[wrowa]

First of all, I think the video was about 3 times as long as it should be and not particularly entertaining. That said, there is a pretty significant difference between EA and Valve: one is a publicly traded company and the other is privately owned. EA needs to continue making (more) profit every year and justify each action to their shareholders. Valve has no such requirements.

Before EA can continue to make profit every year, they should start making profit first. When was the last time EA reported a profit?

[Metalmurphy]

Before EA can continue to make profit every year, they should start making profit first. When was the last time EA reported a profit?

The last time they reported anything, and the time before that, and the time before that, ...

[SteveWinwood]

It's a silly video that is lacking in anything intelligent or witty. It's just absurd and goofy.

So yeah a garrys mod video.

[shintoki]

I don't understand those who complain about EA. I don't buy EA games because I don't trust the company. Any gamer worth their salt knows to stay away.

Sadly I made the mistake of picking up Battlefield 3. I was never really anti-EA as much as others. Normally I just wouldn't invest more than I pend to lose. So their titles got bought for a few bucks or rented.

Then I purchased BF3. I was against using Origin, but a few managed to convince me that it wasn't that bad. And after my experiences with it taking a while to get BF3 updated. Two of the three rounds I had turned out pretty shitty, one included a hacker. Haven't played it since and consider it a bigger waste of money than RO2 was.

[aaaaaa]

Battlefield series
Burnout series
Command & Conquer series
Crysis series
Dead Space series
Dragon Age series
FIFA series
Fight Night series
Harry Potter series
Madden NFL series
Mass Effect series
Medal of Honor series
NBA Live series
NCAA Football series
Need for Speed series
NHL series
Rock Band series
SimCity series
The Sims series
Skate series
SSX series

For the biggest American game company, this is a pretty lackluster catalog, especially where many of them are right now.

[Vulcano's assistant]

Crytek is not owned by EA, they should not be on the boat. Put Viceral Games in their place.

[Derrick01]

The last time they reported anything, and the time before that, and the time before that, ...

Pretty sure the one that was just reported a few weeks ago was a loss.

[Totobeni]

It was OK, but I can never really hate EA since they gave me Alice: Madness Returns, Dead Space, Dante's Inferno and NFS: Most Wanted.

Alice is my 2011 Goty but I really hate EA for what they did to the dev, They treated Madness Return as an EA Partner Program project even when they own the IP ( Spicy Horse and McGee handled the budget with no help from EA) and after that they give it absolutely zero marketing, they should give McGee the IP if they want to treat him and the game like that.

[SteveWinwood]

Crytek is not owned by EA, they should not be on the boat. Put Viceral Games in their place.

Ea partner though. That big mean origin boat won't let one of their games on the poor little service steam.

[injurai]

That was incredible.

[wrowa]

The last time they reported anything, and the time before that, and the time before that, ...

Okay, they actually made 70 million dollar profit last year, my bad. They've lost 270 million the year before though and in FY 2010 even more than 650 million. From skimming over their numbers it appears that's actually their first profitable year since 2008.

[Derrick01]

For the biggest American game company, this is a pretty lackluster catalog, especially where many of them are right now.

That's because everything they make is designed to either appeal to the dudebro crowd or the casual crowd. The result are games that lack ambition and feel very samey and lackluster.

[kylej]

EA has a lot of unprofitable practices, and some of the profitable ones are short-therm profitable. Therefore it is a bad company, no matter how you want to see it.

No shit, which is why my first reply in this thread was responding in agreement to this post

I don't see EA like this at all. I see a giant publicly owned company having trouble being profitable and resorting to anti-consumer tactics in an attempt to find a business model that works. I don't see a company drowning in money and dominating the industry.

The fact remains, when Valve sells goofy hats in TF2 or stupid skins for Portal 2 characters, it's fun fan-service or a neat supplemental addition to the game. When EA does it, it's an evil behemoth out to suck you dry. This idealized representation of Valve as a bastion of decency and consumer respect is pretty hilarious, because at the end of the day they're out to make money like everybody else.

