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Side Quest, Episode 1: Greed, Interrupted (Thoughts on Battlefront 2's Pay-to-Win Scheme) (Patreon)

Published:
2017-11-20 17:06:49
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

It's good to be back.

Files

Previews only

Greed, Interrupted: Thoughts on Battlefront 2's Pay-to-Win Scheme -- CLS Side Quest

The release of Star Wars: Battlefront II should have been a celebration for millions upon millions of video game-playing Star Wars fans around the world. But Electronic Arts' insistence on maximizing profits over the happiness of its customers got in the way, yet again. Colin's Last Stand: Side Quest is free of baked-in ads, product placement, and other obnoxious forms of advertising because of your support. Please consider subscribing to CLS' Patreon to show your support for independent content: http://www.patreon.com/colinslaststand Buy Colin's Last Stand merch, all made in the USA! http://www.declarationclothing.com Listen to the CLS podcast, Colin’s Last Stand: Fireside Chats (also available on podcast services): https://soundcloud.com/colinslaststand Subscribe to the original Colin’s Last Stand channel: http://www.youtube.com/colinslaststand Twitter: @notaxation Instagram: @clsmoriarty Facebook: /colinslaststand Colin's Last Stand is a product of Colin's Last Stand, LLC PO Box 1233 | Santa Monica, CA 90406 Still imagery come via a licensed Shutterstock account from the following contributors: 360b, Elena Kharichkina, Featureflash Photo Agency, kvsan, Radu Bercan, Who is Danny, and Willrow Hood. Other still imagery comes via Amazon, Electronic Arts, Know Your Meme, and Wikia. Video footage comes via Electronic Arts’ Star Wars, Titanfall, and Inside EA YouTube channels. Bibliography/Reading List: http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/star-wars-battlefront https://www.cinemablend.com/games/Star-Wars-Battlefront-Include-Single-Player-Campaign-71376.html http://www.shacknews.com/article/94709/ea-teases-single-player-campaign-for-star-wars-battlefront-2 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/15/wall-street-is-getting-worried-social-media-outrage-over-eas-star-wars-game-may-hurt-sales.html https://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:EA http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/star-wars-battlefront-ii http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/16/technology/battlefront-ii-star-wars-game-ea-costs/index.html http://ir.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=1025604 http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/10/star-wars-battlefront-sales-top-14-million https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/battlefront/battlefront-2/news/swbfii-changes-launch https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/battlefront/battlefront-2/news/pre-launch-update https://www.vg247.com/2017/11/13/it-takes-40-hours-to-unlock-darth-vader-and-other-heroes-in-star-wars-battlefront-2/ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/video-game-company-ea-now-has-the-most-downvoted-comment-in-reddit-history_us_5a0c68ade4b00a6eece5c0e3 http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/11/17/report-electronic-arts-backed-off-battlefront-ii-microtransactions-after-disney-put-its-foot-down.aspx http://www.pcgamer.com/ea-tells-investors-turning-off-battlefront-2s-microtransactions-will-not-affect-earnings/ http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/madden-nfl-16-ea-ssports-competition-nfl-2k-take-two-sports-video-games/w5q934xma88113pdihykd5ael https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/10/the-collapse-of-viscerals-ambitiousstar-wars-game/ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-17-ea-has-shut-down-visceral-games https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ea-disney-star-wars-deal-658636

Comments

Zackery Parkerson

I am happy you’re back, Colin. Just wanted to point out you put ‘Battlefield’ instead of ‘Battlefront’

Anonymous

Colin, bro, Battlefront, quick before the haters begin

Paul Potter

So excited to dig into this! Welcome back Colin

Anonymous

Battlefield 2 lol

Last Stand Media

No, the video is about Battlefield. Sorry guys. (Only kidding. Fixing.)

Dan117
>>8412148

Shame. I thought you were announcing the next Battlefield, set in WWII.

Anonymous

My boy Colin M is back!

Anonymous

Glad to have you back. Also we have all made that mistake with this game no worries.

Dan117

Great first episode. It's good to be back.

JEECE

I guess I'll be the guy who asks if there is going to be an audio version.

Chad Lewis

"bullshit gumbo". Happy to have you back sir.

Anonymous

Excellent return! Missed your voice in the industry. I always watched PS I love you xoxo just waiting for your insite and knowledge to be chimed in. Keep up the great work!

Kyle Stephenson

Colin, I have to say this is spectacular, and exactly the type of thing I have been clamoring for in the gaming space. A tight, well thought & organized message with a focus. Thank you!

