EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

[nxt]

Todd Greenwald, an analyst with Signal Hill Group, said he thinks it was EA's disappointing holiday slate — and not a broader slowdown in the video game industry — are to blame for the bulk of the miss.
"Titles such as 'Need for Speed,''Mirrors Edge', 'Rock Band 2' as well as EA's entire sports lineup appear to be underperforming at retail due to a combination of low quality scores, tired franchises, and limited innovation vs. the prior year's release," the analyst wrote, reiterating a "Hold" rating on the stock.

The direction that EA sports has taken with Madden and NCAA has been so disappointing IMO. It's sad that I'm still playing the PS2 versions 3-4 years into this generation of gaming systems. I hope that this is a wake up call to EA and helps shake things up.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/10/financial/f084557S92.DTL

[Candyman5]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

You know it wont. They probably will release something like EA NHL Street. -_-

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I just saw an article on bit-tech.net about this. I can't believe EA is actually trying to blame the economy for poor sales instead of admitting that they are putting out a lot of crappy untested games so far this generation (I am specially looking at you Madden, NCAA Football, NFS and MoH series).

EA used to be a good company last gen on the ps2/xbox. What happened to them? Did Peter Moore destroy them this fast already?

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

In case anybody wants to read it:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/12/10/ea-is-disappointed-with-2008-sales/1#last

[Behindshadows]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I just saw an article on bit-tech.net about this. I can't believe EA is actually trying to blame the economy for poor sales instead of admitting that they are putting out a lot of crappy untested games so far this generation (I am specially looking at you Madden, NCAA Football, NFS and MoH series).

EA used to be a good company last gen on the ps2/xbox. What happened to them? Did Peter Moore destroy them this fast already?

If anything Peter Moore improved them! The guy is hardcore sports and has pushed them in the 09 line ups! You can't honestly tell me that the 09 games weren't much better! That's including Madden and NCAA. And he did that in less than a year!


They are improving, not to the likings of some who are spoiled up on last gen games and on the 2ksports flashy series. But compared to EA's past outtings these games are better.

I think the fact of the matter is, when they released the 06,07, and 08 games. People just finally got that burned bridge feeling and kind of strayed from them. They automatically felt like the 09 series would be the same ole' crap!

Honestly EA needs to find a solution of regaining it's name and showing the improvements. And stop dropping game that will later need patches and online updates. Because a lot of their market doesn't have online!

Either way, they need a solution and cutting employees isn't the answer!

[FedEx227]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

Um, I think you've got a very wrong impression of Peter Moore. He's the exact opposite, he wants dumbed-down, everything games... if anything he's been the driving force behind the Facebreakers and NFL Tour's of the world.

[Stroehms]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

If anything Peter Moore improved them! The guy is hardcore sports and has pushed them in the 09 line ups! You can't honestly tell me that the 09 games weren't much better! That's including Madden and NCAA. And he did that in less than a year!


They are improving, not to the likings of some who are spoiled up on last gen games and on the 2ksports flashy series. But compared to EA's past outtings these games are better.

I think the fact of the matter is, when they released the 06,07, and 08 games. People just finally got that burned bridge feeling and kind of strayed from them. They automatically felt like the 09 series would be the same ole' crap!

Honestly EA needs to find a solution of regaining it's name and showing the improvements. And stop dropping game that will later need patches and online updates. Because a lot of their market doesn't have online!

Either way, they need a solution and cutting employees isn't the answer!

I agree with him.

EA's games have greatly improved over the last 3 years or so by building on what they have done in the previous versions.

[Blzer]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I'm still waiting for EA Big to give us another SSX game...

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

If anything Peter Moore improved them! The guy is hardcore sports and has pushed them in the 09 line ups! You can't honestly tell me that the 09 games weren't much better! That's including Madden and NCAA. And he did that in less than a year!


They are improving, not to the likings of some who are spoiled up on last gen games and on the 2ksports flashy series. But compared to EA's past outtings these games are better.

I think the fact of the matter is, when they released the 06,07, and 08 games. People just finally got that burned bridge feeling and kind of strayed from them. They automatically felt like the 09 series would be the same ole' crap!

Honestly EA needs to find a solution of regaining it's name and showing the improvements. And stop dropping game that will later need patches and online updates. Because a lot of their market doesn't have online!

Either way, they need a solution and cutting employees isn't the answer!

I honestly feel Madden 09 and NCAA Football 09 are much worse than the 08 versions (I am talking about the 360 versions for reference).

[Behindshadows]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

Um, I think you've got a very wrong impression of Peter Moore. He's the exact opposite, he wants dumbed-down, everything games... if anything he's been the driving force behind the Facebreakers and NFL Tour's of the world.

If you know anything about the gaming market!

He's trying to find a solution of games that are fun for children on top of the adult market.

We didn't like Tour or Facebreaker because we are adults and want the real deal!

(360 Versions) Madden 08 and NCAA Football 08 were both rushed games with framerate issues and choppy running animations and lack of presentation or features.

(PETER MOORE signs contract) Within 11 months Madden 09 comes out will dozens of features. Including IQ test, AI adjusting to human abilities, better running games, more improved passing game and full presentation and no more lame *** radio announcer.

NCAA Football 09 comes out with full editing abilities, online Dynasty and much more! All thanks to Peter Moore!

