Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

[RememberMe12]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

I am curious Ian........if Madden is going in the right direction now (which I think it is, whether we disagree on why) why switch companies? I would assume that EA would be paying you more. Is it the long hours or the overall community response you receive or another reason why you switched?

If I was with a company and we started going in the right direction and finally getting some respect from the community, I would keep doing what Im doing.

[bkrich83]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

dunno...I haven't like the game in over 6 years (the entire life span of "next gen")...any change is good as far as I'm concerned. When I look back I still to this day shake my head over the decisions that have been made about the direction of the game and the things they have chosen to work on over the years. I think it's interesting that this is the first year where I'm actually considering getting Madden (based on the videos) and it just so happens to coincide with the exit of Ian and now this guy...coincidence? Maybe.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't make heads or tails of this.

[Broncos86]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

Also, upset I didn't see this sooner. Everything Ian has said is spot on, afaic.

[at23steelers]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

Met Phil at E3, quite some time ago. He is DEFINITELY a hardcore guy. I could tell, just from talking with him. Others can tell by reading tweets from him. Played Ian in one of the OS leagues (I'm 1-1 against him btw ). He is hardcore as well. Both guys will be missed, some of you guys might be eating your words when it comes time to give feedback for the game these 2 put into it. Who knows what the next guy will want. Maybe he goes to IGN or Gamefaqs to get feedback. You never know what you got, til it's gone.

On another note, don't people look for other jobs? I mean, who really wants to do the same thing year in and year out? Especially when PR and marketing have more say-so than the people that actually grind away at the game? Maybe they are leaving because of the money, maybe they are leaving because of all the politics that go on behind the scenes at EA (that none of us remotely have a clue about). Either way, Phil and Ian did what "they could do", while other things they had no control over, ruin their visions, then... of course... they get the blame.

Oh well, sad to see Phil go, but we all have to carry on. In the end, it's whatever makes them happy. You can't expect cherries on top of everything, no matter where you work.

I bet Phil and Ian are just as pissed off as the hardcore guy is, when they can't get something in the game

REALLY good post Noah!! It's probably a first I have agreed with everything you have stated!! I have got to ask though, did Ian let you win that one game??

Cmon, Ian you cannot let a Cowboys fan like Steve, actually beat you in Madden!!! lol

[darknmild]

Don't know Phil personally or Ian. But when play a game for as long as I've played madden an when you have devs that interact with the community like these guys did you get used to seeing them around. I wish Phil the best. I appreciate the work and effort that was put into Madden 12. @kennymac_78

[Ian_Cummings]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

So is this at all similar to the Live/Elite turnover where things might be going in a different direction in the future so certain people are moving on to other opportunities?

Assuming you can even answer this that is.

No, again, Madden was moving right where we wanted it to be when I left. My personal choice was really about a change of scenery and really wanting to spread my wings as a game maker. Finding out Phil was leaving today was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to you guys...so he's got his own reasons that I don't yet know (though I'm going to lunch with him tomorrow. )

The leadership team, which was Cam, Phil, Mike Young, and myself - we were all pretty much 100% on the same page about what we wanted out of Madden for the future (and I think you'll see that vision in all of Cam's interviews). Whereas NBA you could see the major disconnect between the stuff Mike Wang thought was important vs. what the EA NBA management peeps were saying.

[khaliib]

I actually read all 115 post.

It's funny how rowdy folks get over a video game.

I do it myself sometimes.

Reminds me of the neighborhood Sand-Lot games we had in the STL.

The back-n-forth to prove "Your" point to the other guy.

This is so funny it's making my BG's flare up!!!

[mirrored32]

what is going on at EA? starting to worry me a bit.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

Good Luck to Phil.

Ps2 madden was great, current Madden... not so much. 10, 11 and even some of the vids of Madden 12 show a tired worn out franchise that needs a spark. Hopefully the new blood can provide that.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

No, again, Madden was moving right where we wanted it to be when I left. My personal choice was really about a change of scenery and really wanting to spread my wings as a game maker. Finding out Phil was leaving today was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to you guys...so he's got his own reasons that I don't yet know (though I'm going to lunch with him tomorrow. )

The leadership team, which was Cam, Phil, Mike Young, and myself - we were all pretty much 100% on the same page about what we wanted out of Madden for the future (and I think you'll see that vision in all of Cam's interviews). Whereas NBA you could see the major disconnect between the stuff Mike Wang thought was important vs. what the EA NBA management peeps were saying.

Good to hear. Thanks for answering.

I'd hate to see the work that's been put in since 09 get tossed aside again. Just like NBA Live, Madden seems like it's finally on the cusp of being great again.

[Steve_OS]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

REALLY good post Noah!! It's probably a first I have agreed with everything you have stated!! I got to ask though, did Ian let you win that one game??

Ha, it was one of my better comeback wins, we'll put it that way.

[big_larry]

Re: Phil Frazier the Latest to Leave EA Sports Tiburon Studio

I hope they hire some 2k Sports people now.

[Ian_Cummings]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

I am curious Ian........if Madden is going in the right direction now (which I think it is, whether we disagree on why) why switch companies? I would assume that EA would be paying you more. Is it the long hours or the overall community response you receive or another reason why you switched?

If I was with a company and we started going in the right direction and finally getting some respect from the community, I would keep doing what Im doing.

For me it was about doing something different. I worked on one game IP for 10 years. Though there were things we could have done differently in hindsight, I felt like after taking the reins (with Phil) I had gotten the Madden ship at least facing in the right direction of trying to build a true sim and getting away from rings and weapons and virtual trainers and all that other bullsh!t, and I felt like I had a lot more ideas in games that I wanted to try and work on.

Also, define 'respect from the community' lol. A simple search on my name will return nothing but venom, whether it's the mainstream industry giving me no respect because I work on a sports game, or dudes making youtube videos about how I was a liar, or pinning all of the problems in their life on me. I was sick as hell of that sh*t too.

[roadman]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

No, again, Madden was moving right where we wanted it to be when I left. My personal choice was really about a change of scenery and really wanting to spread my wings as a game maker. Finding out Phil was leaving today was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to you guys...so he's got his own reasons that I don't yet know (though I'm going to lunch with him tomorrow. )

The leadership team, which was Cam, Phil, Mike Young, and myself - we were all pretty much 100% on the same page about what we wanted out of Madden for the future (and I think you'll see that vision in all of Cam's interviews). Whereas NBA you could see the major disconnect between the stuff Mike Wang thought was important vs. what the EA NBA management peeps were saying.

This is somewhat encouraging. Are there people inside ready to step up and take the reigns or do you feel(your opinion) someone may crossover from NCAA , NHL, or FIFA?

[Ian_Cummings]

Re: Phil Frazier is Leaving EA Sports Tiburon

Ha, it was one of my better comeback wins, we'll put it that way.

I blocked that out of my mind. I'll never forget Jacobs running wild all over you in that first game though.