rec.autos.simulators

Just checked the EA Motor City website today and there are no longer
any references to competing against "virtual drivers offline."  Looks
like the preview which caught the eye of the folks at
www.nfscheats.com was right.  If you want to race classic American
iron, you are going to have to do it by buying the game and then
paying a monthly fee to use EA's servers.  

Too bad.  I was really looking forward to driving that '40 Ford coupe.

Remove "hi" from address or it will bounce....

Weeeohwow, what a stupid idea.

Remember when they used to be a cool company that released titles like
Pinball Construction Set?

What the hell happened there? Too bad... but are you sure it's only
playable online through EA's own servers, i.e., for a fee?

Andrew

Here's the quote:

"Although the game will ship in the traditional manner with a box, a
manual and everything you're used to, playing Motor City will involve
a monthly subscription la Ultima Online."

You can read the full preview here:

http://www.checkout.com/games/previews/info/0,7735,1914430,00.html

Remove "hi" from address or it will bounce....

I really hope they reevaluate this.  I had this on my must buy list, it's
dropped to the wait and see list now.  What happens when EA gets tired of
supporting the servers, and they drop them?  Then we are stuck with a
useless CD.

I have been in the corporate world a long time, and I am now positive the
planning of products (not just games) starts like this:

1)  Group A:  Come up with good idea, and passes to group B
2)  Group B:  Decides how to execute Group A's good plan as poorly as
possible.  "Hey, this is a great idea.  How do we***it up?"
3)  etc, etc.

Seen it a million times...I really hope EA rethinks this.  I want these
classic cars bad!  I have my fingers crossed.

That really bites.  Online racing is great, but I'd like to practice offline
as well.

IF this is what actually happens, it will really be too bad. MC will
be the first in the NFS series that I will not buy. I was really
looking forward to it because I am a muscle car enthusiast, but if I
have to pay for the game, and THEN pay a monthly fee to play on their
servers, I won't buy it just based on principle. If EA thinks they are
going to charge ME repeatedly for the honor of playing their game,

TW

Todd Walker
twalker294 at earthlink.net