EA to Stop Online Sign-Ups for Majestic
Electronic Arts Inc. plans to announce that it will soon stop signing up new players via the Internet for its online game, Majestic.
Beginning in November, new Majestic players must purchase a $39.99 disc containing Majestic and several applications needed to play the game, including AOL Instant Messenger and RealPlayer. More than 13,500 people now pay $9.99 a month to play Majestic, an online game containing five monthly episodes, sources said.
Until November, new players who sign up online will not need to buy the disc to play the game.
The Redwood City, Calif.-based game publisher last week said a complex online sign-up procedure and waits of as long as 30 minutes to download software have discouraged subscribers. A disc eliminates the need to download applications, but players still must go on the Internet to play.
Although Majestic is “not a runaway success,” EA plans to make more episodes for release next year, said Stan McKee, EA’s chief financial officer.
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