What, specifically, has E.A. done? *I seriously don't know*

[ShogunGino]

DISCLAIMER: This is not a thread defending EA.

Yeah, as the title suggests, I truly don't know many specific things EA has done to warrant the hatred against it.

I don't follow the industry very closely nor do I purchase/play many recent releases, and it was just a little while back that I noticed people began hating on EA, but rarely do I hear anything specific as to what they have done. Even Jimquisition's "Why do we hate EA" video didn't really have anything specific.

I have heard about greedy business tactics, but I've never heard any specific examples. I have heard that they acquire smaller companies and basically lead them to their doom, but I think I've heard of only one or two examples before. I know they've had some stupid marketing before, but stupid marketing can't be the only thing that makes people rage at them.

So I ask you, Escapists, for some more detailed, specific examples and reasons as to what caused all the hate for this company. I can recall back to the sixth generation of consoles when it seemed that EA was pretty much tops. What happened?

I would ask that people try to stay civil and give their reasons without using this thread as a "let's just ***** and moan about EA" outlet, but I have learned not to make such requests on a site such as this.

EDIT: While I thank people for their posts, I still don't think many of you are citing specific enough examples. I keep hearing "they are know for X" without any specific events to back up the claim. Links to stories about people's poor service from EA and the like are appreciated.

Also, don't try to convince me with citing the change of style from Dragon Age: Origins to 2, because I find DA:O to be an enormously boring game.

 

[wintercoat]

Popcawn heah, get yah popcawn! Freshly popped popcawn! Only use real buttah!

I would ask that people try to stay civil and give their reasons without using this thread as a "let's just ***** and moan about EA" outlet, but I have learned not to make such requests on a site such as this.

Asking for the moon there my friend.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Basically, it's because they have a reputation for running smaller companies into the ground, like you said. Here are some examples.

Westwood Studios: Well known and loved for their Command and Conquer series. Bought out by EA in 1998. EA maintained a lot of control in the game making side of things. Last game was "Command and Conquer: Renegade", a complete departure for the series, and not well received, causing Westwood to be shut down.

Origin Systems: Known for "Ultima" and "Wing Commander". Bought out in 1992. "Ultima VII Part 2: The Serpent Isle" was well received, but "Ultima VII: Pagan" and "Ultima IX: Ascension", were...not. Meanwhile, Wing Commander III was considered the peak of the series, with Wing Commander IV being rushed by EA to meet a 12-month deadline (failing to do so by 2 months). Closed down in 2004.

Bullfrog Productions: The original company of Peter "mouth too big for his own good" Molyneux. Bought by EA in 1995. Molyneux left to form Lionhead two years later, with Bullfrog closing down in 2004 after being merged with EA UK.

Maxis: The mind behind "Simcity". After being bought by EA, they went on to make "The Sims", which has a reputation for being dragged down with expansion packs. "Spore" did not go over too well either, being massively pirated. Nowadays, pretty much nothing other than an EA brand name.

Pandemic Studios: The geniuses behind "Star Wars: Battlefront" and "Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction". Partnered with Bioware in 2005, making "Destroy All Humans!". Bought by EA in 2007 when EA bought Bioware. Went on to make "Mercenaries 2: World in Flames", "Lord of the Rings: Conquest", and "The Saboteur", all of which did not meet sales expectations, before being closed down.

Also, EA has a reputation for making the same game over and over, such as with "Madden NFL."

 

[ResonanceSD]

Popcawn heah, get yah popcawn! Freshly popped popcawn! Only use real buttah!

Yo set me up


My personal gripe with them is how they take game studios with good IP, then destroy their integrity and turn them into husks (LOL) of their former selves, then wait till the IP becomes garbage, and dissolve it.


Mass Effect and Dragon Age shittiness started with EA, for a recent example of what I'm on about.

 

[Saulkar]

E.A. has had an almost universal disconnect from their userbase and in turn tends to royally piss them off while seemingly enjoying it.

 

[The Madman]

RIP Bullfrog, Origin and Westwood Entertainment. Three amazing developers bought out by EA then summarily mutilated and killed in the name of profits!

As a primarily PC gamer I have such an axe to grind with EA it's uncanny. They've devoured multiple studio I've loved, exploiting them briefly before simply killing off the studio entirely the instant any sort of discontent begins to set in. It's why many people say that's what EA is doing to Bioware now; they've done it before a number of times. Whether that's true or not I don't know but it's certainly not above EA to do so.

If it's any consolation however Microsoft these days isn't any better and I've just as much a problem with them as EA. Meanwhile Ubisoft are a royal pain in the ass to PC gamers but at least they don't generally devour and consume their competition.