And he's not dumbing down games, he create additional lineups to increase the age market. Instead of straying away from kids all together!

If you look at it from a open business mind, instead of a bias gamer looking for EA to fail!

You'd notice - Facebreaker = Children to Adults for family fun!
(Fight Night Round 4 = Teenager to Adults)

NFL Tour = Children to Adults for family fun - pick up and play
(Madden NFL 09 = Teenager to Adults - including online play and more simulation features)

I honestly feel Madden 09 and NCAA Football 09 are much worse than the 08 versions (I am talking about the 360 versions for reference).

Uh!ok! good for you! Value of opinion! I disagree, but that's just me!

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

Instead of trying to make a game "fun" for both children up to adults, why not release an adult version (such as Madden should be, a sim football game) and then release a child version (such as NFL Street for the casual and younger crowds)?

They way Peter Moore is doing it now, by trying to cater one game to everybody, too many of us are being let down by those games. In general, if you specialize on one thing you stand a good chance at being great at it, but when you try to dabble in a little bit of everything for everyone you get a mediocre product such as the case with Madden.

[Behindshadows]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

Instead of trying to make a game "fun" for both children up to adults, why not release an adult version (such as Madden should be, a sim football game) and then release a child version (such as NFL Street for the casual and younger crowds)?

They way Peter Moore is doing it now, by trying to cater one game to everybody, too many of us are being let down by those games. In general, if you specialize on one thing you stand a good chance at being great at it, but when you try to dabble in a little bit of everything for everyone you get a mediocre product such as the case with Madden.

I just said that!!! NFL Tour is the new NFL Street

and Facebreaker is the dumb downed Fight Night ala Ready 2 Rumble!

Madden NFL 09 was not dumbed down, if anything it was finally challenging and the IQ Feature made it even better.

I know your trying to find a fault in the 09 lineup but honestly you can't!

The 09 games have been the best they've done in years! And as you can see from the other post. People agree! They made up for past games. But fact of the matter is old fans didn't really give them the benefit of the doubt.

That was the whole point of this thread in the first place, to tell the lost of sales. And it's basically because they've lost their fanbase.

Even with the games now improved, no one took a chance on them!

And stop trying to knock Madden! For crying out loud the game is far from a bad game. If anything Madden NFL 09 is the best Madden game they've made in years since Madden 2005!

And NCAA football 09 is the best they've made since 06 on PS2 and Xbox.

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I have to disagree with some things. I paid $60 plus tax this summer for Ncaa Football 09 and as well for Madden 09, both for the 360. They came out and had a list of problems a mile long, but I am a huge fan of the series and felt "once they patch the game it will be solid". Well, both games got fully patched and I still felt, from a die hard realistic football game approach, that both were still broken to the point that they weren't playable unless you like arcade style football.

I wanted to love the 09 versions, I spent $120 plus tax of my money to prove it, but I was extremely let down. I really thought this was going to be the year that video football gaming reach new heights. Instead I think it reached new lows. First of all the games should never have been released in their unfinished state but EA did anyway. If that wasn't bad enough we then waited patiently for patches that still didn't fix the core gameplay enough.

I have bought every Madden and NCAA Football game every year since 93 on the Genesis, as well as many other EA games, but I am just disgusted at the lack of quality I have seen from them in the last 2-3 years.

[Behindshadows]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I have to disagree with some things. I paid $60 plus tax this summer for Ncaa Football 09 and as well for Madden 09, both for the 360. They came out and had a list of problems a mile long, but I am a huge fan of the series and felt "once they patch the game it will be solid". Well, both games got fully patched and I still felt, from a die hard realistic football game approach, that both were still broken to the point that they weren't playable unless you like arcade style football.

I wanted to love the 09 versions, I spent $120 plus tax of my money to prove it, but I was extremely let down. I really thought this was going to be the year that video football gaming reach new heights. Instead I think it reached new lows. First of all the games should never have been released in their unfinished state but EA did anyway. If that wasn't bad enough we then waited patiently for patches that still didn't fix the core gameplay enough.

I have bought every Madden and NCAA Football game every year since 93 on the Genesis, as well as many other EA games, but I am just disgusted at the lack of quality I have seen from them in the last 2-3 years.

I swear you sound like a




I'm not having the same issues you have! And I've proved many people wrong on the problems they've had with the games with video and photo proof this year!

Neither game is unplayable and they are both fun to play! I don't have an issue you do with them! We are opposites of opinions.

Cool! Now turn the page or change the station. We will never agree! If you have a issue with them go trade them in and you'll at least get something out of it. Since you seem to throw $60 in the equation like it makes it sound even worse.

Every game cost $60 New when they are out! A lot of them joints are bad! But people don't bash them like they do EA sports games! I know, I've been guilty of the same actions towards the company! Then I realized I made a sound decision to purchase the game, it's nobody's fault but my own! EA sports didn't bend my arm or send me threatening letters to buy their games!

Suck it up! And just realize you made a bad purchase for yourself, compared to a great purchase to others!

[ab2c4]

Re: EA takes a hit after profit, sales warning

I already sold my copies in Sept and Oct accordingly and have gone back to playing the ps2 versions for now. I just wanted a next gen football game that gave both myself and the cpu realistic stats rushing and passing the ball and I didn't get it.

You are correct though and as the saying goes: one man's garbage is another man's treasure.