EA UK puffs chest over ActiBlizz deal
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Dec 4th 2007 at 12:25PM }
The piece itself is far more diplomatic in its use of quotes, with Ramsdale saying things like "good luck" and "look forward to the competition." The gem quote is, "We're always at our best when we have a clearly defined competitor." Has EA really had a clearly defined competitor within reasonable memory? Well, they do now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Martin @ Dec 4th 2007 12:30PM
+1 for the Spaceballs reference.
On topic, they sure do have a very well defined competitor. Activision basically bought themselves a cashcow. While EA has tons of great properties, I can't think of many that would rival WoW in terms of repetitious revenue streams.
S-LAH-ziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 4th 2007 12:43PM
Madden '08 is basically an MMO, except the updates aren't free. Marginal updates every year!
XanthouS @ Dec 4th 2007 12:31PM
EA buys out the competition whenever possible.
Case in point: ESPN NFL 2k5
I hope Activision/Blizzard put those bastards out on the streets.
Dave @ Dec 4th 2007 12:33PM
I have to agree on EA with the competition thing. Madden was a good franchise when it had the 2K series competing with it.
XanthouS @ Dec 4th 2007 12:42PM
Not quite.
Most Madden fans agree the 2004 incarnation was the best of the series. In late 2004, ESPN 2k5 released. It earned better ratings than Madden 2005 and sold for $19.99 compared to Madden's annual $49.99.
EA responded to their first competition in years by throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into exclusive deals with the NFL and ESPN.
EA then threw money at the CFL and AFL to attain exclusive rights. The ESPN name (which 2k Sports used very well in their presentation) is merely a logo on Madden's box.
EA could have spend those hundreds of millions of dollars creating a better football game. Instead they created a "legal monopoly".
What kind of crooked sleezebag can say they "look forward to the competition" and are "always at our best when we have a clearly defined competitor" with a straight face?
Marty @ Dec 4th 2007 12:54PM
I am still not sure what to make of this purported oncoming video game mega-giant brawl. I mean, Activision's not going to suddenly start making NFL games, right?
Grapefruit Juice @ Dec 4th 2007 12:58PM
Please.... EA likes competition like dracula likes daylight.
NATO_Duke @ Dec 4th 2007 1:18PM
No joke. Besides, when has EA been at their best?
T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Dec 4th 2007 1:02PM
Sigh...EA, Blactivision08 its all the same corporate crap that is more interested in profit versus innovation. Oh and speaking of EA and thus somehow speaking of Peter Moore...."Peter Moore you stupid git, my replacement 360 is starting to crap out and I demand you and that repugnant bartleby wanna-be J. Allard come bring me a brand new one. It should have "We are massive dongs and we are sorry."written on it and signed by you twats.
NATO_Duke @ Dec 4th 2007 1:20PM
I don't think he can aid you with your 360 problems at this point.
Shockgamer @ Dec 4th 2007 1:21PM
EA vs. Actibliz: Match of the Millenium '08
CoD and MoH are such Shotoclones
Andy S. @ Dec 4th 2007 1:28PM
But that quote just doesn't jibe with EA's actions as a company.
"We're always at our best when we have a clearly defined competitor."
Yeah? Is that why EA paid through the nose for the exclusive license to use the NFL teams in their games? To encourage competition? I mean, it seemed to me like more of a move to _stifle_ competition, or outright _eliminate_ it, but then again business isn't really my thing. How does that work again, EA?
Marty @ Dec 4th 2007 1:30PM
Well, most people would probably say that EA has not been at their best lately, and up until now, haven't faced much competition, so... make of that what you will.
Zsavior @ Dec 4th 2007 4:00PM
*In Best Yoda Voice*
Crap wars begun they have.
Each side will churn out salvo after salvo of mediocre franchise installments, engulfing all in their wake. Man seriously where is EA getting off challenging these guys they must really believe their commercial challenge everything. They better hope warhammer is good or that first salvo will be one huge dud.
Batzarro @ Dec 4th 2007 7:14PM
It's the classic Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. We know both want to smash us with their huge, licensed feet. But one of them is a soulless shell of metal that gets no symphaty(for those not following, EA). Hopefully King Kong will trounce them both with electicity. And by King Kong, I mean Ubi Soft.