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We’ll be games' greatest ever company, say EA boss

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We’ll be games' greatest ever company, say EA boss

Riccitiello wants to secure publisher’s place in history

EA CEO John Riccitiello has said that he wants to ensure his employer is one day recognised as video gaming’s all-time greatest company.

He commented that he wanted to secure EA’s place in history by making it to games what ‘Disney is to aniationa and NBC is to television’.

However, speaking to the Financial Times, Riccitiello added that merely being number one in the publisher charts was not his priority.

"I read a book on how every medium creates one great company: animation created Disney, CBS was created by radio, NBC by television,” he said.

"Interactive entertainment is going to determine one great company and I think it's this one. One of the reasons I've come back is to try to take it to the next step."

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He added: "Above all, I'm trying to bring great quality and innovation back . . . I'm also trying to drive us towards a variety of new business models, whether it be subscription or micro-transactions, or advertising-based.”

Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Apr 14, 2008 at 10:54 am
1

Such arrogance for a company who's majority of in-house titles are mediocre at best and who smother other creative talents that they have aquired.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Onehunglow Apr 14, 2008 at 12:08 pm
2

EA certainly will go down in history as being the 'Borg' of the gaming world. One of a handful of publishers who manage to turn great games into mediocre crap.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by ADE_1977 Apr 14, 2008 at 12:17 pm
3

Agreed, releasing the most games doesn't make you the industries all time great publisher. Disney, one of the companies mentioned, have (with few exceptions) consistently produced the highest standard of animated features over the course of many years. What they haven't done is keep remaking Snow White, just changing the names of the dwarves every year ala EA Sports. Quality not quantity is once again the key. Look at Nintendo, a sparse release schedule, yet few can argue against their place as one of the industries greats.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Sam Apr 14, 2008 at 1:29 pm
4
Sam

History of EA is done.

People buy their games, and think nothing about EA. Hardcore gamers hate them.

Way to go John.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Eric J Apr 14, 2008 at 2:47 pm
5
Eric J

That's a load of crock - - Electronic Arts is stupid and arrogant. In the history of games EA is but a insignificant ant compared to the monster that is Nintendo, and SCEA (Sony). Hell maybe that's why they're not coming out with their own freaking "ONE FORMAT" system. Even if the Huge Success of World of WarCraft puts them in the history books they're nothing more than a foot note to Mario

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Keith K Apr 14, 2008 at 3:12 pm
6
Keith K

I'd spit in Riccitiello's face if I had less respect for my own saliva.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Alan Apr 14, 2008 at 3:43 pm
7
Alan

I HATE EA, its been mentioned before but I'll mention it again, anything they touch turns into dust. I'm very afraid that they are going to get their grubby hands on GTA4.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by joe Apr 14, 2008 at 4:33 pm
8
joe

the borg? yeah thats about right

EA has no positive contribution to the games industry whatsoever, if theres one company i want to see go bust, its them

still pisses off a t rock band $375 in europe? they can go **** off!!

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Apr 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm
9

I wouldn't say EA don't contribute anything to the industry, they do generate a lot of revenue. Having said that I'm not a fan of their bully boy tactics and as a retailer the cost fo their back catalogue of games is quite ridiculous, so much so that even GAME are refusing to pay their high prices.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Loneduck3 Apr 14, 2008 at 5:45 pm
10
Loneduck3

It's obvious that, as a business, EA is one of the most successful, as it pushes out a significant volume of games. In the immediate sense, it doesn't matter what gamers think of the company; people will still buy the games, and investors will be pleased with the returns.
But I think it's clear that EA isn't sustaining the industry. Nintendo's innovation revived the videogame market when Atari's volume of subpar games killed it. If people stopped showing interest in games suddenly, (for any reason, economic, political, religious) Nintendo would be far more likely to take a leadership position.
I appreciate Riccitiello's hope to be the best, as we all should strive to improve. I just hope he realizes that the business model to the point of innovation. I hope this not for his sake, but all the employees working at EA with families. I would honestly like EA to be a solid company. But my cynicism says not anytime soon.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by nab Apr 14, 2008 at 7:04 pm
11
nab

Greedy company, their price compare to the other company so ridiculous

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Apr 14, 2008 at 7:21 pm
12

#5 At least educate yourself a bit, World of Warcraft doesn't have anything to do with EA, it's a BLIZZARD game, a company that actually makes great games every single time and will be remembered for that.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by James Apr 15, 2008 at 5:25 am
13
James

Great points all round and totally valid. EA are clouding the industry with junk. They are making a mockery of gamers. Why should i have to read a review of a game before i buy it just to make sure EA can get it to run at more than 10fps on my console. 0% buyer confidence here.

I just wish the consumers had more control over the industry than we do now. The boycott of the new battlefield is a great example of the power gamers should have.

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by ROY Apr 16, 2008 at 10:05 pm
14
ROY

IT'S GOING TO BE A SAD DAY WHEN EA OWNS EVERYTHING, THINK ABOUT IT EACH GAME YOU PUT IN WILL HAVE A EA LOGO OF DEATH. THEY HAVE THE ANTI-MIDAS TOUCH EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH TURNS TO $***

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Re: Anyone else sick of EA?

posted by Pig_Benis Apr 17, 2008 at 2:59 am
15
Pig_Benis

They lost my respect when they ceased release of Thrill Kill

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NBC?

posted by QWERTYRULEZ Apr 21, 2008 at 2:43 pm
16
QWERTYRULEZ

What the hell is that? Maybe in America, but not in the UK! EA can tie itself to America, cus I hope it doen't tie itself to the UK or Europe!

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