130°

Was EA Right About SimCity? The Evidence Says That They Were

It’s been two months now since the release of the latest Sim City, and it sure has been an adventure in terms of PR for both consumers and EA alike. Yet two months is a long time in the gaming world and people are quick to move onto the next farce and start yelling at that, forgetting whatever was wrong with Sim City in the first place.

MGregory6664005d ago

And watch the internet burn as someone defends EA (rightly so). Well structured piece, covered all the angles. I likes it!

eTeknix4005d ago

Thank you, I do think the game stinks though, and EA have made a complete arse of things here, but fundamentally it's one bad game from a developer that have otherwise created many great titles.

Their DRM has worked so far, but at the cost of consumer happiness, so its swings and roundabouts it seems.

MGregory6664005d ago

It's not even a bad game it was poorly launched.

brish4005d ago

EA released a game that didn't work.

I'm against piracy but I am for games that work and EA failed in that regard.

MikeMyers4005d ago

Are you suggesting it still doesn't work or it didn't work in the beginning? Two very distinct different things.

I am not defending their decisions but with piracy rampant on the PC this may have helped sales. Diablo III certainly sold well. We will have no idea how much it would have sold if it was DRM free but at the end of the day that game was a very big success on the PC. Does anyone know how many games sell over 10 million on the PC any longer that's not a MMO game? How about 4 million?

brish4004d ago

"Are you suggesting it still doesn't work or it didn't work in the beginning? Two very distinct different things."
- MikeMyers

I meant EA released a game that didn't work.

I have no idea if the game works now. Why should I bother to check if the game is in a working state now if they weren't concerned if the game would work on release?

I was looking forward to the game but after the forced always on DRM I decided not to buy it.

I have no doubt in a couple years there will be news about EA shutting down the servers and another uproar will occur when people discover they can't play the game they legally bought.

3-4-54004d ago

SC4 was released in 2003 or so...

There is no excuse why the new Sim City game wasn't nearly perfect in every way.

They've had 10 years to create a new SC game and this is what they gave us.

From that standpoint it's pathetic. There shouldn't have been any issues or complaints or dumb ideas at all.

Whoever made this game isn't as talented or as smart as they think they are.

It's not a crap game, but no excuse for if not being better.

guitarse4005d ago

I agree MGregory, it's not without its charms, but a scar like this won't heal quickly for EA and it likely never will for this game. Sim City 4 FTW indeed.

majiebeast4005d ago

it sold 1.1 million in the first 2 weeks after that it sold only 500.000 i wouldnt say thats amazing.

Yetter4005d ago

It's pretty great for a simcity game.

eTeknix4005d ago

So it only went platinum then? what a massive bore that much have been for EA?!

guitarse4005d ago

Given the price of it, if EA can't turn a buck on 1.5 Million copies of a full RRP game that hasn't been torrented to death, with DLC and various other marketing crap that they put in there... then quite frankly they deserve their failings.

stubbed_out4005d ago

I like the idea of online play with friends, keeping all cities in synch with each other through energy deals etc.

However, EA have so much control over their product pricing through an Origin only game the game still costs £45!!!!!! and £33 from Amazon which is simply horrible.

They've effectively (for me personally) priced themselves way above what I'd believe would be a fair price for a product/service that has received so much vitriol. Mess mess mess.

uuaschbaer4005d ago

Analysis, evidence? That's a bit rich; he googled "simcity 2013 download." Maybe it's David Cage in disguise: during the day he revolutionizes the art of storytelling by inventing emotion (gosh, if only the Greeks'd thought of it first), but come nightfall he exposes shocking truths, such as that EA was right about something.

eTeknix4004d ago

So the evidence was easy to source, big deal! Having checked your profile, where are all the original articles you bothered to write? Did you go to work today and write original news articles? Didn't think so lol.

uuaschbaer4004d ago

"News article" ? Where will your mistreatment of the English language end? Actually, no, I didn't write an original news article today, but I'm inspired by you so let me give it a go:

My First News Article:

GROUNDBREAKING ANALYSIS EVIDENCE SCIENCE RESEARCH NEWS

I can't find a cracked version of simcity. Doesn't mean EA makes more money.

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220°

EA Hopes to Use Generative AI to Drive Monetization and Make Development 30% More Efficient

Today Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson provided a look into his ideas for the use of generative AI in the company's development processes.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
thorstein49d ago

I wonder what the next buzz word they'll slap in front of AI to make it sound exciting next? "Generative" as if it's creating its own content. Lol.

