Home Gaming EA “doesn’t want to be viewed as the worst company” anymore

EA “doesn’t want to be viewed as the worst company” anymore

2 min read
0

wurst

For a record  two years running now, EA has managed to secure the dubious accolade of winning the title of “The Worst Company in America.” That’s after going up against banks that foreclose on people’s homes and price small businesses to bankruptcy. EA doesn’t want to be seen in such a negative light anymore.

"When we got this the second time around, if you don’t think about it as an executive in the company, you probably are not doing the right thing," EA’s Patrick Soderlund told Kotaku.

"We started thinking about how we don’t want to be viewed as the worst company in America. I personally don’t think we’ve ever been the worst company in America, but it says something. The consumers out there are telling us something. And we actually took it very seriously.”

“We and [EA chief operating officer] Peter Moore and a couple of other guys in the executive company got together to try to understand what caused people to say these things. And there were some things out there that…consumers told us they didn’t like. Online pass was one thing."

EA now has a new chief, in boyish Andrew Wilson, who really wants to change the philosophy at EA. He wants people to really feel like they’re getting value – both monetary and temporal – from EA’s products.

“There are lots of really big public companies that make a lot of money that are loved by their consumers. That’s because the consumers feel like they get value from that company in the investment in their dollars [and] time.

“Any time we create something, if you’re asking for an investment from the consumer in dollars and time, make sure they feel like they’re stealing from you and that they are getting the best end of that deal and the rest will follow. And that will be our philosophy”

Is it possible for EA to turn their image around? they’ve dropped online passes, and now offer a 24 hour refund period on games bought through Origin. they’re certainly trying – but is it enough?

Last Updated: November 5, 2013

No Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Ninja

    November 5, 2013 at 14:00

    HEADER WIN!!!

    Reply

    • ElimiNathan

      November 5, 2013 at 14:02

      Admiral and his header wins

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Ninja

        November 5, 2013 at 14:03

        You don’t like the header?

        Reply

        • ElimiNathan

          November 5, 2013 at 14:04

          I do indeed

          Reply

        • ElimiNathan

          November 5, 2013 at 14:05

          It made me very hungry and now I’m having epic hotdogs for supper

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Ninja

            November 5, 2013 at 14:08

            Having kameelhout boerewors for dindin

          • ElimiNathan

            November 5, 2013 at 14:26

            No dude need some proper WURST!!

          • ToshZA

            November 5, 2013 at 14:26

            That’s what he said.

            :3

          • Admiral Chief Ninja

            November 5, 2013 at 14:27

            LOL

          • ElimiNathan

            November 5, 2013 at 14:27

            Haha! Shame dude you shouldn’t tell ppl these things!

          • Admiral Chief Ninja

            November 5, 2013 at 14:27

            We all know that boerewors >>>> any wors (the food and the wors)

          • Unalighned John (JJ)

            November 5, 2013 at 14:27

            Coining it!!
            🙂

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 5, 2013 at 14:28

            He?

          • Admiral Chief Ninja

            November 5, 2013 at 14:28

            HAHAHAHA

          • Unalighned John (JJ)

            November 5, 2013 at 14:30

            Oh wow. Didn’t even see that.
            LOL
            Tosh has some secrets it seems

          • Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)

            November 5, 2013 at 14:34

            On a somehow related note… If a midget admits that he is gay, does that mean he came out of the cabinet?

          • Observer

            November 5, 2013 at 14:36

            JUMPED…out of the drawer.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 5, 2013 at 14:38

            I just posed that question at work & the consensus is “BWHAHAHAHAHAA… That’s nasty!” I’m going to assume that means yes.

          • ToshZA

            November 5, 2013 at 14:37

  2. oVg

    November 5, 2013 at 14:05

    Electronic Accountants, give BIOWARE back their soul.

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      November 5, 2013 at 14:18

      PREACH IT BROTHER!!!

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      November 5, 2013 at 14:43

      Amen SISTER BROTHER! KIFFLOM!

