EA's Riccitiello deems Brütal Legend a 'significant creative risk'
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Oct 16th 2008 at 2:30PM }
"I have seen it," EA CEO John Riccitiello told Gamasutra. "I am well aware of what the game is. It's a very significant creative risk." Oh, what are you talking about, John? You know what's really popular right now? Guitar Hero. That, and outrageous ultra-violence, as seen in your company's very own Dead Space. Surely a combination of both would yield a powerful, nigh-undodgeable bullet point on the back of Brütal Legend's box?
Mind you, Riccitiello isn't completely averse to "significant creative risks." He added that games described as such could "end up being some of the world's best products." Examples? "Spore was also a significant creative risk. So was The Sims. Portal, BioShock." But before you start reading between the lines, consider his next example: "But so was Grim Fandango."
Ugh, we really dropped the ball on that one, world.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ScottG13 @ Oct 16th 2008 2:35PM
Come on John... you know you want to add the brilliant fellows at Double Fine to your stable of EA Partners... just do it... publish... keep adding developers that make great product... Make buyers think "amazing experience" when they see the EA logo (sans sports games, obviously)...
Edog Lost @ Oct 16th 2008 3:10PM
yeah. Just through money at the problem.
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 2:35PM
I feel an obligation to purchase this game before I even see it.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 16th 2008 3:16PM
Dirty walks in to a local electronics shop.
"Hey look there's that game with Jack Bla--"
Dirty is then seen sitting on his couch, holding the controller, and booting up the game.
"....what the hell?"
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 3:23PM
I would probably end up leaving with a copy of Kung Fu panda.
Neuromancer @ Oct 16th 2008 2:36PM
Don't blame me, I bought Grim Fandango. Great game.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 16th 2008 7:46PM
Same here, I got it on launch day and got me a free copy of Full Throttle from the Tim Schafer fan club offer from it.
Full Throttle, there's another freakishly awesome game.
loof @ Oct 16th 2008 2:37PM
Grim Fandango was awesome.
Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 16th 2008 2:38PM
I mean Jack Black is supposed to be the voice of the main char; if they flesh the game out right, it will be promising. Any new IP is hit or miss. Depending on market. Some games just get a good word of mouth from the media and fans alike. That gets the ball rolling...
Kane & Lynch had much potential, but to me the game was not worth "buying"...
LeadBoxx @ Oct 16th 2008 2:44PM
I think the game is release worthy but I'll admit I am getting pretty sick of Jack Blacks shtick.
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 2:48PM
He was good in tropic thunder.
Jakka @ Oct 16th 2008 3:00PM
He was also good in King Kong as this was the only role in which Jack Black played a character as opposed to playing Jack Black in every other movie.
MowDownJoe @ Oct 16th 2008 3:13PM
He was also good in School of Rock.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 16th 2008 3:13PM
He wasn't good in Tropic Thunder.
He was AWESOME in Tropic Thunder.
AoE @ Oct 16th 2008 4:35PM
"Any new IP is hit or miss."
Right, but we're talking about Tim Schafer here... what exactly are the misses that have happened in his career?
Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 16th 2008 4:54PM
@ AoE i get your point, but im going to go out on a limb and say:
The "average" gamer doesnt know who he is much less to purchase it off his name alone. So EA is hesitant it seems, but i say complete it, and put it on the shelves either way.
Our CliffyB's & John Romero's*(used to anyway*) seem to get a nod, from the media with they're flashy ways. Lambo's screeching out of McDonalds blaring rock music and leaving a trail of Cog tags. Hence Joe Shmo recognizing them in some form, which adds to the "hype".
daki @ Oct 16th 2008 2:41PM
Grim Fandango the best adventure/puzzle game ever.
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 3:48PM
no, monkey island 2
Kizzle @ Oct 16th 2008 2:51PM
GWAR is awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr3PTMlUcIg
Ranus Studios @ Oct 16th 2008 2:53PM
Dude. You're EA. YOU CAN TAKE THE HIT.
Megadanxzero @ Oct 16th 2008 5:42PM
While that is true, they don't WANT to take the hit
Either way though, I don't see how Brutal Legend is a risk. It's a game where you basically play as Jack Black, kill demons with a big axe, drive around in a monster truck/BUS and kill demons by playing awesome guitar solos... Sounds like an OBVIOUS buy
Alzheimers @ Oct 16th 2008 2:54PM
This is the same guy who tried to convince the Mirrors Edge devs to make the game 3rd person.
What does this douche know about games beyond "License" and "Yearly Roster Updates"
AwesomeTown @ Oct 16th 2008 2:55PM
"Significant creative risk"?
Isn't that what being creative is? Isn't that the whole point of being a business that is based upon creativity? Isn't the second word in your company name arts?
Oh, I forgot, EA would rather put out something like The Littlest Pet Shop as long as it makes them a few bucks. (Oh and then riddle it with DRM, oh yea, I went there.) Last time I checked games like that aren't very creative.
