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[StuBurns]

Wii U should absolutely be viable for them, with even the minimum of effort they brought Mass Effect 3 to the system by launch. With post-launch devkits/SDKs they should at least be bringing their 360/PS3 versions of all their sports games to the WiiU. Either one or both of the below is why they won't support WiiU:

a) They think that they can influence the market in the direction of their choosing by withholding games and playing hardball. As they tried (and failed) with Steam. Microsoft's approach is a wet dream for them and PS4 and PC are trivial to support, so it's time to jettison WiiU for not playing along, customer base be damned.

b) They're transitioning to a new CEO and have blocked any investment in areas that will not see immediate short-term profit in time for the appointment of their new CEO. That means no long-term attempts to build customers on WiiU. They want a financial year where they can report profitability and use stuff like the removal of online passes to improve their disastrous image leading into the naming of the next CEO.

I realise there were serious mistakes made by Nintendo with WiiU (though none of them as boneheaded and damaging as xbone DRM), but if EA can't count it as a viable platform then EA have serious problems.

You're talking about this year though, EA are preparing for the next eight. Those sports games will be running on an engine that is presumably beyond the technical feasibility of the hardware. EA are only using two engines for their next-gen games, the sports one, and Frostbite 3, and they said FB2 wasn't even up to snuff on there.

I imagine they could just give it the Vita game, or whatever, but that's just going to cause terrible PR every year when people get it and bitch online.

 

[Protein]

Unprecedented rain-check.

 

[Hakai]

Huh, I will give Kudos to EA this time. Instead of the old BS "we want to create the unique thing for the unique features of the console", the just straigth up and said "We think it doesn't worth the investment". And even if I disagree with them(what I don't), I think is more sincere than anything we heard so far from them.

 

[zma1013]

How many 3rd party games were released on Wii U at $60 while their respective counterparts on Xbox 360 and PS3 were selling for $20 and $30?

I'm not gonna sit here and say they surely would have sold more, but don't tell me that's a business practice that customers will embrace on the Wii U platform. I mean, let's say I don't own any systems or know a whole lot about games. I'm looking at the wall of games for the Wii U and I see Mass Effect 3 for $60 or I see the same Mass Effect 3 for $20 on Xbox 360. What am I going to do?

 

[Mithos]

Honestly? Probably not significantly. The attach rate for the Wii U is atrocious.

I say EA should be happy to have sold more the 1 ME3 on Wii U, they deserved 0 sales for what they did. And I think 3 game for $60 would have sold way more then 1 game, considering all other platforms got 3 games for $60.

Until the announcement of ME: Trilogy, EA had me for double dip on ME3: SE on Wii U, after not so much.

Edit:
Actually SHAME on anyone buying ME3: SE.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Feel bad for Nintendo. You're aren't going to sell consoles when you're treated like a second class citizen by one of the biggest developers around. That's a lot of pressure to sell consoles she. You can't even get key third party support for big sports titles or even generic shit that EA pushes.

 

[Fox Mulder]

No. EA has never been a big supporter of Nintendo systems and it has never really affected them. Activision or Ubisoft pulling out would be the bigger deal, but they seem to be still on board at the moment.

EA's site lists 78 games released for the wii. That's not a low number of games, and it included some genuinely great games. It's insane to think that Nintendo doesn't need the support, or that EA holds some grudge that would affect their wallet. The WiiU has sold like shit, and Nintendo needs to give third parties some confidence in the product if they want them to dedicate resources to a console that's intentionally designed to be different.

 

[Amir0x]

Whatever dude. Fucking Fifa for PS2 and not Wii U (unless something change since that topic, cant keep track of how many publishers are on board with confusing the fuck out of potential consumers)

 

[Roo]

lol
Fuck off EA

 

[Chinpoko_Master]

So can we finally put that Origin conspiracy theory to rest?

 

[Frodo]

Gibeau told Joystiq this week that Nintendo must "sell more boxes" for EA to resume full support for the platform.

"Look, the only thing they can do to fix it is to sell more boxes. We're a rational company, we go where the audience is. We publish games where we think we can make a great game and hit a big audience, and make money. That's why we're here, that's why we have an industry," said Gibeau.

"The Wii U, we shipped four games. We shipped Madden, FIFA, Need for Speed and Mass Effect. In fact, the last Need for Speed shipped 60 days ago had a pretty good Metacritic. It was a good game. It wasn't a schlocky port, we actually put extra effort into getting everything to work. And it's just not selling because there's no boxes," he added.

