EA's Larry Probst on Wii and PSP development
by Zack Stern 
{ Nov 30th 2006 at 10:25PM }
Newsweek's N'Gai Croal has posted two parts of his three-part interview with Larry Probst, CEO of EA. (Part three is due Friday.) Among a few other topics, Probst discusses publishing the same game on multiple platform, and how that strategy fits with -- or doesn't match -- the Wii and PSP.Probst says that EA doesn't plan any original titles for the PSP; the company will continue making portable versions of its established franchises for that hand-held. The Wii should get 12 or 13 EA games next year, with two or three of them being original Wii titles. (Probst mentions that a Wii-specific version of The Sims fits that original category.)
While any EA support for Nintendo's console is good for gamers, two or three Wii-specific titles seems like a low target for the world's biggest publisher. Madden on the Wii takes a legitimate shot at using motion controls with an old franchise; we hope that EA can pull this off for all of its established titles. But wouldn't the Wii market be best served by shipping five or six original games in the year and skipping the ports? Or is that approach at the expense of EA's business model?
Read:
Loot: The Larry Probst Interview: Part I
Loot: The Larry Probst Interview: Part II
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Spuky @ Nov 30th 2006 10:32PM
you know, the part 3 is already up:
http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=345873
jgrey @ Nov 30th 2006 10:34PM
No doubt EA is ultimately in for crossplatform for profit, but wasn't it them who setup British-Columbia department to specifically look into how they can transform their games into wii control scheme?
I don't know how robust that is though, but seems like a good start.
JFink @ Nov 30th 2006 10:39PM
well considering how many original games EA comes out with for the other platforms...
/end sarcasm
Dan @ Nov 30th 2006 10:42PM
The Wii is a great little console, but it doesn't surprise me that EA doesn't care about it because many gamers, including myself, don't really care about it. I didn't pay $1500 for my HDTV and surround sound to play GameCube games with a motion sensing remote. I am sure that many Nintendo Fanboys will be angry with that statement, but it's the truth. I want HD visuals and original titles, so I'll be looking to the 360 and PC for my fix, and maybe the PS3 someday.
Sub @ Nov 30th 2006 11:13PM
at4: The problem with that way of thinking is you're in the minority; Not many people paid 1500 dollars for an HDTV and surround sound to play video games. People aren't made out of moeny.
Adam @ Nov 30th 2006 11:18PM
That's great and all Dan for those of you who actually have a HD TV, from a business perspective it doesn't make as much sense though. The majority of the public does not own HD TV's so to cater to a minority would not make much sense. While it does make perfect sense for you to speak your mind about wanting HD graphics, EA has to think about how much money it will be making off the mainstream public. If the current trend for Wii holds up(it selling out) then Nintendo will attract a lot more third party support than it currently has.
seenew @ Nov 30th 2006 11:24PM
Just so long as I get an SSX on the Wii, I'm happy.
Brandon @ Nov 30th 2006 11:22PM
Dan I understand what you're talking about but how original are game getting? I know this is the great debate between Wii fans and 360/PS3 fans. Yes Gears of War was good and it certanilly added some stuff to the third person shooter genre but it really wasn't that origanal.
I know you are going to tell me to play it and find out. Well I have played it and it is a good game but it really isn't that original.
And it just isn't the 360 the PS3 has the same problem with Resistance.
Yagami-Iori @ Nov 30th 2006 11:24PM
@5 Of course most gamers haven't... cuz if you paid 1500 for an HDTV and Surround sound set up, it's probably junk :P
But yeah, just because you have a large set up doesn't mean the Wii isn't enjoyable. As someone with a Wii hooked to their A2000 (as well as an X360), I will say this... I wish the damn thing had component packed in. Once I get that, I know I'll be much more satisfies, cuz 480p scaling on better cables will go so much nicer than 480i over composite.
Oh, and to be on topic... EA doesn't do original all that muhc, doesn't bother me... but if they do as well as they did with Madden on the Wii on other franchises, I can't wait to see what else EA has to offer.
