EA Killing Rock Band for iPhone, Game Will Be Unplayable for Current Owners [Updated]

[cmChimera]

I can't really agree with you here since this isn't the same thing. If I have bought a game then it's mine - if I'm not careful it will get lost or be damaged. But it's mine. If I buy a downloadable game, it's still theirs - I'm just allowed access to it for a "foreseeable future".

If the one I bought my physical copy of a game from one day broke in to my apartment and took the game away, then we're talking about the same thing again. A game in working order being taken away by the one who sold it.

I know you came into this discussion thinking that you knew what you were talking about, but it only takes a second to look inside any video game disc you've bought for your console or PC to see that you do NOT own the game. You own a license to use the software. You cannot copy it. You cannot do what you please with it, but the rights holder can. Any game company can remove modes, take down their multiplayer servers, or generally make the game impossible to play. They're called EULAs and you should brush up on them.

 

[Starfighter]

I know you came into this discussion thinking that you knew what you were talking about, but it only takes a second to look inside any video game disc you've bought for your console or PC to see that you do NOT own the game. You own a license to use the software. You cannot copy it. You cannot do what you please with it, but the rights holder can. Any game company can remove modes, take down their multiplayer servers, or generally make the game impossible to play. They're called EULAs and you should brush up on them.

I don't know why you are trying to analyze my intensions or what I believe in, since I very much love to be wrong - if I'm right I'm not gaining a single thing. But I can't accept that DRM-locked material would be the same thing as buying a physical game - when it comes to management of the game, because it isn't. They can't "shut down" a NES-game. This is all I'm talking about. Of course I know of EULAs and that I'm not free to copy and distribute the game, and that I don't own the game in terms of copyright - but I do own the format the game is stored on - and it would be theft to take it away from me. And you should stop presuming stuff about someone you don't know.

 

[cmChimera]

I don't know why you are trying to analyze my intensions or what I believe in, since I very much love to be wrong - if I'm right I'm not gaining a single thing. But I can't accept that DRM-locked material would be the same thing as buying a physical game - when it comes to management of the game, because it isn't. They can't "shut down" a NES-game. This is all I'm talking about. Of course I know of EULAs and you should stop presuming stuff about someone you don't know.

So what you're saying is that you'll never buy a video game ever again then. Correct? NES games cannot be shut down because all of it is on the cartridge, and it never connects to the internet. That is not the same case for games now. The point still stands for disc-based games and digital downloads. The exact same thing can happen. You asked why people are upset about this and claimed you only buy games that can be put on a shelf, as if that was somehow a more intelligent or prudent action than downloading Rock Band for iOS, but in actuality the same thing could happen to your discs. Do you now understand why people are upset about this?

 

[Rafterman]

The "error" was that EA tried to float that by people, got stomped on, and is now backtracking to save its rep.

 

[Starfighter]

Do you now understand why people are upset about this?

No, because it's still nothing out of the blue. This was the risks of buying games like that. I would like to clarify, and apologise for, my earlier posts - if they sounded preachy. It was not my intention to seem better than anyone because of my own choices. I just wanted to point out that this should be expected rather than coming as a chock.

And yes, I mainly buy games that came out before everything went online, but this is more of a preference than a statement.

 

[janstett]

I think this is a real growing problem that Apple needs to address. A couple years ago I purchased a music streaming app called Simplify Media for like 5 bucks and a year or so later they shut down leaving the app useless.

They were bought by Google and shut down... They had a 2nd version of their app for photo streaming, I paid for both. Felt very shafted.

They should be required to leave the app in "legacy mode" or issue a refund.

 

[ftaok]

Could you explain how a CD is not digital? Ok, an LP isn't, but a CD is most certainly digital. So is a DVD.

You know what he meant by "digital". He meant digital distribution, as in downloads. Yes, the data on CDs and DVDs is digital, but the discs are distrbuted physically. That's what he meant.

