EA struggles to meet demand for Wii games
by Tony Carnevale 
{ Apr 9th 2007 at 12:46PM }
EA continues to be punished for their assumption that the Wii would flop, according to Bloomberg News. EA's sales dropped a whopping 25% this February compared to last year, since they didn't have much to offer the 3.56 million Wii owners in the U.S. and Japan. Finally convinced that the Wii is a moneymaker, EA has recanted and is rushing to get titles out for it as fast as possible, like the recently-released Godfather: Blackhand Edition and Tiger Woods 07. Let's just hope they take enough time to really get a handle on those finicky Wii controls. EA seems to have gotten it right with Godfather, but the jury is out on Tiger Woods.[Thanks, kimo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 9th 2007 12:51PM
Leave the mini-game development to Nintendo.
SynikaL @ Apr 9th 2007 12:54PM
First off, I don't understand how EA's sales forecast has dropped simply because of the Wii's unforseen successes. That makes little sense to me.
Secondly, there can't be another Kimo in this world. Impossible.
-Kimosabae
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 12:57PM
because they put a lot of eggs into the ps3 basket that haven't panned out and more than likely never will.
Mr Khan @ Apr 9th 2007 12:58PM
@ 1. See, this is why i get uptight when you confront Nintendo, what you said had absolutely nothing to do with the article, nor is it true
@2 I agree, there would be no reason sales would go DOWN just because they didn't give enough support (i think they're giving some good support, anyway), but since it's such a new platform, sales shouldn't be going down, just not expanding
Tox @ Apr 9th 2007 2:08PM
"A shortage of Wii games contributed to a 25 percent drop in sales in February from a year earlier at Redwood City, California-based Electronic Arts, the world's largest video-game publisher, said Todd Greenwald, an analyst at Nollenberger Capital Partners in San Francisco."
This is so very very wrong.
A strong Wii lineup could have offset the massive sales drop, but the drop was the result of significantly lower PS2 software sales.
December 2005
December 2006
Madden NFL 06 EA 5 946,250
Madden NFL 07 EA 5 795,500
Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA 2 740,000
Need for Speed: Carbon EA 2 403,750
NBA Live 06 EA 4 407,250
NBA Live 07 EA 4 282,250
Additionally, Madden and NFS had Wii and PS3 versions. The PS3 versions sold better.
The lower than expected PS3 sales were a bigger factor than the Wii in the 25% drop in sales.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 9th 2007 1:03PM
@Mr Khan
I meant that EA should not develope for Nintendo. They pump out shiity games.
Seedy @ Apr 9th 2007 1:05PM
Well now! All these negatories about the Wii are being exposed as the utterly fowl LIES that they are. More and more of the ignorant masses are catching on! Tread carefully trolls! Hahahahaha!
Spiritualized @ Apr 9th 2007 2:57PM
Who cares.
EA make terrible games, endless movie spin-offs which are rush-released and 3 million versions of FIFA.
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 1:07PM
Could sales be dropping because EA, y'know, sucks?
Also, could sales be dropping due to the remarks made by Chris Hecker?
billychaos @ Apr 9th 2007 2:11PM
I agree the article has nothing to do with Nintendo. If any of you can recall, I think it has more to do with Ubisoft. Ubisoft could become, THE Wii developer (i'm leaving nintendo out of this argument for reasons below). Ubisoft blatently said their goal is to take the number one spot from EA. Due to the success of the Wii and the fact that Ubisoft had more than half of the launch window games for the Wii, they are in a good spot to achieve their goal.
EA probably sees this and feels they made a mistake of letting UBISOFT (nothing to do with nintendo) do this. Ubisoft has more games announced/released for the Wii than Nintendo even has! EA's statement was not implying "the PS3 and 360 sucks, we should have put our efforts in the wii", but more like stating "we should have not brushed off the wii and let companies like Ubisoft rake in all the profit from it"
People in these forums can not get out of the mindset of "Xbox vs Sony vs Nintendo". I think we are starting to see the battle the way it should be, which is Developer vs Developer, not the console makers.
The most successful Developer will be the one that makes profit from games on ALL systems and all mobile devices. Sticking to one console will hurt you.
Lastly....yes, this does put Nintendo in a peculiar spot. In the past, Nintendo being the biggest developer and the console maker has backfired on them. I think it's good that a company like Ubisoft has more games than Nintendo does on their own system. It should be that way so you dont scare other developers away. The n64 was a good example of it.