Optimus Prime @ Nov 30th 2006 11:25PM
This is the reason why EA (or other third party devs) wont give a hoot about wii:
"I don't think the Wii is going to be any different than all the other Nintendo platforms. Nintendo is going to have a very significant market share, and all the third party companies are going to have market shares that are single-digit or low double-digits. We think that we can be very competitive in that environment. We don't have any expectations that we're going to have a 30 percent market share, as we have had on Xbox 360, on PlayStation 2, or what we're targeting on PlayStation 3. But I think we can have a meaningful market share on the Wii platform, and be in the number two position behind Nintendo."
Tim @ Nov 30th 2006 11:29PM
If you want to lambast 'fanboys' at your discretion Dan, I'd suggest a long and hearty look in the mirror. I'd also like to know how 12-13 titles equates to 'not caring about the Wii'?
As far as what best serves the Wii market, ports of established franchises by no means should be 'skipped'. And while the more original games created might help, that's no guarantee...not all original games/concepts are exactly locks out of the gate, whether from EA or otherwise. I don't see how 2-3 original titles from any given company for a first year system is somehow to be construed as particularly bad or negative.
samfish @ Nov 30th 2006 11:32PM
Nintendo picking up ACTUAL 3rd party support is what the Wii's success will hinge on, like every other console. If Nintendo can hit on just ONE major AAA 3rd party franchise and keep it exclusive, they'll probably end up the "winner" this time around.
It's great, though, to see the video game press actually embracing this new control scheme, rather than reacting in horror to change.
Personally, I'm rooting for Nintendo to come out on top. Sony is an arrogant, foul company that, with the exception of TVs, makes overpriced junk that malfunctions easily.
And I'd REALLY hate to see Microsoft suffocate another industry.
nootau @ Nov 30th 2006 11:42PM
Does anyone remember (or have the data on) how many GameCube exclusive games EA made? I'd venture to say None (maybe 2?) in the Gamecube's 5 years of existence. So 2 or 3 exclusives on the first year of the Wii? thats pretty good for EA. And if EA can continue to actually be thoughtful in their Wii conversions of cross-platform games (like madden), i'd say this is good news for the Wii.
FatalFlak @ Nov 30th 2006 11:39PM
@ #4
I totally agree with you. I myself have also bought an HDTV and surround sound. I bought it for both home movie experiences, and for HD gaming. I really think HD gaming and gaming on the Wii are two different things. I also am somewhat tired of hearing the "some of us aren't made of money" and "HDTV's aren't that popular yet". The thing is, they're very popular, they're a huge buzz about HDTV currently, and the more support it gets, the bigger the buzz. With HD broadcasts, HD movies, and HD consoles, the urge to get a HD set is growing. The world is switching to HD, and many have already started, otherwise the HD products wouldn't be coming out. You're not fully justifying the purchase of an Xbox360 or a PS3 if you have no plans for a HD + Surround sounds for the near future. =)
Jarrett @ Nov 30th 2006 11:37PM
I didn't pay $5000 for my HDTV and surround sound to play games that aren't half as fun as Wii Sports.
I bought all three consoles. The 360 and PS3 have amazing HD graphics, it's true. But the innovative gameplay on the Wii so fun I can tolerate the EDTV resolution and Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound.
Tim @ Nov 30th 2006 11:44PM
Oh, and I echo JFink's sentiments also. Let's see, we've got the Sports genre which is where the bulk of their bread and butter is found in, then Need for Speed, Sims, Battlefield, Harry Potter, Disney stuff, Simpsons, etc., all of which together makes up well over 90% of the offerings. While there are a few, EA isn't exactly the poster child for the concept of 'original game' to begin with.
Optimus Prime @ Nov 30th 2006 11:55PM
"Nintendo picking up ACTUAL 3rd party support is what the Wii's success will hinge on, like every other console. If Nintendo can hit on just ONE major AAA 3rd party franchise and keep it exclusive, they'll probably end up the "winner" this time around."
Capcom GAVE them RE4 exclusively; the flagship gave in one of their premier franchises. It was highly reviewed and won a boat load of awards. You can't get more AAA than this.
How did the GC demographic respond?
It was outsold by Mario Party 4, 5, and 6 individually. End of exclusivity and the reason why Wii is getting RE Chronicles and not RE5.
raphael @ Dec 1st 2006 12:33AM
Madden Wii feels like a brand new experience. If the other ports are treated the same way, I'll be pretty happy to buy one or two more EA Sports games (games I usually don't like).
