Oh how we love to hate EA. Sure, we have good reason considering the broken and money-grubbing games they’ve put out recently. However, they are trying to shift their priorities, hopefully resulting in better games for all of us.
In a presentation at GamesBeat, EA CEO Andrew Wilson explained that he has three priorities for EA going forward: establish a player-first culture in the company; build a digital relationship with customers; eliminate silos within the company. Furthermore, he said that the company’s publishing process was emphasizing two key factors: polish and innovation.
I think what you see when you look at Metacritic or review scores, the games that review highest both at a critic level and a consumer level are the games that get that balance right. They give you amazingly new things to do and they do it in a world where there aren’t flaws or bugs to disconnect you from that experience or shatter that sense of disbelief.
Um, yes, people like games that are doing something new, interesting or exciting and aren’t broken. I would think that’s fairly common sense. However, he explains that these priorities manifest in delays for two big titles, but for two different reasons:
For us, that’s what quality comes down to and we challenge our teams on that every single day. When you look at something like Battlefield Hardline, we moved it because there was more innovation that could go in there. The core premise was really cool… but we think there’s more innovation – we think you could be doing things more differently, so we set that in motion.
When we moved Dragon Age we did that because we thought we needed more time to get rid of bugs. So two decisions we’ve made in the last few months – one around driving innovation, one around driving polish, both with the ultimate goal of quality.
Well, I’m glad that they’re not releasing Dragon Age as a bug-riddled mess. I would hope that this would be part of general game development; games shouldn’t be released if there are numerous known bugs. Here’s hoping that EA will stop rushing their games to market, instead insuring that they actually work before people pay money for broken products.
Is anyone ready to believe Andrew Wilson? He seems to be doing some pretty intense and consistent PR to say that EA is changing. I really hope he is genuine.
Last Updated: September 16, 2014
Anon A Mouse
September 16, 2014 at 15:39
What they say and what they actually do is completely opposite, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Viking Of Science
September 16, 2014 at 15:39
I’ll just put this here, It’s written by the founders of EA all those years ago… how much they’ve forgotten of their heritage. Totally worth the read: http://storytron.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/can-a-computer-make-you-cry.jpg
(Open pic in new tab to read more easily)
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 15:41
That logo near the bottom meant something back in the day.
Anon A Mouse
September 16, 2014 at 15:45
These were electronic artists with dreams, of making things come alive, not “what can be broken down into segments to make more money” people that now runs the show.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 16, 2014 at 16:05
Thank goodness Johnny & Pete & all the MBAs got rid of all that nonsense, what a bunch of naive poors.
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 15:43
They were finally burned badly enough by the mess that BF4 was. They’ve realized they need to win customers back.
Anon A Mouse
September 16, 2014 at 15:46
The problem is that will take years, if ever. Gamers never forget and forgiveness is hard to come by.
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 15:45
eliminate silos within the company, like finally getting an answer as to why people loved Bad Company.
Ryanza
September 16, 2014 at 15:52
If EA wants me to buy a buggy shitty EA game again. They will need to release games with no DRM. Until then, EA can do everything to make perfect games, I still ain’t buying EA shit.
Kromas of City17
September 16, 2014 at 15:52
I recently had a huge issue with Origin. In the space of 10 mins after I called them my issue was fixed.Too bad the call was 3 hours long to America (after 10 mins we were discussing the finer points of saving Kaidan as apposed to Ashley as well as trying to get info out of the guy about ME:not 4).
So at least their service levels are higher than what we are used to in SA.
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 15:55
I’m sorry but as long as you have Peter Moore telling us to get with the times and that micro-transaction-based games are inevitable EA can eat a bag of dicks for cash because I’m not giving them a cent. Peter truly believes
that releasing the same game yearly loaded with DLC and easy-to-buy shortcuts is the future and that is something I can’t abide with.
