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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 01:12:35
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Lord of the Fleet
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Ding dong the witch is dead?
Though I wonder how many people here will agree with the underlined section....
From Rock Paper Shotgun:
Well another person has learned: you don’t mess with Rock, Paper, Shotgun. It seems our coverage of the SimCity… no, not really. The rather more unfortunate reason for EA’s CEO, John Riccitiello’s stepping down is due to the publisher’s struggles to turn a profit, alongside warnings that the next quarter’s targets won’t be met.
Explaining his reasons for leaving in a letter sent to EA employees, Riccitiello explained that,
“My decision to leave EA is really all about my accountability for the shortcomings in our financial results this year. It currently looks like we will come in at the low end of, or slightly below, the financial guidance we issued to the Street, and we have fallen short of the internal operating plan we set one year ago. And for that, I am 100 percent accountable.”
In saying so, this looks very much like one of those falling-on-a-sword moments, to stave off investor unrest when yet another set of pointy-down graphs are released. Obviously no one person is 100% responsible for a corporations finances, but it always looks good to shareholders if you cut off the drooping heads to allow other… pretty flowers to flourish? That metaphor took an unexpectedly lovely turn.
The temporary head pretty flower is to be Larry Probst (who importantly isn’t Jeff Probst off of Survivor), while they begin what I can only desperately hope will be a TV talent show-style auditioning process for the new chief.
And no, this isn’t a time for gloating after the dreadful mess of SimCity, or ridiculous over-investment in Medal Of Honor, or whatever other ways EA may have annoyed people of late. A lot of great games come from that publisher, and they support a lot of great studios – we do rather want this industry to flourish. Hopefully a new boss can whip everything into shape, ideally in a way that doesn’t involve buying developers then closing them down.
Check out Kotaku’s coverage of this story for a really quite shocking graph of EA’s share prices over the last five years, and the full letter from the former boss to his staff.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/18/ea-ceo-john-riccitiello-has-stepped-down/#more-146304
Kotaku article
http://kotaku.com/5991181/ea-ceo-john-riccitiello-steps-down
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 01:13:46
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 01:23:02
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw
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Don't forget the dismal failure that was SW:TOR.
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Read my story at:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/515293.page#5420356
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 03:04:38
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests
Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.
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Or their 'Origin' service.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 06:07:42
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Consigned to the Grim Darkness
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Origin has gotten better actually. I dunno if it's a financial failure, but as far as online services go, I'd say it's decent enough. They still should have stuck with Steam though, could have had the same result but with less financial investment.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 06:08:00
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 07:16:17
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Oberstleutnant
Back in the English morass
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WIth their 'Worst Company in America' award and their string of poor franchised games (not to mention the proliferation of anti consumer practices) its no suprise that EA is under performing.
I'm sure the next CEO will be cut from the same cloth and it will be business as usual though.
It would be interesting if they were to collapse though. Just think of all the talent that would be freed from toiling in the DLC mines.
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The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 07:19:44
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Palindrome wrote:WIth their 'Worst Company in America' award and their string of poor franchised games (not to mention the proliferation of anti consumer practices) its no suprise that EA is under performing.
I'm sure the next CEO will be cut from the same cloth and it will be business as usual though.
It would be interesting if they were to collapse though. Just think of all the talent that would be freed from toiling in the DLC mines.
They wouldn't be freed, they would be broke. EA own's so many studio's that many of them wouldn't be picked up. EA dying off isn't a good thing.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 07:19:59
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 07:25:20
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Oberstleutnant
Back in the English morass
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Things worked out well enough for THQ's former studios. The big names and some of the smaller studios will be sold off while some will reform as independents and others will go under.
From a developers financial point of view it won't be a good thing but from a gamers point of view it would be (on balance).
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This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/03/19 07:26:52
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 07:34:32
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Consigned to the Grim Darkness
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I think a shake-up within EA would be better than them simply falling apart, however.