Also, please SSX my Wii. Thanks.
chenry @ Dec 1st 2006 12:03AM
12 to 13 games I won't be buying next year. Still boycotting EA. Screw you, EA.
Earl @ Dec 1st 2006 12:18AM
I don't care much for real life baseball, but I can't wait for a full version baseball game to come out on the Wii.
Baseball on Wii Sports is so much fun on my HDTV. I know the graphics are not 1080i/p, but I don't care cause I am having fun!
BPM? @ Dec 1st 2006 12:30AM
Nootau, while I can't think of any GC-exclusive EA titles (then again, EA really isn't a company to make exclusives in the first place...), a couple of their GC ports had exclusive content. One of their SSX and NBA Street entries had Mario, Luigi, and Peach as playable characters. And the GC version of Fight Night Round 2 had Super Punch-Out!! included.
So, the promise of exclusive GAMES (and not just CONTENT) is a good sign of EA's confidence in Wii. Granted, I don't care for EA (never owned a single game made by them), but it can only be good for Nintendo if the world's largest game publisher is supporting them like this.
Optimus Prime, the news of the PS2 release of RE4 was announced even BEFORE the GCN version of RE4 was even RELEASED. I think with the promise of a version of the game on PS2 (despite arriving a year later) impacted the GCN version's sales.
And what's to say REC will be a bad game? Or that Wii won't get a port of RE5 somewhere down the line? Anything can change in a matter of minutes, and Capcom isn't exactly the kind of company that sticks to promises of "exclusivity."
Zak @ Dec 1st 2006 1:04AM
Road Rash Wii? It'd be cool to swing a mace around(nunchuck) while riding a virtual motorcycle. Also, while we're at it, let's take the Wii Sports model and make a Mutant League ripoff. An update to Mutant League football and hockey would be very welcome on the family friendly system.
And a Wii Harry Potter game would have many options open to them with the Wii Remote...magic wands!
Fight Night...again, Wii Sports ripoff would be a blessing to someone looking for a bit more realism in their sports.
EA owes it to themselves as being the worlds most powerful development house to do put these kinds of ideas out onto the Wii. EA has already alienated the next gen crowd with horrible iterations of Madden and NBA Live, and are losing market share to 2k every time they release a new sports game. They need to get a good footing in the Wii market before they lose this generation's game players for good.
Aex @ Dec 1st 2006 1:15AM
"The majority of the public does not own HD TV's so to cater to a minority would not make much sense."
I love that quote. Given that HD Penetration is at 50% currently it really holds no water. I'm willing to bet the Majority of people who would buy a Video Game System have at least 1 HD tv in their home. Not to mention Nintendo's Wii Component Cables are selling out faster than they can make them, so that definately gives the feeling that people with a Wii don't have HD Tvs...
@Optimus Prime
So True, Nintendo wasted an opportunity with Resident Evil.
@BPM
What about Resident Evil 0, the maker of that game was pissed off Kingdom Hearts sold more than his game, those were good times. Also RE4 was not announced for any other system before it was released on GC, but this is just you saying blah vs me saying blah. The RE4 for GC box has the "ONLY FOR" caption at the top. Not saying that Capcom has a history of never going cross platform, out of all their franchises, I think only DMC, Dead Rising, and Lost Planet are exclusive atm.
pe @ Dec 1st 2006 1:32AM
So HD market penetration jumped from 13% to 50% in a year? Riiiight. Also Don't forget, there's alot more to the world than the US, and most of the world really doesn't care all that much about HD. The only reason people are buying them is because it's pretty much the only option, but most people keep their tvs till they crap out, and crt's can last a really long time.
Snap @ Dec 1st 2006 1:50AM
If D3 can get a Shonen Jump game over to the States on Wii, bye bye Sony.
JUS on DS is awesome. I can't imagine how much better it would be online with the Wii.
justchris @ Dec 1st 2006 2:54AM
SSX & Harry Potter have already been announced for Wii. There should be SSX Wii movies up in a week or so.