      Reply

    • Kromas

      November 5, 2013 at 14:48

      As much as I dislike EA you can not blame them for Bioware’s massive ME3 failure. It was entirely Bioware’s fault. You can blame them for rushing Bioware during DA2 though so go ahead with that. 😛

      Also. The fact that they develop an engine in house for all their IP’s means that Bioware requires less time developing an engine and can spend more time making DA3 awesome.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        November 5, 2013 at 14:54

        Bioware insists that EA had nothing to do with them dropping the ball on both ME3 and DA2, but what else are they going to say?

        “Yeah, it’s right, our publisher rode us hard… and remained inflexible on release dates” But there’s one thing people tend to forget, Bioware is EA now, and just like all subsidiaries are accountable to head office or their parent company, so to must Bioware dance to the tune of the corporate disco!

        Reply

        • Kromas

          November 5, 2013 at 15:20

          Even after the CEO quit he still stood by his choices.Now I know he is not loyal to EA but that has to say something about ME3 not being EA’s fault. If you wanna blame them for DA2 I will join in and even bring out my pitchfork but for ME3 I am still gonna say … not their fault.Anyways we really need to blame them more for Origin.

          Reply

          • HvR

            November 5, 2013 at 15:29

            I think it was the Bioware co-founders that “retired” and couple of Bioware ex-employees stated that it wasn’t voluntary.

            But it wasn’t only the crappy ending but also the lot of BS PR and false advertising that went with ME3 which was the main complaint from gamers.

          • oVg

            November 5, 2013 at 15:39

            I bet the CD count effected (excuse the pun) the 3gig ending.

            We need to fit the multi player on there somewhere but we can only afford to burn 2 CDs for the XBOX version.

            I KNOW, we make the bastards download the ending for free and make it out like we listened or something.

            Clever.

          • Kromas

            November 5, 2013 at 15:47

            I will refer to this link: http://kotaku.com/5942024/ea-exec-swears-his-company-is-not-evil Now I know it is quite old but still.What the man says is true. I work in a corporate multi-division environment and lately the company has had a bit of “Bad Luck” with the media due to one of our business units going a bit overboard. The company gets a bad name as a whole and that annoys the crap out of me. Sorta like people who work in call centers will very rarely raise their voices in anger when calling in to a helpline themselves. Now he might have been lying and he might have not but I feel at least give them the benefit of the doubt on ME3.

        • Aussious

          November 6, 2013 at 09:48

          How I wish Bioware was bought out by Take Two or Zenimax and not the Reaper called EA. The Fact that the founders resigned says alot about what has been going on there.

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            November 7, 2013 at 16:07

            I know, I mean even Ubisoft would have taken Bioware to new heights. Sigh! EA!

  3. Unalighned John (JJ)

    November 5, 2013 at 14:06

    Well, it’s a bit late for tears now EA.
    You’ve lost me as a kakstomer.

    Reply

  4. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    November 5, 2013 at 14:08

    Yes, yes, yes… You say this, but games in Origin are expensive and the service still kind of sucks.

    You buy out smaller gaming companies and then rape their games.

    You push for ALL THE DLC FOR ALL THE MONEY. I mean for fuck sakes I think Sims3 has over $500 worth of DLC you can get. Nothing is free.

    You really did a number on Sim City.

    You PUSH for deadlines and then release broken games at high prices.

    I will believe a change when I SEE IT. Fucking Telkom and EA need to harden the fuck up. Bitches

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      November 5, 2013 at 14:10

    • RinceandRepeat

      November 5, 2013 at 14:11

      But dude, Simcity has advertising in! That’s awesome, right? 0-O

      Reply

      • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

        November 5, 2013 at 14:15

        I actually bought it months after the bugs were worked out and then game is still fun, but damn those maps are like the size of a cracker!