Anonymous

As a CPA I’m offended by that “bean-counter” pejorative ;) This was great man! Love CLS, this games return just adds to your great works.

Dav9834

Great first episode, loved the connections, the organization, the history!! But I'd rather you talk about the games that matter to you the most(past, present, future), rather than what will garner more views. Though understandable to pick battlefront 2 as it's a huge topic right now. (I'm personally going to redbox and renting it for the single player portion one day). I say if megaman isn't mentioned once in each episode, you're doing something wrong lol. I'd like to hear more about the games you're playing now, and everything surrounding those. And I especially would love to learn less known information about older games! Like any game from the golden jrpg ers! Food for thought! Either way awesome to have you back into gaming!

Tom Reder

Colin! Thank you! I'm so happy for your return to games and that it still allows you to do what you love across CLS! Do you think there will be an audio form of CLS: Side quests? Keep up the great work! #longlivecolinwasright

Dennis Parker

Great video. It would be interesting to have a dedicated knowledgeable co-host that could also help out with editing and shit....so you don’t get burned out. Maybe I just miss the PS I Love You/Beyond format. This is good stuff, though. Glad to have you back in gaming.

Brad Bury

This really is what I have been missing in gaming. Simply put, fantastic! My only feedback/wish would be to take a page from the awesome (but short lived) Colin Was Right episodes where were you were behind a desk and then had the picture in picture (?) with the content in top corner of screen, similar to late night TV. Again, minor gripe, overall great vid!

Daniel Boyer

Well done Colin. It is great to have you covering games again, keep up the good work.

Anonymous

Dam this was great!

Anonymous

GOD YES! So good have Colin talk about games again! Fantastic first episode!

Brett Geiser

Really enjoyed the episode. Only comment is have a few more Colin talking shots in their as opposed to Just game clips/still images. Correct the ‘Battlefield v Battlefront’ goof in your title - I do the same thing all the time.

Joey Finelli

Fantastic episode. I wish EA would get out of the way.

Donald Evanoff

Also hoping for an audio version to drop. It's what I listen to on the way to and from work during the week. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous

Great return! Love to hear your mix between content and business.

Anonymous

Great topic thanks

David Ouillette

Good first episode. As long as you are not worried about the Youtube algorithm, how about videos on more niche games and markets like VR, or indie/AA games?

Anonymous

Glad to have you back dude

Brent Lindquist

Love this episode Colin! Happy you're back talking about games.

Owen

Don't know if I agree with the Visceral part of this video. Jason Schrier gave a report talking about how bad the development of the game was going. As amazing as Amy Hennig is, he painted a picture talking about the game being in trouble. Now this doesn't mean EA couldn't have taken it back to the drawing board, which we all of course wish they would have, but I don't think they cancelled it out of greed.

Chris B

Great start! To echo a previous comment, I’d like to see you cover games that you love and not feel like you are forced to cover news items.

Aaron

Welcome back to the fold! How does it feel?

David Kramme

Yeah Schrier did describe that, perhaps a bit of both? greed/bad management? After reading (listening to) Blood and Pixels I have no doubt he knows what he's talking about.

David Kramme

P.S. I'll buy a shirt as soon as you get this graphic on one! love it

Austin Tex Perez

Welcome back Colin, & congratulations on your 1st video on this channel! #SideQuest

Daniel Navarro

Great video and great topic. I’ve been fascinated by this debacle since the beta. I can’t wait for future episodes.

Anthony Wright

Dude, this video is fucking brilliant. This is a direct continuation of “Colin Was Right”, or a spiritual successor if you will.., I really can’t speak highly enough about this. That being said... I think in addition to this, we are all going to want an unscripted weekly video games show like before as well. I’d gladly double my donation to achieve this goal. You’re a funny mother fucker and that comes through in your unscripted work. To wrap this brilliant comment of mine up... This video made my day. I had literally been waiting for it to drop since you mentioned it. ✌🏻

Paul Molina

Glad to hear you are back into the gaming world part time. I️ was wondering how long you would be away as games appear to be a large part of who you are. I️ recently watched an old game review of yours for Ni No Kuni. It was so well done I️ ended up playing through it despite knowing nothing else about the game. Per your review, it did not disappoint! As for this video, I️ like the “Collin’s Last Stand” angle you are taking; it works well on this platform in my opinion. Keep killing it!

Anonymous

This kind of corporate greed needs to be shot down by consumers. If consumers don't like microtransactions, don't buy any. Boycott games, hit them in their pockets and they'll be forced to change

Anonymous

Colin, I'm probably the only one here that will say it but can you please do more of this, for all of us?