Nothing to do with it being double the price it is on the PS360 or being late for a few months. No...

Spoiler

Disclaimer: I bought NFS:MWU even though I could have bought it for the PS3 for half the price and I love it.

 

[durrrrrrrrrr]

the only thing i see from EA with a chance of selling on Nintendo hardware is Garden Warfare. i've heard comments from CoD/BF people who played it that the bright colors and cartoony nature just wasn't their thing, even though the game is solid.

 

[Manmademan]

In 2010, the Wii moved more third-party software than any other console of the time. Some third parties (Ubisoft, Activision, WB) had tons of success on the Wii.

The problem with the Wii was a hardware one, never a sales one.

yes, but not more software than the 360/PS3/PC combined, which is generally what devs started to aim for. Nintendo required a special version of any game built just for their console (see: ghostbusters, or dead space extraction) and as casuals moved on to the next big thing the audience to justify these specialty efforts just wasn't there and STILL isn't there.

 

[Heart Attack]

Can't blame them. Wii U costs $350 and the market has rejected it. PS4 will cost $400 and consumers are stoked about it.

 

[Lynd7]

All the games they mentioned probably didn't sell as well due to other reasons on top of the amount of Wii U's out there.

- Madden - Gimped
- FIFA- I dunno, might be comparable
- Mass Effect - Late port, trilogy announced before it came out
- Need For Speed - Late port

If EA or another company put out an exclusive with some hype and a budget behind it, Nintendo fans will get behind it. I don't see why that is so hard for them to grasp.

 

[Buddha Beam]

So EA is basically blaming their lack of support on a newly released console. I never thought we'd get to the day where the excuse became, "there's no install base on that thing that just came out" but that's where we've been since around February.

 

[Bgamer90]

PERFECT.

 

[lensoftruth]

Result, I can play the same FIFA with more bugs, this isn't the early 90's so I assume EA are still a terrible publisher?

 

[Manmademan]

Can't blame them. Wii U costs $350 and the market has rejected it. PS4 will cost $400 and consumers are stoked about it.

yeah, that pricing for the WiiU is ridiculous next to the PS4. That's not going to do them any favors this holiday.

 

[Terrible Majesty]

The franchises EA put on Nintendo consoles don't appeal to that audience. Games like these do:

Mirrors Edge, Mass Effect Trilogy and Dead Space trilogy.

 

[Wynnebeck]

So EA is basically blaming their lack of support on a newly released console. I never thought we'd get to the day where the excuse became, "there's no install base on that thing that just came out" but that's where we've been since around February.

No, their "excuse" is: "Hey, you are coming off of the top selling console of the previous generation and have had a holiday season and almost a year to build up a decent install base. You aren't selling well and consumers and studios are gearing up for PS4/Xbone. We can't justify spending money to devote resources to the Wii U when there's no chance of making that investment back where as it will be guaranteed with the other consoles. If Wii U starts to pick up in sales, we'll be right there with them."

 

[daycru]

Whatever dude. Fucking Fifa for PS2 and not Wii U (unless something change since that topic, cant keep track of how many publishers are on board with confusing the fuck out of potential consumers)

PS2 is still big in some developing nations, there is a worldwide audience for it.

 

[Lynd7]

No, their "excuse" is: "Hey, you are coming off of the top selling console of the previous generation and have had a holiday season and almost a year to build up a decent install base. You aren't selling well and consumers and studios are gearing up for PS4/Xbone. We can't justify spending money to devote resources to the Wii U when there's no chance of making that investment back where as it will be guaranteed with the other consoles. If Wii U starts to pick up in sales, we'll be right there with them."

I don't know how they can justify that, the new Xbox and PS4 may not sell fantastically after the launches either. Also, the third parties didn't even really try for the Wii U launch, full of late ports and gimped versions.

 

[Zoramon089]

Ah, so Frostbite 2/3 will start working with the Wii U when it sells better? Wonder how they'll explain that...

 

[lenovox1]

the only thing i see from EA with a chance of selling on Nintendo hardware is Garden Warfare. i've heard comments from CoD/BF people who played it that the bright colors and cartoony nature just wasn't their thing, even though the game is solid.

I wouldn't be shocked if you told me Garden Warfare started its life off as a Wii U project. It's got the kind of concept that was built for GamePad vs. Wii Remote gameplay.

 

[Manmademan]

I don't know how they can justify that, the new Xbox and PS4 may not sell fantastically after the launches either. Also, the third parties didn't even really try for the Wii U launch, full of late ports and gimped versions.

no one sane believes this. Literally everyone on board for the PS3 is still there for the PS4 and then some.