Cacabunga48d ago

EA is already dying a painful death..

peppeaccardo48d ago

i have a better idea .. why the whole exec team doesn't get replaced by chat bots ?

just_looken49d ago

Though i agree the ai thing is already in other forms of media there have been ai translations/scripts/voice over and even full ai commercials aired on tv. Ubisoft has created a ai game creator story/vo/music except the building of the game

The new unreal engine has auto terrain creation tools

In the world of greed in which it is winning without any major blow back ai is our future.

everyone want's biden dead on the mic or a criminal instead of a woman and now we are getting ai everything because no one will stop watching/playing ai created media.

GamerRN48d ago

Maybe they should just focus on making good games?

Just a thought...

Kiryu199248d ago

Exactly EA are just pure evil. When they are beating Bank of America to be voted the worst company to work for that’s saying a lot

Good thing I don’t buy their games day one and wait for deep deep sale years after launch (the select few games I am actually interested in)

Gaming is making so much money yet the greed of these companies is never ending

CEO’s and people on board making millions yet cutting jobs to those who are actually making the products

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 48d ago
Knightofelemia49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

EA is still a shady shitty company even with or without the help of Skynet. All they will use AI for is new ways to milk loot boxes and come up with the same sports title with a different year on the label. They are one company I truly do hate with a passion. They single handedly ruined some great franchise with their death touch. ME, Dead Space, Alice Returns, Dante's Inferno.

Stuart575649d ago

EA layoffs followed by 'Generative AI to Drive Monetization'

I knew it. Wonder what AI salary looks like? Nothing.

ChasterMies48d ago

I having a feeling that most of the layoffs in the industry are based on the idea that AI will do the same job for less.

DarXyde48d ago

Very likely, yes.

Made worse by the fact that the execs aren't changing their compensations.

My deepest fear at this point is that we are now in the capitalism endgame.

At this point, we really should just burn AI to the ground. Executives cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
How are those people expected to support families if everything gets automated?

Barlos49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

And take away creativity, and people's jobs as we've been seeing. Got it.

No thanks. I want my games created by people, not AI.

CobraKai49d ago

Exactly. If or when games start becoming more AI than people, im done with gaming. AI and companies like EA can suck donkey d***k.

just_looken49d ago

Though i agree remember this is no ps3/360 era were we got up to 3 games in one generation from on developer like gears/halo/bioware/sony/ms

The people today are pro esg/sweet baby for the most part AAA gaming is imploding right now.

We should be stepping back re evaluate everything as a whole this year xmen 97 written/directed by a woman that is nuts and its also being made by a group reshaping bodies to be less sexual like wtf. A dam famous cartoon from the 90's is being rebuilt with millions spent to be worse in everyway.

Gaming/movies/tv shows made today are worse than what we had 7years ago ai won't change this but that ai is also being made by these groups so either way we are screwed.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Eonjay48d ago

Don't be of afraid of women. Sexy characters in games and movies still exist. Got my Stellar Blade on preorder!!! Everything all the time doesn't need to be sexual...that's stupid, childish and dull.

Chocoburger48d ago (Edited 48d ago )

EA doesn't want to lose their title of worst gaming company ever, always trying their best to remain the champs!
What's sad is that they have so much potential to be a decent publisher.

SSX Tricky / SSX 3
Def Jam Vendetta / Fight for New York
NBA Street
NFL Steet
Mirror's Edge
Bad Company
Burnout 3 / 4 / 5

Remember when EA used to be awesome? It's all over with now. Unpolished, if not out-right broken games these days. Endless monetization and gambling in their sports games, and let's not forget wasting hours of your life trying to unlock characters or equipment using "surprise boxes!"

Show all comments (38)
80°

EA And Sony Layoffs, Entertainment News And More Skewedcast

Gareth, Justin, and JoeyZ look at Layoff news for EA and Sony and reasons behind the downturn in the industry and more.

220°

EA - Continuing to evolve our business and teams

EA CEO Andrew Wilson writes: "In this time of change, we expect these decisions to impact approximately 5 percent of our workforce. I understand this will create uncertainty and be challenging for many who have worked with such dedication and passion and have made important contributions to our company. While not every team will be impacted, this is the hardest part of these changes, and we have deeply considered every option to try and limit impacts to our teams. Our primary goal is to provide team members with opportunities to find new roles and paths to transition onto other projects. Where that’s not possible, we will support and work with each colleague with the utmost attention, care, and respect. Communicating these impacts has already begun and will be largely completed by early next quarter."

