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[Schweinehund]

I think EA in the last 6 years is better than late 90s, early 00s. I don't bear any ill will toward the man, really.

I don't think the company will be any better off under new leadership.

 

[strem]

My sources tell me that Aurthur Geise (not sure if spelled right) will be taking over

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

Are people under the assumption that with the new CEO EA will become sunrise and rainbows or the next valve?...

Is probably gonna get worst.

So paging back over EA's events/interviews for the past few years, JR hosted most of them until this fiscal year, when Peter Moore started taking notably more spotlight while Riccitiello himself went mostly silent in terms of public appearances.

Besides the obvious reason (being COO), this would suggest they were considering him as the primary replacement candidate.

The guy who managed to fuck NBA Live? Why would do they that? I know FIFA brand is stronger than ever but with that mistake in which he should be the main culprit...

 

[DEO3]

Poor lil' guy.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

Getting off this sinking ship I guess.

 

[Vinci]

Long overdue.

 

[Sinnick]

Their Executive Chairman on their forward going strategy.


Source: http://www.ea.com/news/from-larry-probst-ea-leadership-transition

Or as expected... pretty much the same.

Yep. I guess he got fired more for not executing EA's strategy well rather than coming up with ideas that the market straight up rejected. If it was more of the latter we'd probably see a shift in strategy.

 

[Eusis]

Yep. I guess he got fired more for not executing EA's strategy well rather than coming up with ideas that the market straight up rejected. If it was more of the latter we'd probably see a shift in strategy.

Yeah, that's why I'm worried, plus I'm afraid the market isn't REALLY rejecting some of his ideas (Real Racing 3's apparently been quite lucrative frustratingly enough, while it's the great games from 2008 that underperformed.)

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

The new CEO will be always online.

 

[MechaX]

Ricitello has been a blessing for EA and has done fantastic things during his tenure, bitching about SimCity DRM doesn't change that.

That's part of the dilemma about being a CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation; the world is not going to stop just because you did a few good things. All that matters to the Board of Directors and Shareholders is that you're keeping the money train going. At the end of the day when the hammer falls, that's all that matters.

It doesn't matter when he's made a few really good pro-consumer decisions when stuff like TORtanic happens (which affected both the company and consumers alike). It sucks, but that's just how it is.

 

[Iacobellis]

Come at me bro!

I remember the days of glitching the unlockables system. If you scroll fast enough down the menu, the game would show for a split second hidden players such as Babe Ruth.

 

[legacyzero]

Poor lil' guy.

LOL

 

[Tookay]

But must they keep pumping out big releases? Why not several A-level titles rather than ultra-huge AAA showstoppers? If that type of game is not really feasible, scale things down.

Opportunity cost.

Why settle for making modestly successful games when you've got teams capable of hugely successful games (assuming you can leverage your franchises correctly)?

 

[grimshawish]

Why settle for making modestly successful games when you've got teams capable of hugely successful games (assuming you can leverage your franchises correctly)?

Diversification. Activision and Ubisoft do it.
Its a pretty important aspect of supporting big budget games, you need something more stable - the way to get stability in such an unstable industry is to be in numerous pots at once.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

I wish EA could be great.

I'm daydreaming about the new CEO coming in, and on day 1, saying "SimCity. Offline. Let's do it."

And then "I'm a gamer too, and pay2win microtransactions suck and ruin game balance. We aren't doing them anymore."

And then, "We're throwing our weight behind new IP for the next generation of consoles with exciting new universes and gameplay ideas."

One can only dream.

 

[RoKKeR]

Opportunity cost.

Why settle for making modestly successful games when you've got teams capable of hugely successful games (assuming you can leverage your franchises correctly)?

And bingo, this is the cycle the industry is stuck in. New IP is simply risky, and many times those risks outweigh the potential rewards, resulting in publishers backing off. Established names sell.

 

[Tookay]

Diversification. Activision and Ubisoft do it.
Its a pretty important aspect of supporting big budget games, you need something more stable - the way to get stability in such an unstable industry is to be in numerous pots at once.

And their way of doing that is through mobile/social/AAA gaming, not through A or AA console games whose market has completely collapsed and would not sustain their huge console development teams (especially when they're capable of much more).

Besides, they have a vested interest in making AAA games the desired way to play console games, because it forces their competitors to go bankrupt in trying to keep up with them, leaving them more of the market to control. (Though, it's not really working out for them.)

 

[Not Spaceghost]

And bingo, this is the cycle the industry is stuck in. New IP is simply risky, and many times those risks outweigh the potential rewards, resulting in publishers backing off. Established names sell.

I have a strong feeling based on the reception that the PS4 is easy to develop for (based on interviews and the assumption that the next xbox will follow similarly) that dev costs might go down just enough to encourage new IP's to take off.

 

[inky]

I wish EA could be great.

I'm daydreaming about the new CEO coming in, and on day 1, saying "SimCity. Offline. Let's do it."

And then "I'm a gamer too, and pay2win microtransactions suck and ruin game balance. We aren't doing them anymore."

And then, "We're throwing our weight behind new IP for the next generation of consoles with exciting new universes and gameplay ideas."