        Reply

    • SaintsRowNigri

      November 5, 2013 at 14:25

      Ah yes, but as the local Sims fanboy, I have to state that at least the expansion packs add some more to the game gameplay wise. Not all of them, but for the most of it, the Sims expansions are quite good

      Reply

    • Xelus

      November 5, 2013 at 14:35

      I agree, though nothing beats steam services. ><

      Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      November 5, 2013 at 16:24

      For the record BF4 was cheaper on Origin than any of the retailers locally. As for the Sims, well if you’re going to milk that cow you may just as well start adding other companies to the list as this is not an EA exclusive.

      Reply

    • R1ker

      November 6, 2013 at 08:45

      They should put their games back on Steam. Origin is just plain kak

      Reply

  5. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    November 5, 2013 at 14:09

    Something tells me they might just take it a third time (Sim City… <— need I say more), or maybe Microsoft's string of questionable antics this year may just help them net the Golden Poo.

    There is a downside to EA taking the crown for the third time though, because a hat trick will be just as much a condemnation of EA as it is of Consumerist. So the joke will be on both of them.

    Reply

  6. RinceandRepeat

    November 5, 2013 at 14:10

    Give Bioward back their own lives and maybe we will forgive some of your infractions!

    Reply

  7. HvR

    November 5, 2013 at 14:11

    “I do not understand why they hate us?” Peter Moore said while rubbing the DRM Vaseline on the young Sim City’s backside.

    Reply

    • RinceandRepeat

      November 5, 2013 at 14:16

      lol

      Reply

  8. Captain GUZ

    November 5, 2013 at 14:12

    How about stop being greedy bastards……

    Reply

  9. HvR

    November 5, 2013 at 14:17

    EA list of game series they ruined or acquired and mothballed:
    Command and Conquer
    Sim City
    Dungeon Keeper
    Wing Commander
    Mass Effect
    ….

    ..

    Really??!?!? You still do not know why your consumers think you are a bunch of fucktards.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      November 5, 2013 at 14:18

      There’s a shorter list:

      1. Everything they ever touch.

      Reply

      • HvR

        November 5, 2013 at 14:18

        Well you can not really ruin Nascar and NFL.

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          November 5, 2013 at 14:20

          They do that on their own. Don’t need an EA foh dat shiz yo!

          Reply

          • HvR

            November 5, 2013 at 14:21

            Not even EA can make shit shittier. Haven’t stop them from trying to do it every single year.

    • Kromas

      November 5, 2013 at 14:45

      Mass Effect is not mothballed at all.The ending was a bit crappy but it really was not EA’s fault (the only time I ever blamed Bioware (DA2 was EA’s fault though)).Still we will get ME4 soon. EA could be faulted for Westwood’s failure of C&C only by approving the budget for a game that was clearly not C&C anymore.

      Reply

      • HvR

        November 5, 2013 at 14:50

        I do not agree in both cases EA bought out the developers (Westwood and Bioware) restructured the companies, cutting down on staff and forcing 100+hour working weeks.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          November 5, 2013 at 15:16

          EA owned Westwood for years and C&C was all good. EA owned Bioware for years and all was good. Restructuring would have already killed ME at 1 or maybe 2 but not the ending of 3. And as for Westwood, they only got restructured after the mess that was Red Alert 3.That does not excuse them from their misgivings. On your edit I do agree and that is why DA2 was horrible.That being said their new development plan is a lot better and DA3 is going to rock.

          Reply

          • HvR

            November 5, 2013 at 15:40

            Have to disagree regarding Westwood, months after acquiring them EA forced the ASAP release of Tiberium Sun resulting in a half-finished game.

            Numerous reports from Westwood studios employees stated that EA progressively exerted their control on Westwood; the last game that had any original Westwood studios employees working on it was Generals.

  10. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    November 5, 2013 at 14:18

    When they saw it FOR THE SECOND TIME?!?!?! If that statement doesnt reek of corporate jargon, then I dont know.
    Here is some advice EA. If you dont want to be viewed as the worst company in America…….THEN STOP WHOREING AROUND YOUR TITLES TO TRY AND GET EVERY LAST CENT OUT OF US!!!!!!!
    Seriously……if it weren’t for Bioware…..