[ElectricBlue187]

No shit, which is why my first reply in this thread was responding in agreement to this post The fact remains, when Valve sells goofy hats in TF2 or stupid skins for Portal 2 characters, it's fun fan-service or a neat supplemental addition to the game. When EA does it, it's an evil behemoth out to suck you dry. This idealized representation of Valve as a bastion of decency and consumer respect is pretty hilarious, because at the end of the day they're out to make money like everybody else.

Valve sells you funny hats or stupid meaningless skins. EA sells you part of the game cut out and packaged as DLC. Any more false equivalencies you'd like to make?

[Glass Rebel]

The fact remains, when Valve sells goofy hats in TF2 or stupid skins for Portal 2 characters, it's fun fan-service or a neat supplemental addition to the game. When EA does it, it's an evil behemoth out to suck you dry. This idealized representation of Valve as a bastion of decency and consumer respect is pretty hilarious, because at the end of the day they're out to make money like everybody else.

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

[Joni]

Pretty sure the one that was just reported a few weeks ago was a loss.

Revenue was down, but they had a profit of about $300 million.

[SteveWinwood]

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

Fairly easily too. Drops are pretty plentiful if you're just looking for weapons and hats are traded for pretty cheap nowadays.

Edit: I don't know why I responded to your post with this.

[Stallion Free]

The fact remains, when Valve sells goofy hats in TF2 or stupid skins for Portal 2 characters, it's fun fan-service or a neat supplemental addition to the game. When EA does it, it's an evil behemoth out to suck you dry. This idealized representation of Valve as a bastion of decency and consumer respect is pretty hilarious, because at the end of the day they're out to make money like everybody else.

Valve sells shitty and then gives free map packs out so the community is never divided.

EA sells you everything, including parts cut out from the game.

[Joni]

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

Is DLC something anti-consumer or something many consumers want? Looking at games like Call of Duty people obviously have no problem with spending $15 on a couple of extra maps.

[Derrick01]

Revenue was down, but they had a profit of about $300 million.

Well that's just unfortunate.

[ElectricBlue187]

Is DLC something anti-consumer or something many consumers want? Looking at games like Call of Duty people obviously have no problem with spending $15 on a couple of extra maps.

Regardless of your opinion on whether cutting out part of the game on the disk and then selling you a code to unlock it is anti-consumer or not, it is clearly not the same kind of DLC practices Valve engages in

[kylej]

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

It's profitable, which is all that matters. Welcome to the world of business, where it's only mean-spirited and wrong until it pays your salary.



This is the top rated comment on that video. And people wonder why companies like EA try to make ancillary income through any means possible.

in before "people won't pirate games if they make them better"

Regardless of your opinion on whether cutting out part of the game on the disk and then selling you a code to unlock it is anti-consumer or not, it is clearly not the same kind of DLC practices Valve engages in

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/

Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

[Metalmurphy]

Pretty sure the one that was just reported a few weeks ago was a loss.

This one?

http://www.vg247.com/2012/05/07/ea-2...ngs-to-profit/

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

Not everything in TF2 is obtainable without spending a single dime. And hasn't most of the ME3 DLC been free, and the rest are just unlocks?

[Akuun]

I cracked up at the IGN guy.

[ghst]

for all its smug attempts to besmirch EA's cherished name with the freight train subtlety of a political cartoon, i would be surprised if EA didn't screen this to their shareholders. the image of the megalomaniacal monopolist drowning in profits is exactly the kind of facade that EA would love to maintain, lest they be exposed for the flailing, grasping ruin they've become.

