Looks like EA has closed up shop on their "Platinum Service" idea which had players paying to use particular games online according to AVault.

As of December 7, the subscription service and its games Air Warrior, Silent Death Online, Triple Play Web Baseball, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Web Golf will no longer be available.

What is also interesting to note is that EA will be offering free multiplayer online gaming support (Like Blizzard does with Battle.net) for Need for Speed, NASCAR, and some Knockout Kings Web Boxing game.

It's a bit surprising that a company with as many big titles and as much money as EA wouldnt be able to pull off a subscription service for game players online. Considering it's the company publishing these titles who have direct control over the contents of the box and ability to directly market the service... But then again we've seen how many companies give up and fold doing this?

Then we've got the EverQuest, Asheron's Call, DAoC, etc out there having people pay $10 a month just to play one game online.... hrm...