 

[Mirroga]

E.A. has had an almost universal disconnect from their userbase and in turn tends to royally piss them off while seemingly enjoying it.

Isn't that a hybrid, if not original, version of a troll or just pure evil?

 

[Saulkar]

E.A. has had an almost universal disconnect from their userbase and in turn tends to royally piss them off while seemingly enjoying it.

Isn't that a hybrid, if not original, version of a troll or just pure evil?

More of an asshat. They do not intentionally try to piss us off as it is a consequence of their apathy but they revel in it when it happens.

 

[Thoric485]

Here's the EA problem explained in John Riccitiello's own words [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.54729-EA-CEO-We-Squandered-Acquired-Studios]:

"I think that the idea that you're going to have a top-down process that uses a lot of centralized tools to try and build a common brand with a lot of centralized creative calls is just not a good idea... It could certainly make for a great case study at Harvard if it worked, but I just don't think it works."

"There is no question that Origin and Westwood and Bullfrog don't exist today, and you don't generally buy things in order to close them... those deals obviously didn't work the way we anticipated. The leaders in those organizations got set up where they thought we were bringing in a bureaucracy. We were bringing in centralized tools and technology that homogenized the output and slowed them down. They weren't listened to."

"Frankly, the core of our business, like in any creative business, are the guys and women who are actually making the product. You can't just buy people and attempt to apply some business school synergy to them. It just doesn't work. The companies that succeed are those that provide a stage for their best people and let them do what they do best, and it?s taken us some time to understand that."

This comment was just after the BioWare-Pandemic acquisition came in effect. EA had apparently changed, and yet exactly a year later Pandemic was closed. BioWare are still around obviously, but as a shell of their former self.

There are very few successful companies in the mid-range of game development as it is. We don't need EA coming in every few years, destroying the best ones.

 

[Ldude893]

Popcawn heah, get yah popcawn! Freshly popped popcawn! Only use real buttah!

I never laughed so hard in an entire week. Seriously, I'm wiping saliva off my screen at the moment.

OT:
-Irresponsible marketing that paints the picture that gamers are immature adult-children who give little care for anything clever
-Enforcing of DRM that ruins games and invades privacy
-Absorbing good game developers and ripping their souls out; destroying good franchises in the process. Case in point: Command and Conquer, Mass Effect, Sim City (I could rant all day about why their 2013 reboot will be an absolute travesty)
-Making the same games over and over CoD style.
-Terrible customer service
-Execs are out-of-touch with gamers

 

[ThriKreen]

There are very few successful companies in the mid-range of game development as it is. We don't need EA coming in every few years, stealing away the best ones.

The flip side is that some of those companies might have died regardless, just that being bought out might have extended the end by a bit.

 

[Thoric485]

The flip side is that some of those companies might have died regardless, just that being bought out might have extended the end by a bit.

There's truth in that, and yet I'm more comfortable with a dead Troika, than a Troika working on VTMB 2 with blue/red dialogue options, cover shooting, multiplayer and six different Day 1 DLC packs.

And it appears EA aren't unwilling to give companies on the precipice a little shove.

As one example, EA had filed a frivolous lawsuit against Origin. Forced into a costly out-of-court settlement, Origin execs asked Trip Hawkins why he had allowed the suit; he responded, "This is just business. This is the way we're going to win."

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin

 

[ThriKreen]

And it appears EA aren't unwilling to give companies on the precipice a little shove.

As one example, EA had filed a frivolous lawsuit against Origin. Forced into a costly out-of-court settlement, Origin execs asked Trip Hawkins why he had allowed the suit; he responded, "This is just business. This is the way we're going to win."

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin

Did you read the rest of the article? There's quite a number of issues that both parties are at fault and why it was closed, it wasn't one particular side that many seem to always witch hunt to wholly EA's fault.

I'm still waiting for Dexter111 to speak up for what he claims I'm misrepresenting what the article is about.

Same goes for say, Pandemic. What were the results of their last 3 games? Not great. Even though Saboteur was great, it didn't sell well, and Merc2 was a really buggy mess.

Consider that running a studio is a lot of money: if you take the average employee salary of ~$80k/year [http://gamasutra.com/view/news/167355/Game_Developer_reveals_2011_Game_Industry_Salary_Survey_results.php], and multiply it by the size of the team +10% (admin, HR, IT support staff), then say, pad $1000-2000 a person for office costs (equipment, room, electricity, benefits), a studio of 100 works out to almost $10,000,000 a year. Even adjusting for say, a QA dept that makes less to lower the average, you can probably estimate in the $6-8m range.

In an industry where one game can make or break a studio (See 38 Studios, Halo Wars, Homefront, THQ and U-Draw), that's a lot of money to be throwing around on a studio that's making not one, but several poorly received games in a row.

