People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

[Hootiefish]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

My gawd! Is it that bad? You mean to tell me that instead of simply improving a game they'd rather just phase out all the negative press? I know you're into marketing so please tell me a company wouldn't stoop so low.

Sometimes it is easier and more cost efficient to limit the negative press rather than improve upon a product.

Shoot, in the newspaper industry I run into it all of the time in dealings with area politicians and public personas.

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

EA has passed... hell they've lapped the competition in terms of name recognition. They've created the greatest PR network in the industry barnone... and for the most part they've done it on the backs of fanboys that can be bought for an early release... or through the mega-sites that are cheaper to get a year of advertising from then actually employing a full-sized marketing department.

Look at the Madden release. The industry media allowed EA's answer to the Hall of Famers in the Franchise Mode to be... "Ummm... yea... we meant to do that." Then all the "Ambassadors" jumped on the sites that tried to report the issues as irresponsible haters.

The thing is... I don't blame the Devs... I think they have a bunch of great teams at EA. But, I think even they get handcuffed by the Mega-Company. This isn't Trip Hawkin's EA. It's not run by gamers anymore. It's run by business people.

Yea, its pretty sad. So I guess only a small handful of ppl are able to recognize the deception that goes on at that company. I cant for the life of me firgure out why long time gamers haven't peeped this already. I wouldn't neccessarily call myself a hardcore gamer but I spotted EAs shadey tactics back in 2001. I for one cant even fathom a company going to such great measures to make sure their bottom line increases. Well...... they did just completely drop a scud missle on the industry when they bought off every single football league on the planet. I shouldn't really be suprised.

[LIGHTNING]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

The bottomline is IF... IF reviews and things of that nature actually begin to have an effect on EA... all they will do is continue to make effort to further control the press that they receive. Things like their "Community Ambassador" program will continue to grow. Only sites with "Madden", "NFS" or "Live" will be invited to media events, be granted interviews, or receive early builds or betas.

It won't hurt EA. It will hurt outlets on the net (like OS) that attempt to present an unbiased look at the industry.

If it has an effect on sales it will hurt them because if they even slightly miss earnings expectations it will likely have a drastic impact on the stock price and that is what the managemet at EA is most concerned with. It is not really about earnings or even good earnings growth but reported earnings relative to Wall Street earnings expectations. There have been companies like IBM and Computer Associates that had great sales and earnings growth for years, but the management got complacent and then the earnings were below expectations and the stock got clobbered. If you follow Wall Street, often there are companys that report earnings that are only few cents below expecatations and sometimes the stock instantly gaps down 20 to 40 percent at the open especially if the stock valuation is high. EA stock ERTS is very expensive at 5 times sales and vulnerable to a potentail large percentage decline in the stock price if they do not meet earnings and sales growth expectations.

[pk500]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

My gawd! Is it that bad? You mean to tell me that instead of simply improving a game they'd rather just phase out all the negative press? I know you're into marketing so please tell me a company wouldn't stoop so low.

EA would, just like any company that dominates its industry. It fights to protect its lead, and repeated bad press is a threat to that dominance. Ruling firms like EA have the leverage to threaten, rather than just practice basic PR.

EA's PR department can work like the Mob, if it wants to. It can threaten to "kneecap" the mainstream gaming sites through restricting access, cutting off exclusives and stemming the flow of ads, and the mega-sites will beg for forgiveness just like some mole about to face a Mob whack.

Take care,
PK

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

If it has an effect on sales it will hurt them because if they even slightly miss earnings expectations it will likely have a drastic impact on the stock price and that is what the managemet at EA is most concerned with. It is not really about earnings or even good earnings growth but reported earnings relative to Wall Street earnings expectations. There have been companies like IBM and Computer Associates that had great sales and earnings growth for years, but the management got complacent and then the earnings were below expectations and the stock got clobbered. If you follow Wall Street, often there are companys that report earnings that are only few cents below expecatations and sometimes the stock instantly gaps down 20 to 40 percent at the open especially if the stock valuation is high. EA stock ERTS is very expensive at 5 times sales and vulnerable to a potentail large percentage decline in the stock price if they do not meet earnings and sales growth expectations.

