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The Daily Grind: Does Origin's new EULA make you feel better about playing an EA game?
So Electronic Arts has this digital rights management service called Origin, which was reincarnated from the former EA Store back in July of this year. It basically allows you to download certain purchased EA games straight from the tubes of the internet. It seemed harmless enough to the general MMO community... until fans began to worry that they'd need Origin in order to download and play Star Wars: The Old Republic. BioWare has since reassured the community to the contrary, but that didn't stop the concerns. A few crafty fans of the upcoming MMO looked more deeply into the service, which sparked an eruption of rage. Origin was denounced as everything from spyware to an elaborate identify theft system. EA recently responded by changing the service's EULA, making it absolutely clear that the company is not out to steal anyone's personal information. But is that enough for you? Has Origin completely soured you on SWTOR and any other EA game, or do you trust the new Origin EULA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Pre-order PC Bulletstorm from EA Store, get Shank for free
Every, um, cloud in a Bulletstorm has a silver lining, because it's full of steel Shanks. Okay, that belabored metaphor is supposed to refer to the fact that if you pre-order the PC download version of Bulletstorm from EA's store, you'll get a free download of Klei Entertainment's side-scrolling action game Shank. We just wanted to say it in a more poetic way than "buy this one game about committing thousands of bloody murders, and get another game about bloody murders for free," okay? The deal is good only with purchases of the $60 Bulletstorm Limited Edition, through Feb. 21.
EA Store games are 50% off today
Impulsive buyers beware: In an apparent move to clear shelf space for the arrival of Mass Effect 2 on PS3 and next week's Dead Space 2, the EA Store has slashed prices of its back-catalog inventory in half and is offering free shipping until 7PM ET today.
The Daily Grind: What do you think about experience scrolls?
With the holidays coming up, we'll have lots of options for purchasing goodies with all the holiday money that will soon be coming in from relatives. One of the options that's recently opened up in the EA Store for Warhammer Online is an item that will, for $10, allow you to skip a level in the game. Sure, it's an item that's already available for free as a reward for playing, but to some, the idea of putting a price tag on it and selling it changes the entire concept. In Greg's recent post about the EA Store, some players pointed out that purchasing bonus experience potions, scrolls, and the like is essentially the same as buying a level scroll. After all, the additional experience can get you an additional level (or more) -- only spread out over time. So, in light of that, we ask you: Do you think purchasing an immediate-level item like the Warhammer Online scroll is the same as getting a bonus experience buff? Does the fact that you still must play to "earn" the level via bonus experience influence your opinion? Is the price difference between a cheap potion and an expensive scroll your main sticking point? Are these experience scrolls over the line? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Waging WAR: Inside patch 1.4
The Verminous Horde game update aka patch 1.4 for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is pretty much old news by now. Despite that, Greg takes a look at some of the highlights from the patch as well as the RvR Packs in this week's Waging WAR. Wow! What a patch! There are so many new little tidbits, toys and tweaks in this patch that it's really sort of hard to describe them all in the space of a single issue of Waging WAR. On top of all the free content in the patch itself, there are also the progression and personality packs available on the EAStore ($10ea/$15combo). In fact, there is so much new content in WAR right now, it's going to take quite a bit of time for us to exhaust it all and start complaining about stagnation again. Follow along after the break as I talk about some of the highlights from the patch.
The Verminous Horde swarms WAR today
Sharpen those claws and prepare to throw down with the Skaven: Warhammer Online's 1.4 patch, The Verminous Horde, hits the live servers today! WAR's 1.4 update includes a wide range of additions and improvements, although the highlight is the ability to play as one of the four new Skaven classes in RvR lakes. Other changes include a revamp of Open RvR mechanics, a Skaven-themed dungeon, a reworking of Renown Abilities and a Barber Surgeon who's anxious to give you a complete makeover. Patch 1.4 also marks the addition of two RvR Packs to the controversial EA Store. The Progression pack adds 20 more RvR levels (bringing the cap to 100) in addition to faster leveling and more gear. For fluffaholics, the Personality pack is a bounty of vanity pets, mounts and dyes that help you make a dashing first impression. Head on over to Warhammer Online to read the full 1.4 patch notes!
