EA: "We're Boring People To Death"

[BoyBach]

EA Chief Cites Need For More Innovative Games

Electronic Arts Inc. became the world's biggest maker of videogames by relying on a formula now widespread in the industry: pumping out sequels of familiar game franchises, like Madden football, that consumers bought almost on cue. Now, its new chief executive says EA and other game makers must change their ways or risk losing audiences to more compelling forms of entertainment.

In his first in-depth comments since taking the job in April, John Riccitiello says he worries that the Redwood City, Calif., company and others in the industry make too many games that lack innovation. He says EA and others need both to push more aggressively beyond traditional audiences to court "casual" consumers and to experiment more with new sales approaches -- outside the norm of selling $50 to $60 discs with 40-hour games that he says few players ever finish.

"We're boring people to death and making games that are harder and harder to play," Mr. Riccitiello said in an interview.

...

"For the most part, the industry has been rinse-and-repeat," he says. "There's been lots of product that looked like last year's product, that looked a lot like the year before."

Wall Street Journal Link


It could almost be mistaken Iwata-san's call to arms from several years ago.

Despite the urge to say "I told you so" or "Kettle meet pot", this attitude at the top of the worlds biggest publisher can only be good news.

 

[thegreatunknown]

well it took EA many years to figure it out but hey, at least they did. Wonder if they will actually change anything though?

 

[0098386]

First step is admitting they have a problem. 2nd step is realising their best game in recent years was SSX Blur, but that they should remove the "radio" people.

 

[zero2dash]

EA is good for two things:

1) Buying the rights to publish titles that other companies create, adding in some of their own EA BS (Burnout, TimeSplitters)

2) Releasing the same sports titles year after year with nothing but roster updates, for full retail price

EA is one of the many cancers of the video game industry.
The need to look in the mirror before saying "we all need to change".

No, YOU need to change. Not everyone else out there is screwing the industry up like YOU are, EA.

Your next-gen console releases have been short on features and more expensive thus far. Quit with the "get quick rich" schemes and start putting some f'n effort into it. When you release games on the 360 and Ps3 with less stadiums or modes of play than the Ps2 version, then you've got a problem.

 

[BoyBach]

I don't think we can be overly harsh towards EA about the yearly updates. (No, really.)

I would argue that recently Ubisoft have claimed EA's crown as the leaders of the yearly update.

(The sequel to Tom Clancy's EndWar has already been unofficially confirmed before the first game has been let loose to journo's for a playtest. Bonkers!)

 

[Sky Blue]

this attitude at the top of the worlds biggest publisher can only be good news.

No it can't.

This:

"making games that are harder and harder to play"

and this scare me

 

[ctango]

I used to like the Halo style games, but found that they were to single minded after playing them for a while. i have really started liking "Battlestations: Midway" for the xBox 360. It gives you tactical control and first person attack control. I also feel that "The Outfit" falls into something similar. First person attack, but you have to call in support and auxiliary weapons to fortify your position.

Both games are fun because they add an extra element to the first person shooter games. They aren't the final answer, but I feel they are a step in the right direction.

 

[nplima]

I'd reply to this thread but I'm too busy playing Desktop Tower Defense

http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/game.asp

(it's damn addictive)

 

[gkarris]

I used to like the Halo style games, but found that they were to single minded after playing them for a while. i have really started liking "Battlestations: Midway" for the xBox 360. It gives you tactical control and first person attack control. I also feel that "The Outfit" falls into something similar. First person attack, but you have to call in support and auxiliary weapons to fortify your position.

Both games are fun because they add an extra element to the first person shooter games. They aren't the final answer, but I feel they are a step in the right direction.

Thanks for the Battlestations: Midway info. I was thinking of picking it up...