Topic: What do you think about EA?

[Metaphysical Spirit]

Ehh. I really don't know where to put this, so here it is in General Chat. I also don't know if this topic has really been posted or talked about, though I did see something about EA talking about how Nintendo's future line up isn't as respected as Sony and MS. I think EA is one of those companies that can be a threat to how future generations think about videogames. In the computer world, They just worry about rushing things. A game that came to mind was Command and Conquer : Tiberian Sun. I have been a fan of Command and Conquer since the first one, but this one blew my mind! Years and years of planning this game, then EA buys it out and rushes it. Soo many bugs, and So many patches!  There are definatly those great titles EA has brought to us, and EA has it's good sides. I think they have been slipping for some years now. Huge company with a lot of power can be bad, no?

[Bill Aurion]

I hate sports games, and I hate their non-sports crap like what they've done to the Bond license...Care to guess my opinion on them?

[Hostile Creation]

Do you want to know what EA stands for?

CRAP!

Nah, I'm not a big fan.

[Berny]

Quote
Originally posted by: Hostile Creation
Do you want to know what EA stands for?

CRAP!

Couldn't have put it better myself. Although Bill's analysis is also quite accurate.

[Ian Sane]

EA is the videogame equivalent of Air Supply.  It's completely formulated mainstream fluff.  I'll give them credit that unlike some other companies I don't care for they actually make reasonably decent games, they're just really generic safe uncreative games that encourage stagnation.  Sony is often accused for introducing casual gamers into the market but at least they publish some hardcore games like ICO or Frequency.  EA is just pure casual gamer.  They're the absolute definition of a company that only cares about money.  Sure all game companies care about money but there's a level of creativity and a passion to make great games that EA just doesn't have.  EA makes decent games only because it encourages better sales.  If they felt they could make money releasing Acclaim-level sh!t they would.

Oddly enough EA used to be a pretty cool company during the 16 bit days when they made games like General Chaos and the Mutant League games.

[evil intentions]

Quote
Originally posted by: Hostile Creation
Do you want to know what EA stands for?

CRAP!

Nah, I'm not a big fan.

I  have to admit, I enjoy renting their sport games like basketball and hockey from time to time, but I would never want to waste my money on buying their games. It's not worth it.  I know I would get tired of the game really fast.

A few of their non-sport ones I'll get like Harry Potter since I'm a big Harry Potter fan.

[Chode2234]

Yeah I don't know why people love their stuff so much, I hate hearing from my friends every august that they just went out and got the new madden,  for what?  EA seems to just shove software down our throats, but we as consumers in this industry keep eating up more.

Although its not all bad, some of it actually fairly good, its just that nothing they have done as of late (or ever)  is great, innovative, or anything that progresses the media.  Its just licienced, bland and repititious which I have enough of in my life and don't want it to transcend into my video games as well.

[couchmonkey]

I want to hate EA because of what they're doing to the industry, but I can't because of some of the better games they release.  My girlfriend is also absolutely nuts for them because of the Sims and the Simpsons games.  I do my best to avoid EA, but all too often I find myself hanging my head in shame as I buy games like SSX 3.

[Metaphysical Spirit]

Yeah, Like I said before.. They do bring us good games. I was going to mention General Choas, so it's funny Ian brought that up. That game is definatly a CLASSIC. I saw you post in my PC games on Console Thread couch, and I noted The Sims was an awesome game, so I'll say it here to. Heh. The Simpsons games are always good to laugh about and have fun just playing the game. I also said Command and Conquer got ruined by them, but they also redeemed themselves with the newest Command and Conquer by making it one of most intense RTS games.

[Jale]

Well back in those days most ideas were new ideas because they hadn't been done before. Nowerdays they are running out of original ideas.

[Deguello]

I would really have no problem with EA if they didn't keep buying creative companies and ruining them.

I don't like their sports games that much.  That's ok.  I don't care if they keep making them, even if it means they're selling two identical football games each year.  I don't like their cookie-cutter brand-name reliant stuff.  That's still ok.   I don't care if they keep making those either.  I don't like the fact that some awards shows think Madden NFL 20XX is the best game that year.  Even if it perturbs me, it is still just their opinion even if it's irritating.  No problem.

It is when they buy out self-sufficient companies like Westwood to get their brand names in order to squeeze every last drop of said names until they either close down the studio for lack of sales or just assimilate them and change their name to EA <City>.  It also seems that you can't be your own company nowadays.

You can keep the casuals sports people, EA.  You can keep the awards.  You can keep your faux prestige.  Just leave Westwood and their ilk alone, please.

[Bill Aurion]

And I hear they are bidding for Eidos as well... :\

[Berny]

And Eidoes has....700m r43d3r? list...so....small......wasting time....  

