EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

[Cusefan]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

One probably does research before he buys any other entertainment good such as a computer, MP3 player, DVD movie, tablet, cell phone, music album, television, etc. etc. to determine relative quality of available goods in the category. Why should video games be any different? When were video games ever any different?

It's a video game company's job to produce a game and convince a consumer that the game is worth buying. It's not the video game company's job to make that purchasing decision for the consumer. People act as if EA holds all the cards here; they really don't. EA isn't jerking people out of money; those unhappy with EA are spending their money poorly.

Bingo. I understand the feeling of buyers remorse with your favorite franchise or game. My favorite franchise is Civilization and the latest iteration blows, it is a stripped down, simplified game(heard this gripe before?). Am I pissed at 2K, sure. But in the end I know that I should not have let blind loyalty sucker me into buying this game.

Companies like EA, Activision, or Ubisoft have one main objective, please your stockholders. Stockholders do not care how much I enjoy their games, they want to see the money. This is what our world has boiled down to, for better or worse. When EA (or any other game company) conducts shady business, it pisses of gamers. When Banks conduct shady business, they kick people out of their homes, they charge money for essentially nothing, or they might just bring our country to its knees. Take away the video game aspect of your life, how has EA done anything negative to impact it?

[oneamongthefence]

My question is why was EA chosen over activision, zynga etc? It all almost sounds like a bandwagon pick anyway to include them on the list.

The article is very misleading as well in the consumerists. Its main selling point against EA is the NFL exclusivity. NFL sought EA out not the other way around.

However, I think EA is a far reaching company. They have console gaming, portable, tablet, smartphone etc. Most people have dealt with them in some way or another.

[Champion8877]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

In my personal opinion Activision is the worst company. But whatever, who really cares, every gaming company is just money hungry and could care less about the customers enjoyment as long as they produce something decent enough for us to purchase.

[Graphik]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

One probably does research before he buys any other entertainment good such as a computer, MP3 player, DVD movie, tablet, cell phone, music album, television, etc. etc. to determine relative quality of available goods in the category. Why should video games be any different? When were video games ever any different?

It's a video game company's job to produce a game and convince a consumer that the game is worth buying. It's not the video game company's job to make that purchasing decision for the consumer. People act as if EA holds all the cards here; they really don't. EA isn't jerking people out of money; those unhappy with EA are spending their money poorly.

With all the above mentioned, you pretty much know where quality and competition stands. With all the forms of entertainment you named, each one has a quality brand (Sony, HTC, Samsung, Lionsgate films for instance), each one has knock off brands that will get you a bang for your buck and most of all, each one has an equal competitor.

If you ask me, thats the difference. When it comes to video games in any certain genre, there isn't much competition. There are often 1 or 2 great games in each genre and a plethora of trash competitors due to less resources and smaller budgets. The end result is each year is there are only a handful of Grade "A" titles and a bunch of mediocrity trailing behind.

Plus, no other form of entertainment IMO has a worse resale value besides a car after you drive it off the lot. Why do companies sell games at $60 when just a month later you can get the game for $40. 2 months its close to $30. By the end of the year, the game can literrally be worth less than $5. Cell Phones are the closest but at least they do have competitors.

Anyway, the biggest problem with the video game industry is a lack of quality competition due to EA buying every dev on the planet. Gamers have been getting shafted this entire next gen because of this.

[ImReady77]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

Time Warner Cable is worse than EA. EA shouldn't even be top 20.

[mrprice33]

With all the above mentioned, you pretty much know where quality and competition stands. With all the forms of entertainment you named, each one has a quality brand (Sony, HTC, Samsung, Lionsgate films for instance), each one has knock off brands that will get you a bang for your buck and most of all, each one has an equal competitor.

If you ask me, thats the difference. When it comes to video games in any certain genre, there isn't much competition. There are often 1 or 2 great games in each genre and a plethora of trash competitors due to less resources and smaller budgets. The end result is each year is there are only a handful of Grade "A" titles and a bunch of mediocrity trailing behind.

Plus, no other form of entertainment IMO has a worse resale value besides a car after you drive it off the lot. Why do companies sell games at $60 when just a month later you can get the game for $40. 2 months its close to $30. By the end of the year, the game can literrally be worth less than $5. Cell Phones are the closest but at least they do have competitors.

Anyway, the biggest problem with the video game industry is a lack of quality competition due to EA buying every dev on the planet. Gamers have been getting shafted this entire next gen because of this.

EA buys every dev on the planet? Bobby Kotick, is that you?

[Tyrant8RDFL]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

I hear some say that activision is worst than EA. My question is.

How is any gaming company the worst company?

They sell video games. That is it. You like the product you buy it, if not dont.

No video game company should even be on the list of the worst companies in the world.
It really doesn't make any sense, and shows bad judgement in doing so.

Now if we want to say who is the worst video game company than we have something to talk about.

We all know its going to be between EA and Activision.

The reality is we made them bad video game companies, becuase we keep buying bad products, and the DLC that we feel should be free. We hold the cards and don't even know how to play the hand. We suck because we can't control our addiction. We have to have it, but then we blame them for this. Meanwhile we opened the door for such a business practice.

Take a stand already and see how this will all change.

I say who are the worst video game consumers??? EA or Activison?

[Graphik]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

EA buys every dev on the planet? Bobby Kotick, is that you?

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!




MONEY!!

[TracerBullet]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

I hear some say that activision is worst than EA. My question is.

How is any gaming company the worst company?

They sell video games. That is it. You like the product you buy it, if not dont.

No video game company should even be on the list of the worst companies in the world.
It really doesn't make any sense, and shows bad judgement in doing so.

