We learned yesterday that EA’s CEO will soon be exiting the building from the back door, carrying a box full of mementos and personal belongings. For his tenure as EA boss for the last 7 years, he’ll also walk away with two years of pay; a pretty enviable position. EA’s current top management has had nice things to say about John, but one anonymous EA executive has knives out, saying that Riccitiello’s responsible for ruining EA.
“Riccitiello lost money every single year he was at EA while I was there, (and probably every other year he was there too). He just didn’t know anything about games, or rather, interactive entertainment in general,” the former, anonymous EA executive told GamesIndustry, adding that “He’s much more obnoxious than impressive.”
The source says that the acting CEO, Larry Probst nows games and the market better, but likely won’t have much impact on EA’s future because his ‘heart isn’t in it’.He also says that EA’s problems run deep, and that it’s currently fostering “a huge staff of unproductive senior execs that have ‘retired in place.’” Older people that don;t really do anything, but continue to get paid for doing that nothing anyway, something referred internally as the “EA Retirement Home”.
“They might think they are (or were) creative powerhouses, but of course the creative people actually left EA long ago to seek work where they could be creative (take risks), and invent things,” the anonymous
“EA hasn’t done much of anything of interest in 10-15 years, as proven by the unstaunched bleeding out of equity over that entire time period. It’s sad really, that company used to kick ass. Riccitiello was the single largest reason it stopped. Maybe it will heal, but I don’t think so.”
For what it’s worth, EA’s stock has dropped nearly 10 per cent since the announcement of Riccitiello’s departure. Also not likely to help with EA morale is the fact that it’s once again in the running for The Consumerist’s annual award for America’s very worst company; a dubious award which it “won” last year.
Can EA claw back? What would you like to see from EA in the future?
Last Updated: March 20, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
March 20, 2013 at 13:39
Ouch. When your own staff turn on you like this one needs to stop and wonder what’s wrong.
Sir Captain Rincethis
March 20, 2013 at 13:41
MOAR COD-like games! I said it yesterday, the passion has left the building, only to be left with the geriatric craziness that only self-important arrseholes can nurture truly well… On a side note, Geoff, we were concerned. We thought perhaps you had been deported whilst having your curls done…
Admiral Chief Erwin
March 20, 2013 at 13:43
I see he is online again, so you might be correct
Sir Captain Rincethis
March 20, 2013 at 13:46
He lovem curls…
AndriyP
March 20, 2013 at 13:44
Hahaha XD
Admiral Chief Erwin
March 20, 2013 at 13:41
Now that he is done ruining EA, he is qualified for a job in SA politics
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
March 20, 2013 at 13:41
Must…not….laugh….
Admiral Chief Erwin
March 20, 2013 at 13:44
😉
Kobus Nel
March 20, 2013 at 14:13
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4lc3v91901qkqwol.gif
OVG
March 20, 2013 at 16:49
ROFL that cracked me up 😉
Purple_Dragon
March 22, 2013 at 08:45
Haha me too, trying my damnedest not to laugh my head off here at work.
Kobus Nel
March 22, 2013 at 09:50
Hehe 🙂
JHN
March 20, 2013 at 13:45
TO say EA hasn’t done anything of interest in the last 10-15 years might be a little over the top.
Hondsepop
March 20, 2013 at 13:55
nows…..almost like cows, just better.
OVG
March 20, 2013 at 13:56
Just look at this photo. These are the people making your games. ITS WORSE THAN THE FCKING WEST WING.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
March 20, 2013 at 14:00
Suits! Too many suits!
Kobus Nel
March 20, 2013 at 14:07
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4hy88l6q01qkqwol.gif
Hondsepop
March 20, 2013 at 14:04
Hey, where’s the cool dudettes with thick nerdy glasses, dressed in comicon clothes, making my games. Fantasy ruined, thanks.
OVG
March 20, 2013 at 14:10
They are there…in the kitchen making the boss a cup of tea hoping to get that one story board signed off while the boss talks about what gamers want.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 20, 2013 at 14:14
Or the IT guy who gets called in because the printer isn’t communicating with the computer and someone couldn’t print a financial statement…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 20, 2013 at 14:08
MBAs man… MBAs… those suckers have no souls.
OVG
March 20, 2013 at 14:00
The start of their demise in my eyes was when we had to redeem a code to have nude women in The Saboteur. Before that I was defending the company while Mirrors Edge, Brutal Legend, Deadspace and Dragon Age were sitting on my top shelf with pride.
umar bastra
March 20, 2013 at 14:08
I would like to see less of a stranglehold on developers, look at the vast difference between Mass Effect 1 and 2, Dragon age 1 and 2
Neji
March 20, 2013 at 14:32
EA used to a company that made good quality games. Games that made games want to keep on playing those games… then one day EA said “pffft… we can do anything we want to” and then they made Origin. While at the same time decided to rip gamers new ones by using DLC to death.
Slade Boender
March 20, 2013 at 14:32
Feel the hate. Let it run through you…
iPrimal
March 20, 2013 at 22:39
EA is rotten. Has been for the longest time.