EA: "We want to make quality games"
EA has recently tried to freshen things up with new and innovative games like Mirror's Edge and Dead Space.
That said, he does admit that the company need to make a profit too - but he doesn't believe there needs to be a distinction between profit and quality.
"Some of my greatest beliefs regarding gaming are that our art form is today - or certainly has the potential - to be recognised as the peer of the best of Hollywood movies. I want to help others see that." said Riccitiello in an interview with the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.
"I also believe that there is no inherent conflict between great creativity and achieving strong profitability - I believe they go hand in hand. More than trying to work on my legacy, I want to work to prove both of these points are true and see a day when these ideas are seen as common knowledge."
In the last year or so Riccitiello has tried to lead the publisher away from repetitive sports titles and more towards unique, fresh IPs like Dead Space, Spore and Mirror's Edge. The company has also been moving closer to digital releases over systems like Steam - albeit slowly and currently only in some territories.
What do you think of EA's progress lately? Are they still the evil big brother of the industry, shattering everything with a money-fist, or are they getting better? Let us know what you think in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums Replyreally enjoyed both of those.
Please make Need For Speed rather special again. Y'know, like how it used to be.
with exotic supercars and exotic tracks? Count me in. I spent hours and hours playing NFS 2SE!
I would suggest a bit of both at the moment. They are still doing a lot wrong (DRM anyone?) but there does seem to be an attempt to get some right as well, like ME and DS which were both innovative and good games, so fair play to them for that.
The original is the best :p
Still we all know the sports titles will still be a yearly update, despite that most of the upgrades could be done in a patch.
Meanwhile Activision are following EA's old route. Fresh IP? Pfft... they want something that sells well and will continue to do so year after year, no matter how much quality drops.
And they are getting better, still loads to do though
Not a chance. Most Wanted is the king! Admittedly, it's not an ancient game, being just over 3 years old, but the quality since then has tumbled ever downwards. Carbon, Pro Street then Undercover seem to actively be an attempt to kill off the series.
Well, I say no! It cannot be allowed!
Update the graphics, yes!
Better sounds/music, indeed!
But at least make the damn thing playable! I'd like to feel as if I'm in control of a car, not a tugboat in a force ten hurricane!
I'm still scarred from what EA/Dice did to BF2 after numerous patches / nerfs to please the whingers.
With the announcement of BF3 http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/946/946441p1.html I hope they learn from past mistakes!
Stop dumbing games down for a console audience.
Stop doing crappy ports.
Stop doing timed exclusives.
Stop using SecuROM and start using Steam exclusively.
Ditch your 'EA Downloader' crapware, your affiliation with GameSpy because it sucks, and your EA Store. Steam, Steam, Steam.
Quoted for the Truth.
The EA Downloader: When I won a download of Crysis, was painful to use. It would, when downloading, make my whole system stutter. As soon as the program was exited, everything was normal. Very strange.
Crappy ports: Having to turn off v-sync in Dead Space to stop the mouse delay. NFS Undercover playing like tripe, gfx not updated.
4 hour games: Perhaps lasted marginally longer, but Spore for one.
Using Steam: Agree. Very little can touch it. Valve seem to have it sussed.
Mirror's Edge was a good first go, I hope they won't abandon their new found sense for quality too quickly.
silly children, Porsche Unleased.
End.
gluck EA.
ain't gonna happen. u can count on that.
why? coz thats where the money is.
I just hope they go back to 1942 was far more skillful inpaticular with the artillery units god I loved that game.
I played a demo of that on the PS and thought it was a bit pants tbh.
error revealed.
It just goes to show how good they were/still are at porting then.
The PC version gained awards and decent reviews and the PS version was mostly naff. Hey-ho.
I liked mirrors edge (pity it didn't do so well) and dead space. For me it was a refreshing break from the endless sequels and generic FPS games.
As for need for speed. They better do something quick. pro street was balls, and undercover was a poor attempt to copy the glory of most wanted....sigh....those were the days.
And if they could do a worthy Expension for Spore / and that mirrior edge II will be good I'm in
they are confirmation for even probabely a Dead space II SO I wonder when it out and if they continue that way
i'm likely to play there game : EA Games made about only 10 game that impressed me a little
And that Because They Taken Westwood a part of it
Then may I suggest you plough your money into good scriptwriters and maybe an author or two for plot lines (Original Half Life anyone?) instead of seeing how many half naked girls you can squeeze into your game to get hormonally challenged teenagers interested?
EA actually have some really good writers on board, like Rhianna Pratchett. I don't immediately recall any naked girls in any recent EA games...?
EA is a publisher, which means they pay the people who make the games in order for the right to sell it. The developer gets a lump sum and maybe a royalty or two, while the publisher keeps the profit. Developers can self publish of course, but then they run more risk and need more funds, etc.
EA however also owns a number of studios and has some internal studios. Take Left4Dead for example - EA published it in retail, but it was developed by Valve. Since Valve isn't owned by EA in anyway, EA don't get any credit for Left4Dead.
Mirror's Edge, Spore and Dead Space on the other hand were all made by internal dev teams or studios that EA owns - like Dice and Maxis. EA both developed them and published them, so they as company get the credit.
EA only used to make games like FIFA '07, '08, '09, etc - but are now trying to move away from that image.
Nuff said.