Now if we want to say who is the worst video game company than we have something to talk about.

We all know its going to be between EA and Activision.

The reality is we made them bad video game companies, becuase we keep buying bad products, and the DLC that we feel should be free. We hold the cards and don't even know how to play the hand. We suck because we can't control our addiction. We have to have it, but then we blame them for this. Meanwhile we opened the door for such a business practice.

Take a stand already and see how this will all change.

I say who are the worst video game consumers??? EA or Activison?

I believe the majority of people who said Activision was worse meant it in the context of video game companies. I know I just meant that I felt that Activision was worse in that context. I agree that a video game company should not be near the top of this list.

Also, the last thing that I bought that was related to Activision was Starcraft 2.

[Graphik]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

I hear some say that activision is worst than EA. My question is.

How is any gaming company the worst company?

They sell video games. That is it. You like the product you buy it, if not dont.

No video game company should even be on the list of the worst companies in the world.
It really doesn't make any sense, and shows bad judgement in doing so.

Now if we want to say who is the worst video game company than we have something to talk about.

We all know its going to be between EA and Activision.

The reality is we made them bad video game companies, becuase we keep buying bad products, and the DLC that we feel should be free. We hold the cards and don't even know how to play the hand. We suck because we can't control our addiction. We have to have it, but then we blame them for this. Meanwhile we opened the door for such a business practice.
Take a stand already and see how this will all change.

I say who are the worst video game consumers??? EA or Activison?

Thats the thing though, we cant speak for the majority when it comes to who buys what. There are casual gamers and hardcore games like the ones here on OS. We all know that these companies are looking out for the casual fan who doesn't make sound and informed decisions when it comes to purchasing games. I took a stand a very long time ago against video game mediocrity and DLC. I have never to this day paid for DLC and I try to inform my casual buddies whenever I can but the truth of the matter is that I'm definitely in the minority along with the rest of us here.Our voices have been unheard for years whereas developers depend on us to beta test and fix their games.

My point is that nobody on this site as well as the hardcore crowd are responsible for how these companies jerk consumers. Thats something that is way beyond our control depsite having close ties with developers. Even the devs who visit here have no say so. They have a job to do and they do it. Most ppl who frequent this site are well informed and depend heavlily on user input instead the IGNs and Gamepro's of the world. Unfortunately we are in the minority and cant even make a dent in sales if we tried.

As far as this "worse company in America" debate goes. There are definitely other companies in the US and around the world who are evil but when it comes to entertainment, (movies, games and tech) my money is going on EA. They've affected me personally cause I'm a diehard sports gamer. Haven't played a good NASCAR game in years because they dont want to make one. Haven't played an NFL game in years for obvious reasons. Boxing=wackness, Baseball=doesn't exsist. Hockey=decent but not my sport. Golf=pure underacheivement. Basketball=thank god for competition. MMA=once again, competition gives us choices. Non-Sports games=hit n miss

And this is from a company that has been out for almost 3 decades when the entire video gaming industry is barely that old? They should produce quality with every release at this point. Instead we get half-*** games with DLC that should of initially came with the game and broken promises. I'll pass.

[mrprice33]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

I hear some say that activision is worst than EA. My question is.

How is any gaming company the worst company?

They sell video games. That is it. You like the product you buy it, if not dont.

No video game company should even be on the list of the worst companies in the world.
It really doesn't make any sense, and shows bad judgement in doing so.

Now if we want to say who is the worst video game company than we have something to talk about.

We all know its going to be between EA and Activision.

The reality is we made them bad video game companies, becuase we keep buying bad products, and the DLC that we feel should be free. We hold the cards and don't even know how to play the hand. We suck because we can't control our addiction. We have to have it, but then we blame them for this. Meanwhile we opened the door for such a business practice.

Take a stand already and see how this will all change.

I say who are the worst video game consumers??? EA or Activison?

I would actually say Capcom or Ubisoft are worse than either EA or Activision, but that's just me.

But no, an entertainment company should be no where near this list. But that's the internet for you.

[mrprice33]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

And this is from a company that has been out for almost 3 decades when the entire video gaming industry is barely that old? They should produce quality with every release at this point. Instead we get half-*** games with DLC that should of initially came with the game and broken promises. I'll pass.

So the fact that they're an old company means that every game they PUBLISH should be up to a certain quality? What? That makes no sense.

[Gagnon39]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

The NHL series is the best. Other than that, I can't say. I haven't bought a football game in many years now.

[55]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

Monsanto

That is easily the most evil company on the planet.

[Graphik]

Re: EA voted Worst Company In America For 2012

So the fact that they're an old company means that every game they PUBLISH should be up to a certain quality? What? That makes no sense.

To clarify, given that they've been out since the dawn of man..it makes no sense for them to release games that are incomplete, buggy or mediocore. They only do so because of brand recognition. They are the publisher and they often rush the development of games to meet deadlines. The end result is usually a crappy game that will be made complete with paid DLC and patches.

What made EA back in the day was quality over everyone else. You couldn't compare a game like Lakers vs. Celtics with a Tecmo Basketball or Tony Larrusa Baseball with RBI 94. The difference in quality (not fun factor) was night and day. This is what they built their brand on. Flash forward to today, its the exact opposite.

So yes, I do or did expect a certain quality from EA or anything EA related. They were fine up until the early 2000s when they must have realized that they can sell water to a well. They been testing the market and seeing what we'll pay for, what we'll stand for and what excuses they can drop on us ever since. All while at the same time scaling back on game production. I was a fan. I diehard fan of EA till sites like this shed some light.