Apparently they just don’t get it over at EA. This time, they are offering gamers to buy unlockable content for the Xbox360 version of Need For Speed Carbon. Players can play for endless hours in order to unlock items, or, in good EA fashion, they can pay for it. Same way they did with Godfather and and Tiger Woods PGA 07.

The game itself is available in regular and Collector’s Edition, retailing for $59.99 and $69.99, respectively. In addition to that, a total of 11 pieces of content can be bought on Xbox Live, for a total price of 3780 Microsoft Points, roughly $50. That makes Need For Speed Carbon a potential $120 dollar game.

EA always defends itself by saying “it’s a choice, you don’t have to buy”, but the “choice” is narrowing down all the time. Now the choice might be “cars”, next time, maybe it’s “150 MS points to fill your car up with gas”, and so on. It seems to me Microsoft should set some decent guidelines for developers and publishers before people completely lose interest and respect for Xbox Live Marketplace.

As for EA, the rip-off isn’t surprising at all, but it’s striking that they apparently aren’t listening to anyone talking, posting, blogging about the whole issue. Even the bad PR should reach some of the decision makers at EA.

Read (2old2play)