 

[overcast]

This is why I don't buy any games that require servers to function. If a game stores all content on the computer and a crack will allow it to install and run sans internet I may consider buying it, so far I haven't though as it isn't worth the hassle. Which is a shame really as I really wanted Assassins Creed 2 and would have bought it. Instead all I have played is Assassins Creed 1.

Don't plan on playing any future games then. They will ALL authenticate online.

 

[0098386]

What kind of TV is that? :O

Sony Bravia, high end one too. Even those classic games on my Wii's Virtual Console also garble up the display. I've had to run my Wii through my DVR to get it to display correctly.

I still can't see any logical point in this. DRM-based stealing is justifiable because... hardware from the 80's won't work on your TV?

That's not the point at all.
My point is you effectively rent all your games. Read the manual of a boxed game, you're granted the right to run the software on that specific medium on a specific console. You're not even granted the ability to play it on the next generation of consoles - it's just a bonus passed on by either the manufacturer or publisher.

Buying games is just buying a license. It sucks big time, as pointed out by the existence of this thread. But it has always been like that. The only difference is that some channels (iOS) have built in kill-switches, others (XBLA, PSN, WiiWare, 3DS Ware) do not.

 

[ristlin]

all this drivel is moot. EA pressured to backtrack proves that consumers are right on this one. Even though we are only given licenses to games, most games we buy do not have the "Online Gameplay Subject to Change" clause and therefore it is reasonable to expect the original game to work regardless of what the company wishes to do later down the road.

 

[Pete the Geek]

This is the message that was on the Rock Band FAQ on the same day the shutdown message appeared in the app:

 

[ScottishDuck]

Copyright and DRM are anti-consumer tools.

 

[cmwade77]

Update: Polygon reports that EA has issued a statement claiming that the notification was sent in error.It is unclear exactly what the "error" was given that an EA support document had also briefly referred to Rock Band being shut down at the end of the month, but EA says that it will be providing more information on the situation.

Article Link: EA Killing Rock Band for iPhone, Game Will Be Unplayable for Current Owners [Updated]

I imagine that they were really going to do this, but the backlash was SO strong that they decided to blame it on an error.

It is also possible that Apple threatened to pull all of their Apps from the app store if they did this, after all I sent an email to Apple about it and I am sure others did as well.

 

[Starfighter]

My point is you effectively rent all your games. Read the manual of a boxed game, you're granted the right to run the software on that specific medium on a specific console. You're not even granted the ability to play it on the next generation of consoles - it's just a bonus passed on by either the manufacturer or publisher.

And my point is that only DRM-locked games can be taken away from you even if they're still working. If the next generation of consoles doesn't support the game one can just keep the old console. But in the case of games being deleted - there's nothing you can do. It would be one thing if they said "well, you can keep it, but don't expect us to support your version in the future" but they're saying "give it back, you can't have it anymore".

 

[spiderman0616]

Copyright and DRM are anti-consumer tools.

Not really. It should work both ways. Companies should be able to protect their IP and try to combat theft of their product. What they should not do is treat people like thieves if they actually paid for the product. And what users should not do is assume that just because a huge company made the game, they can afford to let me pirate one copy.

This will never end. If people keep pirating software, companies will keep trying to fight it. All we can really do to stop the insanity is actually pay for our software that other people and companies worked hard to create. If it's crappy software, don't buy it. You can vote with your wallet. And no, "I downloaded it illegally just to try it" is not a valid excuse. It's a copout.

 

[Mak47]

Copyright and DRM are anti-consumer tools.

Copyrights are absolutely necessary to the protection and monetization of intellectual property. While some may like to believe that everything should just be given away for free, the reality is that it costs money to create things. If the creators and developers of software and media can't recoup their investments, they won't continue to create software or media. Which is more anti-consumer, a price tag or a product that doesn't exist?

DRM on the other hand, is extremely anti-consumer. Based on your sig line I can safely assume that you don't like DRM because it makes things more difficult to pirate. So while I agree with your statement, I disagree with your sentiment. DRM is like failing an entire college class because two kids cheated. Not only is it unfair on its face, but it will drive people away from the class--or in this case, the product.

