EA talks about their micropayment plans

If you were reading up on our news yesterday, Electronic Arts was offering to unlock content on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 for players at a price. We talked about the ideas and justifications behind paying for extra goods, from simple unlockables that don’t destroy the gameplay to wholesale game-breakers. The only thing left is to know what EA is planning with all this, which Destructoid manages to find out by talking to EA rep David Tinson.

Regarding the “why?” of this micropayment plan they have for the golf game, Tinson said that it was to offer more options to players, especially those who want to “enjoy the full game immediately.”

They aren’t planning on making microtransactions applicable to all games and with all the content available for purchase, such as the PS3 Gran Turismo game, but they do intend to offer things that make playing a little bit easier, such as strategy videos and other sorts of aids, on a regular basis.

One thing they’re bound to implement for the next-gen consoles is the ability to update rosters in their sports games through the online capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360. They mentioned offering additional content as well, but they haven’t decided on how much additional content will cost, but they have said that roster updates, at least will be free.

One thing that makes us wonder though is what effect the “game aids” they’re offering will have on fan-made walkthroughs of games and vice-versa. While it’s doubtful that the art of the walkthrough will disappear, you never know what game companies will do when there’s money to be had, right?

If you were reading up on our news yesterday, Electronic Arts was offering to unlock content on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 for players at a price. We talked about the ideas and justifications behind paying for extra goods, from simple unlockables that don’t destroy the gameplay to wholesale game-breakers. The only thing left is to know what EA is planning with all this, which Destructoid manages to find out by talking to EA rep David Tinson.

Regarding the “why?” of this micropayment plan they have for the golf game, Tinson said that it was to offer more options to players, especially those who want to “enjoy the full game immediately.”

They aren’t planning on making microtransactions applicable to all games and with all the content available for purchase, such as the PS3 Gran Turismo game, but they do intend to offer things that make playing a little bit easier, such as strategy videos and other sorts of aids, on a regular basis.

One thing they’re bound to implement for the next-gen consoles is the ability to update rosters in their sports games through the online capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360. They mentioned offering additional content as well, but they haven’t decided on how much additional content will cost, but they have said that roster updates, at least will be free.

One thing that makes us wonder though is what effect the “game aids” they’re offering will have on fan-made walkthroughs of games and vice-versa. While it’s doubtful that the art of the walkthrough will disappear, you never know what game companies will do when there’s money to be had, right?