EA is trying to be less evil

DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">and apologizes for killing Origin, Bullfrog, Westwood...</div><a href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/850/850837p1.html" target="_blank">http://pc.ign.com/articles/850/850837p1.html</a>

basically, the CEO of EA flat-out says EA blew it by killing a lot of really awesome developers, and says that they're switching to a bottom-up approach to game development instead of the top-down one they had been using. basically, they're going to try to let the developers they own operate by themselves, rather than the corporation micromanaging them into the ground. We'll see what happens.
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Comments

  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    ... can they actually resist that temptation... It's been their MO for so long.
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  • BlooBloo Village Fool of UWF Join Date: 2006-11-09 Member: 58497Members
    Basically what EA does, is spew out great game but only patch them for a couple of months. So they die imbalanced and painfull. Just look at Command & Conquer 3. It's a great game, but has few players, why? Because EA is going to stop patching in a few months anyway, so why bother playing a game made by a company who's administrators are clearly drugged by their massive income and most likely want to spend those money on expensive actors instead of future patches and championships.

    Also, they killed westwood.

    <img src="http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/9a/200px-Westwoodgreen.PNG" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    Just look at that delicious 3d rendered logo. Yeees, feel it! FEEL IT!
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  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I'll never forgive them for killing Bullfrog.
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    I don't buy it for a second. I like how his "vision" of the future of video games happens to be only large companies, such as EA, being competitive. Yeah, bull. With online distribution becoming as big as it is, releasing small games created by 5-10 people is quite realistic. EA is a company stupidly holding onto the past, they need to get over themselves. Once the console game industry really gets into online distribution it's over.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited February 2008
    Uwe will show them that this vision is... so far on the wrong side it's actually trying to speed away in a lightspeed powered transport away from correct <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    Also don't they know about the modding community, I mean they did get DICE to develop BF2. Weren't they once a small mod team for DC? Or do I have my facts mixed up?

    Besides, blue-ray. Heh sure, they do know about the wii and Xbox completly dominating this new technology called blue-ray and PS3? It's not quality* that make games great its quantity**

    <!--quoteo(post=1670174:date=Feb 11 2008, 07:35 PM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Align @ Feb 11 2008, 07:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670174"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'll never forgive them for killing Bullfrog.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    QFT, there is no appology or new vision good enough for that!

    * flashy graphics and GB-hogging high res crap for a game without decent content
    ** content and modability
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    I still hate EA.

    In 5 years UWE will probably be part of EA <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    (Note: That second statement <b>is</b> sarcasm)
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    edited February 2008
    They pretty much single-handedly ploughed the British games industry into an early grave.

    This smells suspiciously PR-stuntish, although perhaps that's just a symptom of the contempt they have earnt over the years speaking. I'll give this a read later at work.

    [Edit] Oh, no, wait it's not.

    "In many ways these companies took over electronic arts and used EA as a platform for their success. Instead of enslaving them we empowered them".

    Is that in the same way New Colonials empowered Africans by whisking them off to a far away land, plentiful in bounty and opportunity? I'm with Shockeh, I'll need to see it to believe it.
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  • SkyrageSkyrage Join Date: 2003-08-27 Member: 20249Members
    Well, big companies will crash and burn eventually. More and more people are turning to indie developers since that's where the quality lies.

    Heck, look at Taleworlds (Mount & Blade) or bay12games (Dwarf Fortress). These games just keep growing in popularity to the point where they can actually become small businesses that produce quality games and they are far from the only indie developers out there.
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  • CoolCookieCooksCoolCookieCooks Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
    cmooon new populous.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1670195:date=Feb 11 2008, 11:56 PM:name=CoolCookieCooks)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CoolCookieCooks @ Feb 11 2008, 11:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670195"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cmooon new populous.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    and Dungeon keeper!
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  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670196:date=Feb 11 2008, 06:00 PM:name=Kouji_San)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kouji_San @ Feb 11 2008, 06:00 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670196"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--QuoteBegin-CoolCookieCooks @ Feb 11 2008+ 11:56 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CoolCookieCooks @ Feb 11 2008 @ 11:56 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    cmooon new populous.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    and Dungeon keeper!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    And Theme Hospital!
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    and Syndicate =p
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670171:date=Feb 11 2008, 12:20 PM:name=Bloo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bloo @ Feb 11 2008, 12:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670171"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Basically what EA does, is spew out great game but only patch them for a couple of months. So they die imbalanced and painfull. Just look at Command & Conquer 3. It's a great game, but has few players, why? Because EA is going to stop patching in a few months anyway, so why bother playing a game made by a company who's administrators are clearly drugged by their massive income and most likely want to spend those money on expensive actors instead of future patches and championships.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Could you give me an example of a big name publisher that DOES keep patching regularly after a few months?
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->More and more people are turning to indie developers since that's where the quality lies.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The quality lies in indie games because without the backing of a mac truck full of money developers are forced to market their game on how good a game it is, instead of how flashy its graphics are, how popular its predecessor was, and hype.
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1670229:date=Feb 12 2008, 05:27 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Feb 12 2008, 05:27 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670229"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Could you give me an example of a big name publisher that DOES keep patching regularly after a few months?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Valve

    Yep, they are their own publisher now <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
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  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I'm with Crispy here. It sounds distinctly PR Stuntesque, but I'm self aware that that may be because I'm prone to tainting my own view with past experiences with the big E of A.