The Xbox One is taking a bit of a PR beating, but even it does not have anything to indicate the massive collapse in fanbase that got the WiiU where it is right now.

The 360 and PS3s audiences are buying just as much software as ever 6 and 7 years in. The Wii was a ghost town for years before the WiiU launched. it's a bad comparison.

 

[Vermillion]

I don't know how they can justify that, the new Xbox and PS4 may not sell fantastically after the launches either. Also, the third parties didn't even really try for the Wii U launch, full of late ports and gimped versions.

Even if they sell the same as Wii U, they'd have a higher attach rate for EA's titles than Wii U.

 

[Pikma]

And if/when they'll do it, it'll already be too late.

 

[shinra-bansho]

How so? BF4 will be perfectly viable for PS4/XBO at launch, it's not EA's fault Wii U isn't viable for them. A system should be born viable.

This. Hell, if they released the games before the system I could even see people buying them in preparation.

Wii U is a more viable platform than ps4 and xbox one currently...

The PS4 and XB1 will likely be more viable at launch than the Wii U has been with a full year on the market.

There is a large middle ground between "gangbusters" and like 10,000 copies.

Less than 10,000, apparently that's a generous description.

Ah, so Frostbite 2/3 will start working with the Wii U when it sells better? Wonder how they'll explain that...

They'll port their sports titles using the old engine if a big enough base builds up that seems receptive to those titles.

They're not suddenly going to port Frostbite and release Dragon Age 3 on it.

 

[lensoftruth]

The franchises EA put on Nintendo consoles don't appeal to that audience. Games like these do:

Mirrors Edge, Mass Effect Trilogy and Dead Space trilogy.

These games don't appeal to the Nintendo audience at all, why do you think this?

 

[Delstius]

Well that's only logical of them but still a bit too much opportunistic.

Anyway I'll resume buying EA games when they'll bring "viable games"... it may take forever tho.

 

[Wynnebeck]

I don't know how they can justify that, the new Xbox and PS4 may not sell fantastically after the launches either. Also, the third parties didn't even really try for the Wii U launch, full of late ports and gimped versions.

True but from what we have seen, consumers are more excited for the Xbone/PS4 than they we're for Wii U who had an entire Xmas to themselves for the taking.

 

[Meelow]

True but from what we have seen, consumers are more excited for the Xbone/PS4 than they we're for Wii U who had an entire Xmas to themselves for the taking.

Wii U sold great at launch, it just got hurt in early 2013 because of the lack of new releases.

 

[Wynnebeck]

Wii U sold great at launch, it just got hurt in early 2013 because of the lack of new releases.

This is what is baffling many people. Even if they were trying to take care of the 3DS, they had more then enough time to build up a couple of games to release after the Xmas season. This shit sounds just like Vita.

 

[Psychotext]

Activision or Ubisoft pulling out would be the bigger deal, but they seem to be still on board at the moment.

Might just be a matter of time for Ubisoft though: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585836

 

[Lynd7]

These games don't appeal to the Nintendo audience at all, why do you think this?

I don't think thats true at all. People who buy Nintendo systems like good quality titles, its the fact that outside of ZombiU there weren't any good third party games really. Look at games like RE4 on GameCube and even Wii. Nintendo fans just like something of quality and not things that are late or gimped.

Third parties missed a great opportunity with the Wii U launch to create something original. They just don't feel like actually devoting the man-power and budget to make and push a AAA game on a Nintendo platform. I agree with other posters that if either of the other two consoles tank after launch, they will still be pushing games out for them anyway.

Waiting until Nintendo makes the console sell is a cop out. They could do the same thing if they wanted, and reap some profits, it just takes more effort.

 

[Rok]

All this hate against EA. They just want to make a living guys! EA Manager have to eat you know!? You can't make money with the Wii U, so why should they try to make it a viable console with help of their games? It's business.

 

[Amir0x]

PS2 is still big in some developing nations, there is a worldwide audience for it.

I guess I didn't think about that. perspective rescinded

 

[JordanLMiller]

I will resume EA support when they are 'a viable third party'

So probably never

 

[TAJ]

Wii U is the only console out and has a higher install base than both..

So if Ouya launched before PS4 and Xbone, you'd consider it more viable than them?

 

[Terrible Majesty]

These games don't appeal to the Nintendo audience at all, why do you think this?

Listen Lynd7, he was asking me man.

