Originally posted by SaintViktor

Originally posted by Malickie

I disagree that they are horrid at making an MMO. The problem is in the MMO market there seems to be no room for error. You can not release an unpopular product and survive.In the single player world things are not nearly as tough. Granted it makes sense with the amount of financing an MMO needs, however that does not mean when a Dev team fails they automatically suck at their job.

 

Yes, Warhammer is having so much great success since release and as a former customer of Mythic, I just might turn around and buy stock in Mythic too!

I think this may be the most idiotic response I have ever received since I have been a member here, congrats on that. Considering the site I am on, that is one hell of a feat you accomplished.

Next time understand a comment before responding to it please, thanks.

To clarify my opinion, WAR was actually really fun up to a certain point. After that it went down hill, most of that was due to performance issues. Yes even after the new hailed patch there are still a slew tech problems. This is indicative of a product that was shipped to early not one that was badly designed. Had they been able to keep it in development for another year. You would be seeing content added rather than fix after fix.

The heads of the studio are at fault ( possibly EA) not the guys in the trench doing all the work.

Stop acquisition of game developers EA, calling it a loss because you spent so much the year before, stay true to the DRM forgoing, and you'll do just fine.

 "September figures from industry research firm the NPD Group also found that its Wii-exclusive shooter Dead Space Extraction had a poor debut."

Well, owning Dead Space for PC... I can safely say that the game had issues that weren't given a shit about or even patched. Just figuring out that the "mouse lag" and  delayed aiming response was not a "natural intended effect" for the game shocked me, and to fix it was annoying as hell. Though I don't speak for everyone of course, I did not feel compelled to buy the next one after no help with the first one. Then... let's see... the best way to commit marketing suicide is to make a game that's multi-platformed, and THEN make the sequel/prequel EXCLUSIVE on a Wii... Of all consoles... a Wii. What I wouldn't GIVE to have a word with the person who pitched this idea, and the board of people who said "Wow... that's the demographic we need to sell this game too!" Seriously... Give me their job, because I sure as hell couldn't do any worse.

If it keeps the investors money rolling in then i guess i support it but it sucks to be those who lost their jobs :(

As for EA and quality...EA simply provides funding and publishes the game, the development is done by the quality studios they purchased.

If the funding gets cut then 9 times out of 10 the game dies and we often see EA make big mistakes (game wise) due to somewhat decent business decisions

Originally posted by Narug

Stop acquisition of game developers EA, calling it a loss because you spent so much the year before, stay true to the DRM forgoing, and you'll do just fine.

This and what Malickie said... crappy stereo-instruction quality website, absent forum support, and devotion to their employees/devs and the gamers that buy their games to feed their fat asses are equivalent to that of a $10 hooker on a $2 date. As for the assimilation of all developers and IP's... I can sum EA up in two words. "Katamari Damacy"

Let's be heartfelt and sincere about the following: it's unfortunate for the former employees and their families as they search for new employment. It's a serious stress factor, we should wish them the best.

Things like this happen. Expansion, contraction. Feast, famine. Rise, fall. The beauty, and let's focus on the positives here (the negatives are all too apparent), of this is there is increased room for growth by all parties.

The currently employed will have a more streamlined tasking in front of them. Undoubtedly less titles, focusing on what is proven to work, and the serious projects with potential.

Those laid off will be free to do as they please. Undoubtedly many will be frustrated with the sector of work and seek employment outside of this area of expertise, but surely there will be many who reform under a different banner. With the amount of people laid off, that's a very significant chunk of experienced workforce. With the proper leadership, a couple new studios can be founded. These studios will only be as good as their product, and will work with vigor for innovation, originality and a fresh fun factor. Without a big business overhead, there will also be more active movement within the companies that form, involving a work dynamic that is present in delivered product.

Again, only the best of wishes for those who have lost their jobs, but hopefully things end up ok for all involved in this business: the empire with solid titles, the free agents spinning originality, and the consumer.