Am I the only one that did'nt understand any of this?


Just joking with ya Lightning but seriously, you completely lost me.

[ODogg]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

Yea, its pretty sad. So I guess only a small handful of ppl are able to recognize the deception that goes on at that company. I cant for the life of me firgure out why long time gamers haven't peeped this already.

If more than a small people hadn't figure it out then competitors products such as NBA2K7 wouldn't be selling so well.

[DaveDQ]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

In the past we all (here at OS) have known that the average person that bought an EA title didn't know much about what a game should and shouldn't be doing. What they care about is, "Cool, I'm flying Superman through a city, I'm playing golf with Tiger Woods, etc."

I do believe that while it's not mainstream, many casuals gamers are becoming bored and unimpressed with many titles brought down the pipe by EA. An example of this is NBA Live 07. I'm not even sure how it's doing in sales (compared to 2k7), but I bet this time next year, the 2K series has better ground than Live.

In EA you have a company that is just like other companies in ther goals, make money. They want to be the market leader, just like MS, Sony and Nintendo. The problem is they no longer lead by quality but by quantity.

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

In the past we all (here at OS) have known that the average person that bought an EA title didn't know much about what a game should and shouldn't be doing. What they care about is, "Cool, I'm flying Superman through a city, I'm playing golf with Tiger Woods, etc."

I do believe that while it's not mainstream, many casuals gamers are becoming bored and unimpressed with many titles brought down the pipe by EA. An example of this is NBA Live 07. I'm not even sure how it's doing in sales (compared to 2k7), but I bet this time next year, the 2K series has better ground than Live.

In EA you have a company that is just like other companies in ther goals, make money. They want to be the market leader, just like MS, Sony and Nintendo. The problem is they no longer lead by quality but by quantity.

This wont happen cause EA will buy the NBA come next year. Graphik's cystal ball has spoken.

[23]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

EA doesn't have anymore power than we give them. No money, no EA simple as that. Until people stop accepting garbage for 60 bucks they'll keep screwing people over because they dont have to do anything different.

[Jistic]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

What EA titles has everyone bought in 2006?

I bought and still play NCAA 2K7
Bought and sold Madden 2K7
Bought and sold NCAA Baseball.

That's it. for me.

Next year I will buy NCAA football, and prolly baseball if it looks good. But I don't miss Madden at all, so I'm passing.

[MassNole]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

Since the 360 came out I have only purchased Madden 2006 and NCAA 2007 from EA. From 2k I have purchased NBA 2k6 & 2k7, CH 2k6 & 2k7, and NHL 2k6. I have Madden 2007 on my extended Christmas list.

[Artman22]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

EA doesn't have anymore power than we give them. No money, no EA simple as that. Until people stop accepting garbage for 60 bucks they'll keep screwing people over because they dont have to do anything different.

Easier said then done. Think about it. We who come here are true gamers and were also smart enough to see this but what about the millions outside who every year buy that POS?? Honestly speaking even if every single person on OS does not buy madden. It really wont affect them at all cause theres millions buying it. I think all other companys need to step it up and people will soon realize that EA is an inferior product. Just like 2k kills live.. They need to step it up in every single game and continue giving people quality products. Hopefully people will see the light..

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

What EA titles has everyone bought in 2006?

I bought and still play NCAA 2K7
Bought and sold Madden 2K7
Bought and sold NCAA Baseball.

That's it. for me.

Next year I will buy NCAA football, and prolly baseball if it looks good. But I don't miss Madden at all, so I'm passing.

2 games. Fight Night and Madden. I only bought Madden so I can have some credibility when I continue on my anti-EA mission come next year. All within the rules of the TOS of course.

[PlayaHataSupreme]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

What EA titles has everyone bought in 2006?

For me, MVP 06 (the lady bought that for me), NCAA 07 CG, Madden 07 CG, and Tiger 07 360.

It is a slight decline for me compared to the 2K3 calendar year (Madden 04, NASCAR, Tiger 04, NHL 04, Live 04, MVP 03)

For 07, that number may go down to 3, including EA Sports Big and regular EA titles.

[Longshot719]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

How can you say that ea is not good I would say its the best game making company out there.