Comments on: 'The Sims Online' is officially reborn as 'EA Land'

For EA, the new virtual world is another attempt to get into the market that has now been well established by 'Second Life,' There.com, and others.

[Trerro]

Well, it's EA...

...so they'll probably use their standard tactic - buy out every competitor at any possible price, destroy their company, then let their own mediocre product succeed simply because there's literally nothing else left.

Here's the complete list of everyone they already crushed:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=183194

[kieranmullen]

World of Warcraft # Users > Second Life

Its just that News.com has a relationship with Second Life that they have to put an article mentioning their name every few weeks. (either that or they cant find anything better to write about)

KieranMullen
http://360oregon.com

[Daniel Terdiman]

I said SL didn't have huge numbers

In the story:

"Second Life is well established, though it does not have a huge audience."

And, I just don't see how you can do a story talking about the emergence of a social virtual world with an economy and content creation with even *mentioning* Second Life.

And the reason I didn't mention World of Warcraft in the story is that WoW is not really the same kind of game as The Sims Online/EA Land. Totally different, really.

But to say that this story was *about* SL is sort of proof that you didn't read the story very closely. It was about EA Land.

[dayzella]

officially?

I can't find any mention of an official announcement by EA. Most news sites reported on the change mid February. Has something new been announced? Or is the "Monday" portion listed under the EA-Land logo a generic Monday, and not a specific one?

[JadedGamer]

Lego Universe...

... is breathing down their necks. And will be far more successful simply because of the tie to the toys: Build something in game and order it as an actual kit... brilliant!

TSO seems closer to Sonys upcoming Home service for the PS3.

[Bienchen08]

a virtual world destroyes with the hearts of many still beating

To Whom It May Concern:

The Sims Online/Ea Land owned and operated by Electronic Arts has officially notified its players that they will be closing the doors to the game as of August 1 ,2008 . In 2007 it was told that you were going to re-vamp the game , bring in new objects , fix the economy . Open all individual cities into one large map so we could all play together through out *Ea Land* You have brought new objects , You have brought in new ideas , we are all in the same map except Test Center 3 . You have had developers playing along with us in game to listen to our ideas , complaints.
The game that had become boring had started to see new life . It has become fun again. You work , play , skill, making custom content . It has been a long road the last few months trying to survive the lag issues , updates, and new changes . But we have come together as a community and made a great game. We are just starting to enjoy our game and we get a post that TSO/EAL is being closed ....All of us gamers are shocked , devastated that EA has given up on us before the game has had a chance to grow .
We have about 11k paying players and around 25 or 30k players total.
This game has become an * out * if you will . for many people through out the world . We have been through death, marriages , babies being born , break ups, with our friends on here . We have in game weddings , couples . relationships.
There are many players with disabilities that cant, walk or talk in real life , but in game they are normal , they can walk, talk, sing , swim , dance . We have in game Dj's that broadcast over internet radio. This game has become a great escape for a lot of people . To end this game it wont only hurt the online community it will hurt the real lives of these people . We have all shed our tears since we found out TSO was closing . Now we are trying everything in our power to keep the game going. Petitions, websites, media, phone calls , instant messages , all that i have spoken with have said they would pay more for their monthly subscription to TSO/EAL. I know if the developers were given more time they would have the best online game out there . We don't want Second Life which most call Sex City, We don't want war games , its way to much like real life. We just want our TSO/EAL . I know this isn't to much to ask ,and i know the fees are outrageous to keep this game running , But we the players * simmies* of TSO/EAL are worth it! Please don't give up on us . We need this game . There is no other like it !
This game hasn't been given a fair chance since re-creating to Ea Land. I think you need to give us a year to make this the game what it should be .
My Parent's have always told me ....You must spend money to make money.. This is true in every aspect of life . So spend a little and let's get TSO back to where it needs to be . Lets have ads in commercials, newspapers, radio stations , gaming magazines as well as other magazine's. We all feel Ea hasn't given their best to make this game work . We just want a fair chance . Don't end a game that means so much to so many players . We may just be 9.99 to you but we are all humans and depend on this game in one-way or another.
Increase the subscription price , give the 14 day free trail with unlimited game play , so people will want to subscribe, a free game with limited play isn't going get someone to subscribe , they are just going to stay in tc3 and live it up there for FREE. That's not helping the company or the player's, All we ask is for 1 year to bring in new players and to make this game work, Have any of you top officials every sat down and played the game . Well take the time to do it now and you will see the devastation in the game .
Please take the time to check out these sites where players are trying to save TSO.

http://www.playercampaigns.com

sims.stratics.com

http://www.petitiononline.com/kl5c3854/ ... -sign.html

Please hear our pleas for our simmie world .
Thank you for your time in this matter ,
The Simmie Movement Team

[222missy]

Does anyone know of any similar sites? free maybe?