EA is going digital

[TheChronicR]

Since you can already pre-order the disc I doubt they are starting with Generations.

Good to know.

[DeNile]

But...but... I CAN'T get a credit card. My family is not ALLOWED. So after Generations, I'll be done with Sims then I guess. I don't WANT to be done with Sims. I....I don't know what to say.

Actually, on second thought, I DO have something to say. Without disks, I can bet a lot of people are going to get mad, they won't be able to get the game. It's a poor decision by EA because it will no doubt lose many customers and skyrocket the piracy rate. Good job EA, you just destroyed your own company.

[TheChronicR]

So after Generations, I'll be done with Sims then I guess.

If I wasn't done with Sims after I couldn't install Late Night, than you won't be either. Think positive. We can at least get Generations!

[Schipperke]

The article does say "over the coming years," so it's not going to be a problem for a while.  I'm with those who prefer to have my game on disc, for various reasons.  

If EA gets enough responses from players who don't want the change, maybe they'll reconsider.  

[Margerita]

I wonder if there is a petition to send to EA up this moment or will there be one soon?

I have a feeling that making their games only available to download might be the thing stoping me from getting The Sims 4 to be honest.

[Hosfac]

Yes there is, but petitions are useless, so don't bother.  The only way to change their minds is to e-mail them personally.  When their corporate in-box is filled to the brim with e-mails saying "NO," they're more likely to change their minds.

[RunAmokSims]

I wonder if there is a petition to send to EA up this moment or will there be one soon?

I have a feeling that making their games only available to download might be the thing stoping me from getting The Sims 4 to be honest.

This thread is a petition at EA.

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/372741.page

I also think Hosfac is right. I'm going to email EA. Then again, the petition is at EA's site. It can't hurt to do both.

[Lynley1248]

I don't like the idea of going digital and will be very dissapointed when it happens.  I'm one of those people who, when paying that much for something like a game, wants a physical represenation of it that I can hold in my hand.  I also prefer discs because I just think it is easier installing/re-installing.  What if I can't get online for some reason?

As mentioned, not everyone has a credit card/debit card, either.  And I know several people who do not order anything online because of security issues.  They just aren't comfortable with it and would not buy a game via digitial download only. 

There are still rural areas where dial-up is still the only viable internet option and I feel bad for those with slow internet connections.  I'm not very familiar with digital downloads: is it even possible to download a game with a very slow connection/dial-up?  And then there are those people with no internet connection at all because a) they can't afford satellite internet and DSL is not available and b) they don't want the internet.  Sometimes, being innovative isn't always the best option.  I know it won't be an instantaneous switch, but still...I don't know, I just don't like the idea. 

Something that occured to me:  What about selling your games?  Will selling your old, unplayed games no longer be possible, then?
 

[Phyre]

I don't really mind a digital download. For me it makes not much difference if I order the disc online or just download it, but there are those who don't have credit cards.

What I do mind is if they see this as another way to implement an "activation limit". I can not even count the times I reinstalled my game anymore for various reasons (some definitely EAs fault), and I will not buy a product where I get a fixed number of reinstallations.

[TheChronicR]

You won't believe how many people have refused to buy any EA games in future because of this. Electronic Arts will lose thousands of fans because of this [stupid, apparently] decision, not one or two, but thousands! This got to be a black day in the history of the Sims Series...

[Hosfac]

I'm not very familiar with digital downloads: is it even possible to download a game with a very slow connection/dial-up?

Possible, but not practical by any stretch of the imagination.  I've heard of games downloads taking upwards to 10-12 hours.

What I do mind is if they see this as another way to implement an "activation limit". I can not even count the times I reinstalled my game anymore for various reasons (some definitely EAs fault), and I will not buy a product where I get a fixed number of reinstallations.

The activation limit is for the number of machines it can be installed on at once, not the number of times it can be downloaded.  From what I've read, digital downloads of the Sims can be installed on up to 5 computers that are owned by the same user.

[Esther1981]

You know, I didn't really think it was that big of deal since I only use the disk for the serial number, but wow. Losing thousands of customers? They seriously need to rethink this whole plan. Otherwise they will go bankrupt and quit being able to make Sims. Before I found Sims, I just knew of EA Sports, but now knowing the amazing game that is the Sims, this is very troubling.  

[TheChronicR]

You know, I didn't really think it was that big of deal since I only use the disk for the serial number, but wow. Losing thousands of customers? They seriously need to rethink this whole plan. Otherwise they will go bankrupt and quit being able to make Sims. Before I found Sims, I just knew of EA Sports, but now knowing the amazing game that is the Sims, this is very troubling. 

Me too, really. I haven't even heard about EA before I started playing Sims seven years ago. Sure, who hasn't heard of Battlefield, but I believe Sims is their greatest creation - that's the reason it sold 130 Million copies in ten years.

[Hosfac]

Otherwise they will go bankrupt and quit being able to make Sims.

While EA's customer support is lacking, they are second to none when it comes to promoting a franchise.  Madden (as well as their other numerous sports franchises) and Need for Speed alone could keep them afloat for a very long time.  Even Spore, while it was somewhat poorly received to start with, has developed a very loyal fan base and has done well enough for them to continue that franchise recently.

But, it's likely that EA would look to sell The Sims franchise if it started doing poorly.  It's a solid concept with a loyal fan base, even if that fan base is a bit annoyed at the moment.  While Sims 3 would most likely be a complete wash-out if that happened, it's probable that whoever bought it would try very hard to avoid the mistakes that EA has made and is making when releasing Sims 4.  So all is not (completely) lost.

But this digital only thing isn't going to happen overnight.  It's not likely to even happen completely within the next year.  It's going to take a long time for them to try and ween gamers off the idea of having a physical disc, if that would even be possible at all.  It's even possible that if public outcry was loud enough that they would change their minds.

Me too, really. I haven't even heard about EA before I started playing Sims seven years ago. Sure, who hasn't heard of Battlefield, but I believe Sims is their greatest creation - that's the reason it sold 130 Million copies in ten years.

The Sims is not their creation.  They gained custody of the franchise by buying out Maxis, the company that created it.  The reason it has sold 130 million copies is because it already had a huge fan base, who was used to problems being fixed quickly and permanently.  This is why a lot of simmers are hot under the collar.

[TheChronicR]

Really? I never knew Maxis originally created Sims! I thought they were co-creators. Kind of.