Dead Space 3 glitch negates microtransactions, EA claims it was intentional

I'm a college student with a huge passion for gaming; horror being my favorite genre. I like to write about games in my spare time. When I'm not writing, I'm playing or talking about them. Hopefully this continues into what ever future employment I find myself in.

You might have heard that EA’s latest blockbuster title, Dead Space 3 contains microtransactions. I don’t see them as a big deal due to them easily being ignored, but their presence has caused a ruckus among the gaming populace. Well, it seems that the game contains two ways to bypass the system and farm the resources that EA intended for people to pay for.

GameFront posted a video on how to do a resource farming “glitch” in two places: Chapter 8 and Chapter 13. The process seems relatively easy to do and has caused some people to do it as a “screw you” to the publisher who instituted the controversial transaction system. But, surprising, EA claims that the glitch found by GameFront was intentional created. EA’s Jino Talens issued the following response to GameFront, “The resource-earning mechanic in Dead Space 3 is not a glitch. We have no plans to issue a patch to change this aspect of the game. We encourage players to explore the game and discover the areas where resources respawn for free. We’ve deliberately designed Dead Space 3 to allow players to harvest resources by playing through the game. For those that wish to accumulate upgrades instantly, we have enabled an optional system for them to buy the resources at a minimal cost ($1-$3).”

I don’t buy it. To me, this is most likely a PR move to remedy the substantial backlash that the game and publisher is receiving. From what I’ve seen, a lot of people are upset at Dead Space 3‘s microtransaction system, and this may have scared EA into believing that sales would be affected. The simple solution would be to take this opportunity to claim that the glitch was intentional and let this all blow over.

Dead Space 2 had a similar glitch that I may or may not have exploited, and I may or may not exploit it once more…Impossible and Hardcore mode won’t beat themselves.

[Source]

  • http://www.facebook.com/davifelipef Davi Felipe

    If they say it is a glitch and they will patch it, they are hated. If they say that is not a glitch and it can be used at will, they are lying. It’s a no win situation to EA.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stuart-J-Wolson/788094094 Stuart J Wolson

    microtransactions were enough to deter me from purchasing.
    EA is all about nickel and diming the players, and I can’t put money into a company that does that. Sims series shows how deep the microtransactions can run. You can spend 20$ for a new map! Did you want a new clock for your house? 1$. it seems silly, I’m sure, but where does it stop?

  • http://twitter.com/RequiemDogma Reapray

    “Wha wha microtransactions” With the exception of screens saying “Game over, pay $10USD to beat this section, or press continue in (600) seconds” I don’t understand the problem. Don’t pay what you don’t want to. The original video games were microtransaction funded. Games have been for the most part of their lives in the last 200 years. At least you don’t need to stock quarters or tokens anymore.

    • Swcloud99

      Yes, but the game has to account for the microtransactions by assuming the player can have infinite resources at any given time.
      In a game with microtransactions, the level design will be influenced. What if you want there to be finite resources? What if you want finite ammo? The devs had to take this into account. Doesn’t matter if you don’t pay for them, they changed the game you were playing.

      And that’s ignoring how unethical it is to charge after a game’s purchase for a part of the product which the devs didn’t even have to create. It’s not like costumes or new weapons that the devs had to devote time and man-power to. No, the in-game resources didn’t cost anything to implement in the game.

  • http://www.facebook.com/brandon.roediger Brandon Roediger

    To me, EA, that is fucking insulting . You are gunna tell me that the stupid have to pay and the smart don’t. Please everyone stop letting companies like this do this. Don’t buy their games.

    • http://www.facebook.com/davifelipef Davi Felipe

      Sorry, I can let myself not to buy a game that I will enjoy because I don’t like something the developers do.

      DS and DS2 were awesome, I surely will buy DS3. Like another games, I’ll just ignore the microtransactions and keep enjoying it.

  • Koulamatata

    I don’t need microtransations.
    I don’t need to farm for parts.

    It’s completely unnecessary either way.

  • Jake_Indiman

    EA has been doing the micro transaction thing for a while. Tiger Woods golf is notorious for this. Either pay an extra 5 bucks to max out your character, another 5 for max money to buy equipment. Frankly, I don’t see the problem. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it, it’s not like Dead Space is a competitive Call of Duty or anything. It’s perfectly playable with grinding or not. But as a gamer, I do agree with the community that the “pay to win” approach is a little disturbing, not illegal, or immoral, just disturbing.