News
Riccitiello: ‘Crappy’ licensed games take the industry backwards
Ben Parfitt Aug 5 2008, 3:05pm
Comments (11)
Outspoken EA CEO says that poor licence-based titles harm the entire games industry
It seems that barely a day passes without EA CEO John Riccitiello hitting the headlines – and this time the outspoken boss has lashed out at below-par license-based games.
Though Riccitiello admits that EA has churned out some poor licensed titles in its time, he also states that things are changing – adding that indeed they must, as low-quality titles affect the creditability and prosperity of the entire industry.
“I think what redeems our industry is quality, and I think we take a step back every time we take a license and exploit it with a crappy game,” he told MTV Multiplayer. “That’s not what we’re about.
“I don’t actually believe EA is in the business of exploiting other people’s licenses with bad quality games.
We’ve been there. Most of our competitors are there or have been there. That’s not what we do. We’re not really after that market.
“Now Metacritic isn’t always the best quality measure for some licensed games, but I know a good game when I see it. My team and our developers know a good game when we see it. The products we’re putting out this year from Hasbro — I don’t know how they’re going to do with Metacritic, but they’re innovative, they’re different.
“We’ve got the first E-rated shooter with our Nerf game. What we’re doing with our Family Game Night, what we’re doing with Littlest Pet Shop, what we’re doing with Sims – really cool stuff. It feels like it’s demographically similar but it’s very highly innovative.”
Comments
“John's daily rant”
Posted: Aug 5, 3:56pm
Does he not have anything better to do with his time, than to keep posting articles!!
“Re: John's daily rant”
Posted by: techgamer - Aug 5, 3:58pm
Like the image accompanying this story!
“Re: EAdvertising”
Posted by: starwars - Aug 5, 4:40pm
Err, EA pump out the most 'crappy' licenced games of any company. Did I just miss a meeting?
“Re: Re: EAdvertising”
Posted by: sabby - Aug 5, 4:47pm
@ 4 - a few years ago maybe, but now it's almost definately unisoft.
If i see one more of these 'petz' games i'm going to nut a GAME sales assistant.
“Re: Re: Re: EAdvertising”
Posted by: Bob - Aug 5, 6:20pm
MCV - Love your choice of pic to accompany this article!
“Re: Re: Re: Re: EAdvertising”
Posted by: Halle Berry - Aug 5, 11:50pm
Oi! Halle Berry is 100 per cent MILF.
EA is pure FILTH.
(First In Line To Hell)
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: EAdvertising”
Posted by: LeeC - Aug 6, 8:24am
Unfortunately, this has been true for over 20 years and it's not an EA exclusive thing either. Which games in particular were you thinking of #4?
Goldeneye still remains one of the best ever produced, yet there are many more on the opposite end of the scale.
“:(”
Posted by: ka0znrky - Aug 6, 2:20pm
I detest those "crappy" games but I don't see how they take the industry backwards. Without them a lot of small kids wouldn't get into gaming as early as the mainstream games are either too difficult or too adult for them.
Getting them hooked when they are young can only benefit the industry. I think licensed games in general have a terrible stigma around them due to developers churning out sub power "games" but they sell well and provide revenue which helps make the bigger ones.
I'm not happy about it but i do think its a necessary evil.
“Re: :(”
Posted by: Axtor - Aug 6, 2:42pm
Nothing will change, mark my words. Licenced games need to be launched with the actual movie it refers to, otherwise the hype will gone and million lost in free marketing. "hmmmm....lets see, oh yes i remember this movie from way back in the eighties."
“Movies”
Posted by: tufty - Aug 6, 11:49pm
Some of them initially do well and then fuel the bargain bin or 2nd hand shelves for months, some bomb when released and some are great, but however individual titles are received the industry is going to keep pumping out crappy tie-ins and no amount of ranting is going to change that.
“EA running short of ideas”
Posted by: Wes - Aug 7, 12:50pm
I use to love EA when i was younger they're idea's were so fresh and brilliant.. Like NFS porsche challenge and Fifa 2000 and Madden 2004... not tomention the birth of sims
Now its like lets port the game once again and add like.. a custom section... or heck bring out an expantion every 2 months for the idea bin.
I mean why dont they just renew the franchise every second year. its pointless buying a new madden every freaking year. just with 10fps increase wow heavy! next year your player can drive to the staduim and tackle mascots too!
its like a broken record.. keeps on playing the same note
Time for new stuff, im a fan of sequels. but milking the same cow after a while gets old