EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

[RoyalBoyle78]

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7951&Itemid=2

[fistofrage]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

This isn't suprising. Look at all the good games coming out this fall. Its gotta be biting into the sports revenue. The sports games just aren't as fun as the other new games coming out. Their football games are subpar. Their basketball games are getting mopped up by 2k sports. They discontinued their boxing franchise.

Bottom lin, they cater the sports games to casual gamers, and casual gamers would rather play Halo, Assassins creed, Call of Duty(I know its an EA game, but it still cannibalizes their other franchises), and many other games besides their sub par sports game.

The proof is in the pudding. We are hardcore sports gamers here on this website and what is the game that is in your Xbox right now? I bet its not Madden.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

They discontinued their boxing franchise.

that really true? no more fight night?

[DaImmaculateONe]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

i thought Fight Night Died when Eddie George hosted that show on G4

[EZ Snappin]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

I believe Fight Night had already moved to a different EA Studio (Canada?) before they shut down Chicago. At any rate it isn't dead.

However, I haven't heard a peep about the Def Jam games that were also part of the Chicago portfolio. Not sure anyone much cares one way or another.

[Jistic]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

We always say, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

I guess all the fanboys of non EA games that accuse everyone of being mindless EA zombies were wrong. People are sending a message with their wallet.

I know with these game prices being so dam ridiculous these days, I have to make every purchase a sure thing. I gotta know I'm gonna play it long term.

That's why I don't even buy 1st person shooters with 8 hour completion times. I rent 'em for sure, but to buy them is pointless.

That's why I passed on NBA 2K8. I love the game (rented it), but I know that when Choops comes out, it will gather dust.

If they lowered the prices on these games, or made some of them have more staying power instead of just saying, "Hey you can play online forever" then I'd actually buy more games instead of renting them.

EA has been lacking on a lot of things lately. And now that it's hurting their bottom line, you can for sure expect some changes.

[mgoblue]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

We always say, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

I guess all the fanboys of non EA games that accuse everyone of being mindless EA zombies were wrong. People are sending a message with their wallet.

I know with these game prices being so dam ridiculous these days, I have to make every purchase a sure thing. I gotta know I'm gonna play it long term.

That's why I don't even buy 1st person shooters with 8 hour completion times. I rent 'em for sure, but to buy them is pointless.

That's why I passed on NBA 2K8. I love the game (rented it), but I know that when Choops comes out, it will gather dust.

If they lowered the prices on these games, or made some of them have more staying power instead of just saying, "Hey you can play online forever" then I'd actually buy more games instead of renting them.

EA has been lacking on a lot of things lately. And now that it's hurting their bottom line, you can for sure expect some changes.

I've passed on Madden and all basketball games this year. Not cause they're crap, just because I won't play them enough. I have gotten NCAA, NHL, and Fifa games, but I'm starting to hold off on stuff I know I won't play enough.

[MassNole]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

Well when you put out pure crap sales fall, nothing shocking here.

[edaddy]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

This isn't suprising. Look at all the good games coming out this fall. Its gotta be biting into the sports revenue. The sports games just aren't as fun as the other new games coming out. Their football games are subpar. Their basketball games are getting mopped up by 2k sports. They discontinued their boxing franchise.

Bottom lin, they cater the sports games to casual gamers, and casual gamers would rather play Halo, Assassins creed, Call of Duty(I know its an EA game, but it still cannibalizes their other franchises), and many other games besides their sub par sports game.

The proof is in the pudding. We are hardcore sports gamers here on this website and what is the game that is in your Xbox right now? I bet its not Madden.

Good post and i especially agree with your comments about the casual gamer..EA needs to realize that the majority of sports gamers prefer realism, and immersion not all these gimicks and fluff...Sports Gamers especially the harcore community here all want that feeling of being there or actually looking and playing like it looks on their tv sets..Sports Gaming is an outlet for the majority of us and Maaden , NCAA, and NBAive fail to deliver this immersion experience...NBA 2k8 while not perfect delivers this which is why gamers are willing to put up with it's flaws..But the constant garbage EA puts out has become an insult..and gamers are taking notice of it with thier wallets..EA needs to start from scratch and get back to there slogan "if it's in the game it's in the game"..lol

[jmood88]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

Didn't they criticize 2k for lowering the price of their sports games?