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The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 11:08:51
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Palindrome wrote:Things worked out well enough for THQ's former studios. The big names and some of the smaller studios will be sold off while some will reform as independents and others will go under.
From a developers financial point of view it won't be a good thing but from a gamers point of view it would be (on balance).
Not really, EA is a far larger company then THQ ever was. And hell, even a few THQ studio's got thrown to the curb (unless they recently got picked up too?).
Without proper funding all those studios aren't going to amount to much and a lot of progress on current projects is going to be lost further hampering both the developers and gamers themselves. General reform of business practice is what we want for EA, them going under wouldn't help anyone.
Unless you fancy sponsoring 50 kickstarters.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 11:14:42
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Renegade Inquisitor de Marche
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They could always sell of one off the many decent IPs they bought and did absolutely nothing with...
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 11:15:51
Dakka Bingo! By Ouze
"You are the best at flying things"-Kanluwen
"Further proof that Purple is a fething brilliant super villain " -KingCracker
"Purp.. Im pretty sure I have a gun than can reach you...."-Nicorex
"That's not really an apocalypse. That's just Europe."-Grakmar
"almost as good as winning free cake at the tea drinking contest for an Englishman." -Reds8n
Seal up your lips and give no words but mum.
Equip, Reload. Do violence.
Watch for Gerry. |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 11:16:03
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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EA willingly letting an IP go? That'll be the day. Can we ask for Dungeon Keeper 3 and bullfrogs revival while we're at it?
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 11:22:06
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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[DCM]
Dankhold Troggoth
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Melissia wrote:I think a shake-up within EA would be better than them simply falling apart, however.
Agreed here. Hopefully they make a change for the better!
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 12:21:18
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Trazyn's Museum Curator
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I dunno...if EA dies, do you think Petroglyph will get C&C back (they are ex-westwood after all)?
That's what I want to know.
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What I have
~4100
~1660
Westwood lives in death!
Peace through power!
A longbeard when it comes to Necrons and WHFB. Grumble Grumble
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 12:54:35
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw
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I somehow managed to completely forget about Origin. Feth that terrible service. Why can't you just use Steam like everybody else? What a waste of resources.
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Read my story at:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/515293.page#5420356
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 12:57:06
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Secret Force Behind the Rise of the Tau
USA
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Melissia wrote:I think a shake-up within EA would be better than them simply falling apart, however.
This.
No shocker that EA is struggling at all. Their common practice of taking an developer with strong IP's, then driving that IP into ground, and just picking up a new developer afterwards, was bound to stop working sooner or later. Unlike Ubisoft or Activision, EA has been unable to successfully maintain in house IP's for some time, and the number of small time developers for them to buy out has run pretty dry.
And Origin was a terrible idea. As a platform, it works okay (except when it doens't and you discover they have horrible customer support that makes the wreched steam support boards look like heaven) but what killed them was that not that many people on PC want to leave Steam and have EA's platform too. They should have left their product on Steam and tried to woo consumers with a superior service rather than just assuming they'd get plenty of business in a pitiful attempt to monopolize their products.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 12:58:53
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 12:58:30
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Dragon Age 2, ME 3 original ending, Medal of Honor, Dead Space 3, SIm City - EA simply went on racking up mistakes and, partially, bad or even really gakky games. They have a terrible rep, and rightfully so.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 13:16:06
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw
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Sigvatr wrote:Dragon Age 2, ME 3 original ending, Medal of Honor, Dead Space 3, SIm City - EA simply went on racking up mistakes and, partially, bad or even really gakky games. They have a terrible rep, and rightfully so.
Don't forget the progressively worse sports titles.
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Read my story at:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/515293.page#5420356
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 15:15:17
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Blood Angel Captain Wracked with Visions
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Amaya wrote: Sigvatr wrote:Dragon Age 2, ME 3 original ending, Medal of Honor, Dead Space 3, SIm City - EA simply went on racking up mistakes and, partially, bad or even really gakky games. They have a terrible rep, and rightfully so.
