EA sells Tiger Woods cheats on XBL

Marketplace offerings let gamers instantly open up all courses, golfers, pro shop items, for a price.

The Xbox 360 has been out for almost a year, and publishers are still experimenting to find the best way to make money and serve their customers with downloadable content for games. The latest approach comes from Electronic Arts, which has released a handful of downloadable add-ons for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 on the Xbox Live Marketplace today.

What makes some of these add-ons unusual is that they merely give players instant access to things they would normally have to unlock in the course of normal play. So gamers can download the Unlock Golfer and Unlock Courses add-ons for 200 points ($2.50) each and open up all the hidden golfers and courses in the game without ever having to set foot on the virtual fairways.

Players wanting to take a shortcut to greatness can also shell out 200 points for the Maxed-Out Player add-on, which will set their created golfers' stats to 110 percent across the board. Finally, the more expensive Pro Shop add-on (300 points, or $3.75) will unlock all of the pro shop gear for the player's use.

Not all of the Tiger Woods add-ons being offered can be earned by actually playing the game, however. The Sunday Tiger download (240 points, or $3) is exclusive to the Marketplace, and allows players to hit the links as Woods in his trademark tournament-ending red shirt.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the Xbox 360 is scheduled to release later this week. It is rated E for Everyone and will retail for $59.99.

224 Comments

  • silentchuck

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:18 pm PT

    Yet another reason for me to not play online. Not only does everyone else play more and level up their character, now they can do so in an instant.

  • rykaziel

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:20 pm PT

    That's really stupid. Why even play the game then.

  • magus704

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    And just when you think the EA Madden marketplace strategy was a dumb move...

  • Basez2

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:25 pm PT

    Paying for cheats is a complete waste of money when you can just unlock the content yourself just by playing the game.

  • slayerver1

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:25 pm PT

    Marketplace should be only downloadable content (maps, weapons), etc.) XBLA games, demos, trailers, and movie videos - not strategy videos and cheat codes for MS points. I don't know what EA is smoking anyway with expensive prices for their stuff now. Don't tell me that NFSC will have downloadable cars for five bucks.

  • nosferatu

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    Kind of an ingenious way to make money if you ask me. EA knows that, at least with most of their sports games, their core market is the casual gamer who doesn't spend a ton of time trying to unlock everything, etc. They just want to play a round of golf real quick. Why not offer them a way, at a cost nonetheless, that they don't have to go through the things they don't want in order to get what they do.
    Wanna work for it? Go ahead. Want to jump in at the max level? Essentially pay someone else to do it for you.

  • ConManWithGun

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:32 pm PT

    thats preaty smart
    i wonder if they give you an achievement if you do it manually

  • Kira-Shinobi

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:33 pm PT

    I wonder if cheats will be downloaded on the Wii as well.

  • Pablo620

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:33 pm PT

    This is the KIND OF CRAP that we the consumers need to prevent. Slayerver 1 says it best. See his post below

  • JDO

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    nosferatu your correct and that's exactly what EA is going for, the casual gamer that doesn't want to put in the time to unlock all of the things they need to play on-line with thier friends. I might buy the Sunday Tiger download because I'd like to get that also, but everything else I'll play for.

  • FoxHoundADAM

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    It is funny that Xbox says they wish to remove all cheting from the Live experience. But hey if EA is paying us we'll let you cheat.

  • blueflamedino

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:35 pm PT

    Why cheat? And you probably can buy a gameshark for twice the price ($7.00, $20 at most), but you could use it on every other game with a good source of codes. But half the fun is playing it. If its a chore, why play it.

  • wii60_gamer

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:37 pm PT

    freaken ea crap

  • dhjohns

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:38 pm PT

    This is weak. Appreciate the try, I guess, but come on EA you can do better!!

  • smiley17O

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:40 pm PT

    ea sucks

  • jonkirst

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    BOOOO!!!

  • chromium42

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:42 pm PT

    L A M E!!!!

  • Cpt_Apollo

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    Awesome, more EA backlash

  • blacktorn

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    This is one of the stupidest ideas ea have come up with(and lets face it,there's alot).I guess there is some appeal here to casual gamers who just want to get the new stuff,without working for it,but come on EA!This is below stupid!

  • strick25

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    F OFF ea, YOU SUCK, BOOOOO!!!

