We all like to think that studios wouldn’t willingly release broken games. It’s all the fault of the evil publishers, right? Their corporate overlords force them to ship games before they’re ready and that’s why we all suffer. Well… EA COO Peter Moore insists that it isn’t really like that.
Speaking to Games Industry, he explained that EA policy isn’t as evil as it’s made out to be. They are willing to let annual releases have a year off if it will make for better games, and they are happy to look at new IP as long as it can’t be watered down but rather built upon. But it’s his comments about trusting studios and listening to them about timing that might surprise those who still harbor a ton of EA hate:
The studio will come, we sit down, we have what we call ‘key franchise reviews’, we have three, four year views of what our portfolio will be. We then sit down with the studio heads and say “Okay, what do you need?”
I know everybody thinks companies like us say “you must deliver the game!” That’s not how it happens. The big bad EA forces the game out before…That’s not what happens. The studios are in control, they know what their milestones are. If a studio says “Look, we just need the time,” they need the time.
He points at recent delays like Golf and Battlefield Hardline as examples of this. I just have to wonder if this was always the policy, or an example of EA learning from its mistakes. Either way, I’m glad to hear that their studios aren’t being forced to hit certain release deadlines.
So, are studios just not paying attention to bad ports or broken games? It’s such a trend now for even massive titles to release with serious bugs – who can we actually blame, or have the studios and publishers become too big for there to be anyone really in charge or to blame?
Last Updated: July 1, 2015
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 1, 2015 at 15:08
It’s funny how they started delaying games only after the BF4 release debacle. Wonder if it has anything to do with the share price taking a hit from that. No, of course not. Completely unrelated. Coincidence.
I work for a corporation. People don’t tell you to do something, it’s just… strongly implied that you really should, or else.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
July 1, 2015 at 15:11
Or else you will face the corporate hammer of unemployment and if you dare stand up against it you’ll be cut from funding etc…. And then one day, you get a phone call from a company who is interested in your capabilities and you wonder why said corporation would say that you are aiming at a career suicide, right?
Sara Richardson
July 2, 2015 at 01:33
<-******* Start working at home with Google! It’s by-far the
best job I’ve had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a
check for $6000 this – 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and
immediately was bringing home at least $177 per hour.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
July 1, 2015 at 15:09
I find this hard to believe, where and how do they interpret said studios’ feedback? And secondly, is it not partially the publishers’ responsibility to ensure the product is fully functional before release? These guys have a real way with words…
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 1, 2015 at 15:15
I’m sure everything he’s saying there is literally true. I’m also sure it’s not the whole truth.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
July 1, 2015 at 15:17
A truth told partially may still seem like the real thing….until prodded…then it falls apart like bacon on a sosatie…
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 1, 2015 at 15:09
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/878/060/PierluigiCollina_display_image.jpg?1328837288
Derrich Schleich
July 1, 2015 at 16:47
this picture scared me….
HvR
July 2, 2015 at 09:41
XCOM 2 IS HERE!!!!!!!!
Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost
July 1, 2015 at 15:10
Both.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 1, 2015 at 15:11
Aye
Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost
July 1, 2015 at 15:12
Cheers people.
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 15:18
Okay let me get this straight. The studio behind Simcity says to Peter, the game is gonna need a couple of patches and the servers aren’t ready we need to delay and Peter replies, that’s fine don’t stress?BULLSHIT!
“recent delays like Golf and Battlefield Hardline”
What Golf? Mario Golf? Also Hardline was delayed because they tossed BF4 to gamers like dog owners tosses meat to their dogs and what a colossal mess it was
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 1, 2015 at 15:21
This is so appropriate:
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 15:22
Bwahahahaha!
MakeItLegal
July 2, 2015 at 08:33
classic
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 15:20
Also thanks for killing Syndicate, Dungeon Keeper, C&C, Theme games, etc.
Sageville
July 1, 2015 at 15:22
I sense a disturbance in the Hammerforce…
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 15:29
Gaaaaaaaaaah!
http://i.imgur.com/76l52tr.gif
Splooshypooh
July 1, 2015 at 16:03
All the dickbutt!
