People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

[luv_mist]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

As Bkfount said, EA follows its strategy of rehashes and sequels because us customers are stupid enough to engulf them like free beer at a keg party.

Example: FIFA continues to outsell Winning Eleven worldwide even though it's an inferior game. Why? Because people are stupid enough to buy it "because it's an EA game, so it must be good."

EA may not be a brilliant software company, but it's a brilliant marketing company. Every one of us lemmings who buy their sh*tware, year in and year out, prove that.

Take care,
PK

Was about to post that one when I was reading the ratings article. It's quite interesting when you see things like that. Doesn't make too much sense, but most things don't in this economy. It's almost like the same thing that occurs all over the world in other cultures. It's the complacency that many fall into not knowing that their "harmless" purchases add up to the slow degrading of this hobby we all love. I thought WE was doing big things by taking majority of the shares. Didn't know that Fifa was still that big. The size of EA is getting too massive, yet there isn't anything anyone can do really. They have the wrong type of guys up at the top. There needs to be some type of implosion from the developers and the little guys that matter where they get sick and start making their own companies. Of course, there are still some who think that EA is the greatest.......

[ODogg]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

EA's games are definitely getting worse because as has been said, they are too afraid to take chances. However maybe it's changing, I see FIFA has been mentioned but from what i've read the new FIFA on the 360 has a new physics and animation system that many will not like because it changes the game.

I wonder how that game has sold, if it's sold a lot less than past FIFA's then it's making a real case for EA to continue with the same ol' "play it safe" releases. However I think there is a middleground, the main thing is that people get tired of EA having features for a few years, getting used to them, then having those features go away. They need to quit dropping features and start adding more, alot more, even if it's small things. And each new release should see one fundamental "big" upgrade in some area, such as FIFA with the physics.

Also, the new NHL on the 360 is a good example of what EA needs to do to win people back, however despite innovating the genre and playing a very fun game of hockey it's missing alot of polish and "extras" that are found on their competitors game. EA needs to make more products like the new NHL but also, ensure they are adding the polish and not dropping features.

EA better step it up though across the board, because even though I'm an EA fan (not a fanboy thank you, just a fan of their games through the years) I am noticing more and more that I am buying more of their competitors games than EA games, and for EA that is a bad sign.

[sva91]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

It's funny how ea used to be the small "out there" company that was what gaming was all about and now it has transformed into nothing more than the walmart of gaming.

Except wal-mart offers quality products for low prices. EA offers crappy products at high prices.

[Pared]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

They have the wrong type of guys up at the top.

You know... if you really think about this... you're wrong. I get what you're saying... and I agree with it... but the "wrong" guys up at the top don't make you money.

The people running the ship are solely taking advantage of the mass public's name recognition and realize that hype and marketing alone can sell a game. Hell, the right person can sell you a turd, as long as they make the turd look appealing...

[Skyboxer]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

If all these masses of people buy the games because of the name EA or Madden regardless of the quality then it shouldn't matter if EA tries to make the games more advanced and better.

I keep hearing these 2 different arguments but they don't go together:
"People will buy the game even if it's a turd because it's EA (or Madden)"

Then we hear:
"EA isn't going to take chances and make thier loyal followers mad"

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

There once was a time that EA made great games...



But we're in a different era. EA may be the worst offender, but it's entertainment in general. Music, movies, games, all rehashes, sequels, and very fake and corporate. More the result of a focus group than a fresh idea.

This was the best point that was made IMO. EA is'nt the only offender of crappy rehases and sequels. They're just following suit fromt the rest of the entertainment industry. How often do we get 'that' classic movie or a music album that takes the world by storm? What makes EA the worst offenders of mediocrity is that they have such a stronghold on the video game industry while in other forms of media, there are plenty of alternatives to music and movies. There are tons of independently made movies and music which can be found. There are hardly any 3rd party independent developers out there making quality games.

[Graphik]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

If all these masses of people buy the games because of the name EA or Madden regardless of the quality then it shouldn't matter if EA tries to make the games more advanced and better.

I keep hearing these 2 different arguments but they don't go together:
"People will buy the game even if it's a turd because it's EA (or Madden)"

Then we hear:
"EA isn't going to take chances and make thier loyal followers mad"

Its not that they dont want to take chances, they just refuse to take chances. Its not economically smart for them to take chances. A loyal follower is a loyal follower. If EA announced that they were going in a new direction in all of their sports lineups, sure there would be some backlash but for the most part, the blind will continue leading the blind. Those loyalist wont jump ship, they'll adjust simply because of EAs name. Shame to, because most of them refuse to adjust to other devs games.

[Pared]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

If all these masses of people buy the games because of the name EA or Madden regardless of the quality then it shouldn't matter if EA tries to make the games more advanced and better.

That's just it though. We're reaching the point were the luster on these titles is gone and it's not going to get any better unless EA attempts to put more of an emphasis on quality than marketing.

We all buy into the hype... hell, I bought into the Madden 360 hype this year... but the game was even MORE boring than current gen... And the same thing has been going on with it's other Franchises... NFS... BF...

[Shaver]

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.

[MassNole]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

All important decisions, such as how long a game was given for development, were subject to approval by the marketing people. A manager once told me that their studies showed that most people only bought an EA sports game once every two years on average, so there was little point in putting extra effort into improving the games in the "off-years." Movie tie-in games are scheduled to come out with the release of the movie, rather than when development is finished and the game is ready.

Lets suppose this is true for the average purchaser of EA products (aka not us). Wouldn't it make logical sense that some people will buy on even years and others on odd years, i.e. I buy NCAA 2003, 2005, 2007, whereas person B buys NCAA 2002, 2004, 2006. As such, there should be revolution every year given their research.

That was a good article. It is a shame to see EA go the way of Wal-Mart, as I am sure some years back people said remember when Wal-Mart didn't suck.

[MassNole]

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.

Sadly that is 100% true, I know from experience that EA does not like sites that don't bow to their greatness. Hopefully sites will stand up against EA, but sadly some will do whatever the head lemming tells them to so that they can get the perks.

[pk500]

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.

GREAT post. Spot-on.

EA is such an industry colossus that it can put PR heat on mega-sites like IGN and Gamespot, and they'll capitulate. If EA threatens to give exclusives to a rival site, cut back on freebies at the new E3 or other conventions or pull advertising on a site, you know the editors and publisher of that site will cave.

The mainstream gaming media has ZERO integrity, journalistic ethos or balls. It's largely an extension of the PR departments of major gaming publishers and hardware producers.

I don't consider OS part of the mainstream, in that regard, and I hope it never becomes a member of that club.

Take care,
PK

[jmood88]

Re: People are noticing That EA Games Are not Good

GREAT post. Spot-on.

EA is such an industry colossus that it can put PR heat on mega-sites like IGN and Gamespot, and they'll capitulate. If EA threatens to give exclusives to a rival site, cut back on freebies at the new E3 or other conventions or pull advertising on a site, you know the editors and publisher of that site will cave.

The mainstream gaming media has ZERO integrity, journalistic ethos or balls. It's largely an extension of the PR departments of major gaming publishers and hardware producers.

I don't consider OS part of the mainstream, in that regard, and I hope it never becomes a member of that club.

Take care,
PK

Yup that was especially evident this year when the sites actually allowed ea to tell them not to release reviews for nba live until after the game came out. That's just pitiful.

[Graphik]

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.

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.

[Shaver]

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 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.