RE4 did not flounder because the PS2 version was announced before it was released. It floundered because NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT. Ask most people who bought RE4 for PS2, and they'll tell you it's a PS2 exclusive. Most people who own any version of RE4 don't even know there was a GC version. And that's as much Capcom's fault as Nintendo's. They should have spent more money on marketing it.
The mistake you're all making is assuming the rest of the world is as informed on video games as you are. They very much are not.
Separately, HD penetration in the US just reached 13% back in October. Even at the rate it's increasing, it'll be at least 2 years before it nears 50%, assuming it doesn't plateau before that. That's another wait and see thing. Remember, the majority of Americans make below median income.
Terry @ Dec 1st 2006 8:59AM
Aex - HD market penetration is 50%? What are you smoking and where can I get some? Even the most optimistic estimations I've seen don't have the US near 50% until 2010 at the earliest. I will grant you that HDTV adoption rates are finally on their way up after being functionally stagnant for so long. So I'd be interested in seeing where you got that number. I understand that may be the case in Japan, but I don't think anything will change the Japanese national taste in consoles, regardless.
As for EA "ports" as long as they use the Wiimote properly, like Madden does, I don't think there's a problem. My friends and I love WiiSports golf, for instance. We're usually Tiger Woods people, but if EA ports Tiger Woods to the Wii using a similar control scheme, then it's not even a question as to what platform we'd buy it for, even if it didn't look any better than a GameCube game. There's no need to make a "new" golf game just to use the Wiimote, EA just needs to put it to proper use in the properties they already have.
32_Footsteps @ Dec 1st 2006 9:23AM
Just curious - can anyone actually name the last time EA made a game exclusively for one platform? Other than particular expansions for The Sims, I can't think of anything (and of course the base game is on several different platforms).
Maybe it's just bad vision, but I think HD television is a complete crock. I can tell the difference between 480i and 480p, but beyond that, it all looks the same to me. I think electronics companies are taking us for a ride, trying to convince us that we need new televisions for at best a very marginal improvement.
Booda @ Dec 1st 2006 10:15AM
#23: HDTV penetration is not 50%, or anywhere close. Try 10-15%. Therefore, it's very unlikely that the "majority of people who would buy a Video Game System have at least 1 HD tv in their home."
I do have an HDTV and a surround system. At some point I'll pick up a 360, but for now I'm having a ball with the Wii. HD != fun.
Aden Nak @ Dec 1st 2006 11:54AM
"Original Games" are at the expense of EA's business model. Period. :P
Darkness @ Dec 1st 2006 11:26AM
I don't have an HD TV and it really doesn't matter if the console supports it or not. I'd much rather have lower res and a better framerate. In either case, the fact that EA is making exclusive games for the Wii is saying something. I can't remember the last time they made a game that wasn't ported to every console known to man. This does bode well for the Wii as they believe it will be a major mass market contender. Whether that is the case remains to be seen.
As other people have stated, I doubt very seriously that HD penetration has reached 50%. I don't know anyone with an HD TV. That isn't to say I wouldn't want a 360 or PS3, but I wouldn't get it for HD.
Dave @ Dec 1st 2006 11:22AM
Even with 10-15% HDTV penetration, what is the true penetration of consoles being played on HDTVs? There are a lot of households that relegate video games to a secondary family/living room location or a bedroom, where a second HDTV is unlikely at this point.
I'm just glad my wife cedes control of the HDTV to me!
Zeruel @ Dec 1st 2006 12:08PM
Haha on how this entire thread shifted from about EA to people's thoughts on Wii. :)
Seriously though, I feel as though we are really starting to see the difference between the "gamers" and the gamers. "Gamers" are all pent up about 1080p, trilinear multimipmapping, particle effects, and other rhetoric that merely enhances the visual experience of a game. While a game can be good based on that merit alone, it's a shallow experience. Gamers, on the other hand, are more interested in having fun and enjoying the game for what it is, be it an exercise in reflexes, memorization, or strategy. It's the reason why I still play Street Fighter - it's really a chess game played out in 99 seconds when it all boils down to it.
Think about it - of the hundreds of games that came out for both the PS1 and PS2, how many would you want to play today? I can only name a handful that I'd want to play now. NES/SNES/TG-16/Genesis? I could name hundreds of titles I'd still fire up, because while the visual experience isn't there, the core game element is alive and kicking. Back then, they didn't have the graphics, so games were judged harshly on their gameplay mechanics.