One can only dream.

And all of this happens while Scarlett Johansson is giving you a handjob, right? Might as well throw it in there now while you are hoping for any of this to become true

 

[LOCK]

This could be great or bad news. Only time will tell, but I feel like things are about to get rocky at EA.

 

[cand]

Amen.

 

[Tan]

Wow so it actually happened. It'll be interesting to see what happens from here on out.

 

[Yagharek]

Under his leadership, EA has made some very sketchy, anti-consumer decisions. I can't say I'm unhappy to see him go.

It won't change. They're rotten to the core with people like Moore waiting in the wings.

 

[GavinGT]

Poor lil' guy.

At least he won't have to look for long. He'll just snag whatever open job happens to be closest when he leaves the house tomorrow morning.

 

[mr stroke]

Under Riccitiello we got:

+ Mass Effect 2 + 3
+ Dead Space 1 + 2 + 3
+ The Sims 3
+ Crysis 2 + 3
+ Dragon Age Origins
+ The Saboteur
+ Mirror's Edge
+ Battlefield: Bad Company 2 + Battlefield 3
+ Rock Band 1 + 2 + 3
+ Skate 1 + 2 + 3
+ Need For Speed Shift + Hot Pursuit + Shift 2
+ Kingdoms of Amalur
+ DeathSpank 1 + 2
+ Bulletstorm
+ Shadows of the Damned
+ Brutal Legend

Etc.

That's pretty darn good, despite all the times Ricitiello fucked up (Spore DRM, online passes, day-one DLC, etc.) goodwill with the consumer.

+1


I think the guy has done a pretty decent job. Outside of Origin, EA has been great.

 

[Kallor]

Under Riccitiello we got:

+ Mass Effect 2 + 3
+ Dead Space 1 + 2 + 3
+ The Sims 3
+ Crysis 2 + 3
+ Dragon Age Origins
+ The Saboteur
+ Mirror's Edge
+ Battlefield: Bad Company 2 + Battlefield 3
+ Rock Band 1 + 2 + 3
+ Skate 1 + 2 + 3
+ Need For Speed Shift + Hot Pursuit + Shift 2
+ Kingdoms of Amalur
+ DeathSpank 1 + 2
+ Bulletstorm
+ Shadows of the Damned
+ Brutal Legend

Etc.

That's pretty darn good, despite all the times Ricitiello fucked up (Spore DRM, online passes, day-one DLC, etc.) goodwill with the consumer.

Yeah man, 3 and a half of those games were even kinda good.

 

[padlock]

Let me put two and two together.

He's resigning because EA is having a bad quarter.

EA is having a bad quarter because less people are buying their games.

Hmm...

Holy shit! Voting with your wallet does work!

Cliffy is a genius.

 

[Kunan]

Poor lil' guy.

lol

Doesn't help that he's about to be vaporized by his house's front door either.

 

[Synth_floyd]

So how do we make them focus more on game quality and less on the bottom line? Not sure a new CEO would do that. They've been pumping out formulaic shit and run by corporate decisions virtually since the beginning of the company. He's resigning because the company hasn't made enough money, not due to the embarrassment of SimCity or any other crap they've put out recently.

 

[Desty]

Let me put two and two together.

He's resigning because EA is having a bad quarter.

EA is having a bad quarter because less people are buying their games.

Hmm...

Holy shit! Voting with your wallet does work!

Cliffy is a genius.

Cliffy new EA CEO confirmed.

 

[FireVoa]

My only question is, why now?

 

[darkistheway]

I have a strong feeling based on the reception that the PS4 is easy to develop for (based on interviews and the assumption that the next xbox will follow similarly) that dev costs might go down just enough to encourage new IP's to take off.

Hahaha!

Spoiler

no

 

[akira28]

For perspective, Larry Probst was the guy who served as EA CEO from 1991 until April 2007 (when Riccitiello took over). I can't believe he outlasted Riccitiello at the company.

I don't like this renewed focus in mobile titles. :-(

These are money guys who at the end of the day, when you take away the practicality of making sausage, don't know a goddamned thing. That's why you don't let industries be dictated by meatmakers. You follow the geniuses, yes, even the self-proclaimed ones, because they will make bold strokes for the sake of passion and art and progress, not just hints of potential success.

the fellows running the show right now see everyone walking around with video game console controllers built into their mobile life devices, and they want to be at the cutting edge, but they're such dull blades, all they SEEM to do is read USA Today(Fox News in paper form) and follow the technology trend page.

and no..you don't make meat, unless you kill yourself, you see? a contrafiction in terms.

 

[Eusis]

I have a strong feeling based on the reception that the PS4 is easy to develop for (based on interviews and the assumption that the next xbox will follow similarly) that dev costs might go down just enough to encourage new IP's to take off.

We've constantly seen prices rise despite staying on the same hardware. It MAY help, but it's just a speed bump at best. At worst, at least the programming costs don't rise quite like the graphic ones will.

 

[Skyzard]

And their way of doing that is through mobile/social/AAA gaming, not through A or AA console games whose market has completely collapsed and would not sustain their huge console development teams (especially when they're capable of much more).

