Sony & EA: Pay or be spammed?

MadFruit · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:25

If this is true (and I see no reason why it is not) could this initiate a extremely worrying trend?

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/fight-...rt-fight-night-3-psp-costs-privacy-155716.php

Also read the comments which links to the following update...

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/psp/pay-to-play-fight-night-3-online-the-details-155748.php

In my opinion, this is outrageous if true. Ignoring the (baiscally invalid) argument that EA/Sony have to pay for the online servers etc somehow - they are basically trying to pull in more money from those who wish to use the game to its full sold-as capability. To demand more money or they will sell your personal details - can this be legal??

What gets me thinking though, is does this mean this could be the way the PS3 online service will work? Sony have always said they want to give the individual publisher full control over the online portion of PS3 gameplay so could we see a new business model for EA? If it becomes even remotely successful (or worse, a standard for EA published games) would it be a domino effect for every other publisher and then platform?

Am I looking at this from the wrong angle? What are you opinions?

Oh, and to those who say supply fake details... read this

Although I suspect this to be more of a clever marketing campaign - and not actually true. But still

roboffer · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:38

[email protected] gets loads of signups from me

MadFruit · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:38

roboffer said:
[email protected] gets loads of signups from me

Heh, I use [email protected]

Boogle · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:48

This is coming VERY close to breaking the Data Protection Act. I'm sure its breaking the 'spirit' of this act and should it end up in a court; I don't know which way it would go.

MadFruit · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:55

But is it though? You clearly don't have to give them your details (you can pay or not play). But, if you do, you are agreeing to letting them share and pass them around.

Boogle · 20 Feb 2006 at 14:58

MadFruit said:
But is it though? You clearly don't have to give them your details (you can pay or not play). But, if you do, you are agreeing to letting them share and pass them around.

Aye thats why I think it gets close but doesn't break it. The reason I believe its breaking the spirit tho is that the act is there so you can sign up for things, and there MUST be an option to opt-out of advertising - and they can't give the info to anyone else (or even market indirectly).

This system is purely there to work around these sorts of laws - $2 is nothing, but its enough to both get around the law (this service costs money, these advertisers will pay for it), and enough to entice people into providing their details. Thereby breaking the spirit of the law, even though it doesn't actually break it. Gets round a lot of laws in a similiar fashion.

Ultra_Extreme · 20 Feb 2006 at 15:01

Come on, you never give your real info away online. Heck i dont give all my real details to banks and CC companies. I mean you never know when u might need to dissapear..... i usually use "fuhiowah" or similar hit-the-keyboard -3-times combinations for identity.

Bobbler · 20 Feb 2006 at 15:22

Vote with your feet/wallet TBH.
Baically EA and Sony are chucking their considerable bulk around at the moment with rootkits and trying to stop you selling your own 2nd hand games ( :rolleyes:

)
They seem to think that customers dont matter really, which is odd as how do they think they actually get their money?

Boogle · 20 Feb 2006 at 18:08

Bobbler said:
They seem to think that customers dont matter really, which is odd as how do they think they actually get their money?

By screwing the consumer over any way possible, and attempting to force them to buy multiple copies (different formats) of the same product.