LG_Fox_Brazil56d ago

All the big ones doing the same stuff. Terrible. I just hope that all these people are able to get a new job as soon as possible, God know that it is horrible to be left jobless when you have your kids or your parents depending on your financial help

Jin_Sakai56d ago (Edited 56d ago )

2024 so far.

Feb ’28 Electronic Arts (EA) 670 (5%)
Feb ’24 PlayStation 900 (8%)
Feb ’24 Vice Media Group Several hundred
Feb ’24 Buzzfeed 16%
Feb ’24 NowThis 26 (50%)
Feb ’24 Paramount Global 800 (3%)
Feb ’24 SiriusXM 160 (3%)
Feb ’24 Snapchat 10%
Jan ’24 TechCrunch 8 + subscription product
Jan ’24 U.K.’s Channel 4 200
Jan ’24 Business Insider 8%
Jan ’24 Microsoft Gaming 1,900
Jan ’24 Riot Games 530
Jan ’24 Sports Illustrated Possibly all
Jan ’24 YouTube 100
Jan ’24 Pitchfork (Conde Nast) Undisclosed
Jan ’24 Universal Music Group Hundreds
Jan ’24 Discord 17%
Jan ’24 NBC News 50-100
Jan ’24 Audible 5%
Jan ’24 Google Hundreds
Jan ’24 Amazon Hundreds
Jan ’24 Duolingo 10%
Jan ’24 VideoAmp 20%

DATA AS OF FEB. 28, 2024

outsider162456d ago

Is it possible maybe this whole ai thing is in play?

just_looken56d ago

Another long list that skips over UPS cutting 12,000 jobs those workers as we know work without ac low pay and old box trucks but that company had to cut 12k jobs do too loosing billions of dollars year 2 year.

https://edition.cnn.com/202...

The greed and lack of transparency/oversight is disgusting.

Ups are still making bang but not enough for a golden boat fleet.

Remember we all use ups at some time even stuff in our stores this is going to be a huge issue gong forward i know in my area they removed half the state ups stores northern half least population got some 3rd party running packages now from minivans.

Sonic188155d ago

When I explan this I get called a troll 🤔 like wtf

thorstein55d ago

@just_looken

UPS is a different story altogether.

They are paying the people doing the actual work/ earning the money more and eliminating management.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 55d ago
CrimsonWing6956d ago (Edited 56d ago )

You do realize around this time this happens all throughout many industries (not just the game industry), right? It has to do with taxes for these major companies, like tax subsidies for downsizing. You want to know a little secret? Around May or so you’ll see a spike in hiring…

It blows my mind that people are oblivious to corporate workings.

Andrew33656d ago

So over 25 huge companies cut jobs every year like this and it only got noticed this time?

CrimsonWing6956d ago (Edited 56d ago )

@Andrew336

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Google it up if you’re uninformed of how corporations work. Only gamers seem to live in a bubble and when they see things like crunch, acquisitions, and lay-offs they act like this is the only industry it happens to and how shocked they are about it.

Welcome to the real world, kid.

thorstein55d ago (Edited 55d ago )

EA CEO Wilson's total compensation was 20 million. Let's take away 19 million (I'm sure he can survive on 1 million.... somehow).

1 million is the salary of an in the chair developer @100,000 for 10 years.

He could earn 1 million a year.

And save the jobs of 15 in the chair devs for A DECADE (plus benefits) with ONE YEAR'S compensation.

RhinoGamer8856d ago

No Executive accountability or firings I see...

just_looken56d ago

Do not worry they will take over 40mill say sorry then get hired by playstation or xbox

blackblades55d ago

I heard Japan does it better, they do layoffs like what's happening with companies in the west. The higher ups also being agreeing to to lower there own salary. These MFs like jim and Phil isnt gonna do that they want that $

Sonic188156d ago

Like I said earlier, this is happening all around the gaming industry.

Petebloodyonion56d ago

The point I feel is problematic about all of this is that focusing on Owned Ip means more sequels, remasters and more of what was selling last year.

TheColbertinator56d ago

EA is certainly among the worst,if not the worst

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