“Suspicious Activity”
Ronaldo against Cash: Fifa 21 will fly scandal to Ultimate card to the ears
The FIFA series by EA, is hugely popular
© EA Sports
Of trading cards-mode, Ultimate Team is the big Money maker of the popular “Fifa”-Videogames. Now he brings developer EA in a lot of Trouble – even though the company itself is one of the Victims.
Panini cards which give you an advantage in the game-this is a simplified Fifa Ultimate team said. The digital trading cards with Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer and co. are one of the major profit driver for the popular Video-game series. And are also traded. However, while the developer is going on EA against the market players partially hard, to investigate the group is now a private scandal: employees had sold individual tickets at exorbitant prices.
The cards are already not cheap. As in the case of the classic trading cards-Play EA sold in-game Packs, from which the players draw cards. The as-drawn characters, which of course correspond to real footballers, can then be in one’s own Team and improve its performance. The Chance for Top players is low. EA reveals the probabilities of the Topkarten, but the top players are drawn by the least of all gamblers.
“We are also angry,”
No wonder that some Fans are willing to pay high Buzzers in order to get a certain card. That is exactly what happened, had to admit EA in a Blopost: “Apparently, one or multiple EA Accounts hacked, or someone at EA miss items were free of need, in these Accounts specifically connected” to the group. “We are also angry.” One is to investigate the operations.
The sales are possible, is located on an internal System. Therefore, the Option to be able to direct the cards in one account unlock is meant to be, meant to fix problems with the deleted cards, to test the systems, or to reward special services associated with the company are athletes, Celebrities, or even the company’s own staff, explained to the Post. The so-granted the cards were actually, not tradable. This would, however, undermines the value of honestly acquired cards, the player, appeased the group.
1700 euros for a top player
On the mesh to the attention of the game giant was because she hit than “EAgate” in the social media waves. Rumors of the sales by employee had given it before, then first Screenshots of Chats and concrete prices appeared on Twitter. The inexperienced observers socket: 1700 euros, an employee is required according to Screenshots of a Chat for the individual, especially valuable cards. However, as measured by the market value that is quite in the frame.
That there is such a market, is located in the Community of the games. Just like in the case of trading card games, there are also in Fifa Ultimate Fans, their joy, especially from the collections. And powerful money down. Most of the transactions take place in “Coins”, the In-Game currency. Self-proclaimed Trader buy cards cheap, then sell it and can buy his way out of the profits of the favorite stars.
Coins for Cash
However, because these coins without approval EAs on some platforms in hard Cash can be traded, the value of the individual cards in Euro convert. 100.000 Coins are usually traded between five and seven euros. The most valuable cards, with the Brazilian veteran Ronaldo, would be between 2500 and 3500 euros. If you would ever traded: 15 million Coins for a transaction is concluded. Since the cards are worth more, you prefer to keep.
The prices also reflect the enormous rarity of the cards. Even if you invested 10,000 euros in the map packs, is not said, that his wish cards. If you look at the popular live streams, in which the packages are opened, you will notice quickly that the cheering cries of a elite card is the absolute exception.
Gambling in children’s play
This fact was also brought to the EA on a number of occasions criticism. Like many other games Studios, it relies more on Lootboxen, the General term for the Packs. Lootboxen are characterized in that the player can acquire different than, for example, in the case of the so-called micro-transactions, specifically in-game items with real money to be purchased, only the Chance to really desirable items or in the case of Fifa layer cards. Just when EA is not added to this is that it is usually only a cosmetic objects such as costumes, but better cards are also advantages in the game bring.
For many critics, this concept is a variant of gambling. Finally, you need to buy new Lootboxen in order to obtain the desired characters. The excitement when Opening similar to the lucky players. This is particularly problematic because the Lootbox mechanics found in Games, which are also open to younger players, and even children. In Belgium, the games are provided with the Mechanics, therefore, automatically with an age rating of 18 years.
The Fans of Fifa Ultimate team seems to interfere with this approach, however, is less. In the scene it is not uncommon for each season, hundreds, or even thousands of dollars to spend. And, although the created team will be with the release of the annual follow-up title is virtually worthless. The collector’s annoyed, especially because EA is going hard against the grey market, and even account locks. From the point of view of a group the grey markets, and the current scandal case, however, a clear thing in Common: The players get exactly the cards you want. And the money goes to EA.
Source: EA Sports, Twitter,
