EA Hates Multiplayer Maps

Electronic Arts (EA) must hate maps. We're not sure what their reasoning is for this odd distaste towards a component of all multiplayer shooters, but it has become apparent that someone in the organization simply hates to give gamers more map options in their games. Let's take a brief look back at some of the recent titles released by EA and how many maps each game had at the time of release:

[lostinplace]

Friggin EA, I love to hate them almost as much as i hate to love them.

[xxxAnubisxxx]

They seem to tease greatness, then fail to deliver

[Jaces]

I've noticed that when I play DS2, what does EA pass do exactly? Pretty sure I ready this somewhere but don't remember what it was all about.

EA isn't that bad when your comparing them to the likes of Activision. Makes them look like freaking saints.

[gamingdroid]

I don't hate EA, but I recognize that their business model restricts my freedom. The whole EA pass is the sh!ttiest move I have seen in a long time in this industry.

Unfortunately, it seems it is here to stay as EA has demonstrated the business model works. EA has likely successfully limited my gaming freedom.

As far as I can tell, EA and Ubisoft (with always online DRM) is two of the most evil companies out there right now.

Because of that, I will likely minimize or altogether stop purchasing EA/Ubisoft games. I hope others do too.

DON'T SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT ACTIVELY TRY TO RESTRICT YOUR GAMING FREEDOM!!!

[AssassinHD]

I will continue to support EA as long as EA continues to deliver games I want to play. I could not care less about the online pass system because I buy my games new anyway.

@Below

I don't loan my games out. No exceptions. I have been burned in the past by friends and roommates.

[gamingdroid]

You have your reason, and they are well justified.

However, have you ever considered lending your game to your other family members or friends? If so, EA pass will prevent them from playing online.

Also, I only buy brand new games! Even if I buy anything on eBay, they have to be brand new games... so technically it doesn't even affect me that much. However, I'm debating a Gamefly account for sometime now.

Will probably get that to play Dead Space 2.

[iamgoatman]

I just hate them.

[QuodEratDemonstrandm]

Well then. Like I commented on another article. Give FPS players a map editor and let them create their own MP maps.

[xxxAnubisxxx]

It's amazing why more FPSs don't do that

[Neckbear]

Because that'd kill the market for 15$ DLC map packs.

I think more than a few publishers would go pale with the sole idea of map editors.

[LunaticBrandon]

How are you going to milk your game with overpriced maps if there is a map editor?

[QuodEratDemonstrandm]

@Neckbear & Brandon

CoD probably wouldn't do it, but I could see a new IP offering a map editor, then instead of new maps as DLC, they offer new map building tools. Win-win.
The guys who left Infinity Ward are apparently starting a new studio. I could see them doing just that.

[Kon]

PC says hi

[cozmo195]

i want a far cry 2 style map editor for lots of EA games :(

[yarbie1000]

Id rather Activision Hate maps over EA

[iamgoatman]

Nah, Activision LOVE maps as long as they're in packs, and they love the extortionate sums of money gullible idiots pay for them even more!

[jdktech2010]

Does anyone realize that at least on BC2, the maps were so big it was at least 2 cod maps in one?

I'm just saying

No excuses for MOH of though...horribly disappointing

[CernaML]

More like 5 Call of Duty maps in one.

[Kon]

You're exaggerating lol

[yarbie1000]

Did you realize that when compared to Battlefield 2, Bad Company 2 failed in comparison with the size of the maps and number?

[jdktech2010]

I did but they're comparing to games like Call of Duty with 14 maps....so hence my comparison

[ddurand1]

funny joke.

[Fil101]

yeah twice as big in sqaud DM & 5 times as big in rush mode if not bgr

[Shmotz]

Yes let's make you pay to play online then have few maps. Whereas our competitors let you play a used game online free of charge and who also have more maps.

etc. etc.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

I like bfbc maps better than any call of duty maps.

[Dlacy13g]

LOL...I am laughing at this article. Really I think its a certain devloper studio rather than EA themselves. 3 of the 4 games they mention as their proof are all from DICE regarding the mulitplayer aspect. As for Dead Space 2.... mulitplayer clearly was never a true focus for the game. The mulitplayer is an addin for the back of the box in many ways. If you are buying Dead Space 2 for the multiplayer you are going to be disappointed regardless of how many maps they have.

Reality is Dice is the developer at issue. They seem to think that 4-5 maps with iterations of those maps is more than enough for launch. then they trickle out new maps as things get unlocked (i.e. forccing community participation)or they promise future free map packs which turn out to be just revisions of the shipped maps but just differnt game modes and maybe once in a while an actual new map. This is my one big beef with DICE. And its DICE...not EA that are behind these choices. They feel its a formula that works...but in the end it actually gets me going back to COD more than keeping me away.

[gcolley]

i doubt it. EA do it with other franchises like skate. EA have seen the money involved in DLC and developers are contractually obliged to obey their greed model.

[strawberry9]

8 maps is too little for a mutliplayer game now? lol Halo Reach only has 9... and all but 1 are campaign maps redone to work for multiplayer....

[NoobJobz]

So I guess I don't get how the Online Pass works. Isn't Medal of Honor published by EA? I thought the whole point of online pass was that you couldn't play online unless you bought a pass, which you could purchase or get if you bought the game new. I GameFlyed MoH and yet was still able to play online without the pass. Obviously, I don't understand how the pass actually works. Someone please fill me in.

[AtomicGerbil]

In the case of MoH the online pass was for free extras later, they did not use it to unlock the multiplayer

[Da_Evil_Monkey]

I agree that the more maps they are the better, IF the maps are great maps. Bad Company 2 for example. Not a single map I didn't like, have never got bored of them. MW2 on the other hand had many more maps, but I only liked a handful of them. I always think a small number of high quality maps, is a lot better than loads of maps; some of which you don't like to play.