    *Shrug* It's easy to talk, let's see some actual results, and then I might change my mind, but right now, their name is still synonymous with everything bad about the industry, in my opinion.

    - Shockwave
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  • ZupiCoZupiCo Custom titles rule&#33; Join Date: 2003-03-22 Member: 14792Members
    Well, I'll tell you one thing, they didn't make this decision just to be nice, they made it because they calculated it would earn them money. That's the way business is.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1670229:date=Feb 12 2008, 04:27 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Feb 12 2008, 04:27 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670229"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Could you give me an example of a big name publisher that DOES keep patching regularly after a few months?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Blizzard.
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670262:date=Feb 12 2008, 07:06 AM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thaldarin @ Feb 12 2008, 07:06 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670262"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Blizzard.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Honestly, they are STILL releasing patches for Starcraft.

    I just hate so much about EA... so much. Like C&C Generals ZH. There was a game ruining bug that cropped up and basically raped online play over and over for MONTHS. It was a game breaker. Thankfully EA in their infinite wisdom, finally decided to take 5 minutes and "officially" release a patch. Note: They didn't write this patch, they just released a patch written by a third party group of modders which was freely available.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1670269:date=Feb 12 2008, 05:26 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Feb 12 2008, 05:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670269"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Honestly, they are STILL releasing patches for Starcraft.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Just shows the dedication to quality AND quantity.
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    Starcraft doesn't count. Starcraft has transcended the role of every-day video game and become a sport. Its SK's national pastime ffs.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    edited February 2008
    If you have been following the news for a while you would notice how EA is trying to rebrand their name. It seems like they're painfully aware of the negative connotations to them, maybe they even are trying to copy Valve's/Blizzard's style? However I'm first willing to give them a shred of credibility once they prove it beyond words.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Their style of what? Mock benevolence?
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Blizzard: Not a big name publisher, you dopes. They don't even publish anything other than their own games.

    Valve: Regular patches? Excuse me? When's the last time they updated Day of Defeat: Source? That thing has like 6 maps. And they promised more later. Which is true, they added like one.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Where are the new maps for TF2? (No, ctf_well doesn't count.)
    And where are the medic achievements?
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  • HazeHaze O RLY? Join Date: 2003-07-07 Member: 18018Members, Constellation
    They're working on L4D.

    Because DoD:S and TF2 are fine right now.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670313:date=Feb 12 2008, 05:26 PM:name=Haze)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Haze @ Feb 12 2008, 05:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670313"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->They're working on L4D.

    Because DoD:S and TF2 are fine right now.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    L4D is Turtle Rock. Valve is just the publisher. And DoD:S is fine, if by fine you mean unchanged from when it was fine years and years ago. It's not getting <i>worse</i>, but they promised they'd make it better, and I think most people assumed that this didn't mean "add one new bit of stuff then leave it alone for the rest of eternity."
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670304:date=Feb 12 2008, 11:45 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Feb 12 2008, 11:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670304"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Blizzard: Not a big name publisher, you dopes. They don't even publish anything other than their own games.

    Valve: Regular patches? Excuse me? When's the last time they updated Day of Defeat: Source? That thing has like 6 maps. And they promised more later. Which is true, they added like one.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Who mentioned publishers? EA owns several game studios. What I was talking about it's the pro gamers attitude that is prevailing at both Valve and Blizzard, their attention to quality and love of games. Words of mouth plays a huge role in a game's success and maybe finally EA starts to notice it in their sales.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1670321:date=Feb 12 2008, 06:42 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Feb 12 2008, 06:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670321"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Who mentioned publishers? EA owns several game studios. What I was talking about it's the pro gamers attitude that is prevailing at both Valve and Blizzard, their attention to quality and love of games. Words of mouth plays a huge role in a game's success and maybe finally EA starts to notice it in their sales.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I wasn't even talking to you.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    edited February 2008
    <!--quoteo(post=1670304:date=Feb 12 2008, 05:45 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Feb 12 2008, 05:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1670304"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Blizzard: Not a big name publisher, you dopes. They don't even publish anything other than their own games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ok, how about Vivendi Games? they sure patch a lot of their games regularly, like Starcraft and World of Warcraft.
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