Besides, they have a vested interest in making AAA games the desired way to play console games, because it forces their competitors to go bankrupt in trying to keep up with them, leaving them more of the market to control. (Though, it's not really working out for them.)

They could cut back on iterations and make more diverse AAA games ME2 and new IPs.

 

[eznark]

Mark Pincus to be named next CEO

 

[Yagharek]

Mark Pincus to be named next CEO

This would be an improvement

 

[TrickRoom]

We need a long list of his many "accomplishments" now.

-Bought and crushed Pandemic and participated in Bioware's downfall
-Started project 10 dollar and other anti-consumer tactics
-SimCity fiasco
-The old republic bombing, perhaps the most expensive bust ever
-Pulled out of Steam and started a competing service that no one wanted and is worse in every way

People can add to it. There are literally too many to list for just me.

I may be mistaking this guy for someone else, but did he do anything "evil" to the company before all this?

 

[TL4E]

Maybe Origin won't suck now!

 

[Meelow]

So I'm sorry if this was already posted but if not...

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-03-18-ea-stock-jumps-after-riccitiello-announcement

Electronic Arts stock is up over 2.6% in after-hours trading following the announcement of the departure of CEO John Riccitiello. So far this year EA's stock price has climbed from below $14 per share to nearly $19 per share, despite EA's mixed results last quarter.

I'd feel offended if I was John.

 

[Sqorgar]

Under Riccitiello we got:

+ DeathSpank 1 + 2

I don't know for certain, but I think EA is the reason why DeathSpank was broken into two games.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Larry Probst is the gobshite that hard balled SEGA in their hour of need and helped kill the Dreamcast. Is there any way we can make this company implode during his newest tenure through CEO transition period?

Goodbye John, your company gave me Mirrors Edge and Dead Space with you in charge. Your caretaker helped kill a wonderful first party.


Dear EA, support the Wii U better please.

 

[Opiate]

+1


I think the guy has done a pretty decent job. Outside of Origin, EA has been great.

It really depends on your taste in games here, obviously. Mass Effect, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, Dante's Inferno, Dragon Age are all single player focused, narrative driven titles.

If you don't like those sorts of games, then obviously EA hasn't been so great. Removing personal preference for their games from the equation, EA has made quite a few anti-consumer moves this generation: they've been at the forefront of microtransactions, on the vanguard of day 1 DLC, produced Origin, persisted in their controlled monopoly of the NFL license, and apparently wants next gen games to be 70 dollars.

I'm not saying they're necessarily worse than ActivisionBlizzard or Take 2, mind you. I'm just saying they aren't obviously better, and a preference for EA is largely a personal subjective preference for their games, and not really an objective analysis of their anti-consumer policies, relative to other major publishers.

 

[BD1]

So I'm sorry if this was already posted but if not...

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-03-18-ea-stock-jumps-after-riccitiello-announcement



I'd feel offended if I was John.

Eh, it isn't uncommon for stuff like that to happen, and when you get to the CEO level you tend to wear big boy pants and have thick skin.

 

[AuthenticM]

Here's a nice picture of Riccitiello

 

[MaddenNFL64]

Are they still gonna be gungho on holding exclusivity on the NFL brand?

I want a 2k NFL game already.

 

[LeleSocho]

Under Riccitiello we got:

+ Mass Effect 2 + 3
+ Dead Space 1 + 2 + 3
+ The Sims 3
+ Crysis 2 + 3
+ Dragon Age Origins
+ The Saboteur
+ Mirror's Edge
+ Battlefield: Bad Company 2 + Battlefield 3
+ Rock Band 1 + 2 + 3
+ Skate 1 + 2 + 3
+ Need For Speed Shift + Hot Pursuit + Shift 2
+ Kingdoms of Amalur
+ DeathSpank 1 + 2
+ Bulletstorm
+ Shadows of the Damned
+ Brutal Legend

Etc.

That's pretty darn good, despite all the times Ricitiello fucked up (Spore DRM, online passes, day-one DLC, etc.) goodwill with the consumer.

Let's remove the bad stuff from there and let's see what remains...

Under Riccitiello we got:

+ Dead Space 1
+ The Sims 3
+ Mirror's Edge
+ Battlefield: Bad Company 2
+ Skate 1 + 2 + 3
+ Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
+ Shadows of the Damned



That's pretty darn good, despite all the times Ricitiello fucked up (Spore DRM, online passes, day-one DLC, etc.) goodwill with the consumer.

Yeah that's still good if you ask me

 

[Iacobellis]

Are they still gonna be gungho on holding exclusivity on the NFL brand?

I want a 2k NFL game already.

I want the MVP series back.

 

[Grief.exe]

Aren't they still having issues from losses sustained from The Old Republics failure?

 

[Derrick01]

It really depends on your taste in games here, obviously. Mass Effect, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, Dante's Inferno, Dragon Age are all single player focused, narrative driven titles.

If you don't like those sorts of games, then obviously EA hasn't been so great.

Hell I do prefer those types of games and I can't most of their properties because of how streamlined and safe they are. They really don't make much for anyone but the kind of stereotypical bro gamer that many of us scoff at on here.