Personality or progression: WAR's 1.4.0 patch offers a choice
With the Skaven waiting in the wings, Warhammer Online's 1.4.0 patch delivers a few tantalizing goodies right here and now. The focus of the patch is two new "RvR packs" that can be picked up in the EA Store. For players looking for a leg up in their RvR advancement, the progression pack offers faster Renown Rank climbing as well as an increased cap of level 100. On the flip side, players looking for fun, fluff and fast travel can opt for the personality pack, which includes new dyes, quick mounts, barbershop tokens and vanity pets. Of course, you could always drop $10 for a free level instead. Patch 1.4.0 also features a major revamp of two core WAR features: open RvR zone capture and renown abilities. Mythic has pared down the victory conditions of open RvR to just capturing the enemy's keep, which is aided by achieving battlefield objectives and producing siege weapons. Renown abilities have lost their tiered structure, allowing players to purchase passive traits when and if they have the points for them. The dev team has added a number of new abilities as well. For more on improved itemization, the infamous Barber Surgeon and class changes, head on over to the WAR Herald and check out the patch notes.
Medal of Honor paid DLC also out November 2
Previously, EA revealed that it would release free Medal of Honor DLC to "Online Pass" holders on November 2. Today, the company announced that it will also issue a second DLC pack -- this one, the kind you pay for -- on the same day. The $10 add-on will include a new multiplayer mode, "Hot Zone" (a.k.a. "King of the Hill"). This Hot Zone DLC will also include two new maps, Hindukush Valley and Korengal Outpost, as well as redesigned versions of the Shahikot Valley and Helmand Valley maps. That's right -- even more venues for your totally fictional fight for a hill against the Opposing Force.
Need For Speed World races its last warm-up lap in a stress test
Need For Speed World is preparing for starting flag! Today and tomorrow, the developers of this highly anticipated action MMO are rounding the final lap with a stress test. And you are invited! This free-to-play action-racing persistent world closed its beta last week with high marks among fans, and, per the norm, developers need to test the server capacity. The race to stress EA's servers begins July 13th at 10 a.m. PDT (1 p.m. EDT), and the checkered flag flies on July 14th at 5 p.m. PDT (8 p.m. EDT). To celebrate this special event, all rental restrictions have been lifted. That means even at level 1 you can rent any car you would like. This is your chance to test drive that Porsche that you could only ogle during beta testing. As an added bonus, each player will receive 8000 SpeedBoost power-ups. Also, if you are one of the top five racers in the Community Sprint Race Competition for car tiers 1, 2 and 3, the starter pack is yours for free. This packaged upgrade to your account sells for $19.95 in the EA Store and allows you to progress beyond level 10 and obtain a Toyota Corolla AE86. Drive on over to world.needforspeed.com now for your last chance to feed your Need For Speed before the game's official launch!
