A continual disappointment with every endeavor and the most morally bankrupt marketing division to ever seep from the toxic womb of the gaming industry.

So, I try to avoid their games and products. Been doing well sense I find most of their games made in the past decade don't actually appeal to me.

>>169081
This. But they made some great LotR games.

Proof that those demented, cackling corporate vulture caricatures from cartoons are actually 100% true to life.

I kinda want to play the new Alice game, but won't because EA.

They're not really evil, so much as they're just incompetent. They apply methods that work well outside of the gaming industry to their business, which ends up alienating potential customers.

>Treating big-name games as an investment in the same way movie studios treat summer blockbusters by dumping millions of dollars into their budgets, forcing producers and developers to adhere to mostly-imaginary stereotypes to appeal to markets that don't actually exist, spending a fortune on advertising, coming out of it barely even, and then doing it again every 1-2 years until the IP is devalued.

>"Oh wow, our big marketing blitzes lead to better sales and critic reception? Better KEEP ON DOING IT."

>"It looks like all our current IPs are stale. Better buy a successful, respected company and gut it out like we did the others!"

>"Good job finishing that game of yours. One more thing, though,... is there anything you can take out at the last minute so we can sell it as DLC?"

My friend literally said "DURP, EA IS A COMPANY, THEY SHOULD BE MAKING ENOUGH MONEY AS POSSIBLE TO PUMP INTO THE ECONOMY". He has Ass Burgers though, so I need not respect him.

The only EA series I've ever played is The Sims, so I don't really know much of how they work or what they've done.

I do know it's been nearly six months since I asked if they were ever planning on porting Mass Effect to the Mac and I didn't get any response back, not even a "hahaha fuck you".

Not that big of a complain, but... 7 years ago I played the first 3 HP games on my PS2. Now, the first was okay, but the second very engaging, with nice sense of adventure to it. The reason for that is because the games were not based on the movies, or the books, but the general ideas of both, and looking quite different from the Hollywood blockbusters. The developers knew what they were doing, and made games first, and movie adaptations second.

And then there is the third game. Apparently, SOMEONE gave the developers clear orders to make it very close to THE MOVIE. And that's what they did: made it as similar (especially visually) to the film as possible, while sacrificing game length, and most importantly, FUN.

All HP games were published by EA. They got worse with every single installation.

>>169248
Its the same story as always with EA the first two were developed by small developers likely '90s Dev teams brought under EA but not really controlling them as of yet. And with Three EA starts to for lack of a better term starts "Assuming Direct Control" with their Development branch starting to take over. The history of EA take them over and slowly push them out with Bioware being next on this list.

I guess my friend works for a company that works for EA or something?
I just remember she had to work on madden during the holiday weekend because everyone at EA was on vacation.
Conveniently ignoring the fact that everyone there was on vacation, too.

F-22 Interceptor
Genesis - LHX Attack Chopper Intro + Gameplay

Oh EA, you were a part of my childhood... I... I don't know you anymore!

BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk has opened up on the studio’s relationship with EA, describing the company’s management style as a “bear hug.”

EA acquired BioWare, along with Mercenaries dev Pandemic, for $860m in 2007. Since that time BioWare has developed Mass Effect 2 and 3, the Dragon Age series and PC MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Zeschuk left the studio last year with fellow co-founder Ray Muzyka. The shock move has been put down to the “fan negativity” bought on by the reception to Dragon Age 2 and the ending of Mass Effect 3, among other factors.

Reflecting on his time under EA, Zeschuk hinted at potentially difficult relationship, saying "I think one of the reasons that we survived and succeeded within EA was that our company was mature enough and there was enough good people throughout to handle the EA bear hug - something that is well meaning but vigorous."

"We needed to be strong to survive that and I think we did and you evolve from that as well."

Zeschuk’s well-mannered words may suggest the co-founder’s real reason for leaving Bioware. Or maybe he really did just want to spend more time with his beer.

>>169297
Sounds to me EA tries to be far too controlling. Probably through mandates, overblown statistics on what's "popular with the gaming crowd", and overly restrictive schedules made to encourage the most "efficient" progress possible.

I think part of EA's problem is that they're really more corporate entity now than simple game publisher. The way they act and move speaks to that corporate bloat, that abysmal snails' pace of change despite being a company theoretically on the cutting edge.

