Word to EA: Game demos are just that — demos.

Alrighty then. We have a new contender for worlds most dumbest idea to turn a quick buck — game demos…with a price attached. EA somehow things taking something that was previously free and adding in a few added things here and there will somehow make gamers interested — interested enough to cough up $10-$15. Mind you, this is a demo they’re trying to charge you for. Demos are free for a reason. They allow us gamers to check a game out before we buy it. Charging for a demo ensures that a lot less people will “take the plunge” without any “preview”. The clever marketing name by EA goes by “Premium Downloadable Content”. Now, being the cynic that I am, every time I see “premium” and other such verbiage, I instantly lose interest. Such boasting of amazingness often results in disappointment and underdeveloped products.

To be fair, if EA actually makes these added premium offerings worthwhile and positions them more as mini-expansion packs, then it has the possibility to do a decent stint. But marketed purely as demos or “early offerings” is a failure from the beginning. No one is going to pay for a demo (that used to be free), especially not $10-$15. In the end, I see people either (1) ignoring the “Premium content” and instead holding out for the real deal or (2) straight up pirating that junk.

You see, EA isn’t giving anyone any reasons why paying an extra $10-$15 for this content is worth it. Sure it’s a solid 3-4 hours of gameplay, but why not wait for the finished product? What about people who do pay for the PDLC? Will there be a discounted “upgrade” where PLDC users can download the rest of the game at reduced cost? Probably not. You’ll pay once for the premium content and again for the same game, with all of that original “premium content” and the rest of the game. The term is double dipping.

EA, here’s a little tip: Don’t charge for a fucking demo! Has all common sense gone out the window…?

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Author: Mike Norris

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Gadget lover, smartphone collector, and beer connoisseur. I've been writing about gadgets for three years now and loving every minute of it. Outside of the digital landscape, I enjoy being active outdoors. I'm always up for a good conversation, so feel free to drop me a line!