EA wonders why everybody hates them?

EA seems to have this notion that they don't do much wrong. I think they've proved they do in the last couple weeks alone.

[Godmars290]

I hate them because it takes five minutes to start Burnout:PC. That I have to deal with and logging off their store.

[Maddens Raiders]

"too big to fail" attitude and the resulting quality in their games. For years I bought and played Madden games only to find that the quality, especially attention to detail, and gameplay stayed the same year after year or in the case of 2007-2008 Madden just completely fell off the wagon. It was so bad and my obsession w/ this franchise so great, that it compelled me to to get intimately involved w/ the "struggle": http://bit.ly/13mv2m6 Needless to say my "auto-purchases" of Madden each year have since ceased and I hardly play it at all anymore which is weird but reality. EA doesn't deserve my money for that garbage anymore.

Furthermore, I've noticed another game I really like BF3, is full of weird glitches and "laziness" that I tried to overlook in my first run through, but that were impossible to dismiss at a very inopportune time last night. Last night I introduced a friend of mine to the game for the first time. He's really been wanting to check it out so we pop the disc into his PS3, and after a short loadup from the disc he's in the action on HARD mode. Well, once he got to the part where you have to "follow the wire" and diffuse the bomb, there's all these weird ass shadows coming off the Humvees and buildings which make the game just seem half ass and not very well QC'd. Also after he diffused the wire and ran up onto the bridge, your squad mates were running [inside the concrete] of the bridge so that only half of their bodies were exposed. It was like some weird Manhattan project explosion was happening that made everything weird. I could see the look on my friend's face that was like wow wtf is all of this? I finished the game on HARD and liked the story but things like the stuff aforementioned plus the fact that the dead bodies disappear instead of staying put, just give you that real uneasy "multiplat" feel. If you're a 1st party purist like me, that only lurks into the murky multiplat waters for the "sure fire hits" then this of no huge surprise. Afterall, it's EA, and it really seems like par for the course which isn't saying much at all. So if you love gargantuan money hungry companies that pump out tons of decent, yet mediocre games each year then they're your vg co.

[darthv72]

I dislike some of their practices. Like locking out fair competition where NFL licensed games were concerned. Whether it was a mutual decision or EA bought exclusivity...they took away the license from other companies that made good alternatives to the Madden series.

I also dislike how they are quick to shelve a series before it really gets a chance to grow. Mirror's edge and dante's inferno are two fairly decent games that could have had much better sequels if given the chance.

But in EA's eyes, if it isnt profitable by a certain margin then it isnt worth investing in a sequel.

[MikeMyers]

I don't hate them, I just don't want to be forced to like them. We should have choices and by having a monopoly on some sport games and by only offering some PC games through Origin they are not giving consumers an option to compare.

EA needs to ask themselves why people prefer Steam over Origin. Why do people not want to sign into EA servers when they play on consoles? Why is EA charging to unlock cheats? Why did they have DRM in SimCity? There are many questions they refuse to actually answer from a consumers point of view.

Consumers are also not stupid, they can see the way EA controls developer input. Why are certain ip's getting more casual?

[3-4-5]

EA is like the guy with the $50,000 music studio who doesn't know how to use it properly.

[JsonHenry]

I hate them for CnC4 but I will let them redeem themselves if the newest CnC doesn't suck.

[Godmars290]

So you'll forgive them if its good, but otherwise layered in crap? Has hoops you have to jump through?

[N311V]

I don't hate them, they've published some of my favourite games over the many many years they've been in business.

[Anzil]

people will hate me for this but w/e! I absolutely love micro-transactions that dont affect gameplay. I love it cause there are dumbys out there that would spend hundreds of dollars on these games and they support my favourite company. I think if you have the option to buy a game new or used and you buy it used to save a few dollars is a joke! If u cant afford to pay an extra 5 bucks then you probably shouldn't be buying video games. Always online is a bad idea cause it cuts out loyal gamers that dont have internet access. And online passes should be more $ in my opinion because most people will buy just one game like cod and its used then the game company and console company has no chance of making money. EA makes most of my favourite games and have huge respect for game devs and publishers in this flux of a gaming market!

[abradley]

Fair enough. Having respect for your favourite company isn't bad, but what I and many others here in the comments is that EA have some seriously bad practices that harm the games industry as a whole.

I also take your comment about second hand games personally. Not everyone can always afford a brand new copy of a game and until developers/publishers themselves reduce the prices of their older software catalogue so many of their customers can get the game new for say half or less of the original asking price, second hand will continue to rule. Don't you think the big companies like EA earn enough when a game is first released. Backing them as they continue to charge full price for a 2-4 year old games is just money grubbing theft. The one big reason Steam is a big hit and EA left them to rob people else ware.