Blank-Mage @ Oct 17th 2008 12:36AM
Your words strike true.
Easo @ Oct 16th 2008 2:55PM
whats wrong with Grim Fandango? I thought it was pretty damn good game.
Jakka @ Oct 16th 2008 3:04PM
It is...just turned out to be a huge flop.Think B&E+Psychonauts x 100 and that's approximately how much.
Jim Whatshisname @ Oct 17th 2008 9:55AM
If Grim Fandango is wrong then I don't wanna be right.
Jack Tretton @ Oct 16th 2008 2:57PM
"Significant creative risks" inject much-needed vitality into this industry. But, hey, who'd want that?
Ethan @ Oct 16th 2008 2:59PM
I think he mistook the word creative for business.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 16th 2008 3:12PM
Well in his line of work, I'm sure he gets those words confused all the time. Just like the words 'sub par' and 'money'.
Seraphim @ Oct 16th 2008 3:44PM
Hashbrown, I don't think EA has never NOT thought that sub par = money.
Kia @ Oct 16th 2008 3:00PM
Ugh, that's just pathetic. Then again, coming from EA...e_e
Orangecoke @ Oct 16th 2008 3:00PM
EA did just release Dead Space, which is a new IP and a really phenomenal quality game.
CordableTuna @ Oct 16th 2008 3:10PM
And it takes about 0 creative risks.
Orangecoke @ Oct 16th 2008 3:26PM
True, but I think it's EA's responsibility as a company (to shareholders) to evaluate games with "creative risks" and decide if they can make a success of it.
A lot of games take creative risks and tank in the market. If we (gamers) aren't *buying* the creatively-risky games, I don't think we're in a position to complain to publishers about not releasing more of them.
Consider Pyschonauts, Okami, Beyond Good and Evil. All critically well received, all very creatively risky, and all had relatively poor sales. If those games had sold strongly, publishers would maybe not be so reticent to take a chance on a "risky" creative idea.
Blank-Mage @ Oct 17th 2008 12:44AM
Yes, they're backing Dead Space... after RE4 broke some records. And for the record, the only reason I didn't play Psychonauts was because I heard they kill a baby for every copy purchased. Yes, that's a totally viable, and NOT fictitious, excuse. (I did get Okami... on the Wii. A couple of years after its intial release.)
Battledrill @ Oct 16th 2008 3:06PM
Just make it, instead of : The Sims-Backyard Edition.
Monkey Thing?!!? @ Oct 16th 2008 3:09PM
Could've turned out better as a Wii game, i think. If you lower those "sales to make profit" numbers significantly, it would fit in neatly. Just as how Zack and Wiki and No More Heroes were deemed to be unexpected successes by their respective publishers
Certainly unfeasible, as it would require a total re-working of the project, but still...
Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 16th 2008 3:10PM
I seem to recall a 'significant creative risk' game that EA is releasing. But it's name escapes me.
...something about mirrors.
...hmmmmmmmm.
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 3:49PM
Cinderella's Magical Mirror Adventure?
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 4:03PM
Boogie! John Travolta's Mirrored ball Disco Inferno edition?
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 4:22PM
Timothy Leary's Mind Mirror?
yes, this is an actual game and yes it was published by EA
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 3:11PM
Sometimes a company need to make some cultural capital instead of butt-loads of cash.
This is another opportunity to keep building EA's rep with the core.
Ranko @ Oct 16th 2008 3:20PM
Guess EA doesn't like metal.
Andy O. @ Oct 16th 2008 3:32PM
Lost my copy of Grim Fandango a while ago. I hope someone found it and is enjoying it though.
Dirty @ Oct 16th 2008 4:04PM
Were you playing at the beach last?
Boffo the $ock @ Oct 16th 2008 3:42PM
I loved Bioshock and all that, but I fail to see what about that title made it a 'significant creative risk.'
Orangecoke @ Oct 16th 2008 3:53PM
I think it was the giant diving suit monsters. Or the art-deco style of the setting.
You don't see it?
Xoviet chiK - Gyiyg Strikes Back @ Oct 16th 2008 4:00PM
Just the fact that it was a wholly original IP, though I think that's even a tough sell for true any more. Gears of War is huge, Dead Rising and Lost Planet did exceptionally well, Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, Crackdown...
I guess original IPs are only significant creative risks if you aren't in the pocket of a major publisher or you aren't Rare Limited. Right now, Brutal Legend has neither going for it, so it's "risky." Maybe EA just learned their lesson from Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, and decided they didn't want to single handedly trash a brilliant game and studio with a nonexistent marketing campaign?
VicViper09 @ Oct 16th 2008 4:58PM
Um running around killing corrupted humans, injecting urself with genetic altering substances, syphoning power from little girls all in an underwater ex-paradise. Tackling subjects like genetics, corruption, and elitism. The game lets you get drunk and smoke cigarettes. Uh, what was a "creative risk". Numb nuts.