 

[matrix3509]

And it appears EA aren't unwilling to give companies on the precipice a little shove.

As one example, EA had filed a frivolous lawsuit against Origin. Forced into a costly out-of-court settlement, Origin execs asked Trip Hawkins why he had allowed the suit; he responded, "This is just business. This is the way we're going to win."

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin

Did you read the rest of the article? There's quite a number of issues that both parties are at fault and why it was closed, it wasn't one particular side that many seem to always witch hunt to wholly EA's fault.

I'm still waiting for Dexter111 to speak up for what he claims I'm misrepresenting what the article is about.

Same goes for say, Pandemic. What were the results of their last 3 games? Not great. Even though Saboteur was great, it didn't sell well, and Merc2 was a really buggy mess.

Consider that running a studio is a lot of money: if you take the average employee salary of ~$80k/year [http://gamasutra.com/view/news/167355/Game_Developer_reveals_2011_Game_Industry_Salary_Survey_results.php], and multiply it by the size of the team +10% (admin, HR, IT support staff), then say, pad $1000-2000 a person for office costs (equipment, room, electricity, benefits), a studio of 100 works out to almost $10,000,000 a year. Even adjusting for say, a QA dept that makes less to lower the average, you can probably estimate in the $6-8m range.

In an industry where one game can make or break a studio (See 38 Studios, Halo Wars, Homefront, THQ and U-Draw), that's a lot of money to be throwing around on a studio that's making not one, but several poorly received games in a row.

I suppose its just a coincidence that every game studio only started making shitty games once EA entered the picture.

One popular studio bought by EA, then shut down: Okay it just a coincidence.

Two popular studios: Wow, okay this is getting suspicious, but I'm still giving EA the benefit of the doubt here.

Three popular studios: Okay I'm pretty sure EA is the thing that is related to all of my favorite studios shutting down.

Four popular studios: This is getting fucking ridiculous.

Five popular studios: Oh fuck you EA.

And it will soon be six studios if Bioware's performance is anything to go by.

Lets not also forget that every single one of these studios, before being sucked up by EA, were all mid-budget developers. As soon as they were acquired they were shifted to AAA development, with all of the pitfalls and expectations to go with it.

It seriously doesn't take a genius to see the pigeon-holing idiocy going on behind-the-scenes at EA.

 

[Greyhamster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LE0ycgkBQ

Movie sums it up nicely, I guess. One of the more important reasons for me is their odd view of the world: Sales are bad for everyone (including consumers) and the fact that they can't stay civil in the race against COD. Plus, Medal of honor/Battlefield are becoming like Modern warfare/Black ops, yet they still rail against the yearly release schedule of cod.

And it's a damn shame. Battlefield 2 is still one of my most played games of all times. I love battlefield 3 too, but I'm just afraid they'll ruin what is in my eyes the king of modern shooters if they continue down this road.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Okay here is an up close example of how incredibly insane EA can be.

I play the Sims 3 (shutupimagirl) and the exchange was borked for a long time. The people who found it fun to make houses and took pleasure in sharing their sims were getting a little antsy after like 2-3 months of it not getting fixed.

A couple of my friends wrote about how shitty it was on their personal blog. EA banned their accounts and made it so they couldn't play the game.

From what they wrote

On their personal blog.

With no links to EA or anything.

:|

 

[Durgiun]

The way I understand, Origin did essentially what spyware does and it was burried under a bunch of legal language.

I could easily forgive EA for ruining good studios, or massacring cool franchises. One thing I cannot forgive is spyware. Never. Not even in the face of Armageddon, I will never compromise on that.

 

[Starik20X6]

Jim Sterling psychically pre-empted your question, and made this handy video for you [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/5946-Why-Do-People-Hate-EA].

 

[Cowabungaa]

Sim City (I could rant all day about why their 2013 reboot will be an absolute travesty)

I don't know. For some reason I think it's about the online playing thing, but in this case I quite like the prospect of having proper interactions with other cities. But it's things like this that really start making my loins feel moist:

[HEADING=2]Dat detailed simulation.[/HEADING]​

Other than that your little list sums it up nicely. It's especially the fact that they're out of touch with their audiences that hurts them the most.

 

[Sandjube]

Okay here is an up close example of how incredibly insane EA can be.

I play the Sims 3 (shutupimagirl) and the exchange was borked for a long time. The people who found it fun to make houses and took pleasure in sharing their sims were getting a little antsy after like 2-3 months of it not getting fixed.

A couple of my friends wrote about how shitty it was on their personal blog. EA banned their accounts and made it so they couldn't play the game.

From what they wrote

On their personal blog.

With no links to EA or anything.

:|

Yay a new top reason to hate them. I'll add it to the list.