For instance, a developer may think "Why would I bother making a 'platformer' game for a Nintendo console, because a Nintendo will just release Mario and consumers will buy that instead?! I will have a better chance of success on a system without Mario games"
Matthew @ Apr 9th 2007 2:03PM
Here, here Todd. I have to agree; EA just isn't churning out the great titles like they have in the past. I *THINK* my bargain-bin copy of Black was published by them, but I can't think of another title in my library from them that isn't sports-related.
I have fond memories of the company. I still play Starflight every once in a while however somewhere along the line, EA seemed to have stopped being creative and seems to play it safe with the sports titles and movie-licensed games...oh yeah, and the Sims. Can anyone think of a really unique game they've published in the last year?
If they put out better games, perhaps their bottom line would be better.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 9th 2007 1:22PM
"All these negatories about the Wii are being exposed as the utterly fowl LIES that they are."
Not really. Every console has is negatives.
Wii=power game variety
PS3=price game variety
360=price
Chocolate Starfish @ Apr 9th 2007 1:23PM
If what EA typically produces is done at their normal pace, I'm gonna hate to see what ever comes out of this "rush."
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:25PM
give me a break, EA is responsible for many truly great gaming experiences over the many years they have been doing what they do.
anyone saying the SSX series is crap and ESPECIALLY claiming that their SSX venture on the wii is crap is just ignorant, or quadraplegic, one.
Gausser @ Apr 9th 2007 1:28PM
I used to think that EA sucked too. Since the Wii has released, EA seems to be one of the few companies that have "got it". It isn't enough to port games and add motion controls that don't do anything to enhance the experience. EA has done a very good job of getting the controls right (Madden, SSX Blur {despite what some people say} and The Godfather). I am looking forward to future EA games and hoping the quality will continue.
James @ Apr 9th 2007 1:28PM
If EA had a potential userbase in 2006 of 10 million but in 2007 because they did not support the Wii well and the PS3 did not sell as much as planned they now only had a potential userbase of 7.5 Million to sell to. Does that make it more clear?
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:31PM
"I am looking forward to future EA games and hoping the quality will continue."
as am I and I didn't even realize Godfather was from EA...that's probably the best use of the wiimote I've experienced thus far on the wii.
Rob Holiday @ Apr 9th 2007 1:37PM
I may NEVER buy another EA game and burn the ones I have. Let me tell you why:
I have a 360, PS3 and Roadrunner Cable (Fast, not Lite) with excellent ping times (speed) and no packet loss. I have no problems connecting to XBox Live or playing multiplayer games on the 360, except for EA games. I cannot connect to ANY EA games online. I have over 80 games for the 360 and most of EA's games for the 360. EA games on my PS3 connect with no problems. I have been contacting their tech support for over a week now. THE WORST TECH SUPPORT EVER! I am sure I'm one of only a handful of people with this issue, but I can't take them any more! I am SO done with EA!
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 1:43PM
I'm waiting for EA to come out with something that is unique, not just a rehash of an old game line (Madden, SSX) or a port (Godfather). I also want something that isn't a sports game. Just because I don't play SSX doesn't mean I'm ignorant. Pretty ignorant to assume this if someone has different tastes in gaming.
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:43PM
*snaps fingers*
you GO, gurl!
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:46PM
@15, choosing not to play game becausee it isn't your style and saying it sucks are two very different things IMO. I hate football games, but I can't say Madden 07 sucks in fact I can say quite different from people's reaction to it.
I'm talking about people that are just running around going EA SUCKS BIG GOBLIN COCK when they really aren't making any productive statements.
YES, SOME EA GAMES ARE BAD
YES, ON A WHOLE THEY ARE A GOOD DEVELEPOR BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY GREAT GAMES YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE PLAYED IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM.
Ian Von Porter @ Apr 9th 2007 1:48PM
Meanwhile, UbiPort rakes it in with PS2/xbox ports with tacked on controls and crap like RedSteel and Raving Rabbids. (not to say that the top selling EA games arent ports either.. they ARE.. but, they took motion controls more seriously)
Ryuukuro @ Apr 9th 2007 1:50PM
EA's sales are dropping because everyone's waiting for Spore (blessed be thy game) to come out! When Spore is released, EA will make major profits--and there will be no more poverty or war.