    Reply

    • Kromas

      November 5, 2013 at 14:42

      True that. I would be happier with them if they just fix origin and give me a backup/restore facility for my games.

      Reply

    • Weanerdog

      November 5, 2013 at 15:39

      Amen Brother

      Reply

  11. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 5, 2013 at 14:20

    They won’t change. Their business practices are set. All they can do is get better PR to make them look better.

    Reply

  12. Admiral Chief Ninja

    November 5, 2013 at 14:21

    • HvR

      November 5, 2013 at 14:22

      LOL happens when you put a Nascar driver on a straight track.

      Reply

    • ToshZA

      November 5, 2013 at 14:25

      How does he get so many rebounds? Its like Britney in her prime. HAHAHAHA!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Ninja

        November 5, 2013 at 14:26

        I dunno man, thought he was gonna correct at one point

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)

          November 5, 2013 at 14:30

          Just after the last bump you think “that was an epic comeback” and then it falls flat…

          Reply

      • Anon A Mouse

        November 5, 2013 at 14:41

        Must be the load inside that changes the center of gravity but the dude should have taken his foot off the accelerator.

        Reply

    • RinceandRepeat

      November 5, 2013 at 14:36

      HAHAHAHAHAHA!

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      November 5, 2013 at 14:43

      Just when you thought how bad can a drunk person drive…

      Reply

    • Major FoxHoundR - what the fox

      November 5, 2013 at 15:00

      DRIVES LIKE A SONY FANBOI

      Reply

    • Mike

      November 5, 2013 at 15:01

      The physics in that game is bad.

      Reply

    • oVg

      November 5, 2013 at 15:35

      lol

      Reply

  13. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    November 5, 2013 at 14:22

    1) Take away always online
    2) that’s it

    Reply

    • HvR

      November 5, 2013 at 14:23

      And give the wonderful gaming IP they are hoarding to their original creators or at least to someone who appreciates it.

      Worked for 2K.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        November 5, 2013 at 14:57

        that too

        Reply

  14. Ryanza

    November 5, 2013 at 14:29

    If EA drops Origin and drops DRM, then only will EA’s image turn around.

    I will not support EA. EA had it’s chance to get me to support EA with Sim City 5 but instead Origin and DRM is what EA sold me.

    So I bought a video game that I can not play because I don’t have stable internet.

    So yeah, fuck you EA. I will never support EA unless EA goes DRM free. Battlefield 4 couldn’t even raise my interest in supporting EA.

    Do not support DRM. Do not support EA and EA’s Origin.

    Support DRM free. Support companies like CD Projekt RED with the Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077

    I have to say it again, Fuck EA.

    Reply

    • RinceandRepeat

      November 5, 2013 at 14:40

      So, what you are saying is that you pretty much support all of EA’s DRM and Origin ideals?

      Reply

      • FoxHoundZA

        November 5, 2013 at 14:42

        What he is trying to say is fuck you and EA with not taking things serious.

        Reply

        • RinceandRepeat

          November 5, 2013 at 14:44

          I agree with all you said, just not the juvenile response to my obvious sarcasm. Grow up.

          Reply

        • RinceandRepeat

          November 5, 2013 at 14:45

          FOXHOUND! Where have you been baby!? We have truly missed you!

          Reply

          • FoxHoundZA

            November 5, 2013 at 14:46

            I have been sleeping until Xbox One arrives. But the overheat from PS4 woke me up.

          • RinceandRepeat

            November 5, 2013 at 14:47

            Surely you mean the heat from EA?

          • FoxHoundZA

            November 5, 2013 at 14:48

            No overheat from PS4 that burnt up. It does not have secret sauce of Xbox One to keep it cool.

          • RinceandRepeat

            November 5, 2013 at 14:50

            But that’s madness Foxhound! This is an EA article! It doesn’t make sense man!

          • FoxHoundZA

            November 5, 2013 at 14:52

            It does make sense if you smart. EA as bad as SONY. They need unicorn magic to make them right again.