Captain JJ Browmehn
July 1, 2015 at 15:38
They also swore it’s impossible to make SimCity offline
Reidroc
July 1, 2015 at 15:42
Maybe EA just uses the wive approach. Studio calls EA and tells them that the game will be late (delayed). EA responds with ‘It’s fine’, but you know damn well from past experience that it’s not fine.
The Sten
July 1, 2015 at 15:45
Sorry dude, the internet has already elected their supervillain. Nothing you say can convince us that you dont kill puppies in your spare time.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 1, 2015 at 15:47
I know everybody thinks companies like us say “you must kill the puppies!” That’s not how it happens. The big bad EA kills the puppies before…That’s not what happens. The studios are in control, they know what their murder-stones are. If a studio says “Look, we just need the time to kill the puppy,” they need the time.
Kromas,powered by windows 10.
July 1, 2015 at 16:07
Points at Ubisoft and WB. The up and coming stars who want to take EA’s title away.
Captain JJ Browmehn
July 1, 2015 at 16:17
Win
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 17:14
^this
Brady miaau
July 1, 2015 at 16:19
EA, I think, sits in the interesting position of selling other companies (they may own them?) promises AND relying on those companies schedules and so forth. Who designs the games? Who does the Project Management? I am not sure that EA or other publishers are heavily involved in the management of the development process. I think they have to be, as they seem to rely on the word of the studios they are funding to make game X, about the actual development process, rather than having a good handle on the REAL development process.
Cause, you know, the development firm never covers up development faults or problems from the money people, right?
Not an EA fan at all, though, BUT I like some of the games in their stable.
The Sten
July 1, 2015 at 16:37
Is anybody a fan of Warner Brothers, Activision, Ubisoft etc.? It seems people become fans of the developers when they like a game but blame the publishers for failed games.
Brady miaau
July 1, 2015 at 16:56
Yes, but this not like a waiter. If a waiter brings us bad food, we complain and hate on the waiter sometimes.
Publishers commission the projects, they fund it. They should be running them properly, i.e. proper development controls in place, not just financial controls
HvR
July 2, 2015 at 09:51
I expect the waiter that when he get the burger at the window and it is only half of what I order or if the chef replace my beef with fish not to bring it over to me but come and apologize and fix the problem.
I’m not paying someone 10% to 15% to just to walk and carry a plate 10m.
Same for the publisher, last line of QC and first in line of unhappy customer wrath; they usually get the biggest chunk of the profits anyway so should carry most of the blame and risk.
Pieter Kruger
July 1, 2015 at 16:20
Haters gonna hate, just don’t bitch on here and still buy Star Wars Battlefront or Unravel etc. Vote with your wallet!????
Hammersteyn
July 1, 2015 at 17:15
Buying their games secondhand…………gonna have to wait years for Mass Effect
MakeItLegal
July 2, 2015 at 08:37
i use to play bf4 like dota2 ( over 200 hours with bf4) , played less than 8 hours of hardline , now while the new battlefront looks cool and tempting , my gut feeling says dont purchase it , too many ppl from e3 said , simple , cod health regen , plus small limited maps = cash grab from
EA , nothing new here really , just some skins , themed music , and a paid license to use star wars IP ….
EA , will suck my dry wallet……until new mass effect …( At least i am honest )
MakeItLegal
July 2, 2015 at 08:37
i use to play bf4 like dota2 ( over 200 hours with bf4) , played less than 8 hours of hardline , now while the new battlefront looks cool and tempting , my gut feeling says dont purchase it , too many ppl from e3 said , simple , cod health regen , plus small limited maps = cash grab from
EA , nothing new here really , just some skins , themed music , and a paid license to use star wars IP ….
EA , will suck my dry wallet……until new mass effect …( At least i am honest )
MakeItLegal
July 2, 2015 at 08:30
If a studio says “Look, we just need the time,” they need the time.
really ? this just makes u look worse EA
HvR
July 2, 2015 at 09:40
ON a totally unrelated note ever notice how the devil in human form is usually depicted as having a goatee and balding forehead.
DGR
July 2, 2015 at 19:17
They crushed the Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster. EA can go to hell.