Games The Sims Online Games



Big Download Blog put together a list of the top 10 most disappointing PC games of 2000 thru 2009.  Two Maxis games made it onto the list:  The Sims Online (at #5) and Spore (at #1):

Despite a promising start and a vast audience, the game was a total bust. Why? Because there was nothing to do. As it turned out, the magic from the single player experience didn’t translate very well into an MMO experience and few people wanted to pay for access to a glorified chat room. EA relaunched The Sims Online as a free-to-play experience called EA Land, but that didn’t work out either. The game was finally shut down for good in 2008.

Big Download Blog #5 Failure:  The Sims Online

The game finally released in 2008, and as promised, featured impressive technology that let gamers run wild with creativity. Unfortunately, although it was a cute toy, Spore wasn’t much of a game. The concept went in too many directions at once in its attempt to satisfy both casual and veteran gamers, so it ended up appealing to neither. Not only did the game stifle creativity by forcing players to stick with certain body parts in order to progress, there was no point in giving peace a chance. Of the five game modes, all but the last (which let players freely roam space) were far too shallow to be fun. Even though it sold well, there was a great deal of controversy regarding its Digital Rights Management policy, which only allowed the game to be installed on a limited number of computers, practically inviting people to use the pirated version and avoid the hassle. The Spore Galactic Adventures expansion released in the summer of 2009, which refocuses the gameplay and generally makes it more enjoyable. However, it can’t be overlooked that the original game fell well short of its high expectations.

Big Download Blog #1 Failure:  Spore

Disappointing…like the fact of this lady trying to ride a mechanical bull…

EA And Cancer Research UK have revealed a new program to encourage donations to the Cancer Research UK. if people give unwanted items to Cancer Research UK Shops, there are 600 across the UK, they receive a 10% off voucher for the EA Store. this promotion will run from 27th December to the 27th February.


Press Release

London, UK, 21 December 2009 – Electronic Arts Ltd, the leading interactive entertainment software company, and Cancer Research UK today announced they have teamed up to encourage people to donate unwanted items to one of the the charity’s 600 shops across the country. In exchange, they will receive a 10 per cent discount off their next purchase from www.eastore.co.uk, EA’s direct PC download service. The promotion will run from 27 December 2009 until 27 February 2010,

As well as computer games, the campaign urges people to donate unwanted Christmas presents, clothes and accessories to Cancer Research UK shops. Profits from these will help fund research into a disease which affects more than one in three people at some point in their lives.

Shane Bellamy from EA Store™ said: “We’re really excited to be launching this collaborative campaign. The post Christmas period is renowned for the amount of unwanted gifts and other items that are thrown out. Instead it’s so easy to donate them to Cancer Research UK’s worthy cause and get discounted access to some of the best of EA’s PC games along the way.”

Simon Ledsham, Cancer Research UK’s trading director, said: “Each bag of items donated to our shops can be worth up to £30 for the charity. So campaigns like this are really important to us – donations from the public are the lifeblood of our shops. What’s great about this campaign is that people can donate, feel good about giving to charity, but get something back for themselves with the EA Store voucher too.”

EA Store provides the latest and greatest PC games from EA to download direct to your PC. Dragon Age™: Origins, The Sims™ 3, upcoming games to pre-order and an extensive back catalogue of games are available at the click of a button.
Ends

For more information please call
Sophie Orlando on 01483 463342 or email at sorlando@ea.com


NOTES TO EDITORS

About the campaign
• No minimum amount will apply to donating goods. All donors are eligible to receive an EA STORE discount voucher
• Only one voucher will be issued per person, per visit with no minimum donation amount
• Customers will enter their unique voucher code into the EA STORE website on checkout of their product to receive their discount*

About Cancer Research UK
• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.
• The charity’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. This work is funded entirely by the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last thirty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,800 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7121 6699 or visitwww.cancerresearchuk.org

About EA Games
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

*Value of discount will be deducted from your total order at time of purchase. Valid for new orders only. Discount is valid only on purchases from the EA STORE at www.eastore.ea.com. This offer expires on 27th February 2010 and cannot be combined with any other offer, Gift Card, rebate or other discount coupons. Valid only in the United Kingdom. Limit one offer per person. Subject to availability. Customers are responsible for shipping, handling and applicable sales tax. Offer may not be substituted, exchanged, sold or redeemed for cash or other goods or services. [Retailers, distributors and employees of Electronic Arts Inc. and their agencies/affiliates are not eligible.] Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.


EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, Dragon Age™: Origins, The Sims and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners