# Junk phone calls from "The Sims Online" company? Has EA GAMES gone crazy?? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 24, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647 "2002-12-24T01:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/1 "2002-12-24T01:53:49Z")
So, I’ve got “The Sims Online”. Today I get a recorded phone message: \*This is the Sims Online help line. Press ‘1’ if want help with “The Sims Online”. Press ‘2’ if you want us to call back.\* **I’m getting junk phone calls from video game companies???** Is this a new gaming trend? THEY call ME? I’ve never called a gaming company in my life. And it isn’t just me. The message boards at the game site have reactions from other folks that aren’t pleased by this. Gee, EA never mentioned anything about asking my permission to be CALLED! ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/2 "2002-12-24T02:06:54Z")
Where did they get your number? ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/3 "2002-12-24T02:58:07Z")
The little Sims looked in her address book, and then told their masters all the details. I am afraid they know about “the pictures” too. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/4 "2002-12-24T06:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marine\_One \* > \*\*And it isn’t just me. The message boards at the game site have reactions from other folks that aren’t pleased by this. > Gee, EA never mentioned anything about asking my permission to be CALLED! \*\* I guess that EA didn’t learn that people don’t like to be called by stupid automated messages from their debacle with “Majestic,” a great idea gone horribly wrong. (Yes, I’m well aware that Majestic was a different sort off phone call). Leave it to EA to fuck up the best thing they have going. Woohoo. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/5 "2002-12-24T14:17:26Z")
When you register the game, they ask you for your phone number, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/6 "2002-12-24T14:55:47Z")
Duh. They asked for your phone number. You gave them it. What on earth did you think they were going to do with it??? Put it in their number phone collectors album? Many companies ask for your phone number. Some insist. Unless I can think of a genuine reason for them needing to urgently contact me they either get a blank or 0123456789. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/7 "2002-12-24T15:17:29Z")
I suggest you try to get in touch with a real live person the next time EA calls and then ask to be removed from their list. Good luck though. I find it weird that it is not a sales/advertising call but from their “Help Line”. Were you trying to get help while you were playing online? Is there a massive problem that needs to be fixed? Maybe they figured it might help to call all the registered users and tell them how to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/8 "2002-12-24T16:28:00Z")
:wally Yes, like a idiot I gave them my phone number during the registration so I’m a moron. You can bet I won’t do that again. On the positive side, the message boards admitted it was a mistake and EA is stopping the calls. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/9 "2002-12-24T18:26:17Z")
How does the live game look? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/10 "2002-12-24T18:28:17Z")
That people who play The Sims would object to responding to automated messages is ironic in the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/11 "2002-12-25T00:13:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\*I guess that EA didn’t learn that people don’t like to be called by stupid automated messages from their debacle with “Majestic,” a great idea gone horribly wrong. (Yes, I’m well aware that Majestic was a different sort off phone call). > > Leave it to EA to fuck up the best thing they have going. Woohoo. 😕 \*\* What was Majestic? How is Majestic connected to phone calls? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/12 "2002-12-25T00:20:10Z")
Derleth, Majestic was a grand attempt at a interactive game. The game was set up to be as realistic as possible, to include the game CALLING YOUR PHONE and scaring the bejesus out of you, faxing you, e-mailing you, and instant messaging you. It had the standard share of mini-puzzles for you to figure out as well. The thing that doomed it, though, IMHO, was that it was real-time based. If, for instance, you were waiting on a non-player character to make an 8 hour drive to do something, you had to actually WAIT those 8 hours. Gamers, impatient to progress, couldn’t stand being made to wait. Some instances took up to two days. It was a fantastic concept, but sadly it failed. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/13 "2002-12-25T00:46:23Z")
I had dinner with an EA designer on Monday night. Next time I see him, I’ll mention your beef to him. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/14 "2002-12-25T01:59:59Z")
You mean you didn’t get someone talking like a Sim? Then this thing is real stupid!!! ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/15 "2002-12-25T03:59:38Z")
I’m still not convinced this game is going to catch on. I’m willing to bet a vast amount of people that made the Sims such a hit are also not willing to spend $10 a month on a game. Heck, even I consider myself a pretty hardcore gamer but would be very hard-pressed to plunk down $50 for a game and then $10 a month to play it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/16 "2002-12-25T05:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*I’m still not convinced this game is going to catch on. I’m willing to bet a vast amount of people that made the Sims such a hit are also not willing to spend $10 a month on a game. Heck, even I consider myself a pretty hardcore gamer but would be very hard-pressed to plunk down $50 for a game and then $10 a month to play it. \*\* Even on the sims boards more die-hard fans than not have been claiming since the game was announced that they won’t be wasting their money on it. I sure won’t be buying it, I’d rather get The Sims for PS2 and Simcity4000; I don’t like chat rooms that much, and the other games only have a one-time cost. I haven’t read anything posted by beta testers that makes me wonder if I’m wrong about its lack of fun, either. As evil as I am, I hope they don’t make nearly what they think they will on SOL and put their energy into a Sims 2 game instead. The fact that they haven’t mentioned (in interviews) anything about the Sims 2 being in development for about a year pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/17 "2002-12-25T08:54:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Cynical \* > **The thing that doomed it, though, IMHO, was that it was real-time based. If, for instance, you were waiting on a non-player character to make an 8 hour drive to do something, you had to actually WAIT those 8 hours.** There were many, many other problems with Majestic. That was just the one that was instantly apparent. Some of the others were much more annoying in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/18 "2002-12-25T15:48:38Z")
I dunno. I can think of a great many message board addict types who would adore The Sims Online. And no, I don’t mean “present company”. I’m thinking about the hordes of Everquest junkies who merrily hack and slay their way online for months on end. Lots of people are indifferent to that… but The Sims targets a whole different breed of gamer. Women, for one thing… my wife loves The Sims because it lets her rearrange furniture infinitely and rebuild houses again and again until she finally “gets it right”. One thing about which I am deathly curious, though: is it possible for two persons in geographically separate realworld locations to meet online in a Sims game… and then sneak off and have sex somewhere? This is a reality in the Sims game (so long as you have the Livin’ Large expansion), but can two people actually go have cybersex, so to speak? I foresee great possibilities in this game for chat room addicts and the suchlike… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/19 "2002-12-25T17:53:27Z")
Not to hijack this into Majestic, but there were three other concepts that doomed this game. First of all, it was web based. Almost nothing went on your computer and you had to spend your time online to complete the tasks. When I had the game, I had a dial-up. Playing this game meant tying up my phone line. It also meant slower connection speeds and any video streamed was disjointed and unrealistic. Second, it didn’t require AOL or fax machines or telephones or whatever, but if you didn’t have it, it diminished your experience playing. Third, when I got the game I didn’t realize they were ending it last April. That was a load of fun. Either finish it now or finish it never. Either way, you can’t play it past April. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647/20 "2002-12-25T19:32:26Z")
I thought 9/11 killed Majestic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-phone-calls-from-the-sims-online-company-has-ea-games-gone-crazy/144647.md?page=2)