 to renew) to play online Xbox games on centralized servers run by Microsoft. EA wants both control over its content and money for gamers to play its titles. Unlike Sony Computer Entertainment America's laissez-faire setup, which is determined by independent publishers themselves, Microsoft gathers and controls everything. While full fiscal details were not revealed, IGN believes that EA was able to strike a deal with Microsoft to lower the manufacturer's licensing fees for those particular games. Another possibilitiy is that it's working on a new monetary package to pay for online play. As for content, IGN believes Microsoft will share its data with EA.

Recently, Microsoft's move to create Live Server Protocol (LSP), which enables publishers to set up their own specialized tournaments and leagues on sub-servers, has made the move easier for EA to swallow. Sega revealed its plans to bring its sports games online (check the story on IGN Sports, detailing the LSP's flexibility, and EA is likely to follow suit.

A Sega representative told IGN, "We expect EA to go to Xbox Live this year, and we would be shocked if they didn't."

EA and Microsoft firmly deny their change in plans. "EA and Microsoft do not have an agreement for including online capability in EA titles for Xbox," said an EA representative. "We have a solid partnership with Microsoft and many titles in development for the Xbox. Discussions are ongoing."

She added: "Competition from other developers is one of the dynamics that made EA SPORTS produce so many great games. We expect these teams will be reassigned to make more great games for the Xbox."

Microsoft was less imaginative in its response. "We haven't made any announcements and we don't comment on rumors or speculation."

IGN will have more details on EA's Xbox Live plans soon. Check back on April 29 and during E3.

[Lastblade]

Good news! Not that I really care since I still think EA's sports games in general are weak, but it is good for MS/Live so I am happy for them. However, I do like Fight Night alot and wish that was live enabled. Maybe next year, which means, I won't be getting this year's rev

[Ruined]

Well yeh you got next year's Fight Night, this years NASCAR Thunder 2005, and hopefully Burnout 3 and Battlefield 1942 as well.

[SilentBob]

Some great news yes, but like mentioned above. I think their sprts games are not as good as Visual Concepts sport outings every year. Now with Madden being online for XBox i hope this wont hurt the ESPN series and their sales for the year. But looking forward to Need for Speed series and hopefully (if its good) GoldenEye 2.

[Reaver]

I want Underground on Live, and I want it now.

[Frank Gunn]

About damned time. If only I played sports games...

[Notoriousaurus]

I hate to be the devil's advocate, but if EA wants to charge me a fee to play Madden/NCAA, then guess what. I'm going with ESPN.

[Engineer_J]

Thanks Astrakan for pointing this out... Funny EA's big brass takes a walk, and now we have XBOX Live games. w00t! I'm definitely picking up NASCAR Thunder 2005!

Sounds more like MS gave into every demand EA had, so no surpise that EA will go Live now

Control of severs, check
ability to charge extra, check
share of revenue, check

Victory for the consumer, but hardly a victory for MS & Live.

I hate to be the devil's advocate, but if EA wants to charge me a fee to play Madden/NCAA, then guess what. I'm going with ESPN.

Not this year, but next

Sounds like most of these "changes" for Live, the whole TSunmai thing was also a cover to change live to allow for someone like EA to come aboard on their terms.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

Victory for the consumer, but hardly a victory for MS & Live.

Yeah, stupid Microsoft. Can't put a deal together for shit. You know that company is going under any second now. Yep, any second now...

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Reaver

Yeah, stupid Microsoft. Can't put a deal together for shit. You know that company is going under any second now. Yep, any second now...

Silly Reaver, you forgot to use the Anti-Microsoft secret decoder ring on the IGN news!

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Silly Reaver, you forgot to use the Anti-Microsoft secret decoder ring on the IGN news!

Ruined, I'm so embarassed...

[whispers]I lost mine. Can you get me a new one?[/whispers]

In related news, IGN posted:

Xbox Selling Big
NPD data has Xbox performance looking sparkly.