Don't forget the progressively worse sports titles.
That was something I could never understand. How do you not turn a profit by reskinning, making some minor tweaks and updating names on a roster on an annual basis and then charging full price for it?
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 17:07:42
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Dreadclaw69 wrote: Amaya wrote: Sigvatr wrote:Dragon Age 2, ME 3 original ending, Medal of Honor, Dead Space 3, SIm City - EA simply went on racking up mistakes and, partially, bad or even really gakky games. They have a terrible rep, and rightfully so.
Don't forget the progressively worse sports titles.
That was something I could never understand. How do you not turn a profit by reskinning, making some minor tweaks and updating names on a roster on an annual basis and then charging full price for it? 
They do, Fifa is still their best selling series of all time. Automatically Appended Next Post: CthuluIsSpy wrote:I dunno...if EA dies, do you think Petroglyph will get C&C back (they are ex-westwood after all)?
That's what I want to know.
Probably not.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 17:08:19
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 17:55:45
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Their recent announcement to release a F2P C&C certainly did not help to improve their rep either. You can just go wrong with such a concept.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 18:07:32
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Avatar of the Bloody-Handed God
Inside your mind, corrupting the pathways
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EA are the computer world's GW for me and I won't buy anything that I see their name on.
Will be interesting to see what, if anything, changes with a new guy at the head of the company though...
Will also be interesting to see the golden parachute of the guy who is leaving...
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 18:08:02
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Sigvatr wrote:Their recent announcement to release a F2P C&C certainly did not help to improve their rep either. You can just go wrong with such a concept.
Not sure how that was a bad thing. They are planning to make a single C&C platform that will most likely have games in the generals, tiberium and red alert setting. Generals will be the first one.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 20:24:23
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Oberstleutnant
Back in the English morass
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Soladrin wrote:
Without proper funding all those studios aren't going to amount to much and a lot of progress on current projects is going to be lost further hampering both the developers and gamers themselves.
I think that all of THQs studios have now found a home or been absorbed by larger studios although some of the IPs are still homeless. Obviously EA is bigger but if it imploded (not that this is likely for the moment) the big names and workable IPs will get picked up and carry on as normal, some studios will get closed while others will morph into independents, possibly with some downsizing. Its not as if you need $25million to make good games afterall. Overall detracking the EA franchise treadmill can only be good for gaming as a whole, not least becuase other publishers may take some notice that the resources spent making Call of battleface XIV (functionally identical to the prior 13 games but this time the badies are Mongolian anarchists) could be better spent elsewhere.
Its possible that EA may clean up its act, it did in the early 00s but it soon fell back to its old (but not old) habits.
On a personal note EA just doesn't make games that hold any interest for me, I think the last one I bought was ME3 and I regretted that, and they go out of their way to discourage me from buying their games even if I wanted to. If EA went pop tonight my gaming habits and spending wouldn't change at all. Automatically Appended Next Post: Soladrin wrote:
Not sure how that was a bad thing. They are planning to make a single C&C platform that will most likely have games in the generals, tiberium and red alert setting. Generals will be the first one.
Some people just seem to have a near pathological distrust of F2P games. Its entirely possible to make a fully functional and fair F2P game, it all depends on the payment model. If the new C&C game uses something like the AoE Online model (most factions are fully playable but have restrictions on unit upgrades, crafting and other minor bits all of which are unlocked permanently with a small (£10ish) payment) it could work well. If its pay to win then it will quickly go wrong.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 20:26:57
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 20:46:37
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Secret Force Behind the Rise of the Tau
USA
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Most of EA's toys will probably find homes. However, EA is not THQ. EA is a true megapublisher, a titan of the industry. It's sudden collapse could have huge repercussions. Most of us would probably be happy to see them go, but they may leave a huge hole in the industry that may never be filled, and without their funding for numerous projects I'm not sure what will really happen. I'll also note that indirectly EA acquired some of THQ's stuff.