They can't reform, they can't adapt, they can't look at a smaller development company and say "we can adapt our frameworks to what already works for them". They try to bear hug, or gut developers, so that they can attach them to the corporate framework more easily. And that's a huge problem not just for EA but for corporations in general. We're not quite at the point where 5 guys and a cellphone can make a billion-dollar enterprise but we are damn close, and that versatility and adaptability can easily deliver an experience superior to E.A.'s, despite being of a smaller scale.

>>169314
I can sum up their problem in a word: Shareholders. Like all super corporations that have had an IPO, they act as though stocks and profit sharing are their one and only goal and that it must be done now, eschewing long-term large gain for short-term small gain and long-term hurt.

Why is Valve Super Awesome Gaming Company #1 and not EA? Because Gabe is scared of reaching #3Valve has no share holders. They have no board of directors, that cross multiple other companies' board of directors (seriously, look up connections between companies through board of directors), to make horrible decisions based on short-term profit motive and trying to squeeze every last penny out of their staff, consumers, and partners.

I'm not saying that corporations or the stock market is inherently bad, but once you get to a certain size it will lead to problems. I remember working for UPS a few years back; horrible, horrible soul-sucking company. So many restrictions in order to avoid this, that, and the other thing. The big banks and auto-makers that are "too big to fail", but they're failing because their board of directors "acted in the interests of their shareholders" and fucked the companies (and other companies) completely over. EA is now part of this category, but I will set their building on fire if they even hint at asking the government for a bail out.

>>169320
If I can play the devils advocate for just a moment. Valves lack of greater structure also ensures episode 3 may never be made and has led to some odd decisions regarding sequels and rate of game production. Their greatest strength is Steam.

>>169333
That's true; there's a reason "Valve Time" is a meme. However, I think I'd prefer no HL:EP3 instead of HL:EP3 turning out like ME3 or DA2.

Gabe said that they want to get it "right" before they release it. The downside to this is that "right" is highly substantive so we may never get it.

>>169335
>I think I'd prefer no HL:EP3 instead of HL:EP3 turning out like ME3 or DA2.
True that.

You Can Feel Dead Space 3 Comi…

EA Marketing will always and forever be..a puzzle.

>>169413
No, puzzles can be solved.

>>169420
But some shouldn't. Some hold secrets too dark for any sane mind.

i like fifa enough i guess

This is the only game from EA in my collection. And it could've been so much better without them involved.
>>169248
The Gameboy Color adaptations of the first two and the GBA adaptation of the third were all really addictive My First JRPG style games. And then The Goblet of Fire happened and the handheld ones went to shit too.

I'll never forgive them for what they did to bullfrog and my beloved dungeon keeper series.

>>169420
>>169425
I need this crossover.

>Bioware giving away most the DLC for DA:O and DA2
DA:2 for 3.99

Finally priced at correct value.

>>169830
You can still buy a decent sandwich at that price. Rather have the sandwich.

I swore off Bioware after they basically said people like me are entitled because we expected effort put into a game.

>>169859
Well they have been nothing much more than a Flesh Puppet for EA for a while now.

>>169830
>DA:2 for 4 bucks


eeeeeeeeeeehh

stretching the pocket book quite a bit there.

>>169870
I hope Bioware's members basically jump ship and reform it without EA's hand up their ass.

>>169870
Am I the only one who thought advertising Mass Effect 3 as a perfect game to get into the series was dumb as hell. It's like watching Return of the Jedi without seeing A New Hope or Empire Strikes Back.

I just expected better from the end of the trilogy.

>>169877
That was a bad idea from the start using the third of anything as an introduction to a series game. Hell its why so much lore and story was thrown out because they didn't want to confuse newcomers. Great fear same thing happening to Dead Space 3 and likely DA3 though I don't know how they could fuck up more than they've done already.

>>169879
DA3 from what they said, for as much their word means anymore, would be a continuation of 3. They said they listened to the fans. Whether that's a step in the right direction or not. Well the game itself is the only thing that can tell us that.

Wow read a review is the beginning of Dead Space 3 really Issac getting drunk over his current ex and being a depressing dick and really nothing comes of it all

>>169896

Yes but that scene is only 4 seconds long and doesn't amount to anything (at least not so far as I've seen 11 chapters in).