Originally posted by Malickie 

I disagree that they are horrid at making an MMO. The problem is in the MMO market there seems to be no room for error. You can not release an unpopular product and survive.In the single player world things are not nearly as tough. Granted it makes sense with the amount of financing an MMO needs, however that does not mean when a Dev team fails they automatically suck at their job.

Ok, this is ridiculous. Look at what you just said.

"You can not release an unpopular product and survive."

Really? Wow.

On the first day of class for "MMO Development 101", Robert Shaw should walk into the classroom, scrawl this on the blackboard in big letters and drag his nails down it to get everyone's attention. Because it applies not only to MMOs, but EVERY BUSINESS IN THE WORLD!

"..that does not mean when a Dev team fails they automatically suck at their job."

Yeah, actually. By definition it does.

I'm a bit worried that the high Smucks in the gaming industry will give up on making MMO's as the cost to develope them are just too high for what they net.  After all, there is only one MMO that made it big, WoW.  I'm not sure if thats because of our high expectations, but nothing in the recent past has caught on.  It doesn't seem to matter if the game had years of development or just a couple of years, none has meet our expectations it seems.  Sure they all have some fans but not enough to make the venture a big success.  How long will it be before companies quit trying (maybe now if your EA), and use their capital in a less stressful market like the solo/small grouping games?  This may be the first shot fired, a farewell to our beloved MMO's! :(

 If anyone from EA is bothering to read this, sorry you lost your jobs, that's a crappy thing to happen no matter what you do and I hope you find better ones soon.

As far as WAR, I think it was simply a match made in hell. EA saw WoW, knew WoW was based on WAR and that we were getting bored and maybe wanted a grown up version, good idea, maybe. Then you add Mythic who, if I had been them and I'm not, this is conjecture, might have seen this as a stepping stone onto their next project or just wanted something else to do, I'm guessing here. Mythic saw the cash EA was waving EA saw the potential of an updated Warhammer centric DAoC and we're off. I'm excited, you're excited, the guy on the podcasts is too excited but we watch him anyway and eventually Mythic had to start feeling a little trapped by the IP since they're used to working with their own. EA is breathing down their necks for a launch, any launch, Mythic is hoping that they can get a two party PvP system working as well as a three, I think most of us can agree that is not the case and could be a major downfall for any working MMO PvP titles at this stage, and we are here, beta then launch.

We don't need to rehash the rest but as of 1.3.2 I'm back in and enjoying WAR, yeah really. The distinctive classes are great, a continued stroke of genius not giving us 8 hunter races. As much as I dreaded what WAR was I'm loving it again and now EA pulls the carpet out from under them?! I mean just from their perspective (the folks who worked to bring this pile back) you got to be hurting. So smart business decision or not EA continues to lose my support faster than any gaming company I know, I'd rather kiss Smedley than put more money in EA's pockets. Really, excellent work on WAR and I hope you end up working for someone with a bit more money, tact and heart. Good luck.

This isn't a new change or anything that should be seen as unexpected. Not only was this the direction they've been heading for a while, but they have said this is what they planned to do.

Link: http://www.artfulgamer.com/2007/11/10/electronic-arts-the-destroyer-of-worlds-sets-its-eye-on-bioware/

EA Under Riccitiello

With the replacement of Larry Probst as CEO in 2006, there has been a brief glimmer of hope for EA. According to the New York Times, EA’s new CEO John Riccitiello has promised a whole new corporate structure and game development strategy,

“If the E.A. of four years from now isn’t a bunch of properties you haven’t heard of on a bunch of business models that aren’t familiar to you,” Mr. Riccitiello said, “and if most of them can’t be picked up the first time by your mother and she can’t have fun with it, we won’t be the company I want us to be.”

In short, Riccitiello sees the future of gaming in the casual games sector – a relatively untapped audience so far, apparently due to the complexity of the current games. But what does that mean? Is Riccitiello serious about a move toward innovation and original titles?

Partly. And this is why it is important to understand his vision in terms of EA’s history. Riccitiello is in fact making the same decision that Trip Hawkins made back in the day – that in order to reach broader audiences (and higher market penetration; profits), EA had to open itself up to new territories. In Hawkins’s time it was video game consoles, in Larry Probst’s time it was corporate growth through acquisition, and now Riccitiello has recognized the financial potential of the casual gaming market.

