EA has went beyond the normal Online Pass program currently included with all new copies of their games. Introducing the EA Sports Season Ticket, gamers can now have 12 months of early access to five titles, a 20 percent discount on paid downloadable content, free premium web content and a special badge denoting their membership in the program. The program will set fans back $25 and is only available for purchase through Xbox Live, PlayStation store or an in game option.

The five games this encompasses are Madden, FIFA, NHL, Tiger Woods and NCAA Football. The Early Release portion is a three day early title download that will expire when the game comes out for retail purchase. At that point, gamers will have to purchase the game (at full price) to continue on but will keep all progress, achievements and unlockables.

I know some rabid fans will hop on this to play some Madden early but I hope they don’t. This “Season Ticket” effectively makes each of the five games $65 instead of the normal $60. If enough people join the program, publishers will have plenty of reasons to raise prices of all games and offer a DLC discount or early download. Personally, I don’t want to be forced to drop an extra fiver down and then feel obligated to grab the DLC to make up for it. The early download would mean weekend playing sure but I just don’t feel it’s worth it. What do you geeks think? Yay or nay?

Source: EA Sports

Related articles

• EA Sports Unveils Season Ticket – UPDATED (escapistmagazine.com)
• EA Sports Season Ticket: How to jip your loyal buyers (saintel.wordpress.com)