[ElectricBlue187]

It's profitable, which is all that matters. Welcome to the world of business, where it's only mean-spirited and wrong until it pays your salary. This is the top rated comment on that video. And people wonder why companies like EA try to make ancillary income through any means possible. in before "people won't pirate games if they make them better" http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/ Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

Your article there is nothing more than idle speculation. Either shit out a real example or get off the pot

[SteveWinwood]

It's profitable, which is all that matters. Welcome to the world of business, where it's only mean-spirited and wrong until it pays your salary. This is the top rated comment on that video. And people wonder why companies like EA try to make ancillary income through any means possible. in before "people won't pirate games if they make them better" http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/ Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

Valve already makes tons of money. They aren't changing their ways to come out of losses. The second they put anything important behind a paywall in tf2 they lose the whole playerbase that buys stuff. They know that, they aren't dumb.

[Metalmurphy]

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/ Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

That's a terrible example. DOTA2 is a free to play game.

[Khal_B]

The Origin boat was fitting. Origin is the main reason that I am no longer purchasing EA games on PC. Or at all for that matter. Well done.

[MajorPain]

Sadly Mass Effect 3 is the last EA game I bought. I will not buy there crap anymore.

They have some great franchises but they have ruined them. For me it was the crap they recently pulled with Battlefield 3 that was the last nail in the coffin. They suck as a company and use deceptive tatics to sucker you in and then rape you for everything you have.

[Glass Rebel]

Is DLC something anti-consumer or something many consumers want? Looking at games like Call of Duty people obviously have no problem with spending $15 on a couple of extra maps.

Maybe, but to me map-packs are unacceptable and I don't play games that have them.

It's profitable, which is all that matters. Welcome to the world of business, where it's only mean-spirited and wrong until it pays your salary. This is the top rated comment on that video. And people wonder why companies like EA try to make ancillary income through any means possible. in before "people won't pirate games if they make them better"

That's what matters to EA, I don't give a shit about whether it's profitable for them or not and neither should it matter to me what pirates say or think when I've always paid for my games.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/ Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

You must be also seeing people complaining about Battlefield Heroes somehow. Why else would you bring up Dota 2?

Not everything in TF2 is obtainable without spending a single dime. And hasn't most of the ME3 DLC been free, and the rest are just unlocks?

Everything in TF2 that's relevant to gameplay is free or can be obtained without spending money as far as I am aware.

I don't know about Mass Effect 3 but Mass Effect 2 had loads of DLC, including weapon and armour packs, which is bullshit imo. I don't mind alternative costumes or missions but they even used that stupid BioWare points system on PC. It's a mess tbh.

[Bisnic]

Call me when the only DLC in Mass Effect is cosmetic or obtainable without spending a single dime.

They released a free multiplayer DLC last month with new maps, characters and weapons and will release another similar free multiplayer DLC tomorrow. And the "fixed ending" DLC coming this summer will be free too. As for now, they have released and planned to release more free DLC for ME3 than anything else. :lol

[MajorPain]

They released a free multiplayer DLC last month with new maps, characters and weapons and will release another similar free multiplayer DLC tomorrow. And the "fixed ending" DLC coming this summer will be free too. As for now, they have released and planned to release more free DLC for ME3 than anything else. :lol

If I have learned anything about EA nothing is free. Sure they give you some crap to make you feel like it was free but in the end we all pay.

[Glass Rebel]

They released a free multiplayer DLC last month with new maps, characters and weapons and will release another similar free multiplayer DLC tomorrow. And the "fixed ending" DLC coming this summer will be free too. As for now, they have released and planned to release more free DLC for ME3 than anything else. :lol

What about Mass Effect 1 and 2?

[Metalmurphy]

If I have learned anything about EA nothing is free. Sure they give you some crap to make you feel like it was free but in the end we all pay.

Sure doesn't look like anyone is paying.

What about Mass Effect 1 and 2?

No multiplayer so there's no balancing issues that you were referring to. The DLC missions in 1 and 2 were definitely extras, not something you felt it was missing in the main game, although you would have a big point if you mentioned From Ashes in ME3.

[jiji]

I wish this was actually a parody of gaming forum arguments. If it was, it'd be pretty funny.

