JOB OPENING: Head Of Monetization & Marketplace

"HavenRose;c-18285399" wrote:
If they want simmers who are willing to subscribe/be chill with microtransactions, there probably is a market for them; that market isn't here on the forums or in any of the online sims communities I've run across so far. It just doesn't seem like the base they want to attract overlaps with the existing simmer base. Without knowing any of the sales data, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the early Sims 4 players had already played Sims 3, so they had a ready-made user base to tap into. If they wildly change the format to online only and/or subscription, it's going to be a bigger challenge getting the Sims 4 market to jump over to being nickeled and dimed for a new game. That'd make a very rough transition to profitability, especially if they don't have a $60 base game right at the start to rake in cash.

The game has also always had free modders and CC creators as an integral part of the community. I just can't see forcing user content through their store so they can monetize it will go the way they hope.

One of the reason Sims Expansion Packs are so profitable is because of the Foot in the Door Technique. First they charge you $40 for a base game. Then your foot is in the door, getting you to buy another pack, and another after that is easy. Some players are so addicted, they can't imagine not getting every pack for a sims game. I was in this category for Sims 1 - 3. Though Sims 2 we got mostly used versions after Sims 3 came out, we still own the whole collection.

If they are going Free, I'd expect that technique wouldn't work anymore, which is why I'm so alarmed by the latest Job Offer News. EA isn't stupid. They know this. So if they are lessening their foot in the door price, to a simple few dollars for this cool new set of DLC Items, this is a very crafty way to rake in a lot of money from people. I am naturally nauseated by this level of greed and manipulation. If EA is going down this path for real, I am OUT!