EA CEO admits "We blew it"

[TheRoadToDawn 0]

"We at EA blew it," says Mr. John Riccitiello , the EA CEO who was involved in the purchase of Westwood Studios. EA just now realized how stupid of a decision was to buy out Westwood Studios and to close it. He also included the purchase of game companies Origin and Bullfrog.

 

He states: “We at EA blew it,” he said, referring to EA’s problems keeping former top-tier studios Origin, Bullfrog and Westwood vital or even simply in existence, once they were purchased. There was too much consolidation, too much group think. The problem, he said, was “the fundamental belief that we could be one big happy family.”- To bad he did not get the all important second opinion.

 

As we all know, they tarnished the title of Command & Conquer when Generals came out but sought redemption with Command & Conquer 3 when they actually decided to listen to us, the people.

 

"Creative teams can be thought of as flowers in a hothouse -- you move the temperature up or down a few degrees and the flowers will die," he said.

 

"The fear that talent will flee a studio, leaving no value left in the business, is "well-founded... it's exactly right," said Riccitiello.

 

"The command and conquer model," he said, "doesn't work. If you think you're going to buy a developer and put your name on the label... you're making a profound mistake."

 

Its just kind of sad that it took EA all this time to realize thier mistake. Its not about the money. Its about the heart and support of the people who play their games.

 

Im not saying we should still be mad at EA, and I know this action is way overdue, but be proud of the progress that they have made with the development of Command & Conquer 3. EA sought redemption from the community and I believed they have earned the praise and respect of C&C veterans like me. Hell Apoc, our community representative for EA was able to bring back the classic C&C style, restore the story line of Command & Conquer, and put back the mechs for me, so i am happy. lol.

 

Now all we need is a mod for the Mammoth MKII. lol

 

MTV Article

WIRED

Edited February 11, 2008 by TheRoadToDawn

[sith_wampa 6]

It would be nice if they were telling us something we don't already know...

 

We all came to the realization that they ****ed up when Generals came out. How many years ago was that?

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Generals only ****** everyone off because it wasn't Tiberium-based. BAWWWW! Get over it.

[TheBlackOut 7]

That and lacked a worthy SP campaign worthy of a C&C title, but I loved ZH's multiplayer. Shame EA didn't support it.

 

And lol@EA... Obviously.

[Luk3us 63]

Generals was fine, and if they hadn't of whacked the C&C brand onto it would have been a great game which it was in its own right, but it got a bit of a beating from some of the C&C community.

 

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[Louis EX 0]

Generals felt too much like Warcraft...and it was pretty boring without ZH.

 

Imagine the games Westwood would have made if EA didn't took over!

Edited February 11, 2008 by Louis EX

[TheRoadToDawn 0]

Oh yeah Generals would have been a good game by itself, but the game never got any public nor corporate support. So in the end it felt like EA just made the game and moved on hoping the community would be satisfied.

 

I did not bring this article up just so we could bash EA for buying out Westwood. I just wanted to show that this action was way overdue.

Edited February 11, 2008 by TheRoadToDawn

[Inferno 22]

That and lacked a worthy SP campaign worthy of a C&C title, but I loved ZH's multiplayer. Shame EA didn't support it.

 

And lol@EA... Obviously.

Indeed, the SP was just a few skirmishes tied together to make it look like a campaign. Though ZH's Generals Challenge was fun. Kinda.

 

 

Generals was fine, and if they hadn't of whacked the C&C brand onto it would have been a great game which it was in its own right, but it got a bit of a beating from some of the C&C community.

Agreed.

 

 

Generals felt too much like Warcraft...and it was pretty boring without ZH.

 

Imagine the games Westwood would have made if EA didn't took over!

Nah, didn't feel like WC at all. It's true that is was boring without ZH. The different generals to choose from really make the game.