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:51PM
Red Steel was not crap IMO. I had a lot of fun with it....
I'll agree that Rayman was boring to me though.
SKI @ Apr 9th 2007 1:52PM
I am surprised a how good EA's support has been. I thought they would set the standard of worst uses of the Wiimote but that honor has fallen to Ubisoft.
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 1:53PM
Last good game by EA I played was the Ultima series, many years ago, before they ousted Richard Garriott and drove the franchise into the ground.
EA's business model is pretty harsh. The company churns out sequel after sequel and movie-based game after another. I think the remarks of Chris Hecker ring loud and clear what might possibly be the companies true feelings on the console.
I miss all the original IP from EA when they were young.
Kevin @ Apr 9th 2007 2:08PM
Great, let's have EA rush games to the Wii. I'm sure they'll be great titles, especially if they're rushed lol.
kimo @ Apr 9th 2007 3:34PM
Having more games is always a good thing, if just for the fact that you can walk into a store and go, "Look at all these games!"...
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 1:56PM
I think EA would be done for without Will Wright, who continues to surprise me with his creativity.
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 1:57PM
@22...
M.U.L.E anyone? how about Arkhon?
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 2:05PM
Not familiar with Arkhon. M.U.L.E. on the other hand came out in the early 80's. I think I covered that with my "I miss all the original IP from EA when they were young." comment. I'm glad you're old enough to remember those.
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 2:09PM
TODD i spent many hours on my commodore 64 playing those games. Archon was battle chess before they made battle chess. The pinball construction game was amazing too. EA provided me with some of my best gaming memories...and some of the worst. It's not doubt they are a mixed bag but you're not the only one who misses the good ole "ECA" days...
PaulMorel @ Apr 9th 2007 2:14PM
If you haven't played Godfather on the Wii yet, then you shouldn't be knocking EA's recent titles. No other game has ever simulated beating the shit out of someone so realistically. Seriously.
Also, I just wanted to say that I liked Rayman. The multiplayer rhythm game is fun for groups of people.
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 2:18PM
@31 YES THE RHYTHM GAME OWNED!!! and so did the onrails shooter segments...but as a whole I was unsatisfied with it and very glda I just rented.
@30 very good points and dammit why can't we have more posters like you who actually make points instead of flame each other.
bibby @ Apr 9th 2007 2:21PM
Arkhon was a fantasy styled action chess game. Your figures (goblins, knights, unicorns, sorcerers, and the like) moved similar to their chess counterparts, but attacks were not just a who attacked first affair.
When you attacked, a battle screen appeared and you would actually fight it out. Some figures had projectile attacks, others had increased speed, magic, and other abilities.
I'd love to play an updated version (just the graphics though, I don't want the gameplay changed.)
RYAN @ Apr 9th 2007 2:25PM
you have no idea how many brother vs sister all out wars were began over ARCHON. LOL
Unit @ Apr 9th 2007 2:26PM
i think this is the case with alot of other developers also, hence all the quick ports. The majority(developers) of them shrugged the wii off as something unimportant in the console race. And when the system exploded outta the gates and continues to sell well, they all got caught with their pants down. Now they're trying to cash in quick with anything they've got!
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 2:29PM
Rayman is a good game. My whole argument is that EA needs to be more experimental. Looks as if the R&D department consists mostly of Will Wright these days.
Understandable to see EA change their business model to a more corporate direction. They're considered big dogs now. However their approach to games is to design and push them out like an assembly line. EA has been mocked as the company who designs nothing but sports and movie-tie-in games, and very little else.
Perhaps EA will finally create some decent IP again.
idioteraser @ Apr 9th 2007 3:28PM
When will joystiq comment on the recent blomberg article that hinted why a lot of developers are becoming interested in wii development?
An example is that a ps3/xbox 360 game can cost 10 to 30 million dollars to develop while a Wii game can cost between 2 to 5 million dollars.
What do you think is more attractive to a lot of developers especially smaller studios that are considered more niche or creative?
vidGuy @ Apr 9th 2007 2:42PM
Tiger Woods has one of the best use of the remote I've seen yet, second only to SSX Blur. The swing mechanics are fantastic and very accurate. Putting has a learning curve, like it should. Even adding spin becomes natural after a few minutes.
