So it's finally happened. After years and years of gamers complaining about the yearly franchise model for sports games and how it would be easier just to download an update for a an existing game. EA have released a premium price DLC instead of a new summer tournament FIFA game. Unfortunately it hasn't been met with an entirely positive reception.
There have been complaints about the lack of new features. But without the pressures of creating a new game and having to deliver new content the publishers may have thought all people really want is a updated roster and fancy new kits.
The price has also been condemned (costing £19.99 or 1800 points depending on your poison). I hate to get on the side of these so called greedy publishers but come on, who thought it was going to be super cheap. The licenses cost an immense amount and that cost is always going to get passed onto the end consumer.
Companies need to make money and a massive update for a massive franchise was never going to be a small purchase. Hell, you have to go out of your way to get an indie game for less than 1200 points now. The potential niche of Euro 2012 game is also a point that shouldn't be overlooked."But football is the biggest sport in the world!" you may cry. But it's not. With Olympic year rolling round (especially in the UK with the games being based in London) erstwhile football fans may be tempted away from their impulse purchase of a football game with I dunno something with Jessica Ennis plastered across it.
It's interesting that EA have dipped their toe in the water and I hope that the numbers work out because I think this a really good model for these sorts of annual games. The possibility of just summer tournaments being released as large updates could be a turning point for the annual sports series is an exciting prospect and on which could defiantly kick start the digital distribution of full games.
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