[ElectricBlue187]

They released a free multiplayer DLC last month with new maps, characters and weapons and will release another similar free multiplayer DLC tomorrow. And the "fixed ending" DLC coming this summer will be free too. As for now, they have released and planned to release more free DLC for ME3 than anything else. :lol

I wish this was actually a parody of gaming forum arguments. If it was, it'd be pretty funny.

Damn you are so cool and above it all in every thread huh?

[jiji]

Damn you are so cool and above it all in every thread huh?

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BRO FIST

[Bisnic]

If I have learned anything about EA nothing is free. Sure they give you some crap to make you feel like it was free but in the end we all pay.

Well sure, the DLC is probably free because some players are paying the items packs with real money rather than ingame credits.... but i dont do that, so its still free for people like me. :P So no, we do not "all" pay. Just some of us. :lol

[Glass Rebel]

No multiplayer so there's no balancing issues that you were referring too. The DLC missions in 1 and 2 were definitely extras, not something you felt it was missing in the main game, although you would have a big point if you mentioned From Ashes in ME3.

I wasn't referring to balancing issues but content in general. The Portal 2 microtransactions are completely cosmetic too. There are weapon packs in Mass Effect 2. Weapon packs in an RPG. I mean seriously, this might be acceptable to you but personally I'm happy I got ME2 as a gift.

[Littlegator]

This might be a thing for some people, but can we stop using this term? It makes it sound like publishers/devs are taking a pre-existing game and changing it. It's like Trekkies saying that the new Star Trek invalidates their entire series collection. But, I mean, some people on this forum are a-okay with using the term "cancer of gaming", so maybe people will take offense to this, too. Who knows.

It's like you're telling us to not make totally accurate analogies because you're "offended" because some people actually get raped and have cancer.

I had melanoma, and EA and Activision are still the cancer of gaming.

[DanielJr82]

LOL @ Origin cruise! XD

[rac]

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/do...sactions-more/ Give them time. You see false equivalencies, I see dollars and cents.

Does that skin turn tide's ravage into a global ult? If thats the case I'm pretty outraged.

[Kinyou]

They released a free multiplayer DLC last month with new maps, characters and weapons and will release another similar free multiplayer DLC tomorrow. And the "fixed ending" DLC coming this summer will be free too. As for now, they have released and planned to release more free DLC for ME3 than anything else. :lol

Which is most likely financed through their micro transaction system. Don't get me wrong, that's not something evil to do, but they are hardly give you that stuff for free because they're "nice"

[Kerub]

What EA game is he referring to with "over-hyped, poorly made"?

[Bisnic]

Which is most likely financed through their micro transaction system. Don't get me wrong, that's not something evil to do, but they are hardly give you that stuff for free because they're "nice"

Never said they do this for being nice but its still free content for people who do not use micro transactions. And i wont complain about that, the impatience of some people(because buying multiplayer packs for real money is just that... unlocking stuff faster than ingame credits) is giving me free characters, maps and weapons, so im quite happy. :D

[HP_Wuvcraft]

What EA game is he referring to with "over-hyped, poorly made"?

Probably DA2.

It amuses me that this thread is still going.

[zkylon]

Annoying video with in your face humor. Stop giving every single obvious thing a tag. <-- complaint. EA is horrible, though. EDIT: Also, "nutshell" my ass, it's a 4:50 video.

Yeah I didn't like it at all either.

[Icarus]

I don't see EA like this at all. I see a giant publicly owned company having trouble being profitable and resorting to anti-consumer tactics in an attempt to find a business model that works. I don't see a company drowning in money and dominating the industry.

Same... and they actually make largely decent games.

[MadScientist]

Almost all complaints brought up against EA are either
- business practices that are common accross all major publishers,
- stuff that happened long years ago,
- or highly debatable.

On top of that EA is not even a adequately profitable company.

EA also has brought me some of my most favorite games this generation, namely the Mass Effect an Dead Space franchises, and several highly entertaining ones (Mirror's Edge, Battlefield series, NfS:HP, C&C 3, Burnout Paradise,...).