electronrun.com

Further to our post yesterday on PC game piracy and the tendency towards online downloads and online gaming, EA’s confirmation of the changes to come arrives in the form of its new Battlefield iteration. Unlike the traditional model, the idea here is to give gamers the software online for free but get revenue as they pay for cool equipment and clothes as they progress in the game.

Since John Riccitiello became CEO of EA, the company is eyeing innovative distribution models with renewed interest. The first effort took place in 2006 in South Korea with a free version of FIFA soccer. Whereas Europe and North America largely stick to disc based gaming, Southeast Asian markets are leaders in online distribution. This influence is combined with pressure from the Activision-Vivendi merger that is definitely going to intensify online competition.

Smaller and more flexible companies have tried innovative ideas with great success, Valve’s Steam service probably being the best known and popular with gamers. As users acquaint themselves with game downloads like Half-Life and casual games on the PC and mobile telephones, the ground becomes ever more fertile for the mass arrival of online distributed games. Personally, instead of getting my credit card out several times to buy stuff along a game, I would much prefer paying once before the download starts and enjoy without inconvenient interruptions…

Link: New York Times