[Ian Sane]

According to Gamespot EA is publishing Oddworld Inhabitants newest game.  From Microsoft to EA.  I don't know which is worse.  I actually was unaware that Oddworld and MS had parted.

[Gremio]

I've rented quite a few of EA's games and I've yet to find one that I even slightly like. Generally, I bunch EA together in terms of likeability with Midway, Acclaim and Eidos.

[ThePerm]

i like the way ea treats fans of nintendo, im not into sports games...i know alot of us aren't but at least their there. They also publish some good games too like the sims. They now have free radicles too. The simpsons games was fun too. I think ea has some good things going for it. They need to however make a division that makes action rpgs. I think if they had one they would code it right and give it a good story. I may not lik the type of games they make...i howver will say their well made games.

[KDR_11k]

Hm, I don't have a single EA game for my Cube...

EA insists that any game published by them displays only the EA Games logo to make people believe any game published by them is actually made by them for "brand integrity". They're like Atari "We're the big publisher, you're just workers and you're begging US to publish your games". EA is a good employer, from what I heard, though.

[ThePerm]

im sure they end up in the credits though...i hate when 4 or 5 devlopers work on qa game and you have to see their damn intros.

[nitsu niflheim]

They paid to have their name in the game so they are damn sure gonna make sure it is seen in the beginning, that way they won't have to worry about the game not being finished and people not seeing thier names.

[Syl]

I'm not as opposed to EA as most of you are, I love the EA BIG lineup of games, SSX's are some of my fave games without a doubt.  Not to mention that EA grabbed 2 of the only 3rd party series i cared a lot about, Timesplitters and Burnout.  I loved timesplitters 2 and burnout 2, I'm without a doubt buying Timesplitters 3.  I sadly can't buy burnout 3, those ***************

EA isn't all bad, they make sports games, theres nothing wrong with making sports games though, its a gigantic market.  They also make some rather good FPS games, the Battlefield titles are all EA and those are great.

EA got where it was through means that are completely legal, Though i don't really agree with all of them, they haven't really done much to get my hatred as they just happen to mainly appeal to an audience that I'm not part of.  I'm sure that theyre helping in burnout 3 and Timesplitters 3 is going to make both games better and give the devolopers and namebrand far more recognition for most people.  Thats great.  I also can't wait for the next SSX game... BIG is an awesome devolopement house, even the Def Jam Vendetta games had great gameplay, even though i would never buy one.

[Ian Sane]

"BIG is an awesome devolopement house, even the Def Jam Vendetta games had great gameplay, even though i would never buy one."

Def Jam Vendetta was published under the EA BIG label but it was developed by Aki who is famous for making THQ's wrestling games on the N64.  I think EA BIG actually makes some decent stuff but they don't deserve any praise for Def Jam Vendetta.  If anything they should be hated for having Aki make a rapper game instead of a "real" wrestling game.  Vendetta's gameplay rocked but the as a whole the game was ridiculously restricted by the licence (no CAW for example or any real options for match rules).

[Syl]

ahh, that makes sense.
I was a fan of Revenge and Wrestlemania 2000 on the N64 as well, even though i don't give a crap about wrestling, the gameplay was great.

[ThePerm]

ea big did work on def jam, it was a colaborative effort. It wasn't all aki and it wasnt all ea big. Aki provided the engine and tweaked the gameplay, big devloped alot of other things to it.

also iv notcied ea games are pretty and usually have pretty tight control.

[Infernal Monkey]

EA were like sexy beasts back in Genesis/Mega Drive land. Road Rash, Desert Strike, F14 Falcon (HILARIOUS), and like other stuff. They rocked. But now they're old and fat. That's right, with an f, not a ph. Seems less and less effort goes into trying to update their sports games. I don't care what anybody says, NHL 2002 was NHL 2001 with some new music on the menu screens. Yeah, here's my $100, EA.

Plus they just dry hump a franchise to absolute death. Who the hell wants another Hairy Potter game? Certainly not I. How about James Bond? CERTAINLY NOT I. God, I wish they'd stop the damn racing levels in the Bond FPS'. GRRR RAGE. Need for Speed Underground 2? Wow, I didn't see that one coming! I can't wait to play it, it'll have some different music! =O

Hay EA, bring back M.U.L.E plz.

[The Omen]

Quote
EA is the videogame equivalent of Air Supply. It's completely formulated mainstream fluff. I'll give them credit that unlike some other companies I don't care for they actually make reasonably decent games, they're just really generic safe uncreative games that encourage stagnation.

I would say EA is more like Disney.  And just like Disney, I have varying degrees of respect for their products.  I love Madden.  I hate The Sims.  I like the Bond games, even if they arent great, they still entertain me.  I have no problem with EA in the least.  Buying up smaller companies aggravates me, but thats the way of the world now, and theres no getting around it.  If EA releases a great game, I'll buy it.  If it sucks, I won't.  Just like any other publisher.