I haven't tried Godfather but I'll rent it sometime to check out the controls.
samfish @ Apr 9th 2007 2:48PM
"Wii=power game variety
PS3=price game variety
360=price"
Let's be honest- the 360 lacks game variety, too. If it had more of the kinds of games I like, I'd own one already.
I like anything that isn't shooters, sports and/or racing. There isn't a single game on the 360 right now that I see and say, "I've GOT to play that.."
.....although I might change my tune for Banjo Kazooie 3 and Blue Dragon. Castle Crashers and Ikaruga are icing on the cake.
On topic,
I think that EA is one of the handful of 3rd party people who get the Wii. I'd like to see them make some original titles for the Wii, rather than ports and rehashes...but this is EA. What do you expect?
None the less, Tiger Woods is the best golf game I've played...ever. Hell, I used to hate golf games, but they're cool on the Wii.
Madden works surprisingly well, too. Not my thing, but...
I have no intentions of picking up Godfather, but I might pick up SSX when it's down to $40 or so.
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 2:55PM
Still early in the year to see a variety of sports games for the Wii. Since EA owns the gaming franchise rights to Tiger Woods, Madden, NFL, and I believe NBA it'll be tough for other game companies to come out with competitive (maybe better?) versions without allowing for actual sports stats with real players.
Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 3:03PM
@Spiritualized
Heh. Simple. Direct. Effective.
Gavin @ Apr 9th 2007 3:10PM
When the Godfather is what people point to as one of the games that "Got it" with the Wii, you know things are really sad. It's a year-old GTA clone with an EXTREMELY repetitive gameplay style and mission layout. If it weren't based on the best movies in Amerian cinema, would it get this kind of praise? Also, you can pick it up for old systems on the cheap, so it isn't even worth $50.
vidGuy @ Apr 9th 2007 3:27PM
@Gavin
It's not necessarily the game, but the way it plays. Since I haven't played Godfather I'll use Tiger Woods as an example. This is 07, when 08 is due out in August. So I could probably pick up Tiger Woods 07 on XBOX, PS2, or XBOX360 for the same price or less. And yeah, it's pretty much the same game. But on Wii, playing Tiger Woods is so different. You have the option to put in the nunchuk and play the traditional method, but it's much more fun to stand up and swing away. My 50-something father has the same slice in the game as in real life - you can't get that level of interaction on a traditional pad.
So "getting it" is more about creating a new, fun way to play video games. Gamers could do better than Godfather, I agree. But if they are going to play the game, it'd be more fun, for most, to play on Wii. That's how you "get" the Wii.
nintendofan @ Apr 9th 2007 3:30PM
Number 42 play the wii version and you will see why a lot of people are saying GTA sucks compared to the Godfather Wii.
You will also see and feel why the Godfather Wii feels far more violent then any GTA game.
Also SSX Blur is 40 bucks at a lot of retailers. Most wii games are 39.99.
wii games are on average ten bucks less then xbox 360 or PS3 games.
A lot of people think the game needs to be shown on tv with players mimicking the strangeling motions.
TMoney @ Apr 9th 2007 3:49PM
gavin no one is saying that the godfather is a great game, just that nailed the motion controls that have proved so hard for others to get right.
awiifemale @ Apr 9th 2007 6:23PM
The Godfather game makes excellent use of the controls- I can't imagine playing it any other way. (I never owned any of the consoles it previously appeared on). If EA makes more good games like this, ports or not, I'm buying.
ManekiNeko @ Apr 9th 2007 6:37PM
You think they would have learned after snubbing the Nintendo DS! Makes you wonder how Electronic Arts got so big after making so many mistakes.
Oh yeah, Madden. That and lots of mergers.
JR
Terrak @ Apr 9th 2007 6:50PM
The Godfather Blackhand edition on Wii has been one of the most enjoyable games i've played this year. Though the ps2 graphics (probably slightly enhanced but not by much) did sour the experience a little, almost 40 hours later and i must say if EA can use Wiimote controls this well then there is hope for this company.
One thing that surprised me was when i checked out the motion tutorials, i played the whole game without checking this out - and i am disappointed that i missed this because of all the great Wiimote actions that i could have used! Well i might go back and play the game again but i just got MoH V and am going to finish that game off before i think about coming back to Godfather.
EA if you can make $#!t like the Godfather work well, AND with graphics built to take full advantage of the Wii i will not hesitate to buy your games. THis is from a person who has avoided EA games for over 2 years!