GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

EA details free Origin games as apology for SimCity launch disaster

List of games being given away by EA includes Battlefield 3 and Dead Space 3.

348 Comments

EA has detailed the list of Origin games it will offer to customers affected by the disastrous launch of SimCity.

No Caption Provided

All copies of SimCity registered on Origin before March 25 will give applicable customers a chance to pick one free game from the following list: Battlefield 3, Bejeweled 3, Dead Space 3, Mass Effect 3, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Plants vs. Zombies, and SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition.

The games provided, with the exception of Sim City 4, are all standard edition.

EA will roll out the redemption process across its three territories in waves, starting in North America by 5pm PDT on Wednesday March 20, before reaching Europe by March 21, and then Asia and South America before the end of March 22.

Games have to be claimed by 11:59 PDT on March 30.

"Our SimCity Mayors are incredibly important to the team at Maxis," said a statement on the EA website. "We sincerely apologise for the difficulties at launch and hope to make it up to you with a free PC game download from Origin."

"Starting today," continued the apology, "every player that has activated their copy of SimCity will receive an email that will give directions on how to redeem this offer, and you can also find more information on our FAQ. We'll be opening up the redemption portal country-by-country so some of you may see it a little sooner than others."

"The portal will be live worldwide for everyone to select their game by March 22. We don't want any of you to miss out on your free game, so please note that you must register your copy of SimCity before March 25, 2013 at 11:59 PM PDT and you must claim your free game by March 30, 2013 at 11:59PM PDT.

"At Maxis, our studio values dictate that we innovate and create something that is quirky, complex and challenging. Sometimes this bites us in the butt, but our servers are green and we're seeing record numbers of players all online and having a great time.

"Here is the list of games that you will be able to choose from once you are able to redeem. It's a great list of games across the whole EA portfolio, so pick one and add it to your Origin library on us!:

"We're getting great feedback from our fans and know that many of you are having fun and exploring this whole new expression of SimCity," the developer continued. "We're humbled by your patience and passion for the game. Thanks for building something very special with us, together."

For the latest on SimCity, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 348 comments about this story
348 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for quidditch3
quidditch3

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Be nice if Mac gamers got an apology for the Launch disaster that was Simcity for mac. Oh wait, that's right it was pushed back again when it finally releases it will be at least 6 months after the pc release date and I will have gone back to my xbox 360 and later xbox one. well done EA for F***ing up again.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ynvf8
YNVF8

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Take your free game and #dealwithit

Upvote • 
Avatar image for yeahuhhuh
yeahuhhuh

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I bought this at launch and was on the fence about dead space 3 so it's nice i got it free. Maybe it doesn't make up for much but it's something at least.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for joshdwalker
joshdwalker

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

get your free game on origin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKKePrEeSJY

Upvote • 
Avatar image for joshdwalker
joshdwalker

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By joshdwalker

Youtube Giveaway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUYcoZwW6RQ

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jayjayboy
jayjayboy

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@Ba8emk The dust already settled. EA isn't going to update the game after the 25th. They'll tell people to purchase DLC that also don't work. And no they're not going to make the game playable offline and no they won't increase the city sizes. Making games good means they actually have to spend money, which they don't intend on doing.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mekentosh
mekentosh

376

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I have all the games that interest me listed here....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CatAtomic999
CatAtomic999

1641

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Edited By CatAtomic999

Morons. All that people are going to remember is that EA and Maxis lied about DRM, crippled what should've been a great game, and lost huge amounts of money and consumer goodwill because they wanted to save relative pennies on piracy.


2 • 
Avatar image for zeusbark
zeusbark

84

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

To me it seems like a strategie to get people to buy simcity now. we are on the 19th, and it's offering rewards until the 25th, if I wanted BF3 for example, I would be tempted to buy Simcity right now so I could get a free copy


Upvote • 
Avatar image for RoadStar1602
RoadStar1602

122

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Edited By RoadStar1602

@zeusbark That is exactly what they are doing. I realized the same thing as soon as I heard the announcement for this. For one brief moment I thought about buying Simcity and collecting my free game. Then I came to my senses. That's exactly what this is. It's a marketing strategy. Nothing more.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for zeusbark
zeusbark