[Anzil]

@ abradley You do not need games! you telling me that you cant afford them makes me laugh cause it is a luxury and you should not be buying games if you are strapped for cash. if you have only a little money leftover after you pay your bills and cant afford five dollars extra to support the company that spent a lot of their lives being underpaid to produce the game then you should not be buying games its that simple! WAIT till you have enough to buy the game new! And no i do not think every game company makes a lot of money off the initial sales thats why i said the gaming market is in flux. and this is the reason a lot of games do not drop in price, exceptions being cod and other monopolies. And the pc gaming sector is smaller than consoles so this is why pc games are sold for less and tend to be put on sale more (common misconception) and EA have done many things right too but no one ever says anything about that.

[Majin-vegeta]

BF3 was the last game i'm buying from them.Not only have they not fixed all the damn problems in it but it takes a long ass time to release a patch.

P.S.Yes i know it's DICE who are the DEVS but they can't do anything without EA consent.

[Trunkz]

Good, don't buy BF4 Faja.

[sergons]

You mean Modern Battlefield 4?

[Hydralysk]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they recently implied the people angry with them were homophobes attacking them because they have LGBT characters in a few games, or just angry about the new Madden cover art athlete...

[Tultras]

Maybe because it's true, people probably do send them hate mail or something because of it.

I remember the starhawk devs stating that they received large amount of hate mails simply because their game's main character was black.

[Hydralysk]

I'm sure there are a few people that do send hate mail like that. It's the internet, that's unfortunately par for the course.

Peter Moore's statement on the other hand implied most of the people vocally disappointed with EA of being angry because of these 2 reasons, and that's frankly insulting.

Take a look around N4G for example. TONS of EA hate and bashing, but how many times do you see people bashing them for their Madden athletes or LGBT stance? Not very often in my case. It's usually about stuff like DLC, microtransactions, forcing multiplayer into everything, Origin, DRM, etc. The big problems we have with EA are their business practices.

[BattleReach]

Origin.
Bad Servers.
The sh*t produced after 2010.

[MadLad]

Don't really agree with that.
There's nothing wrong with Origin as a platform. It's no different than Steam was when it first hit the scene.
I will give you servers. Any major multi-player release of their never seems to function properly.
That's just opinion. I feel they've published plenty of great games these last few years.

[BattleReach]

Battlefield and Dead Space are ok, but Fifa, SimCity, and Medal of Honor werent all that great.

[Baka-akaB]

It is very different . For starters Steam was a pioneer in its category .

Then when we massively complained , Steam was quickly and constaly updated and improved .

[MadLad]

@Baka

Well, no one ever really goes into why Origin is so bad. I use it. Not nearly as much as steam, but I use it.
Seems just another download service to me. Just happens to be run by EA.
Also, I would argue that it took Steam a long time to get where it is now. Constant updates . . . over years to be what it is now.

[Baka-akaB]

Not the same case at all . Origins comes in a market already to fruition . Competition is good , but when your competitor are well established you have to propose a decent enough service . Not the plague and bugs machine that are origins servers and services so far since it's launch already 3 years ago .

It took constant updating , i already told you and agreed with that , but Steam was far more reactive and faster built .

No excuse for a service that was already "ea store/ea download" beforehand in 2007 , and in a market with plenty examples for them to learn from

[josephayal]

I Think EA is the best company/game developer in the world, EA has games that sell in the millions

[abradley]

I agree that many of their AAA line up sell well but lets have a look at why, shall we. Sports games are monopolized by EA thanks to several back hand deals.

Over the last 15 years they've bought some of the most creative studios to ever develop games and turned the majority of the big names into crap. Command and Conquer is a prime example.

And like many above have said, they copied Steam in the digital business but then messed it up. They have issues with multiplayer severs, origins stability and they can't put offers on like Steam do. You would have thought they would take notes about why Steam is big and copy those ideals as well. Nope, if EA do something, it has to be their way and the fastest way to the pot of gold.

[kagon01]

They already gave their answer...

[DevilzRightHand]

Where do we start ....
*sigh*
Never mind... its to much

[zerocrossing]

Oh EA, let me help explain, k now take a long look at your business model... Done? OK that's why people hate you.

[maniacmayhem]

We can start by the over staffing and then massive lay-offs right around the holidays you seem to always do.

[L6RD7BLU3]

maybe because some gamers are cry babies

[Dno]

some? LMAO....

i am agreeing with you BTW.

[Topshelfcheese]

It has more to do with two words...Keyboard Courage. These same people that call EA devs horrible would never say that too their face. Nevermind the fact that games in general are a luxury item, get over all your self entitlement...

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Because we all know old guys in business suits are so scary.........

Maybe because it would be stupid to waste money on traveling to EA headquarters to tell them because they won't change unless sales figures drop. That's like me being pissed about Mouse Trap and heading all the way to Milton Bradley CEO to complain which would be pretty stupid because security would laugh you as they kicked you back out.

So unless you have done this feat yourself you should STFU......

