EA Charging Extra to Re-download Titles

Advances in technology have generally opened new doors for businesses and consumers alike, ranging from cheaper products to easier methods of procuring products, such as online shopping. The video game market has been no exception, as they have recently begun taking advantage of online distribution, cutting out retailers, and offering consumers the ability to purchase and download games to their homes. Of course, in the world of business, a new means of distribution sometimes offers companies the ability to sneak in new charges, improving profits at the expense of the consumer.

Online distribution has just recently hit the PC video game market, as sites like Steam give consumers the ability to purchase and download games straight to their computers. New companies, such as Phantom, are popping up as well, promising to offer consumers a host of new features, promising to help make shopping for video games an overall better experience for people.

The benefits of these types of business ventures are numerous, all aimed at making life easier for the customer. People can now purchase games without having to wait in tedious lines or having to drive to a store to be able to purchase that must-have game. While this seems like a good idea and a valuable service to consumers, there are of course companies, which are going to try to exploit this new service.

EA’s new online distribution website has made a wide range of their games available for purchase and direct download to their computers. Sounds great, but it ends there. Once you are directed to your cart you’ll be faced with the option of adding an Extended Download Service for $6.99. The site explains that this Extended Download Service gives the consumer the option that with the purchase of their digital product, they’ll keep a copy of the file for two full years, so the consumer doesn’t have to.

Simply put, if you purchase a game from EA’s website, you can pay extra money so that if for whatever reason you need to re-download the game (the game you already purchased) you’ll be able to. If that’s the case, one wonders if the benefits really outweigh the alternative: heading to the store to purchase a physical copy, one which can sit on your shelf forever, never needing to be re-downloaded.

With this type of policy, I would see no reason to purchase a game on-line through EA, especially since EA games can be purchased online and downloaded through Steam, which doesn’t have the Extended Download Service fee.

While more competition is always great, EA missed the boat here, and until they rid themselves of this policy, sites like Steam and the other competitors are still the best option for those of us who hate heading to a retail store or are too impatient to wait for it via mail.