That is generally a game engine problem more than anything, although I do hate how Steam tends to force updates. Some game engines just cram everything into some overly large files, which means the whole damn thing has to be redownloaded if part of it changes (especially in cases where it changes the entire structure of the file).

As to the the arguments of this limited time freebie being either an abomination or a divine gesture from EA, I am rather neutral about it and don't see it as either.

It is somewhat like Netflix offering a free month to use their service. I don't go either "Booo Netflix!" or "Wow! How nice of them, how come Netflix is acting so nicely towards humanity? Give them a Nobel prize.".

With unlimited time freebies, I'm more ready to praise said companies for it, even if they still are merely marketing moves too.

Could praise Blizzard for making WoW free! (up to 20th level). Course they've had week or month free promos too to get you into it and started....

I don't like getting tempted when someone sugar coats something. If they really wanted to get some attention they might make it completely free and DRM free too... You might need an account to download the game, but then when they see they got you in due to a free game that might be high quality perhaps you are more inclined to stay around and buy because of the awesome game...

Not be nice because you're new or something... This commercial sorta says how i feel... although i don't endorse it :P

:D

That was just... mean. I hope they either gave the first kid also a real pony, or shot the real pony, just so that the kid wouldn't feel bad.

But this is the way businesses act. "Let's give them a really sweet deal to entice them in...". Had DirectTV for a while, no specials or real bonuses. I quit, and suddenly i keep getting mail of 'we miss you! Get special deals to come back!'; Yet if i stayed with them they wouldn't have given me diddly squat extra for being a loyal customer...