EA is the scourge of this industry. Kudos to them for releasing some freebies on marketplace as of recent, but as an industry leader, they have to pull some miracles before I even think of buying another title from them. I'm not even talking about the lack of original IPs, I'm talking releasing buggy ass software with slightly patched up graphics or rosters and calling it a new edition, and then having to shank me with additional costs for stadiums/uniforms/car vinyls/unlocking everything because i'm an absolute scrub... No thanks...
I also don't like how they court Sony. I understand it's because of the install base, but it would be nice if the 3rd parties would work to make the best possible versions of the games for the systems they're releasing them on. That would help push hardware sales *and* establish software brand loyalty.
Damn, it'd be nice if third parties were held down like they were back in the 8-bit days.
devi8i @ Dec 1st 2006 12:25PM
#26 Median is the exact middle of a range so if you had three numbers say 1, 25, 100 the median would be 25, the average would be 42. So your statement "Remember, the majority of Americans make below median income." is inaccurate because the use of the word median would mean that HALF of Americans income is below the median and HALF of Americas income is above the median
ChrisBo @ Dec 1st 2006 12:31PM
With all this talk of the Wii, doesn't anyone feel sorry for the PSP? EA just flat-out doesn't plan ANY original titles for the PSP? I don't have a PSP, and I probably won't get one until the price drops even lower, but EA's statements like this make me less enthusiastic about eventually owning a PSP. I mean, it's EA, so nothing original will come out of them... ever. But, man, come ON!
BPM? @ Dec 1st 2006 2:44PM
Before people continue to spurt out numbers on the market penetration of HDTVs, I'd like to be able to read it from a reputable source.
@23 Aex:
The creator of the Resident Evil series, Shinji Mikami, has said a lot of things. My favorite quote was that he said RE4 was for GameCube, and only for GameCube. And if it was to appear on another system, he'd chop off his own head (and I'm STILL waiting for him to do so. :P).
Plus, to compare the success of RE0 to KH is a bit silly. For one, Final Fantasy and Disney is a deadly combination. For two, KH is rated E and not M, giving it a much broader market appeal. For three, many more people own PS2s than GCNs (I own both).
[insert Phoenix Wright* "OBJECTION!" here]
AND... I have proof that RE4 for PS2 was announced before the release of the GCN version!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil_4#GameCube_exclusivity_controversy
The PS2 version was announced... October 31st, 2004! Over two months before the first release (North America) of the GCN version, January 11th, 2005!
Oh, and it's coming to the PC later this month, thanks to Ubisoft. :P
@26 justchris:
[insert "HOLD IT!" here]
Noone knew about it? What're you talking about? The GCN version was advertised like crazy when it first came out... TV spots, magazine prints, and web banners everywhere... The game was still pretty successful on GameCube (1.55M on GCN, vs. 2M on PS2).
And even if the game wasn't as advertised as much as you wanted it to, you can't blame it at all on Nintendo. It being a Capcom game, it's up to them to decide how much to spend on advertising.
@33 Zeruel:
"Damn, it'd be nice if third parties were held down like they were back in the 8-bit days."
You're kidding, right? Nintendo was AWFUL to third-parties back in the day! If the market leader of now (Sony) acted like Nintendo of then, there would be barely ANY games for Microsoft's or Nintendo's platforms! It really kills competition when you have that kind of control over the independent developers/publishers.
BPM? @ Dec 1st 2006 2:46PM
And there actually is a relevance to my usage of the Phoenix Wright "shouts" (despite just being fun to do so anyways). Not only is Shinji Mikami the creator of the Resident Evil series, but he's also the executive producer for the Phoenix Wright/Gyakuten Saiban series!
THE MORE YOU KNOW!
ChrisBo @ Dec 1st 2006 3:03PM
By astonishing coincidence, I just finished the final trial in Phoenix Wright right now!
Dan @ Dec 1st 2006 11:45PM
Waddup! I didn't know I started a mini-flame war. Anyway, I guess you should NEVER cross Nintendo fan boys. If you call a 37" Aquos junk, then I guess you don't know the first thing about nice HD displays. It's not size that matters, but quality, at least IMHO.