          • Major FoxHoundR - what the fox

            November 5, 2013 at 14:56

            dafuq YOU NOT ME

          • Hammersteyn

            November 5, 2013 at 15:01

            I’m so confused

          • Major FoxHoundR - what the fox

            November 5, 2013 at 14:56

            WHO ARE YOU

          • FoxHoundZA

            November 5, 2013 at 15:17

            WHO ARE YOU? I KNOW I AM NOT YOU!

          • Major FoxHoundR - what the fox

            November 5, 2013 at 15:34

            YOU ARE A DUDE PRETNEDING TO BE A ANOTHER DUDE I AM THE REAL FOXHOUND

          • FoxHoundZA

            November 5, 2013 at 15:57

            YOU ARE A LITTLE BITCH PRETENDING TO BE A DUDE. I AM NOT PRETENDING TO BE ANYBODY. I WAS FOXHOUND BEFORESONY SET YOU FREE.

    • TiMsTeR1033

      November 5, 2013 at 14:45

      So much ANGER!

      Reply

      • RinceandRepeat

        November 5, 2013 at 14:48

        Hehe, a Sith, he is perhaps?

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          November 5, 2013 at 14:50

          A painful road a dark padawan walks..

          Reply

          • Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)

            November 5, 2013 at 14:53

            Lol… You guys made me think of this…

      • Ryanza

        November 5, 2013 at 14:52

        The anger is long gone. I have excepted that Sim City 5 is just a box and a disc that I bought and not a video game like Sim City 4 that I bought that i can still install and play to this day without Internet and Origin.

        But the, Fuck EA, message still needs to be spread, if you look at the direction these video game companies are heading towards.

        Reply

  15. iPrimal

    November 5, 2013 at 14:43

    The online pass was the biggest one. EA is now a little better.

    Reply

  16. B4d R0b0t

    November 5, 2013 at 15:00

    I thought they got this because of how the treated staff ?

    Reply

  17. Daniel Williams

    November 5, 2013 at 15:25

    Day One DLC and the always online policy for games like Sim City need to go.

    Reply

  18. Skyblue

    November 5, 2013 at 15:28

    Can someone tell me how a digital purchase costs the same as a disk based game? This is one of my pet peeves when purchasing new titles and I purchase mostly through digital distribution.

    Reply

  19. Wraith

    November 5, 2013 at 15:58

    Well they aren’t doing themselves any favours by pushing out Battlefield 4 as bug-ridden as it is at the moment. I’m waiting for the first client patch before even attempting to play online!

    Reply

  20. Schalk Engelbrecht

    November 5, 2013 at 16:49

    Just look up the new Dungeon Keeper for touchscreen. Another great franchise ruined by EA. How about they stop making terrible games? Stop unethical business practices? Stop peeing on our heads and say it’s raining? They even had the gall to blame server issues for SimCity on the gamers (no BS).

    Reply

  21. Rags

    November 5, 2013 at 16:49

    The joke is on the electorate tbh.

    Reply

  22. IncendiaryGrenade

    November 5, 2013 at 19:18

    Zynga is the worst company!

    Reply

  23. Kyou

    November 5, 2013 at 23:27

    EA IS THE WORST COMPANY IN AMERICA!! BATTLEFIELD 4 SUCKS!!

    Reply

  24. John Van Rensburg

    November 6, 2013 at 14:12

    its not just an awful company from a public point of view, but also a hellacious environment to work in from an employee point of view. more often than not, the turnaround times on games are unreasonable and at the behest of sales executives, not project manager estimations. its tantamount to slavery, with prettier surroundings (this according to someone I know who works at EA Vancouver)

    Reply

  25. Kradenko

    November 6, 2013 at 15:35

    Listen to your customers and you won’t be hated…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

FIFA and EA Split? How Did it Happen and What Now for the Future of the Franchise?

In life, there are many staples, peanut butter and jam, bread and a toaster, and in gaming…