[Cyros]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

This isn't suprising. Look at all the good games coming out this fall. Its gotta be biting into the sports revenue. The sports games just aren't as fun as the other new games coming out. Their football games are subpar. Their basketball games are getting mopped up by 2k sports. They discontinued their boxing franchise.

Bottom lin, they cater the sports games to casual gamers, and casual gamers would rather play Halo, Assassins creed, Call of Duty(I know its an EA game, but it still cannibalizes their other franchises), and many other games besides their sub par sports game.

The proof is in the pudding. We are hardcore sports gamers here on this website and what is the game that is in your Xbox right now? I bet its not Madden.

BTW, Call of Duty is Activision.

[ehh]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

I never actually thought something like this would come to fruition because there are so many complacent people out there who would just buy Madden and NCAA Football, etc, regardless of how poor a game it is. I think that still is the case by and large except for hardcore sim gamers, who make up a small percetage of the gaming population, but it is definitely getting better.

My college roommate, who's the ultimate cheeser, stopped buying Madden last year because it was so bad. Most of my boys from home are also casual gamers and stopped buying EA games because they can't take how poor they are.

I know EA will never make a better basketball game than 2K, I don't think they'd be able to make something better than what the MLB series will be in two years and I think if EA hadn't gobbled up the NFL license then NFL 2k8 would blow Madden out of the water.

Bottom line is that EA is a vastly inferior game producer. MVP '05 was the last time I've been satisified with any sports game they've made.

[bkfount]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

Well when you put out pure crap sales fall, nothing shocking here.

EA games sold well in years past, and they havent really changed much to bring it down. Only a small amount of gamers know about gltiches and gameplay faults that ruin games, the rest buy things up based on commercials and hype.

EA games are just being drowned by better, more high profile franchises that gamers aren't used to seeing every year. To say that this is consumers backlashing against EA with their wallets for years of sub-par games is wrong and shows bias. Not everyone has so much expendible income to buy every hyped game coming out this year. If next year is even a little lighter on top game releases than this year, then EA will be back up to where they often are in regards to sales..

[MassNole]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

it's not really crap, just in comparison to the big games out this year. Madden sold fine in years past, and they havent really changed much to bring it down. Only a small amount of gamers know about gltiches and gameplay faults that ruin games, the rest buy things up based on commercials and hype.

EA games are just being drowned by better, more high profile franchises that gamers aren't used to seeing every year. To say that this is consumers backlashing against EA with their wallets for years of sub-par games is wrong and shows bias. Not everyone has so much expendible income to buy every hyped game coming out this year. If next year is even a little lighter on top game releases than this year, then EA will be back up to where they often are in regards to sales..

Can you honestly say NCAA 2008 and Madden 2008 were anything but crap? Both games were crippled with bugs and glitches and more or less unplayable. With how bad NCAA 2008 was I skipped Madden. This is the first time I have ever sold NCAA back before the next version came out and the first time I will not buy or even ask for Madden for Christmas.

NHL 2008 was alright, nothing special. Probably their best effort.

[GTheorenHobbes]

Re: EA to Fall Short in Q3, Slashing Game Prices?

EA games are just being drowned by better, more high profile franchises that gamers aren't used to seeing every year. To say that this is consumers backlashing against EA with their wallets for years of sub-par games is wrong and shows bias. Not everyone has so much expendible income to buy every hyped game coming out this year. If next year is even a little lighter on top game releases than this year, then EA will be back up to where they often are in regards to sales..

I didn't buy Madden because it's an extremely STALE gameplaying experience, not because I bought COD4 and some of the other great games that have come out. I love the NFL as much as the next guy, if not more, but I'm not going to continue to buy a garbage game just to have it sit on my shelf collecting dust.

If EA/Tiburon made a true next gen football game worth my money, I'd buy it in a second. As it is, they're not getting any of my money, no matter if they reduce Madden to a bargain basement price.