84

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

@RoadStar1602 @zeusbark Funny, same here. For a moment I thought hey! I want to get free BF3!!!... wait a minute... I don't even want SimCity, why would I buy a game I don't want just to get another game. If I wanted both games it would be a good deal, but I don't. And that's how I to realized what they were doing. I'm sure a lot of people are gonna buy it to get a "free game" Just read the comment below this one. =)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for zeusbark
zeusbark

84

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

@RoadStar1602 @zeusbark Oh, I know, don't get me wrong, I to played the sh"$% out of sim city 2000 and cim city4. This game has been dumbed down to please/attract the whole generation of people who played "The Sims" I'd be into an old hardcore style SimCity game, not the garbage they put out with this one.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for RoadStar1602
RoadStar1602

122

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@zeusbark @RoadStar1602 Don't get me wrong. I want Simcity. I've wanted it for 10 years. I just don't want THIS Simcity. I don't want to have to rely on EA's servers or my own connection to play a game I paid $60 for. I don't want to have the content of my game limited so that they can sell it to me in bits and pieces later for more money. I don't want the size of my city to be 1/10th the size of the previous version of Simcity. No thanks. I'm not paying an inflated price for a bad product.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Blade_Runner22
Blade_Runner22

27

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

So if I hurry and buy Simcity now do I still get a free game??

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jayjayboy
jayjayboy

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@Blade_Runner22 YES BLADE! HURRY AND BUY SIMCITY FOR 70$ SO YOU CAN HAVE A FREE 40$ GAME!!111

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Xellos976
Xellos976

69

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jayjayboy @Blade_Runner22 but dont most wanted and dead space 3 cost $70/60?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for inspectercoley
inspectercoley

76

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Edited By inspectercoley

Not bad, free game is always a bonus. A lot better than the nothing that Blizzard offered for D3.


Upvote • 
Avatar image for deltabtry
deltabtry

390

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

How typical, EA is trying to buy our respect instead of earning it.

4 • 
Avatar image for Flexanite
Flexanite

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Flexanite

Free games from EA? Well isn't this a shocker........

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jason1460
jason1460

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By jason1460

cool just got to pick my free game for the SimCity mess up. I selected Dead space 3 full game free not bad for an apology. I have played SimCity now for 5 hours no problems and is really fun.

3 • 
Avatar image for Sarg1010
Sarg1010

36

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@jason1460 Wow, you've played a game that's been out for two weeks for a whole 5 HOURS?! Lucky you!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jason1460
jason1460

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Sarg1010 @jason1460 yeah sucks sarg1010 being in my 40's not as much free time to play!!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FandomTheory
FandomTheory

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

With the exception of the PopCap games there (And SimCity 4), Aren't the rest of those games just catalysts for DLC?

This reminds me of what retail stores do. Store screws up, customer complains. Store gives customer a $5 off coupon to shut them up. The customer has to come back into the store to spend that $5, and they either buy something that is more than $5 (and spend more money), or less than $5 (and waste credit). So in the end, the compensation the customer gets is just more marketing and will probably lead to more sales.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for megakoresh
megakoresh

234

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By megakoresh

Oh wow... EA has done something good! Quick mark the day! Lets celebrate this legendary occasion from now on!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for outlabin33
outlabin33

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By outlabin33

@megakoresh ..nah its not good its the biggest gaming conspiracy in history well done ea its working :(

Upvote • 
Avatar image for megakoresh
megakoresh

234

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@outlabin33 @megakoresh You know even mentioning the word "conspiracy" in such context immediately kills any chance the comment could be taken seriously.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Carreau13
Carreau13

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 25

User Lists: 0

Edited By Carreau13

Please reach into our bag of shit to be appeased.

6 • 
Avatar image for SlothyCounter
SlothyCounter

33

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SlothyCounter

In Australia, can already select game, it's downloading now, well done EA for offering decent choices. And when things like gifting in SimCity are working properly map sizes won't matter and I'll be satisfied with that game too.

