390°

EA's dropping Madden '09 servers & more

EA has announced they will be removing many servers for their sports title coming just 1 month away on February 2nd, 2010 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the PC.

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gossipgamers.com
Blaster_Master5244d ago

thats bullcrap. I dont know why they are dropping servers to a game thats not even 2 yet? Thats a low move. That right there is the main reason why I wont ever buy EA sports games again. It be different if they didn't come out with rehashes every year.

mrv3215244d ago

Let's face it EA isn't exactly going through it's up point... it's releasing new IP's and I'm sure EA probably did cost effectiveness data and workout. Let's face it how many people do you still think play said games?

TheDudeAbides5244d ago

Yes, but '09 games? Thats just wrong.

Bnet3435244d ago

This is why I hate buying EA games that have online. EA games will never last because of this. Bet they will shut down Bad Company servers too.

Sircolby455244d ago

That is a load of crap. This is why EA has their own servers. It sure as hell is not because it makes the game better because it actually makes it worse.(Their servers suck) EA has their own servers so they can cut you off and try to push you to buy the new version. If I ever buy sports games I will 100% of the time go with 2K.

Elven65244d ago

How many people still play Madden 09 online? It will suck for original Xbox owners though since they didn't get a Madden 10 this year, apparently Madden 09 still sold about 50k units which isn't bad for a "dead" console.

This is why I like it when developers use both Dedicated Servers and P2P in their games like Shadowrun, Section 8, etc. That way even when the last server is shut down people cans till play over P2P if they wanted to.

harv0525244d ago

Hence the reason why games shouldn't have online trophies / achievements....

Sarick5244d ago (Edited 5244d ago )

They also support copy protected saves. Basically if they stop the online support for these the games they're being disabled and losing functionality. EA also pushs for copy protected saves. Basically, when your games lose support or they shut down the servers the software loses it's functionality.

Gamers have become too accepting of these careless greedy practices. When you buy a product it should be self sufficient and not require the online components to function.

When functionality is restricted or removed these hard copy games become worth about as much as the materials used to create the disk. EA and other developers will continue towards this path because it's the most profitable way to push customers into the new products by obsoleting the previous years products.

Figure it this way. If the auto industry followed these examples every year or two we'd need to purchase a new car because the parts are no longer manufactured or compatible. This is the way the gaming industry is headed.

Gamers don't even realize it. We're losing backwards compatibility, losing the ability to backup our saves, the ability to resale or trade our games and the ability to play online after the titles become outdated.

What does it take to open the eyes of uneducated gamers this generation? The ability to pop in a game and enjoy it is being slowly taken away by greedy developers who only want to make money. This means creating products that have a limited or fixed lifespan.

By shutting down online servers or features games are being disabled feature by feature. It's sad really that most gamers only live in the moment and refuse to look ahead to the future when they purchase from developers who push this.

A lot of gamers talk down on PAY-PER-PLAY that Microsoft is pushing but haven't figured that we're still headed that direction with games that lose functionality. Please wake up all games are headed to limited subscription and everything this generation will lose a lot of functionality come next generation.

Blaze9295244d ago

wtf? Madden NFL 2009 still has TONS of players on the Xbox 360 and PS3 and they are dropping it? This is why Microsoft did not want to allow EA to host their own servers when Xbox LIVE launched - unfortunately, they threatened to not support the system if so. Ironic part about that now is Peter Moore is president of EA Sports and is still allowing this.

We now have to fear payign $60 for only 1 year of online play? GTFO. Maybe now people will stop buying EA online games becuase this is Bull, they need to get the picture.

Redempteur5244d ago

Impressive Electronic arts .
i know a lot of people how use sports game that aren't up to date ..
WHy ? because a good sports game doesn't became crap as soon as the new one is out ...

Why shutting down LAST YEAR servers ... ??
This is pretty stupid ....EA really can't resist the taste of money ...

blackmagic5244d ago

Yep, companies shouldn't have to support old* games so they can make more money.

*This message was written while taking a break from my online session of Diablo II on Battle.net which I bought a decade ago from one of the most financially successful developers of all time. I can't imagine why Blizzard is such a successful company that is praised and loved by the gaming community! *Shrugs shoulders*

...

evrfighter5244d ago (Edited 5244d ago )

suddenly you guy's see why pc gaming evolved and dedicated servers became a staple.

"I can't imagine why Blizzard is such a successful company that is praised and loved by the gaming community!"

I'm so sure it had nothing to do with a game that brings them a couple billion a month. Kotick's set to get his claws sunk into Blizzard. Blizzard is on course to becoming the next Infinity Ward if they don't do anything about it.

in-game cash shop for pets, 3 different full priced installments for Starcraft, no lan for Diablo 3...When WoW dies, Blizzard will become a shadow of its former self.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 5244d ago
n4gn4gn4gn4g5244d ago

online only or majority online games.

Thanks EA...I'm sure I'll be able to pick up Madden 09 for $5 soon and play locally like I prefer anyway.

5244d ago
Johnny Rotten5244d ago

wow, that's pretty sad on their behalf. Think of how many husbands and sports fans probably got Madden 09 for x-mas only to find the support for the online community dropped 2 months later.

If this crap continues they should be fair about it charge $40 or less for the disk. Lets hope activision and other developer's don't see any value in this.

PELVIC THRUST ACTION5244d ago

damn the person who got you the game is cheap giving you a year old sports game

happy_gilmore5244d ago

you get what you pay for, bots.