As a consumer (an actual consumer, one who pays for products) I believe wholeheartedly that I have the inherent right to use things that I buy however I might like. If I buy a DVD or Blu Ray disc, I should be able to create a digital copy of that disc for backup or digital playback. If I buy an ebook or digital music I should be able to read it or play it back on the device of my choosing. With music, DRM is long gone. The industry regulated itself on that one. The rest are still lagging behind.

Someone else stated that they are trying to solve the unsolvable problem of piracy. That's absolutely true. There will always be people who are unwilling to pay for a product. The reality is that most of those people wouldn't have bought it anyway, so building a digital infrastructure to weaken their efforts is counterproductive when done in a way that lessens the user experience for paying customers or hampers innovation as a whole.

 

[50548]

Unfortunately it's perfectly legal - EA's EULAs and stuff cover pretty much anything. They can Terminate it at any time and "if you don't agree with these Licence Terms, then don't install the application"

Wrong. Perhaps in the US of A and a few other places where consumer rights are nonexistent.

Everywhere else (especially Continental Europe and related places like Brazil) this would be deemed as an abuse of statutory consumer provisions/unjust enrichment, regardless of what the EULA tells you.

 

[0098386]

And my point is that only DRM-locked games can be taken away from you even if they're still working. If the next generation of consoles doesn't support the game one can just keep the old console. But in the case of games being deleted - there's nothing you can do. It would be one thing if they said "well, you can keep it, but don't expect us to support your version in the future" but they're saying "give it back, you can't have it anymore".

The option (for PC at least) is to patch the game to remove the DRM.
Only iOS has a kill switch to totally stop a game working beyond a self imposed lifespan.

 

[Starfighter]

The option (for PC at least) is to patch the game to remove the DRM.
Only iOS has a kill switch to totally stop a game working beyond a self imposed lifespan.

I did not know that! Are the patches legal?

 

[0098386]

I did not know that! Are the patches legal?

Nope, they go against the T&C. But if any game pulled an EA on me I'd continue playing through a patch.

 

[Consultant]

The option (for PC at least) is to patch the game to remove the DRM.
Only iOS has a kill switch to totally stop a game working beyond a self imposed lifespan.

They are not using the iOS app kill switch. Only Apple has the app kill switch control. And if my memory is right, Apple never used it.

As I mentioned before, some app developers build in their own kill switch.

 

[Sackvillenb]

I presume that this is because of licensing issues, but seriously, bad move on EA's part. Great way to instil confidence in your consumers, buy our product and maybe one day we'll just turn it "off" for you!

 

[HyperZboy]

When I complained about World of Warcraft being discontinued for Mac PowerPC users, even high powered quad G5s, I was ridiculed for being obsolete.

Yet I paid the same $49.99 as everyone else. Yet everyone here was like,

LOSER!, BUY A NEW COMPUTER!

I guess what comes around really does go around after all.

 

[Redjericho]

Probably a publicity ploy, lord knows I didn't know about Guitar Hero for iOS until I saw this.

 

[ssgbryan]

Yeah, it reeks of revisionism.

At what point (long ago) did society adopt the lie as the default, and standard, acceptable, operating procedure? Sociologically, this is quite horrific. Talk about reality distortion field; it's not Jobs' original product by any means.

I'm not singling out just EA (which I already hate for the fact that many new games, like Crysis 2, Rage, etc, are being developed for consoles instead of normal computers, leading to consolitis checkpoint save systems, as well as graphical inferiority, which means I'll never buy said games).

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Cite sources please? I'm not questioning you; I'd like to have concrete examples of when EULAs were challenged and lost. EULAs are right up there with corporate personhood for things in politics/business I most want to see utterly destroyed and banned for eternity.

Businesses are by nature sociopathic in their behavior. They are not your buddy, they are not your pal.

Let the buyer beware....