Originally posted by LynxJSA

 

This isn't a new change or anything that should be seen as unexpected. Not only was this the direction they've been heading for a while, but they have said this is what they planned to do.

Link: http://www.artfulgamer.com/2007/11/10/electronic-arts-the-destroyer-of-worlds-sets-its-eye-on-bioware/

---

EA Under Riccitiello

With the replacement of Larry Probst as CEO in 2006, there has been a brief glimmer of hope for EA. According to the New York Times, EA’s new CEO John Riccitiello has promised a whole new corporate structure and game development strategy,

“If the E.A. of four years from now isn’t a bunch of properties you haven’t heard of on a bunch of business models that aren’t familiar to you,” Mr. Riccitiello said, “and if most of them can’t be picked up the first time by your mother and she can’t have fun with it, we won’t be the company I want us to be.”

In short, Riccitiello sees the future of gaming in the casual games sector – a relatively untapped audience so far, apparently due to the complexity of the current games. But what does that mean? Is Riccitiello serious about a move toward innovation and original titles?

Partly. And this is why it is important to understand his vision in terms of EA’s history. Riccitiello is in fact making the same decision that Trip Hawkins made back in the day – that in order to reach broader audiences (and higher market penetration; profits), EA had to open itself up to new territories. In Hawkins’s time it was video game consoles, in Larry Probst’s time it was corporate growth through acquisition, and now Riccitiello has recognized the financial potential of the casual gaming market.

Hardcore gamers don't want casual games.  This guy is my enemy.

@ Fuzzball1

/troll

If I understand your avatar icon correctly (I believe I do), I find it the most hilarious thing of the week. Kudos. /troll off

So it is said that 40% of the team that is getting canned are responsible for 90% of the dev work. EA is basically putting WAR in "maintenance mode". So much for an expansion announcement, I guess.

We won't see the impact of this for at least another year. Those who think the recent release of good EA titles somehow means there will not be a quality issue down the line are being naive.
 

here's my positive spin. Some of those fired employees will start their own company and make some new kick ass games.

With Mythic having dominion, so to speak, over EA's MMO games, what do the massive layoffs mean for DAOC and UO, I wonder....?

Drev

All I can see is that EA pays for their efforts to do diffrent games. Games that we- the customer- didnt buy. EA did well by pumping out sad games in the EA sport franchise and such... To bad that we players cant support good and diffrent games.

EA lost $391M in its last quarter.

Is anyone surprised that it needs some drastic measures to put it back into profitability? How many game companies have to fold because the management is only interested in "making good games" and have no idea how to run a business?

I really don't see EA has much wiggle room with losses like that.

Sign of the time.

I dont care much for EA but its clear now that game industry is in dire straits. And it has recieved a blow that would take years to recover.

Dont expect any good MMOs anytime soon.

And if Dragon Age is any measurment , SWTOR will suck

Originally posted by buegur

I'm a bit worried that the high Smucks in the gaming industry will give up on making MMO's as the cost to develope them are just too high for what they net.  After all, there is only one MMO that made it big, WoW.  I'm not sure if thats because of our high expectations, but nothing in the recent past has caught on.  It doesn't seem to matter if the game had years of development or just a couple of years, none has meet our expectations it seems.  Sure they all have some fans but not enough to make the venture a big success.  How long will it be before companies quit trying (maybe now if your EA), and use their capital in a less stressful market like the solo/small grouping games?  This may be the first shot fired, a farewell to our beloved MMO's! :(

In order to have a renaissance the world has to burn...

EA is trying too hard to absorb as much as possible, to be the dominant publisher of everything empire (Atari a close second... which is weird saying that considering I have a 2600). Note I said "dominant"... not the "best". Quantity is more important than quality.

Although, after seeing the headline "EA Buys Playfish in Deal Worth Up To $400 Million" dated November 9th... I can see where their priorities are.