Budg3tG4m3r5244d ago (Edited 5244d ago )

With P2P you don't need to worry about servers getting shut down. How long do you think Sony will keep Killzone 2 or UC2 servers up? With P2P they stay up and never go down. Thats why alot of PS3 owners like me are asking for premium services over at the PS3 forums. you PS3 fanboys are worse than the xbots you bash.

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60°

The Most Influential Features in Madden History: Part 4 of 4

Luke looks at the most influential features of Madden on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

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gamespresso.com
60°

Achievement Hunter: The Ten Easiest Achievements Ever

If you're an Xbox Live subscriber, then you're no doubt familiar with the GamerScore that's associated with your GamerTag. It's a way to notify players that you're quite good at a game, as you unlock points for completing certain tasks within it. But let's be honest, some games are beasts when it comes to earning points, and you'd rather let your score do the talking over your actual skills.

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primagames.com
R3D_STAR4199d ago

I remember when the Simpsons game released, the Start Achievement was funny. Now, looking back, it seems lazy. Hah.

BLAKHOODe4199d ago

I clicked on this article for the sole purpose of making sure The Simpson's "press start" achievement was included. If it weren't, the article would have no merit whatsoever.

420°

Last Stand: The Final Games Of The Biggest Consoles

Many gamers consider a console dead as soon as its successor hits store shelves. While it's true that the release schedule takes a massive hit when this happens, there are always a handful of titles that arrive late to the party. Take a look at the final games released for some of gaming's biggest consoles.

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gameinformer.com
Derpy4427d ago

No real gamer would consider a console dead just because it's successor was released. I still buy and play NES, SNES and Genesis carts regularly. Even though I have a PS3 and Wii hooked up to my entertainment center, I also keep a PS2 hooked up which I still game on quite regularly. This is also why real gamers want backward compatibility.

Anyone who considers a console dead just because it's successor came out is gaming for the wrong reason.

4426d ago
SephirothX214426d ago

Backwards compatibility hold a console back from its true potential by having the manufacturers spend money on including hardware to emulate past consoles instead of spending it on better hardware to improve the potential of games and reduce limitations for developers. That's why people should keep their old consoles if they want to play older games.

Rageanitus4426d ago

I'm a gamer but there are something you have to let go. I played too many games but I do want progression.

For instance I cannot picture myself playing the oringal Doom anymore. There are better things out there nowadays.

If I wanted to play things for nostalgic purposes even though its illegal I would pirated the game and play on an emulator... but I find that a wast of time :)

MostJadedGamer4426d ago (Edited 4426d ago )

I don't consider a console dead when its successor comes out, but I do consider a console dead when the only thing released on it is Next Gen ports(like sports games). As long as it is still getting something other then downgraded ports then it is still alive.

Of course their is a big gray area when a console is dying, but is not yet dead. So things can get kind of muddled.

By the way I do NOT keep old consoles. I currently only own a PS3, and that is all. I don't have any desire to play old games.

MysticStrummer4426d ago

Ahhh another amendment to the Real Gamer Manifesto. I game on one console at a time, so as soon as I buy a new one I pay no more attention to the old one except to look back fondly. People game because they enjoy it, either alone or in competition/cooperation. You don't have to buy games for multiple platforms to be doing it "right".

banjadude4426d ago

You and me both, Derpy!

I actually have a notepad file on my desktop, of all the games I still need to buy for all my previous gen games (don't forget, I was still young when the SNES, PS1, etc came out, so I never had the money to get the games i wanted).

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4426d ago
neogeo4426d ago

I still play my Apple Pippen every day and buy all the classic games..........

SilentNegotiator4426d ago

I still pull my Atari Jaguar out of my sawed off shotgun pocket and give it a play once in a while. But I have to remember never to take it out while in a bank - My first Jaguar is still in an evidence locker.

rhap4426d ago

I regret selling or giving away my Master System, Mega Drive, Sega CD, that 32 bits adapter and PS1. I had so many good original games in perfect state.

Only console I still have is a PS2 and PS3.

tacosRcool4426d ago

I still have my Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, N64, PSP, PS2 (original and slim), and PS3. I will prolly never sell them. At least my brother still plays the N64, classics are classics.

Rageanitus4426d ago

mmm I got rid of all my games on my ps2. now it collecting dust. The only things I found worhthy of keeping was gt4, god of war, and gradius.

But we have gt5 and god of war remakes on the ps3 so it aint that bad.

tweet754426d ago

"Dead consoles" is only a label from the media. Its only natural that companys move on to a new generation for income stream and technology advancement.

mynameisEvil4426d ago

What's with all of the disagrees on the comments in here? Are there gamers seriously THAT stupid to think that a new console means the previous one is dead? I mean, I knew that there are some people on this site that make a fly look like Einstein, but come on...

With that said, I played my Atari 2600 right until I lost the plug that let me play it on my TV. I still play my NES, SNES, and PS1 games regularly. I still play my PS2 here and there, too. These consoles aren't dead as long as there's content continuously coming out for them (homebrew counts, of course) and when there's still an 'audience' for these consoles. That's not to say that they're still as profitable as the new consoles, of course, but they aren't dead.

Rageanitus4426d ago

It ain't dead when the next gen comes out.... but one thing for sure is we will be seeing less and less support as the newer console matures.....

Some ppl move on faster than others ;)

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