And honestly. Do we want Ubisoft and Activision-Blizzard to become the only game in town? Cause they're the ones who will buy up EA.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 20:48:34
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 21:12:38
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Oberstleutnant
Back in the English morass
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[quote=LordofHats 514916 5407561 dced7f76f550c255c81daad8b7737b41.jpg Most of us would probably be happy to see them go, but they may leave a huge hole in the industry that may never be filled
Its highly unlikely that EA will suddenly collapse and the hole it leaves will quickly be filled, afterall its not like they will take the games market with them. Unless you mean the soulless sequel hole but I'm sure Activision will have that one covered.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 21:15:35
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 21:21:13
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Consigned to the Grim Darkness
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LordofHats wrote:Most of EA's toys will probably find homes. However, EA is not THQ. EA is a true megapublisher, a titan of the industry. It's sudden collapse could have huge repercussions. Most of us would probably be happy to see them go, but they may leave a huge hole in the industry that may never be filled, and without their funding for numerous projects I'm not sure what will really happen. I'll also note that indirectly EA acquired some of THQ's stuff.
And honestly. Do we want Ubisoft and Activision-Blizzard to become the only game in town? Cause they're the ones who will buy up EA.
Oh god, no.
Blizzard is already a bunch of lazy gaks as it is...
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The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 22:38:00
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Blizzard isn's the shining diamond it used to be either. Diablo III was a let-down for a lot of people and HotS is, imo, a step-down from SoL. Still good games, but no longer the super-awesome things they used to make. Maybe becoming so big did not benefit the game development as much as a lot of people hoped. It's interesting, because our generation (mid 20s) is the last generation that could witness the change from super-niche to super-popular...brings up nostalgic feelings It's sad to see a hobby being so much about money now and less about really good games, but Kickstarter might breathe some fresh air into it...maybe. Popular game's are too expensive to produce nowadays. No game has ever gotten me involved as much as PS:T or Diablo II ever since and those cost a fraction of what the new uninspired Call of Doody costs. Does anyone in here still remember arcades? :( So sad >,,,<
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/19 22:38:18
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 22:44:23
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Consigned to the Grim Darkness
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I wasn't ever fond of arcades, as they cost a quarter per life and I was a very bad player back in my single-digit years.
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The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 22:45:52
Subject: Re:EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw
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Sigvatr wrote:Blizzard isn's the shining diamond it used to be either. Diablo III was a let-down for a lot of people and HotS is, imo, a step-down from SoL. Still good games, but no longer the super-awesome things they used to make. Maybe becoming so big did not benefit the game development as much as a lot of people hoped. It's interesting, because our generation (mid 20s) is the last generation that could witness the change from super-niche to super-popular...brings up nostalgic feelings
It's sad to see a hobby being so much about money now and less about really good games, but Kickstarter might breathe some fresh air into it...maybe. Popular game's are too expensive to produce nowadays. No game has ever gotten me involved as much as PS:T or Diablo II ever since and those cost a fraction of what the new uninspired Call of Doody costs. Does anyone in here still remember arcades? :(
So sad >,,,<
None of these major companies are what they used to be. It's about time the decline in quality has led to a decline in profits. Hopefully EA will crash and burn. With luck several innovative companies will rise in its wake and usher in a new golden age of gaming.
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Read my story at:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/515293.page#5420356
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2013/03/19 22:55:30
Subject: EA CEO steps down due to struggling profits
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Melissia wrote:I wasn't ever fond of arcades, as they cost a quarter per life and I was a very bad player back in my single-digit years.
Oh, they just sucked the money out of your pocket. But it was the atmosphere that really got you. Ye know, those really low quality sounds from everywhere around you, the sounds (the artificial voices!) you started to ignore so soon when you started to zone...nowadays, you get half-assed DLC or even have to pay for DLC that was left out of the original game on purpose (day 1 DLC, hooray!), that's even worse :(
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