Michael Renner

Was the video taken down from YouTube? Nevermind it's on the other channel.

Leonard Jacobson

Fantastic first run, Colin! I like the balance you're striking with the three shows. The runtimes of each of the shows is perfect too. The more I read/discuss the whole EA debacle the more disappointed I am with them. It seems at this point they're just putting out games without any thought or at least without the critical oversight, not only in terms of development, but also PR and marketing. The three big EA games I can think of this year have all flopped (Mass Effect, Battlefront II and Need For Speed) and with the closure of Visceral, I can't help but feel they're just becoming lost and left behind even the likes of Ubisoft, let alone Nintendo and Sony. I wonder what kind of impact another year of this magnitude of failure will have on the company!

Anonymous

fuck ive missed this.

Kevin Sullivan

Great show Colin. I don’t want you to bite off more than you chew, but any chance of a weekly podcast to go with the scripted show?

Michael Bonnano

Colin- Thank you. This was great- Nice to have your voice back to video games (in addition to CLS). One thing I felt was missing from the video was a bit more of the historical context, not just of micro-transactions (you could do a series on it- and probably should!) but more in the way of examples of EA's abuse of this tactic. Maybe cite the evolution of these through some EA games that eventually led to the SWBF2 debacle. All in all, great to have your voice back in this ecosystem.

Anonymous

Fantastic to hear this voice in gaming again. I'd love for this to be published on podcast services so I could listen to this while running, but otherwise, its great having you back!

Chris Holtzer

As a "bean counter" and one who specializes in the financial impact of marketing strategies, this flub is epic. While this game will still sell many copies, and certainly EA will profit, the fact is they are leaving piles of money on the table. From incremental sales lost, to irreparable brand erosion, they were able to take a franchise that would have set record sales with a less than mediocre product, and complete pooped the bed. No one is talking too much about it, but the company's stock has dropped ~10%, or $3.7B of value lost. This is not even accounting for the fact that a successful launch not only would not have erroded market value, but increased it. Keep in mind, EA only generates about $1.6B in EBITDA a year, so a $3.7B market value correction will absolutely have shareholders and the board of directors clinching a bit. God willing, this should change the industry for the better, and forever. It's too bad a Star Wars title had to be the one to fall on the grenade. PS: When did single player gaming become obsolete? I know I am an old guy, but man I miss a great single player.

Last Stand Media
>>8412314

Yup! Audio versions of the videos go live for $5+/month subs (which you are!) the night of the video publishing (typically at 11p PT). Did you see the audio for this one?

Last Stand Media
>>8412679

I have to streamline editing for me, which is why I've taken "me" out of CLS (and now Side Quest) apart from intro/outro. I have way too much work on my plate each week, so I need to simplify. Thanks! (I also corrected the typo hours before you posted this, LOL.)

Last Stand Media
>>8412713

Audio version goes live for $5+/month subs the night of each video posting, just like CLS. Did you see it?

Last Stand Media
>>8413795

I will. I'm not sure why people think I'm not interested in covering drama surrounding a single-player Star Wars game I wanted to play.

Last Stand Media
>>8417918

I have no time to do anything else, sorry. This is the schedule for the foreseeable future, and if I do more gaming, it's going to have to come at the sake of something else.

Last Stand Media
>>8422711

Thank you! I'm super interested to see how the game sells. I'm sure it'll do great, but I bet the numbers are softer than the original, which is crazy considering the expanded install base.

Last Stand Media
>>8437584

Yeah, the stock drop was interesting, although they'll probably recover. I'm interested to see sales, and more interested to hear what they say about the game's performance and this entire debacle in their next earnings call.

Dav9834

You responded to absolutely everyone! That is amazing, even small quick replies pile up. Don't stress yourself, you're doing awesome!

Last Stand Media
>>8443681

I like to respond to as many folks as I can here on Patreon. Y'all are the fuel that makes this engine run!

ScKeptiC17

Great video - welcome back! You’ve entered the shit storm known as the “year of loot crates.” Good luck!

Eric S

Nice to see you back in games Colin. I really enjoyed your first episode and the history of EA tidbits that you put in the segment. Also what a horrible thing for Jade Raymond to say. It says now that enough people have complained we will now make it good. EA deserves all the scorn they receive. I hope someday they can change but as time has shown us before they don’t change.

Josh Horsfield

Its so damn good to have your opinion back on gaming. Thanks so much for posting this and keep up the great work colin.

Brian Fuller

Even better than I hoped for. The best and most detailed video coverage of the SWBF II micro transaction debacle. Glad to have your thoughts and unique voice back.