$20 off any game priced at $40 or more at EA Store
While they're improving, things still aren't the best for EA financially. Like all of the best misfortune though, EA's current cash situation can be capitalized on, with the offer of $20 off of many items in the company's store. You want Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for $30? No problem. Want The Saboteur for $20? Done. Does taking advantage of this sale help or hurt EA's financial situation? We don't know. Just use the code "PAXEAST842" when you check out, keeping in mind that the offer's only good for one item, and only on those $40 and up. If you're the indecisive sort, you've got until the offer expires on April 9 to make up your mind. [Via GamerDeals]
Pre-order Dragon Age expansion on PC, get Origins 40% off
If you're anything like us, you simply weren't impressed enough by the already overabundant amount of content available in Dragon Age: Origins. No sir! You wanted -- nay! -- demanded more content. Luckily for you, you immovable demander, EA is offering a deal in its online store for the first Dragon Age expansion where pre-orders of the new content can snag the original game on PC for 40 percent off its normal $50 asking price (now just under $30). That means you could get both Awakening and the game it's based on for a combined $70 -- just $10 more than the Game of the Year edition that's sure to come out in a year's time! It's like an early reward for being hesitant ... almost like you paused the action and arranged the tactics ahead of time. Is there something we should know? Hmmm? %Gallery-81512%
EA store reveal Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack
Well, that was fast. With just over a month since Will Wright's Spore was released to the masses, a listing has popped up on Electronic Arts' online store for Spore: Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, something we've known to be coming since our E3 2008 interview. You can currently pre-order the expansion, available as direct download for $19.95 on Tuesday, November 18, though that could change. Are you ready for an onslaught of creepier (and cuter) penis creatures?[Thanks, TechNick]
WAR downtime and early retail key deadline
[Update 2] We're happy to report that Mythic has re-extended the deadline until the end of August 22nd for all customers of Amazon, GoGamer and the EA Store.Your first day-long binge of Warhammer Online is over and done with, so what's next? If you're Mythic Entertainment you've got from 9am EDT to 1:30pm EDT to get your servers ready for further beatings. Otherwise, four hours is a plenty of time to have some lunch and see a good matinee. It's not really a big surprise that there's going to be some extended maintenance today as the servers have been up and running since last Sunday. It's actually the game's first "weekly scheduled maintenance" in a way.The other piece of pertinent news is that if you didn't enter your retail CD key by 7am EDT today, then you won't be able to login to Warhammer Online until your account is properly loaded with that magical string of numbers and letters. No big deal for anyone who bought their copy in meat space but if you pre-ordered the game from an online store other than Electronic Arts' tiny online abode you may need to start killing in the name of Sigmar and hoping for the best. If you did make your order through the EA Store you'll be happy to know EA should be sending info on how to keep playing until your copy arrives. This is obviously bad good news for anyone who didn't overnight their game from a non-EA online vendor, but it's irrational to expect EA to force Amazon, Gamestop or any number of other stores to immediately validate every single online purchase.[Update] According to a post on the Warhammer Alliance forums, the original date for entering retail keys was Monday, August 22nd. That date has since been removed from the pre-order page and apparently changed to today. Swing and a miss? Definitely. Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
EA store dates Warhammer Online [UPDATED]
EDIT 3: Feel free to read all the ever-changing drama below for your amusement, but here's the final word right upfront: we've received word from Electronic Arts confirming that the official release date for Warhammer Online is September 18th for the North American, European, and Oceanic markets. Commence rejoicing!The official EA online store has been updated with a big splash image pitching Warhammer Online to the masses, and the image prominently features a badge that reads: "Coming August 23!" This is not the first time that the EA website has touted a release date; it was only a couple weeks ago that it suggested September 23rd. But this one looks especially promising, seeing as how it's a carefully created image instead of just a text field entry. That's difficult to argue with!On the other hand, that release date seems unrealistically close. Really, we don't know what to think! If you think this is legit then start your partying, dear readers. Upgrade your computers to meet the minimum specs! Read the official pre-order FAQ and our pre-order guide to find out where you should buy it if you're the type of person who pays extra for collector's editions!Or you can play it safe and be skeptical; keep your cool and wait to see what happens.[Thanks, Dean!]
Chaos, Panic, Disorder: WAR CE pre-order rundown
As tumultuous as the delay has been for the Warhammer Online fan community, an even bigger headache has loomed in the minds of many. One of the biggest details to come from the announcement of the Collector's Edition and its myriad of goodies was that those who put in a pre-order for the CE would get early access to the Open Beta and a head start on the rest of the Warhammer fanatics when it finally comes time for release sometime this fall.That's all well and good, but who could have anticipated the sheer number of discrepancies and problems that have arisen from these simple perks? Different retailers are handling the distribution of codes differently, there are gaping holes in the system that allow for exploitation, players are reporting on bunk codes, orcs and dwarves living together, mass hysteria! Having navigated this minefield ourselves in the quest for that delicious artbook, we thought we'd give you a bit of a rundown on the situation.
Hellgate: How much?
If you're after the digital download for Flagship Studio's new title, Hellgate: London through the EA store, be prepared for a bit of a rude shock, if you're in Australia. You may have looked at the prices and thought, "US$49.95? That's not bad." Well, it gets worse. Put your card back in your purse. That download is going to cost you quite a bit more than you think.