April 23, 2004 - NPD data for March showed that Xbox market share -- both in terms of hardware and software sales -- has steadily grown so far this year. The most dramatic example of this came in March itself, when Xbox sales jumped 20% higher than the same period in 2003. The sales surge moved the Xbox to a market share of 30 percent -- the highest since the console's launch way back in November 2001. In fact, the Xbox is currently the only console showing year-over-year sales growth for both hardware and software.


Clearly the tasty new $149.99 price tag has much to do with the sudden growth in sales, though we suspect that hot exclusive titles like Ninja Gaiden (and console exclusives like Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow) have also done plenty to encourage sales of the console.

In fact, Ninja Gaiden turned out to be the number one best-selling title for March across platforms, while Pandora Tomorrow made the top five after only two weeks on the shelves.

* waits for new decoder ring so he can read the hidden bad news *

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Reaver

* waits for new decoder ring so he can read the hidden bad news *

Here I'll use mine...

Okay, here is the translation:

Microsoft's XBOX sales increased. That means they also lost more money, money lost on each XBOX sold, slowly driving Microsoft to the brink of their inevitable bankruptcy... Bill Gates now cries himself to sleep, never dreaming the loss on each XBOX would be so great. Let us all take this time to point and laugh at the sight of Microsoft failing out of the game industry, a sight that will become more and more evident the more popular XBOX gets. So I say sell more consoles, become more popular, for it brings the end of Microsoft nigh! DOWN WITH MICROSOFT THE EVILDOERS AND WRECKERS OF CONSOLE LEGENDS PAST!!

See, doesn't it all make sense now?

[Engineer_J]

Originally Posted by Reaver

Yeah, stupid Microsoft. Can't put a deal together for shit. You know that company is going under any second now. Yep, any second now...

I don't understand why when I point out truths, you & Ruined seem to resort to name calling or taunts, way to go debate

What I was getting around to is if MS was just going to give in to EA in the first place, EA would have been on Live over a year ago.

[MooglePorn]

One of the reasons I bought XBOX Live and never even considered buying a PS2 network adapter is because I refuse to "pay for play" on any game. No way am I buying a game I need to pay monthly on, and then 5 years later if I want to play it again, God knows if they have servers, and if so, I have to pay monthly AGAIN. It's just stupid.

Xbox Live offers a once a year low payment for access to tons of online content and gaming, and that's something I can understand and purchase. All Xbox live games will work under it, and a few years from now I assume I can still pick up and play Wolfenstein anytime I want without having to worry.

But now EA is thinking of charging me ON TOP OF THAT? Fuck no. As Noto said, that just makes me want to play the other brand's games. If they're going to ruin the whole point of XBOX Live, I'd rather they just stay off it... it sets a bad precedent.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

I don't understand why when I point out truths, you & Ruined seem to resort to name calling or taunts, way to go debate.

First, don't take it so personal, _J. This is only an internet message board. Nothing to get worked up over or get hurt by. Silly posts about video games shouldn't be cause for frowns. Secondly, I only taunt because you've made it so easy. You and Ruined both are like this old married couple, each one digging at the other one, and I think it's funny to poke at that. I'm a big Xbox fan, and you don't seem to be, so that makes you a more humorous target for said poking. I've given Ruined crap too, though, so don't feel like I'm signling you out. And, like I said eariler, don't take it personally. Have fun with it. And lastly, I never intended a debate. There are some things I'll argue about and take a stand on, but this stuff isn't one of them. Life is too short to get all in a huff or defensive over games.

So come on, lighten up. Enjoy life, have a laugh, even if it's at yourself. Or better yet, if it's at me.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

I don't understand why when I point out truths, you & Ruined seem to resort to name calling or taunts, way to go debate

What I was getting around to is if MS was just going to give in to EA in the first place, EA would have been on Live over a year ago.

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO XBOX!

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Reaver

I'm a big Xbox fan

You know you're a massive XBOX Fanboy at heart. It's okay to admit it.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Ruined

You know you're a massive XBOX Fanboy at heart. It's okay to admit it.

I've been accused of such in the past, but I don't know if I have enough passion in me to rightly claim that title. I love my Xbox, and I really like my PC and Gamecube, but gaming isn't enough a part of my life anymore that I'd give it the energy being a fanboy requires.