>>169897
Is there any other suplamental material one has to read to figure out all the lore for the game. Played both 1 and 2 watched and am watching LPs of them right now and watching one for 3 and that whole first part about the black marker and stuff. Did I miss something playing the other two?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-05-bioware-all-hands-on-deck-for-new-mass-effect-3-dlc

>The new expansion is being developed at BioWare Edmonton - the studio that headed development on the Mass Effect trilogy. (Omega was worked upon by the series' secondary team at BioWare Montreal, to whom Mass Effect 4 development has been given.)

>(Omega was worked upon by the series' secondary team at BioWare Montreal, to whom Mass Effect 4 development has been given.)

Yea hence why it was apparently considered Donkey Balls because it did fuck all to the storyline overall.


>Unusually, the as-yet untitled DLC will feature an eight-person writing team. This includes core members of the Mass Effect 3 staff such as lead writer Mac Walters.

Oh so they got all the writers together THIS TIME instead of letting a group splinter and throw the whole thing into RBG Oblivion.

I really think its a Riot they are again trying to get fans back to this turkey after repeatedly slapping them in the face and kicking them in the balls.

Oh and the guys that did Omega and that are heading the ME4 project

http://vr-zone.com/articles/bioware--calling-the-next-game-mass-effect-4-is-a-disservice-/18934.html

Have a very hard time figuring out what and where they want to take Mass Effect.

>>169945
Into the ground obviously.

>>169962
Well yea that is the endgame for all EA franchise takeovers.

Fuck EA!.......That is all

EA Full Spectrum - Hate is Not a Game

>"create well-defined and “authentic” LGBT characters in video games,"

Montage made up mainly of Sims stuff and bedroom footage.

So how about that SimCity backlash?

>>170504
Still pretty heavy last I checked especially after it was shown they were bullshitting about Always Online being necessary for game calculations or some such nonsense.

>>170504
>>170529
There was also this, supposedly.
>EA Hires Hundreds of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity’s Always Online Requirement
http://www.p4rgaming.com/?p=1473

>>170643

You know P4Gaming is The Onion of video game news, right?

>>170644
Not really, but that why I said supposedly. It sounded a bit fishy.
Anyways, my bad.

What intrigues me now is what could motivate companies to sell themselves to EA. I mean obviously money, but everybody knows what they will do to your franchise now. Who would what that for themselves?

>>170691
Don't forget Pandemic and their most recent victim Visceral Montreal and likely Visceral Games as a whole with the "failure" of Dead Space.

>>170686
Its basically they need someone to help them get their game into the market but I think more and more see EA as the Deal with the Devil.

One story in particular makes me leads me to believe they are evil and that is Double Fine and their Brutal Legend series and its Sequel which they believed they had been green lighted for only to be told in the middle of production that they had not. I don't believe this was a miscommunication and believe that it was completely intentional since it almost destroyed Double Fine financially and if it hadn't been for Tim Schafer and his "Amnesia Fortnight" And the projects they were able to create from that process then Double Fine as we know it would be well and truly dead like those on that list.

>>170692
>One story in particular makes me leads me to believe they are evil and that is Double Fine and their Brutal Legend series and its Sequel which they believed they had been green lighted for only to be told in the middle of production that they had not. I don't believe this was a miscommunication and believe that it was completely intentional since it almost destroyed Double Fine financially and if it hadn't been for Tim Schafer and his "Amnesia Fortnight" And the projects they were able to create from that process then Double Fine as we know it would be well and truly dead like those on that list.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/activisions-kotick-on-brutal-legend-drama-thats-not-really-w/

>REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that John Riccitiello will step down as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective March 30. The Board has appointed Larry Probst as Executive Chairman to ensure a smooth transition and to lead EA's executive team while the Board conducts a search for a permanent CEO. The Board will consider internal and external candidates with the assistance of a leading executive search firm.

>"We thank John for his contributions to EA since he was appointed CEO in 2007, especially the passion, dedication and energy he brought to the Company every single day," said Mr. Probst. "John has worked hard to lead the Company through challenging transitions in our industry, and was instrumental in driving our very significant growth in digital revenues. We appreciate John's leadership and the many important strategic initiatives he has driven for the Company. We have mutually agreed that this is the right time for a leadership transition."

http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=749234

>>170786
I wonder what
A) The particular reason was (could it be just SimCity backlash?), and
B) How much his golden parachute is.

>>170787
It's definitely because of the SimCity launch fiasco. The fact EA's stocks has gone done during his tenure didn't help matters either.