Spoiler

just kidding thanks for the support *fistbump*

Dead Space - is similar in vein to Resident Evil. Except it almost borders into Metroid territory with its sci-fi themes. Plus it has American appeal due to its Aliens-vibe. Wii consumers would have bought Dead Space if it wasnt an on rails shooter. Similar games: RE4, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Metroid Prime, ZombiU, Fatal Frame

Mass Effect - it is a widely heralded franchise, one I feel has fantastical elements to it, like how some people would like Nintendo games to be if they were made for adults. Just look at all the colourful aliens lol. And the colourful explosions. Similar games: Xenoblade

Mirror's Edge - just so colourful. jk. it feels like something Sega would make and it also has a new, innovative approach, which is very Nintendo like, but once again has appeal to those who aren't into cartoony graphics. Its like what the first Red Steel promised in terms of visuals, but then blows that away and replaces the sword/gun emphasis with parkour. Plus everyone loves Asian females. Similar games: Res Steel bullshots, Sonic

 

[Jimca2]

All the games they mentioned probably didn't sell as well due to other reasons on top of the amount of Wii U's out there.

- Madden - Gimped
- FIFA- I dunno, might be comparable
- Mass Effect - Late port, trilogy announced before it came out
- Need For Speed - Late port

If EA or another company put out an exclusive with some hype and a budget behind it, Nintendo fans will get behind it. I don't see why that is so hard for them to grasp.

I completeley agree with you on this.

For the record; Fifa 13 on Wii U was a laggy, content-lacking port of Fifa 12 with a couple of cheaply made gimmicks for the gamepad thrown in for shits and giggles. What is beyond my comprehension is why they didn't just port 13. It's like putting Fifa 2001 on the e-shop and excpecting people to buy it because it's Fifa.

 

[Parch]

It's just pretty easy to port from Xbox One to PS4 or the other way around.

That's why no matter how bad the XB1 launch is, they'll always have 3rd party support.

Combine that with low sales and a fanbase that doesn't support 3rd party games, and it's no wonder EA has a problem with Nintendo. Can't say that I blame them.

If Nintendo insists on doing their own thing, they make it difficult for the industry to support them.

 

[linkboy]

I want to buy 3rd party games for my Wii U, but I'm not going to sub-par piece of shit games (which is what 3 of the 4 EA games released for the Wii U are), just to garner support.

 

[Akey]

We're a rational company

News to me.

 

[linkboy]

Here's something 3rd parties still haven't figured out with Nintendo consoles.

If they actually attempt to grow a userbase, people on Nintendo systems might actually give a shit about them.

People will say that it isn't their job, but by 1/2 assing their games (like EA did with the Wii U) or just ignoring the platform, all they're doing is driving people to the companies that do put an effort (aka Nintendo).

 

[prag16]

no one sane believes this. Literally everyone on board for the PS3 is still there for the PS4 and then some.

The Xbox One is taking a bit of a PR beating, but even it does not have anything to indicate the massive collapse in fanbase that got the WiiU where it is right now.

The 360 and PS3s audiences are buying just as much software as ever 6 and 7 years in. The Wii was a ghost town for years before the WiiU launched. it's a bad comparison.

Everyone? Gaf!= everyone. This still remains to be seen.

You admit xbone has been a huge fuckup so far, yet you see NOTHING to indicate any chance of a precipitous user base dropoff?

And your last comment cuts both ways. Are you sure they'll all be so hot in the pants to upgrade? Especially when the majority didn't buy the systems until the latter half of their lifespans?

And if/when they'll do it, it'll already be too late.

Probably. Interesting that they're risking making the same mistake twice, especially after admitting last time around that they had "backed the wrong horse" and would have proceeded differently with the benefit of hindsight.

Might just be a matter of time for Ubisoft though: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585836

Eh those comments are being overblown. At least for now. Rayman and Watch Dogs have a chance at doing okay. Splinter Cell is probably hosed though unfortunately.

 

[opticalmace]

News to me.

Based on what?

 

[ASIS]

I would like to hear arguments for why EA should support Wii U at this point. I think dropping support is a logical call.

For me, it's not dropping it that's the problem. It's believing that they will have a viable market once the sales pick up, by then the ship would have sailed for EA on the Wii U, they will release lazy "test" games, and when those don't do well, they will drop support again.

We've seen this way too many times now.

 

[Buzzati]

The process would go a bit faster if third parties put in the effort to help.

They made 4 games that sold poorly. EA doesn't owe Nintendo charity, here.