Poor Patrick Söderlund, EVP of EA Studios. All those bad names people call EA has really been getting to them – why can’t it just be about the games? Well, that’s a question gamers and EA are asking from very difference sides of the fence.
Speaking to MCV UK, Söderlund says that EA don’t think they’re the worst company in America, but they have to consider why people are saying that. Part of moving into the next generation means looking at their policies and assessing what gamers want:
We looked at something as simple as the Online Pass. People were telling us they didn’t like that. So we weighed up the pros and cons and went ‘Ok. We will remove it.’ These decisions need to be driven by what consumers want and tell us, and that is where we may have faltered a bit in the past.
If we continue to do those types of things, then we will earn people’s trust and respect. We don’t want to be bad, we have no desire to be voted the worst company in America. On the contrary we want to be voted the best.
Söderlund went on to say that EA are bound to make mistakes, but they need to communicate and agree that it was, in fact, a mistake and try to fix it. Of course they won’t be able to please everyone, but their goal is to focus on gamers and improving their products.
I want people to recognise us for the games we make rather than anything else. Whether that is the Worst Company in America or whatever people don’t like. We need to be remembered and respected for the games we make.
The reality is that EA does make awesome games. If they were just a bad company with bad games, they probably would have disappeared into the ether a while ago. The fact is, people will buy the Sims, and when TitanFall comes that will not only sell like hotcakes, but will help to ship units of Xbox One. I’m seriously looking forward to Dragon Age: Inquisition. That doesn’t mean that I think EA are a great company – they just make great games. I still don’t like feeling like everything they do is a rip off.
Last Updated: November 28, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:04
It would be very easy to become better if they upped their game on the after sales service.
Instead of telling customers to go jump (as they so often do) they should try to at least be a little more friendly. Even if the answer is going to be no.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:06
Also, that header is disturbing and I think I’m no longer very hungry.
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:10
I could go for some ice cream right about now, chocolate flavour. Wonder if our friend will oblige
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:12
the ones with the flake in it?
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:12
Yes, and some crunchy nuts
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:12
Mmmmmmm
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:15
And sprinkles, and some ice-cap
ToshZA
November 28, 2013 at 15:17
I prefer to add some condensed milk to mine.
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:20
Good man, sounds like a plan
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:29
Sorry, it’s the best I could do…
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:31
Aaaaaaaaaand ye ol’ appetite is GONE
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:32
But, but, you asked for it?!? :O
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:33
As a deterrent to want ice cream, it worked
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:34
Well, it does look more like Caramel than Chocolate… Let me try that again 😀
HvR
November 28, 2013 at 15:33
You brought up the damn ice cream despite knowing better and now we all are paying the price.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 28, 2013 at 15:35
Not me, I know better than to refresh my screen. lol
RyseandRepeat
November 28, 2013 at 15:53
You and me both brother. The horror, the HORROR!
ToshZA
November 28, 2013 at 15:46
not even sure if I can finish my coffee now.
RyseandRepeat
November 28, 2013 at 15:52
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:10
Forget 2girls1cup, more like 4logs1paper
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:17
I want to teach my dog how to do that…
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:20
Poop a heart?
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:26
Yes, that way if it does poop in the house, then you can’t be mad at it 😀
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:28
Good point, avoid the punishment, poop a heart
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
November 28, 2013 at 15:30
I wonder if my Girlfriend would get mad if I did that…
SaintsRowNigri
November 28, 2013 at 15:39
If she doesn’t, look me up. I have the address of a good loony bin you need to send her to…
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:11
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aG9z5p0_700b.jpg
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:13
I can’t do it cap’in. I don’ hav the power!
Weanerdog
November 28, 2013 at 15:19
That’s Scotty, not Sulu.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 15:22
Whatever. Star Wars forever!!!
Weanerdog
November 28, 2013 at 15:34
Ok so what is the line in Empire when Darth drops the bombshell on Luke?
Edit: No cheating and looking it up on google
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 28, 2013 at 15:36
BOOM!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 28, 2013 at 17:44
Darth: No, I am your father
Luke: No! That’s not true! It’s impossible!
It irks me when people quote this one wrong
Weanerdog
November 28, 2013 at 21:35
You sir, are correct, here have an internet.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 29, 2013 at 06:39
Why thank you kind sir 🙂
ToshZA
November 28, 2013 at 15:11
EA trying to be the good guy.
Admiral Chief Duke
November 28, 2013 at 15:41
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/apqgnAE_460sa.gif
RyseandRepeat
November 28, 2013 at 15:53
HAHAHAHAH!
Hondsepop
November 28, 2013 at 15:31
“These decisions need to be driven by what consumers want and tell us”
Just ask and we will tell you. Don’t do it and then come afterwards with you BS.
InsanityFlea
November 28, 2013 at 15:33
How about publishing *finished* games?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 28, 2013 at 15:33
I can’t complain about the EA games I’ve played in the past, they were good. But I don’t like the direction they’re moving the industry. And they can try changing the way they’re perceived all they want, because to me if their actions are the same then their words don’t matter. I’m not fooled by word games.
I really enjoyed DA1 & 2 & I was interested in 3, but then I thought how much DLC is going to be released for it – probably a crap load, and I’ll be forced to use Origin like I was for ME3. I’m seriously leaning towards giving it a miss, which sucks from a game playing POV, but I don’t have to play every AAA game – even those I would like to.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
November 28, 2013 at 15:37
Sure EA, I will give you respect again.
You can download my support via DLC for only $5.99!!!
Hammersteyn
November 28, 2013 at 15:41
Bwahaha okay um let’s take all the games from Maxis, Westwood, Bullfrog and here’s a nice one Origin(not that dirty online service from EA) and see exactly what EA has done with them. They are not listening to gamers. They bought all these licenses and are doing dick with it. I’m casting my vote to ensure it’s a hat trick this year!
They want us to look at the games they make fine. The have a monopoly on all major sport games so there’s yearly release for title for every one they own without really changing anything, Battlefield an online cash printing game, the Sims which is a DLC cash cow, Simcity which was a DRM failure and in no way superior to it’s prequel, Harry Potter which they turned into a generic cover based shooter. Then there’s Star Wars 1313 which they canceled. They even fucked up Dead Space after three game with micro transactions.
How exactly do they intend to change my mind. If you go to their list of games there are tons that they can continue with but the sad thing is if they did they would change it into a DLC laden mess. I’m sorry but this is a premier capitalist company that deserves all the bad press that comes to them.
Hondsepop
November 28, 2013 at 15:47
Challenge everything se gat.
Hammersteyn
November 28, 2013 at 16:11
They challenge my patience.
oVg
November 28, 2013 at 16:01
Good bye John, those videogamers don’t like you for some reason.
http://kotaku.com/5991329/what-john-riccitiello-was-right-about
Brian Murphy
November 28, 2013 at 16:14
bartleby451
November 28, 2013 at 23:31
If they want to be recognised for the games then they should make good ones and not follow up by gimping them, also stop fucking customers over and treating us like cash cows
J_Joestar
November 29, 2013 at 22:32
This is where people should remember that in big companies like this, the guys who actually make the games are not the same guys who make all the business decisions which are why most people hate EA anyways.