Author Topic: EA's CEO announces that EA's key console support will now be for Wii (Read 13354 times)

Flames_of_chaos · « **on:** February 04, 2009, 10:37:21 PM »

Quote

EA's John Riccitiello has spoken of how the publisher is to place half of its emphasis on the Wii, as it looks to 'rival Nintendo on their own platform'.

"Nintendo is the leader; they're getting half our emphasis in terms of title counts," said Riccitiello in the company's Q3 earning call, picked up by videogaming24/7, confirming that the hugely successful console will be a key platform for EA.

A Wii version of the space-bound survival horror Dead Space, announced in the same call, appears to be one of the first signs of this new focus.

So one of the biggest western publishers will be putting most of their weight on the console leader, IAN should be proud. And I can't wait to hear all the HD console fanboys bitching, I wonder if this will cause a domino effect since most niche publishers and small publishers primarily focus on Wii in the console space in addition to portables.

So far this is EA's line up for Wii in 2009 that's known.

SimAnimals
NASCAR Kart Racing
MySims Party
Trivial Pursuit
Boom Blox Party Bash
Madden NFL 2010
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Need for Speed Nitro
Spore Hero
MySims Racing
EA Sports Active
EA Sports Tennis
Dead Space

Tanatoes · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:19:01 AM »

Can Mirror's Edge be far behind?

Stogi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:11:10 AM »

I remember the days when EA was synonymous with abhorrent. But this news puts a smile on my face. I feel like I should greet them like any dirty money grubbing whore, but I can't help but feel optimistic.

What happened?

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:58:45 AM »

This was overdue. The Wii has been this generation's market leader for a long time now. EA (as well as other 3rd parties) should have been ramping up support back in 2007. In any case, its better late than never, I suppose, and hopefully we'll start seeing other developers follow suit. If you ask me its downright disgusting that games like Mortal Kombat, Prince of Persia, Street Fighter IV, etc. are not making it to a Nintendo console. It was Nintendo consoles which made these games famous in the first place!

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:44:37 AM »

I am excited for Trivial Pursuit, they did such a wonderful job with Smarty Pants I can't wait to have another trivia game from them (after well over a year we still have not gotten one repeat question in Smarty Pants).

TofuFury · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:58:10 AM »

That's great news, and hopefully we'll be seeing more companies follow EA's example.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2009, 03:35:34 AM »

Quote from: Kashogi Y. Stogi on February 05, 2009, 01:11:10 AM

What happened?

Rising costs, constant revenue, massive layoffs. I think the news came out sometime around october last year.

Stratos · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:05:31 AM »

Does this mean that we will get the see Godfather 2 on Wii since the first was so awesome on it? I picked it up last fall and fell in love w/ the game. Then EA announced the second one for everything but Wii. Here's hoping.

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:35:59 AM »

Godfather 2 had better come to the Wii. We need to make EA an offer they can't refuse.

Deguello · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2009, 06:06:57 AM »

Quote

EA's John Riccitiello has spoken of how the publisher is to place half of its emphasis on the Wii, as it looks to 'rival Nintendo on their own platform'.

Oh no. I already fell for that when UBISoft said it. Until I see the games on the shelf with advertising and an attitude like they deserve to be on the same system that Nintendo develops for, I will remain skeptical.

Who knows if they mean Nintendo Quality like Mario Galaxy or Metroid Prime or "Nintendo Quality" like making poor Wii Sports and Wii Fit clones and going (mockingly) "Oh nooo~~ what happened?! Who could have forseen people owning Wii Sports for free not wanting to pay money for a lesser version?!"

I'm tired of platitudes. They don't fit in my DS or Wii.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:48:32 PM »

If they're truly making the Wii their target platform then that's great. But I inherently distrust EA. And as Deg said Ubisoft gave the impression that the Wii was their focus as well. How Dead Space turns out will give us an idea of where things are going with EA.

I would be much more interested in seeing a major Japanese promise this kind of support. But this could turn out to be pretty good. Lord knows it makes sense to focus on the Wii.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:50:57 PM »

EA has been far better with quality titles then Ubisoft has been. I've been really happy with MOST of EA's support so far. They've been working hard at improving their sports games for Wii, Boom Blox is stellar, their port of Godfather was great, Smarty Pants was a tremendously deep trivia game, along with games like MOH, and MySims, .