Where’s Syndicate and Command & Conquer? Where’s Red Alert 4? Look what happened to Dead Space,Need for Speed and Dungeon Keeper. The can fuck right off with there promises of establishing a player-first culture.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 16, 2014 at 16:00
They want to establish a player-first culture in the same way Rocket Raccoon needs that guy’s leg.
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 16:01
Rocket Raccoon needs what now?
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 16, 2014 at 16:06
As a joke 😉
Viking Of Science
September 16, 2014 at 16:06
Have you not seen Guardians of the Galaxy yet? shame on you Hammersteyn, go watch it tonight!
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 16:07
Nope I have not, I don’t do cinema anymore. Ster Kinekor is right next to EA on my shit list.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 16, 2014 at 16:08
Oh, well in that case… spoiler alert 😉
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 16:15
LOL Thanks I guess?
Viking Of Science
September 16, 2014 at 16:09
Make an Exception! It’s worth it. and @johnambitious:disqus, Damn. you too? Just go… Do it… there’s a reason it’s made over $500 000 000, you know….
JJ the Reus
September 16, 2014 at 16:10
I really want to. And there’s a cinema within 2k’s of my house, just haven’t gotten around to it.
Viking Of Science
September 16, 2014 at 16:11
No Excuse! It’s tuesday, movies are cheap on tuesday’s arent they? I Don’t know, only go watch Marvel Studios films on the Big Screen these days, and always on opening weekend…
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 16:15
Hehehe I watch movies at home with food I want to eat and alcohol I can abuse at my own leisurely pace. Cinemas has turned into concentration camps with hungry people being forced to consume overpriced popcorn and sodas the price of petrol. There is a myriad of other issues I have with cinemas in general so I’ll wait patiently ;P
Brady miaau
September 16, 2014 at 16:23
Hah, Petrol is like R14 a litre, right? A litre of coke at a cinema, I am sure but guessing, will be far more
Hammersteyn
September 16, 2014 at 16:34
Really? I bet it differs from province to province as well. Too bad they don’t show the disgraceful prices on their site.
Brady miaau
September 16, 2014 at 16:22
I would, but I have not stepped into a movie theatre in years, since before I was married (2007), with the sole exception of Elysium with some work mates
JJ the Reus
September 16, 2014 at 16:08
Neither have I.
Viking Of Science
September 16, 2014 at 16:10
I’m a HUGE CnC fan. but I do not want another one.
Because the last remnants of Westwood left EA around the time of Red Alert 3….
It will be as big a disappointment as the CnC we do not mention….
Sageville
September 17, 2014 at 09:40
I concur with the bag of dicks comment
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 16, 2014 at 15:57
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. breathe. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You’re “changing” because your shareholders asked WTF is going on with BF4. If they hadn’t said a thing it would be business as usual. As stupid as they may be you don’t win golden poos for nothing.
JJ the Reus
September 16, 2014 at 16:05
EA, Priorities and delays in one sentence.
Wow.
EA – priorities in their wallets.
Delays…huh?
To fix bugs…are we being trolled now?
“Good reasons”…sounds like good reasons for me to still not buy EA games.
Brady miaau
September 16, 2014 at 16:21
In other news, the “Reus” bit?
JJ the Reus
September 16, 2014 at 16:23
Awesome game. Check it out, if you can (it’s for pc)
Brady miaau
September 16, 2014 at 16:16
Change and perception management are very difficult things to achieve. Look at your office environment and around you, I am sure there are many examples.
The crux, for me at least, here is that for EA to be perceived to be better (or even accepted?) they need to be given a chance to prove they can change. But to get that change they need to prove they are serious about not only wanting to change BUT HAVING A SOLID AND WORKABLE PLAN TO DO SO
These words are very nice, but I wonder at the ability to modify such a behemoth
JJ the Reus
September 16, 2014 at 16:17
What you said.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
September 16, 2014 at 18:01
establish a player-first culture in the company: Ok so the apparent “what the player wants” (always online)
build a digital relationship with customers: Read Microtransactions
eliminate silos within the company: So layoffs to downsize and make one dev team to do all the work?