But, I will say that of all the consoles out there, my Xbox gets 95% of my playing time, and I subscribe to 2 Xbox mags as opposed to only 1 Nintendo one, and only that one for the Zelda disk. Still, there's enough room in my life for both systems.

[Astrakan]

Bah. Everyone knows that only Gamecube and PS2 have fanboys. Xbox only have fans.

You see, when you like the Xbox you never have to lie and make up stuff to explain why your system is the best. It's a plain fact that the Xbox have the best games, best online experience, best controllers, best graphics, best sound, best looking system, best name, best smell, best plastic, best case colours, best packaging, best rubber feet, and of course best gamers. The list really goes on and on. So when you make a statement like "xbox rules! gamecube drools!" you're really only making a statement of fact, and hence cannot and should not be labeled a fanboy.

As a fan of Gamecube or PS2 you have to constantly lie and make shit up, and so you're automatically a fanboy, as that is what such cretins do.

Quite simple really.

KM

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

Bah. Everyone knows that only Gamecube and PS2 have fanboys. Xbox only have fans.

You see, when you like the Xbox you never have to lie and make up stuff to explain why your system is the best. It's a plain fact that the Xbox have the best games, best online experience, best controllers, best graphics, best sound, best looking system, best name, best smell, best plastic, best case colours, best packaging, best rubber feet, and of course best gamers. The list really goes on and on. So when you make a statement like "xbox rules! gamecube drools!" you're really only making a statement of fact, and hence cannot and should not be labeled a fanboy.

As a fan of Gamecube or PS2 you have to constantly lie and make shit up, and so you're automatically a fanboy, as that is what such cretins do.

Quite simple really.

I can smell a storm of h8 brewing.

[Engineer_J]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

Bah. Everyone knows that only Gamecube and PS2 have fanboys. Xbox only have fans.

You see, when you like the Xbox you never have to lie and make up stuff to explain why your system is the best. It's a plain fact that the Xbox have the best games, best online experience, best controllers, best graphics, best sound, best looking system, best name, best smell, best plastic, best case colours, best packaging, best rubber feet, and of course best gamers. The list really goes on and on. So when you make a statement like "xbox rules! gamecube drools!" you're really only making a statement of fact, and hence cannot and should not be labeled a fanboy.

As a fan of Gamecube or PS2 you have to constantly lie and make shit up, and so you're automatically a fanboy, as that is what such cretins do.

Quite simple really.

KM

Most expensive, worst first party games, heavyest, most unimagitive design, most features that normal people can't take advantage of, least different games....... most subsidized console (we will see how great it is in round 2 when MS has to make money)

Sorry I couldn't resist that comment

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

Most expensive, worst first party games, heavyest, most unimagitive design, most features that normal people can't take advantage of, least different games....... most subsidized console (we will see how great it is in round 2 when MS has to make money)

Sorry I couldn't resist that comment

At the moment, the PS2 is the most expensive. FIrst party games... eh, I like what I've gotten. Heaviest? Yeah, but then again it comes with everything Sony makes you pay extra for, so I'm fine with that. If most people can't take advantage of most of its features, too bad for them. I can. The diversity of games looks great to me. The design actually blends into my AV console nicely. Yep, all in all, the Xbox is a fantastic machine. Thanks for helping with that. woot woot!!

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Ruined

I can smell a storm of h8 brewing.

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

Most expensive, worst first party games, heavyest, most unimagitive design, most features that normal people can't take advantage of, least different games....... most subsidized console (we will see how great it is in round 2 when MS has to make money)

And teh h8 hath been unleashed!

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

Sorry I couldn't resist that comment

Couldn't resist? No way!

[Iguana Man]

TIME OUT FOR BOTH OF YOU!

What you both need to do is calm down......relax......let your inner self out, but in a good way.

(And I wonder WHY I got the BadHumor Man title)

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

TIME OUT FOR BOTH OF YOU!

What you both need to do is calm down......relax......let your inner self out, but in a good way.

(And I wonder WHY I got the BadHumor Man title)

I am a Dr. Phil H8R too, btw.