Maybe gamespot will recant on their nerd rage review... maybe not.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Whiskey3romeo
Whiskey3romeo

67

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@SlothyCounter They probably should re-review...just like everybody else who gave the game more than a 3.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Curzad
Curzad

486

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By Curzad

@Whiskey3romeo @SlothyCounter

You need to honestly ask yourself. Are you going to be playing this game a month from now? I just don't think this game has the lasting power of previous SimCity titles. I wish it did but it doesn't. If EA made a commitment to a much larger map, bug fixes, off-line mode, that would be a different story. But I don't think they have any intention of going that route. They may but it will come in a DLC with a price tag.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SlothyCounter
SlothyCounter

33

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Whiskey3romeo @SlothyCounter Remember there is still the 'game' part of the release, always online requirements aside. Terrible release week but Diabalo 3 didn't have to pay for that, and Blizard certainly didn't offer a AAA game as compensation. Bitch about EA all you like, but saying SimCity is a terrible game is a stupid way to do it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for d_kell411
d_kell411

286

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

Edited By d_kell411

@SlothyCounter @Whiskey3romeo

I have to concur with SlothyCounter on this one. Gamespot would be acting hypocritical if they allowed D3 to get away with it and held Sim City to higher standards.As a gaming company specializing in reviews, it's their job to be objective. Their review of Sim City was not objective. Argue how you like, but there isn't a member here who would claim that the DRM fiasco had nothing to do with the low rating.

This was a political move by gamers, and supported by a gaming company. This move was against DRM, and companies that enforce it. EA made a mistake with that particular component, but a large portion of the game still remains an innovation.

Take this analogy: It's like you bought a new car. Okay, it's a BMW, so maintenance is high and you'll always have expenses with it. It's sold to you with a faulty set of tires. You decide to review the tires in depth. That's what happened with Sim City. You can't drive on faulty tires, so you rage and hold the entire car responsible, even though BMW didn't make those tires.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Whiskey3romeo
Whiskey3romeo

67

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Edited By Whiskey3romeo

@SlothyCounter @Whiskey3romeo Way more wrong with that game than just the servers, which still aren't working as intended. Go read the EA forum. The list of bugs grows everyday. When you have a boat traffic jam in open water or game mechanics where electricity follows the same routines and pathing as sewage and traffic and somehow gets lost before it reaches the other end of town even though you're generating more than enough, you have very serious flaws. Those are just a few of the dozens that are being discovered and documented on a daily basis.

2 • 
Avatar image for Whiskey3romeo
Whiskey3romeo

67

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

So how many games is EA going to give away for free to make up for their clumsy attempt to keep people from getting their games for free?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soleride
Soleride

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

makes sense to be honest but yet again this is Sony, will be interesting to see what Microsoft have instore for everyone.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Karmazyn
Karmazyn

994

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@Soleride Sony has nothing to do with EA I am confused.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soleride
Soleride

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Soleride

@Karmazyn @Soleride okay to all you people who responded to this it was posted in the wrong article that would be the simple explanation why Sony's and Microsoft's name are in that comment.

Confusion Ended.

3 • 
Avatar image for SalahDinThe2nD
SalahDinThe2nD

36

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By SalahDinThe2nD

@Soleride @Karmazyn i think it is about the AMD chip where sony confirmed it will be included but Micrsoft did not

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DITHRICH
DITHRICH

241

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@Soleride funny way to spell EA

4 • 
Avatar image for Xerexs
Xerexs

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Soleride sony?


4 • 
Avatar image for Tristan2668
Tristan2668

43

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@Xerexs @Soleride I'm confused too. Where does sony and microsoft come into this?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-617422934ef91
deactivated-617422934ef91

161

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Crysis 3?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for LordChen2
LordChen2

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Red Alert. Originally by Westwood but after Red Alert 2, EA bought them off. After RA2, it was a shit fest. Old people's game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ShimmeringSword
ShimmeringSword

107

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ShimmeringSword

@Ba8emk Yep this is exactly what I was thinking, they just pulled off marketing genious. Present it like a sorry note to all the poeple they screwed over, letting "smart" people think they're getting away with a 2for1 bargain by buying in, but really they're just feeding out of EA's hand.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ioshilee
ioshilee

106

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@katanakillbill So did EA... They don't refund, they give a free treat for the sheep to follow the shepard and give them moar money...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Grayzer
Grayzer

102

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Grayzer

According to the fine print on Origin (when selecting the game), if you don't download the game by 31st March you forfeit the right to do so.

Not to be confused with the deadlines for selecting the game OR activating Simcity.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tightwad34
tightwad34

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Awwww, it's OK, I forgive you. Here lets have a hug. *slips a bag of cocaine in their back pocket and then calls the cops*. Nah, that would be stooping to their level but you get my point.

3 •