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EA Holiday Sale (wow!)

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Chixofnix

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2003
Location
Kansas City, KS USA
Alright this made my jaw drop... ([EDIT]Read my cautions below though!)

If you can conceive any two downloadable EA PC games you might want, prepare to be amazed :santa::

1. go here: http://eastore.ea.com/holiday
2. Add (2) PC DOWNLOADABLE titles and get 40% off automatically.
3. Then, the following code takes an additional 30% off. EAPARTNERS2009

One can get Mass Effect plus Dragon Age for $26.95!!!

[EDIT]: Some potential sour-points - read carefully!
  • One cannot register either of these eastore-bought games on Steam for future re-installation / easy updates. (Source)
  • You really are only "renting" the game for (1) year, not gaining ownership of the software! From EA's Technical Support: (Per Aynjell's Link below)
    QUESTION
    What is Extended Download Service?
    ANSWER
    The Extended Download Service (EDS) was a service available for digital game downloads. This service would entitle users with an extended download period to re-download their purchased game.

    This service is no longer available at the EA Store for any purchases moving forward. Customers who purchased EDS previously will still have access to the full EDS period they purchased with their game.

    Instead of offering EDS as an additional option, all digital game purchases will now come with one year of download rights.
  • Evidently, EAstore has a reputation for playing some mean games with regard to regional pricing: (Source)

In conclusion, proceed with caution! These are very nice prices, but it is a personal call as to whether you're comfy with the way EAstore purchased games are handled. I personally plan to get Steam versions next time a good sale rolls around, as I am too uncomfortable with the timed ownership issue and the fact that I can't freely install/update without restrictions via Steam.


Example in following image:
 

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I'm getting a copy when I get home. I didn't have much trouble when I bought before, only thing I don't like is you have to use the eadm, but it downloads an EXE you can save to a nas and use anytime... soo...

Dragon age for 26$. I can dig it. :)

Edit: Though, not being able to re-download is bull.

Edit Again: I can re-download the pinnacle station I bought, it seems.

Go to Customer Service at the top, and click on View recent order history and purchase details, and tell us if it shows you the ability to download both games again. And if you click on "I don't have EADM" it gives you a direct DL. Let us know if it works for you.

http://help.eastore.com/cgi-bin/eas...3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PWRvd25sb2Fk&p_li=&p_topview=1

Relevant info, perhaps.

Also, 1 year is long enough for you to come up with a decent backup strategy for the 15GB or so... for me and what I'll be buying (Dragon Age, and black and white 2 just to get the discount which makes the game cheaper than it is on it's own...) it's not really a big burden. Hell half my projects right now (and purchases) revolve around my setting up a pretty strong nas.
 
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2. Add (2) PC DOWNLOADABLE titles and get 40% off automatically.

Apparently it has to be two full games, I tried to get the deal with Mass Effect and Pinnacle Station and no dice. Also they don't seem to be taking 40% off Mass Effect when you do the Dragon Age combo, just DA.
 
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I picked up Dragon Age Digital Deluxe Edition and Black & White 2, for 33$. I can't complain about that.
 
I wish I gamed. That dragon one looks promising. Could get the deluxe edition with codes for $40 if I added a cheap $9.99 game...
 
My installer initially didn't work. If anybody gets an issue where it's extracting core.rar and gets to about 41-42 percent, on gui.erf, decompress with winrar, recompress with winrar. Replace file with new file, and retry. If you have any other issues, rinse and repeat with any other rar files acting up.
 
http://help.eastore.com/cgi-bin/eas...3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PWRvd25sb2Fk&p_li=&p_topview=1

Relevant info, perhaps.

Also, 1 year is long enough for you to come up with a decent backup strategy for the 15GB or so... for me and what I'll be buying (Dragon Age, and black and white 2 just to get the discount which makes the game cheaper than it is on it's own...) it's not really a big burden. Hell half my projects right now (and purchases) revolve around my setting up a pretty strong nas.

Aynjell thanks for the help (again)!

I've updated the original post to reflect the newer(?) info from EA's tech support page... if nothing else it's from the horse's mouth.

When you say a backup strategy... Are the games downloaded from EAstore archiveable, such as with the way you can compress all downloaded counterstrike data to avoid needing to re-download maps and such later? I've been assuming they don't actually send you disc images or even CD keys (the support area consistently used the term "product unlock code" instead of "key"). If they do send you CD keys, then perhaps you really do own a copy and could legitly copy a friend's discs?
 
Aynjell thanks for the help (again)!

I've updated the original post to reflect the newer(?) info from EA's tech support page... if nothing else it's from the horse's mouth.

When you say a backup strategy... Are the games downloaded from EAstore archiveable, such as with the way you can compress all downloaded counterstrike data to avoid needing to re-download maps and such later? I've been assuming they don't actually send you disc images or even CD keys (the support area consistently used the term "product unlock code" instead of "key"). If they do send you CD keys, then perhaps you really do own a copy and could legitly copy a friend's discs?

Well, it's downloads as just a folder. You can then put that folder wherever you feel is worthy of holding such awesome gaming. :)
 
Well, it's downloads as just a folder. You can then put that folder wherever you feel is worthy of holding such awesome gaming. :)

Wow :cool:!

Well I hate to play devil's advocate... but I find it strange that a company so worked up over DRM as EA would provide us with a folder that requires no key/DRM/verification to install/play the game...

Is there any chance you could try installing using the downloaded files on another computer without an internet connection to verify that they really are giving you unrestricted ownership of the game?
 
Wow :cool:!

Well I hate to play devil's advocate... but I find it strange that a company so worked up over DRM as EA would provide us with a folder that requires no key/DRM/verification to install/play the game...

Is there any chance you could try installing using the downloaded files on another computer without an internet connection to verify that they really are giving you unrestricted ownership of the game?

Oh, it's not like that. It uses Adobe AIR to verify the game by your email address. But you do not have to download it on that PC.
 
Commendable, but mine was 33$ for the digital deluxe. :D

Yeah, I normally will try to save a buck too. As long as you can back up the files to DVD the EA deal is pretty good! Or even if you're the type that plays the game once and never again, no need to worry. I just saw the ad this morning and thought I'd mention the option.
 
If you would rather have the physical media, gogamer has DA for $34.90.

http://www.gogamer.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=61665833&extid=Dec1709
Yeah, I normally will try to save a buck too. As long as you can back up the files to DVD the EA deal is pretty good! Or even if you're the type that plays the game once and never again, no need to worry. I just saw the ad this morning and thought I'd mention the option.
Very commendable! Thanks for the link - I am more in the paranoid category of wanting to save some bucks so that I can re-enjoy this game in years to come...

Bioware imho defines "replay value" for PC gamers. Baldur's gate series, KOTOR series, NWN series, Mass Effect... I've got every expectation/hope to be in those shoes a year or so from today wanting to re-install and enjoy DA - I'll pay a few more bucks for a physical disc...

I just wish we could see this kind of pricing on Steam - it's so terribly convenient! :)
 
After playing this game a few hours, morel ike 8 or 9 over the weekend, I can only say it's awesome.
 
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