  • Moondogg1982

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:45 pm PT

    wow, that's super lame

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:45 pm PT

    I'm torn on this. Aside from the Sunday Tiger t-shirt item, everything else is just a shortcut to unlocking everything. While I think it's cheesy that some folks would pay to unlock courses and skills, I can also understand it. When I play Links 2004 I use the course unlock cheat so I can play my buddy on any course I want. I'd rather do that then play the entire career mode because the game is more fun in multiplayer. Paying for it is kinda lame, but if people are willing to shell out the points then more power to 'em.

    Bottom line: if you don't like the content, don't buy it. Pretty pointless to complain about something that doesn't affect you.

  • kruegersc4

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    How could they encourage cheating?

  • tarred

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    Anyone who pays for this crap should be shot. You could call EA crap (and I would agree) but the real dumb asses in this case are the ones who would pay for this. Laughable...

  • SpaceMatt

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    Wait, let me see if I read this right. The Sunday Tiger download lets you play as Tiger Woods wearing a red shirt. So you spend $3.00 for a red shirt for Tiger Woods? Jeez, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a real shirt for $3.

    Ripppp Offffff

  • xxPantherxx

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    this is stupid

  • richmini9_basic

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    How does EA suck? Let me count the ways......

  • gamindude_basic

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    I can't believe what i just read.

  • moocow21

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    OMG.. I used to wonder why people hate EA, now I fully understand.

  • bornofash

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:50 pm PT

    Corporate-whorism strikes again. Thanks EA for taking the challenge of gaming.

  • teddybone2

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:50 pm PT

    WTF????

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:51 pm PT

    I wonder if there's a code to get your money back once you figured out that unlocking it is as easy as going to www.gamefaqs.com just wondering.

  • Bladex2k

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:52 pm PT

    you dont have to buy it unless you want it EA is just trying something new. for the rich players that just wants points just buy it online.

  • oxrs

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:52 pm PT

    Give us more money and you don't even have to play the game you just bought from us! Hooray!

  • chessasaur

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    It's BS like this that is keeping me from joining the "next generation" of gaming. I don't want all this online micro-transaction crap! All I want out of a game system is to put in a disc, sit back and play. I already payed the money for the game and I don't want to be tempted to spend more - or worse have something on the disc THAT I ALREADY BOUGHT be blocked from me because I need to have it "unlocked" for more money. I'm happily sticking with my Xbox/PS2/Cube/DS.

  • dchan01

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    I don't completely see this as a negative. Guys like me sometimes don't have endless hours to play to unlock every single course.

  • FrankieLA

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    okay..so one person should buy it and post it on GameFaqs and we should be all good in the hood

  • copilotsteve

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:55 pm PT

    BS

  • rgsniper1

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:55 pm PT

    EA oh EA, what are you doing? I don't like you to begin with, but really you're going even lower than I thought possible. Well thanks for the affirmation.

  • McMurmur

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    ohhhhh, so THIS is why people hate EA.

  • strick25

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    suk it ea, thier losing my $60+ over this, I'll buy something else from now on.

  • skylerpwns

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    "okay..so one person should buy it and post it on GameFaqs and we should be all good in the hood"

    Post what on GameFaqs? It's not a cheat code, you are paying to unlock things that you would normally have to work for.

  • Nforspeed

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:58 pm PT

    man now there selling cheats wtf? come on for years now you just go to any game ite and get them free.

  • SilverArrows

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 1:59 pm PT

    I'm not buying anything made by EA anymore ..... cause honestly, this is just retarded.

  • hagame

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    Quote: "FrankieLA
    okay..so one person should buy it and post it on GameFaqs and we should be all good in the hood "

    It's not going to be that easy FrankieLA. What you will pay for will unlock that cheat in a cheat menu. You will not be buying the code or button combo to unlock it.

    It's companies like EA that are ruining the video game industry. Buying up companies to just close them down, obtaining every license by outbidding anyone, Secret deals with license partners specifically designed to remove all competition. Soon, there will only be a few 3rd party developers, they will be the giant companies that no small developer could ever compete with and games will be canned and predictable thanks to big business.

  • Nforspeed

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    there is no ponit in buying the game then b/c if you haev ever thing why play?

  • ashuncc2

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    Ok, they are selling content that is already on the disc.....wow! Talk about exploiting the XBL Marketplace!

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    This is a great business model. Almost all of these things are already found in the game. If you do not have the time to unlock everything, you can purchase what you want (extra courses, golfers, equipment). If you want to unlock everything the old-fashioned way, then that option is there for you. This is great, and I'd like to see more things like this on Live Marketplace. It's not like EA is putting content up for sale that should have been included in the game in the first place. This totally gives the gamers the coice between time or money.

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