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Electronic Arts takes advantage of the average consumer, pushing a warranty on... software?
Satsumomo | 11:51 AM on 06.17.2008 14 comments


Wow, this is just unbelievable. I went into the EA store, and when I tried to purchase the Spore Creature Creator for $9.95, I was suddenly given the extra option of the "Extended Download Service" for $5.99 and I'm all, what the hell is this?

So I click on the "What is this?" link and this is what I get:

What is the Extended Download Service?



Think of this as your digital safety net for those unexpected occurrences - like your hard drive frying or a virus infection. EDS means that with the purchase of your digital product, we'll keep a copy of your file for two full years, so you don't have to. You'll gain peace of mind knowing that we have your program stored and ready for you to download again at your convenience.

A little extra protection on your order to keep your products safe? Why not!


I can't believe it. THEY EVEN ADDED A LITTLE GRAPH.
What the hell? This is so pathetically lame, how can they charge you to "keep your files!" for something that you PURCHASED? Not only that, they make you believe they "keep a copy of your file for two full years!" as if every instance of the file were unique to each buyer. What load of bull, and what a sad pathetic way to PUSH an "extended warranty" just like in consumer electronics.
How can they come up with something so stupid? And the sad part is that people WILL buy this "service" because they don't know better.

God, how I HATE EA. Worst part of it is that when you click "Purchase" it's always added automatically to your shopping cart.

What next? Protection for your keyboard layout settings for only $4.99 and it lasts 3 FULL YEARS PEACE OF MIND DURHHH.



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14 comments | showing # 1 to 14

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Devil May Sly's Destructoid Blog
Isn't EA trying to prevent piracy? Something like this is only going to increase the number of people that will just download a cracked version.
Satsumomo's Destructoid Blog
I don't see how this can prevent piracy at all, I mean, it IS optional, however they're charging you for "storing" your digital content on their servers? What a load of BS.
ParaParaKing's Destructoid Blog
This is exactly the wrong way for downloadable programs. If I buy a game online, I want to be able to download it again whenever I want and not only for a short limited time.
maxio098ui's Destructoid Blog
feck damnit, im starting to hate EA more and more.
Timmeh's Destructoid Blog
What the fucking fuckety fuck.

"We've changed". Yeah okay sure EA. So you're going to sell me a game (only a bit of a game no less) and then for EVEN MORE MONEY, I get the privilege of being able to download it again in a limited timeframe.

FUCK YOU VERY MUCH.

Unbelievable. It's not like, I don't know, the game isn't going to be stored there anyway so other people can buy it... oh wait. This has to be a joke.
sicPOS's Destructoid Blog
That's stupid as hell. I hope people don't waste their money on that. There are plenty of ways to back up the game yourself.

EA is now on my shit list.
Devil May Sly's Destructoid Blog
Oh, I know they're not trying to prevent piracy via this method, I just meant in general. Namely their verifi-whatsit system that they plan on tacking onto the full version of Spore. But either way, yeah, total BS indeed.
ShawnKelfonne's Destructoid Blog
Wow, this is retarded. So you're telling me that it's too much for them to be able to keep a record of what you've bought on an account so you can download it later? Complete and utter bullshit.
casualweaponry's Destructoid Blog
Wow, just wow.

Compare this to Valve's Steam service. When I got a new computer, I installed Steam, logged on, and was able to download all of my games again FOR FREE.

No stupid warranties. No extra cash. What the hell EA?
free touch's Destructoid Blog
Yeah but...

If you buy a copy of a game at a store, and you fuck up your shit, you can't get another copy for free, even though you paid $60 for it.

Instead, you take care of it, make sure you back it up somehow, and you shouldn't have a problem. Just because it's digital doesn't mean it doesn't fall under the same idea of a store bought game.
Knives's Destructoid Blog
EA, always thinking about us customers, right? -_-
king3vbo's Destructoid Blog
Thats pretty DUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR
Timmeh's Destructoid Blog
@FREE TOUCH

That's the point of digital downloads, no physical media to lose. They are charging people to download a game they have bought, which would still be stored on their servers for when other people buy it anyway so effectively are taking money for nothing.

If you think this is okay, then to quote KING3VBO: "DUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR"

This is the problem with the PC, why can't they just use Steam like everyone else and help to unify the PC as a gaming platform instead of being greedy money grubbing bastards and using their own inferior content delivery system to make a quick buck.
Schmo0zle's Destructoid Blog
I hate capitalism. It's so bad in America that I refuse to work at any retail stores or in any customer service department. All you do is grub money and harass people.

Not my bag, baby.


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