EA Won't Be Using XBox Live

[IntvGene]

There are several news reports out today stating that EA won't be putting its Xbox games online with Microsoft's Xbox Live service. It seems like Microsoft wants too much control over the titles and wasn't paying for their use. One of the reports states that EA games will remain exclusive to Sony in online versions through next March.

Here's a link:
http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/12/technology/e3_ea_sony/

This is good news for Sega, which is making some real decent sports games on the Xbox, and putting them online too.

[tynstar]

Thats fine NHL 2k3 is way better that NHL 2003 anyways. Are the Sony servers or Ea servers any good? The PS2 is the only system I have not played online.

[Sylentwulf]

EA's Servers are better than micro$oft's servers, I suspect that's why they don't want to use em.

[YoshiM]

I betcha it boils down to the money Sony probably lines EA's pockets with. EA could have made some bank making games for the Dreamcast, but they firmly said that they would not work with that platform. A nice hearty slap in the face to the company that help put you on the map, EA.

Oh well, it's business, yeah I know.

Is EA going to try and charge for playing those games online, anyone know?

[kevincure]

"Microsoft wanted too much control of the game" is press release double speak for "Sony paid us a lot of money to keep the games exclusively online for PS2." No worries for me, I like the PS controller better for sports so I'd play it on PS2 in either case. I mean, my hands have got used to the PSX madden controls after 8 years, hehe.

[Sylentwulf]

Yes, EA will start charging for online play. I think they'll probly offer several packages (1 game only, or all EA sports games for a yearly price)

[Six Switch]

pffff I'm fine with Sega games anyways.

[zemmix]

Their loss. I haven't played an EA sports game that I liked in years anyway.

[Sylentwulf]

Must say, you guys are in the minority :)

Madden series, FIFA series (Which will support their entire company in europe), and their NHL series are all top notch. Basketball and baseball leave something to be desired, but I hate those sports anyways ;)

[digitalpress]

Basketball and baseball leave something to be desired, but I hate those sports anyways ;)

I can't speak for NBA Live, I haven't played it in years, but EA's new baseball banner "MVP Baseball" is very very good. Thank god they scrapped that Triple Play engine and started being innovative again.

[digdug]

Pay to play sports games will NOT take off at all. People are not willing to pay $50 for a game then (whatever they're going to charge just to play online. Unless they have Franchise mode online and have tounaments online as well, then and only then will it succeed.


Dig Dug


Don't get me wrong I have played Madden since it began and also play the sega games as well.

[Sylentwulf]

Ahh, I was referring to triple play :)

And yes, I know a TON of people who WILL pay to play sports games. IF they handle it well. Say, something along the lines of $25 a year for ALL EA Sports games, or $5.00 a month for ALL EA Sports games.

If they try something stupid like $5.00 for just madden, or just NHL, then yes, they will fail miserably.