Posted on Tuesday 6-Dec-2011 12:25 AM

Theme Park iOS game has $60 DLC

In-game game rollercoaster for the equivalent of $60... interested?

We fear some surprise charges turning up on the bills of young iPhone games when EA launches its new Theme Park game on iOS.

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Theme Park is a classic managerial sim that's making a return as a 'freemium' iOS game, but it doesn't sound like the game we know and love. Users will be able to download the game for free but will find many of the game's more attractive features locked.

Reviews from Canada, where the game has just released, report that the game's better park attractions are unlocked as the player increases in level - something that is apparently overly time-consuming.

The seemingly intentional monotony of a drawn out level system helps to push users to the game's other unlocking option - purchasing 'Tickets' with real money to exchange for rides.

According to AOL's Games Blog (via Shacknews), one ride - "a Skull-Train roller coaster" - will cost an impatient gamer a massive $60 worth of Tickets to unlock.

EA, it seems, is taking iOS gamers for a ride.

A number of PS Vita games have recently shown signs of taking queues from iOS games with pricing structures. Let's hope it never gets this ridiculous on Sony's handhelds.

[ Source: Games Blog ]

computerandvideogames.com Mike Jackson

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Comments

5 comments so far...

  1. Report this post Reply with quote
    c3dpo on 6 Dec '11 said:

    Dam you evil Activision!

    Ohhh wait, its EA back to their routes!

  2. Report this post Reply with quote
    G00N3R on 6 Dec '11 said:

    I played the original Theme Park many years ago. I remember there being quite alot of rides. Shops too. And they want to charge $60 for ONE ride? That's going to get out of control, fast.

  3. Report this post Reply with quote
    jim2wheels on 6 Dec '11 said:

    This is not news.

    The game is free and if you can't be bothered to play the game to unlock other rides (which is the actual point of playing games, progression), then you admit your a mug with too much money and pay for it.

    Nothing wrong with it at all. The whole game is still FREE.

  4. Report this post Reply with quote
    TheLastDodo on 6 Dec '11 said:

    EA offer unlocks for in-game content in all their games, I don't see how this is news.

    The game is FREE, you are NOT FORCED to spend $60 on a rollercoaster, if you're too lazy to play through the game and have more money than sense then you'll probably love this offer, hell iOS gamers will love a deal like this, they lap this stuff up.

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    yodalicious on 6 Dec '11 said:

    Ageed. I'm giving BattleNations a try on my iPhone 4 and been in over 36 hours building up my camp. I could speed things along by using my cc to by tokens to get upgrades and soldiers quicker but quite happy to take the time to do it with the in-game monetary system. What's handy is that as long as I keep the phone connected to my wi-fi and go out of the game, the game continues to build my items for me (think this is true for most of these games but don't use the phone to play them. I use it for what it is.... a phone, as well as keeping up to date on Facebook lol). Why would I waste money on tokens when I can have a bit of patience and complete the game without resorting to handy over money for in game credits. Certainly don't do it for my ps3. It gets my money for dlc and stuff.