[abradley]

I agree with Kyosuke about complaining, business men only listen to the sound of money being flicked in thousand pound wads. Games are a luxury that many people enjoy. So is breathing, would you not complain if someone tainted your air with foul smells that made you queasy and then asked to you pay for the benefit. I think you would.

P.s, I never shouted about EA devs, some of them are very hardworking groups. What most people hate here is EA themselves and their business practices.

[iamlegend9999]

Online passes is a starter

[Tultras]

Don't single EA out on that.

[MakiSaad2]

Ubisoft is doing the same and many more

[Zha1tan]

Because pointing out the fault of another company erases the fact EA does it?

Potato logic

[Tultras]

I wonder why everyone hates them as-well, they don't deserve nearly the amount of hate they receive, in my honest opinion.

[stragomccloud]

I hate that I have to go through the internet browser just to play Battlefield 3.

[WickedLester]

I don't "hate" EA but I lost respect for them when they acquired license exclusivity for NFL and NCAA football. Rather than compete with rival companies by making a better product, they elminated their competition in the weasliest, most punk-ass way they could by cutting the legs out from the competition. As a result, EA have become a bunch of "fat cats" who are content with releasing by and large the same product year after year and continuing to charge full price for it.

[Topshelfcheese]

Let me open your eyes to exact reason why exclusivity was done. 2K in an attempt to take market share from Madden decided to sell there 2k5 game for 20 dollars. The NFL got upset about there brand being cheapened and decided to deal with one partner so they could control the brand. They had a bidding war and EA won. Regardless if 2k or some other company won it, there would be only 1 NFL game on the market. If you want to be mad at anyone for it, than be mad at the NFL...

[Baka-akaB]

That excuse would work if it was only the nfl . EA have been consistantly working to be a single monopoly for each majot sports licenses .

Granted its the greed from the sports federations that allow it , but they hardly behaved candidly in fields like soccer or basket either .

[MakiSaad2]

Expensive DLC's + Day 1 DLC's + Day 1 patches + SimCity lunch + Microtransactions = Angry Gamers

[pompombrum]

Bullfrog and Westwood studios.. there, two legit reasons that no respectable gamer could criticize.

[Dante_007]

lets see why do i hate them hmm it simple why are you such a Greedy Ass Company if you would listen to your fans and not make DLC available day 1 and these new micro transactions your trying to implement sorry But Your Greed For Money is the Reason Everyone hates you

[SonyPS4]

I am rather indifferent to them. The last time I purchased an EA game was the original Dragon Age (which was a great game but the second one sucked). As long as I have my Sony, Nintendo, NIS, Atlus, Falcom, Xeed, and Level 5 games I don't need EA.

[Jamaicangmr]

Take a step back and look at how you do things

[Lacarious]

why? NFL 2K that's why... plus tens of thousands of other things.

[Knightofelemia]

I like them because a year later the title I have been waiting for drops in price. I remeber Dead Space 2 at the time was $60 fallowing year I picked it up for $20 along with Dead Space 1. I don't like what they did to Bullfrog I loved that studio and Theme Hospital and EA just made them disappear. I don't like their practises or why they won't release a game on the Nintendo Wii-U. I'd rather root for EA over Capcom with their DLC sales and latley shotty titles. I'd rather root for EA over Activision and their titles. EA just has to realise what they are doing wrong to piss people off and try and fix it like every other company out there. There are other companies out there who are worse than EA.

[Kal853]

Because they crapped up BioWare.

[Jek_Porkins]

I don't hate them, but I think I really started to dislike them when they got a monopoly on the NFL licensed games, no competition breeds complacency and doesn't allow for innovation.

Some of the other things I didn't really have much of an issue with, I loved the Mass Effect series, loved Dragon Age 1 and 2, some hated 2, and while it lacked story wise, I thought it looked great and was easy to play.

They tend to milk things, but they are a business first and foremost, so I understand that part of it, same with microtransactions and DLC, those are ways of making money. I don't like it, but I understand it.

[BitbyDeath]

Killed Bullfrog,
ruined C&C games,
limited Maxis to 2 franchises and forced to repeat
Took crash mode out of burnout
i'm sure their are many more reasons which generally comes down to reducing creative freedom and focusing on making a quick buck

[Stefanrules7]

Everybody keep an eye out for the EA employees trolling the comments

Wow i just read through and the special employees are out in force

[LAWSON72]

I hate them because they act or think all their ideas are great whether it be drm, always online, dlc and more pointless dlc or microtransactions(which are not that big a deal but in a game where you play to unlock better equipment people should not be able to take a shortcut). Oh how did I forget the biggest reason Origin which is fine but ea wants to take the easy way out to compete with steam by having exclusives instead of actually try to give gamers a reason to use their software.

Also I hate how they are a monopoly with sport games by buying the competition. It is sad that NFL 2k5 is still a better game than madden 13

[Zha1tan]

It is truly amazing how you get people who can defend this company because they published a few good games several years ago, the developers should get the credit for creating those products not the middle man who has money to throw around for a hopeful bigger return.