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:06:44 PM »

The only thing I don't like about EA is the My Sims whore out, EA sports freestyle and how they are doing the stupid All Play EA sports series on Wii.

Stratos · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:14:26 PM »

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix on February 05, 2009, 12:50:57 PM

EA has been far better with quality titles then Ubisoft has been. I've been really happy with MOST of EA's support so far. They've been working hard at improving their sports games for Wii, Boom Blox is stellar, their port of Godfather was great, Smarty Pants was a tremendously deep trivia game, along with games like MOH, and MySims, .

Don't forget Rock Band 2 which is all kinds of awesome.

Stogi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:39:02 PM »

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos on February 05, 2009, 01:06:44 PM

The only thing I don't like about EA is the My Sims whore out, EA sports freestyle and how they are doing the stupid All Play EA sports series on Wii.

Why? It's not like they abolished any core features.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:59:46 PM »

I speculate EA could bring these game to the Wii:

Godfather II (engine will already be working on the Wii)
Mercenaries 2 (already has a PS2 version)
Mirror's Edge
Lord of the Rings Conquest
Battlefield 1943

Stogi · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:31:30 PM »

Mirror's Edge, from what I've played from it, could EASILY made much cooler if played on the Wii.

NWR_pap64 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:37:39 PM »

Quote from: Ian Sane on February 05, 2009, 12:48:32 PM

If they're truly making the Wii their target platform then that's great. But I inherently distrust EA. And as Deg said Ubisoft gave the impression that the Wii was their focus as well. How Dead Space turns out will give us an idea of where things are going with EA.

I would be much more interested in seeing a major Japanese promise this kind of support. But this could turn out to be pretty good. Lord knows it makes sense to focus on the Wii.

The reason I trust EA a bit more than Ubisoft is because EA has been providing solid and great games since day one, despite them being caught off guard by the success of the console. In the two years that the Wii has been on the market, they have released...

- Their core sports titles (some which are better received on the Wii)
- Godfather (despite it being a port it received much better reviews from the media and fans than the original game)
- My Sims (an Animal Crossing clone for sure, but the Sims name and the solid gameplay pushed it too success)
- Boom Blox (easily their best reviewed effort on Wii)
- SSX Blur (it got mixed reviews, but those that played it applaud the effort put into it)
- Rock Band 2 (Yeah, Harmonix dropped the ball on the first game, but the second one finally set things right)
- Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (a PSP port some may say, but it had great controls and rock solid online play, friend code free)

That doesn't mean they have been perfect, but at least they have been consistent with solid support (along with Sega) and has yet to flip around like Ubisoft has.

Again, I can't say if EA truly means this, but their past efforts leads me to believe that things won't be horrible either.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2009, 03:31:06 PM »

Quote from: Kashogi Y. Stogi on February 05, 2009, 02:31:30 PM

Mirror's Edge, from what I've played from it, could EASILY made much cooler if played on the Wii.

How so? The reason first-person games work so well on the Wii is pointer aiming and Mirror's Edge is a game where gunplay is something to be avoided.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2009, 03:56:52 PM »

Waggle to run.

Burn calories and lose inches.

Soon YOU TOO will be a thin Asian lady.

Stogi · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:28:26 PM »

Quote from: insanolord on February 05, 2009, 03:31:06 PM

Quote from: Kashogi Y. Stogi on February 05, 2009, 02:31:30 PM
Mirror's Edge, from what I've played from it, could EASILY made much cooler if played on the Wii.

How so? The reason first-person games work so well on the Wii is pointer aiming and Mirror's Edge is a game where gunplay is something to be avoided.

Sure, but what about all the other things? Kicking it doors, disarming enemies, and sliding down wires could all be better because of the wiimote.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:53:41 PM »

I don't think they could make the motions for those distinctive enough and it would all devolve into generic waggle which would get old real quick.

Stogi · « **Reply #22 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:59:49 PM »

Maybe....But even as generic waggle, it would be more immersive.

Edit: duh

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:08:07 PM »

immersive

Stratos · « **Reply #24 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:20:12 PM »

Quote from: insanolord on February 05, 2009, 04:53:41 PM

I don't think they could make the motions for those distinctive enough and it would all devolve into generic waggle which would get old real quick.

They could always incorporate the MotionPlus with a Mirrors Edge port.

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Author Topic: EA's CEO announces that EA's key console support will now be for Wii (Read 13354 times)