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Not only do I feel bad for us gamers who have just dropped $60-$80+ on this game and aren't able to play it, but I also feel bad for the developers who have put long hard hours and creativity into a game to only have it flop on release date because of their Marketer/Distributor (Electronic Arts) who, as any business, wants to maximize profits.  The problem is, EA, like another big publisher (think something III), attempts a strategy, that in my opinion, is bad business practice and borderline unethical since EA had to know they couldn't make the game available to all that buy it on release date (why buy additional servers and resources if they don't have to?  Again, maximize profits).  So, they make the game only playable if online and in doing so initially tarnish the reputation of a great series and game. 

It's really the developers and gamers that are the ones that suffer in order for the big corps like EA (Execs and shareholders) to make their huge profits.  Guaranteed most of these corp execs aren't sitting at home right now trying to play the game.  You just hope they realize that this type of strategy is not going to work out in the long run.  Consumers are smart, and won't continuously put up with this garbage.  The biggest vote/power the consumers have is of course the $ and purchase power.  Again, the ones that are hurt are the actual game developers and gamers with this online only approach.

It's already 11:30 PM and I'm still waiting to play the game......will probably have to give up for the night.  Thanks for playing EA, or I mean, not playing...