>>170786
Show of hands.
Who thinks this will lead to some actual decent reformation and less screwing over of customers.

>>170790
I sure don't.

>>170790

I think it's possible. Whoever they replace him with will probably want to distance himself from his predecessor's policies, at least initially. I doubt there'll be an overall improvement, but the specific ways EA is screwing us right now may go into remission.

Maybe.

>>170787
>B) How much his golden parachute is.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-ceo-resigns-6405525
>As part of Riccitiello's separation agreement with EA, he will continue to draw a salary for 24 months.
Sheeeeeet I wish I could quit a job and get paid for two years afterward.

>>170790
Ahhhhhahahahahahahahaha!

>getting paid for two years after being fired from a job due to multiple fiascoes that tanked company stocks
what the fuck is that bullshit

>>170798
The free market, of course! Why do you hate Capitalism?!

>>170798
Being smart about your contract.

I don't hate the guy for knowing how to quit. Not can I hate him for all the BS EA has done. But I do blame him for letting it happen without contest.

Because we apparently need more reasons to hate EA:
http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/03/bug-on-eas-origin-game-platform-allows-attackers-to-hijack-player-pcs/
>It works by manipulating the uniform resource identifiers EA's site uses to automatically start games on an end user's machine. By exploiting flaws in the Origin application available for both Macs and PCs, the technique turns EA's popular game store into an attack platform that can covertly install malware on customers' computers.
Though, to be fair, Steam had the same issue last year. (Which just goes to show that EA continues to copy off of Steam with Origin!)

>>170801
The article doesn't state if that was part of the original contract or negotiated later on; if the contract had been for X years, that might be understandable. On the other hand, I get the feeling that this was negotiated when the board decided to kick him to the curb. It's basically "shut the fuck up" money, when any normal employee would get $0 and the promise to not be sued if they keep quiet.

Sooooo how does one actually become a ceo?

>>170794
unless they fire the idiots in Marketing then they are still screwed.

I mean

>Talk about how much you care about writing LGBT characters
>your promo vid connected to the idea is just people making out and bedroom scenes with zero actual interaction.

>>170806
though it looks that was just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2013/03/the-social-media-push/

>>170807
Remember that time Origin was used to turn its users into a botnet?

https://boards.4chan.org/v/res/181540189#p181554704

>>170805
It's basically a circle jerk.

>>170807
>that colombian "spanish"

Do you even tried EA?

>>170816
Welp, you get what you reap.

>>170816
I doubt it but OH PLEASE GOD PLEASE

>>170816
One can only hope and dream.

>>170816

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2416782,00.asp

Origin a miserable pile of code.

>>170839
I feel like they're pretty much deserving of the worst company title at this point.

>>170839
Beat you to it: >>170804

http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a466703/star-wars-disaster-led-to-ea-ceos-departure-says-michael-pachter.html

Makes some sense, a game nobody was asking for and they just brushed off those looking for answers as to why they couldn't get an RPG. Then the whole gay paywall thing didn't help matters.

>>170905
Honestly I doubt that's the only issue no matter how drastic the failure of SWtoR.

And I base this entirely on the fact that Pachter is mostly wrong on basically everything.

>>170916
True I think its overall they spent way too much on companies they didn't need. I mean approximately 750 million for Popcap?

http://consumerist.com/2013/03/25/worst-company-in-america-round-1-ea-vs-anheuser-busch-inbev/

LETS DO IT!!!

>>171243
How is that even a contest

WTF were they thinking?

>>171368
We all wonder that as well.
007 Racing - Matt's Sexy Bond-A-Thon!

>>171368

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/7053-SimCity

>>171437

http://gameoverthinker.blogspot.se/2013/03/supplemental-im-sorry-but-ea-should-be.html
Just skip the first part and get to the good point he is making.

>>171741
I do like to watch this guy now on occasion. I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but I do enjoy hearing his side.

You Failed!

>>171741

Why is apathy for Nintendo okay, but apathy for Sony is "worrying"? He makes this point but didn't explain his reasoning, at least not in a way I could see.

>>171745
He's saying compounded apathy is worrying.
Not caring about 1 guy is fine. Not caring about 2 of the 3 is worrying. Not caring about any is trouble for consoles.

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/01/worst-company-in-america-round-2-ea-vs-facebook/

Round 2