100°

EA is not supporting Nintendo's Wii U; how the heck did that become EA's fault?

Digitally Downloaded writes: "EA's games on the Wii U haven't just underperformed; they have been catastrophic. It would still be catastrophic if EA invested in a million-dollar advertising campaign to shift an additional 250,000 copies of the game (and that would make it one incredibly successful advertising campaign). If EA was relying on these Wii U games then EA would no longer be here."

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digitallydownloaded.net
Klad3989d ago

Cut the bull crap maaan!! how stupid you you think we are??? So it makes GREAT business sense to invest millions on games for platforms with ZERO install base but not develop any games for a consol with a few million install base which is sure to grow when Nintendo releases its HEAVY 1st party games???? JUST TELL THE TRUTH EA!! You've fallen out with Nintendo!!!

iplay1up23989d ago

That is pretty much what I said a week ago, and I could not agree with you more. I really liked Madden 13 on Wii U too. The gamepad was great to make calls and etc. It looks good, but EA did not include the new physics engine in the game.

I will be Picking up a PS4 anyway, but I still think EA is making a mistake, that 0 install base and the Fact Microsoft is releasing at about the same time as Sony is going to make for a slower start for sales this time around. Not everyone is going to spend $1000 dollars on two new consoles, plus games, extra controllers. With no backwards compatibility we are all going to have to pick games up right away for our shiny new systems.

D_RoyJenkins3989d ago

yes, instead of buying true next gen consoles everyone will buy a Wii U instead so they can play Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, and pokemon. No one has interest in FIFA, Madden, Battlefield, Mass Effect,Dragon Age, Assassins creed, Watch Dogs, GTAV, COD right?

3989d ago
NobodyImportant3988d ago (Edited 3988d ago )

@GotHDGame

You liked Madden 13? Congratulations.

Maybe EA should build Madden 14 just for you. As you're pretty much the only person that enjoyed it on Wii U. That version totally bombed. In fact it's part of the reason EA isn't bringing Madden 14 to the Wii U.

"I will be Picking up a PS4 anyway"
Sensible choice.

"Not everyone is going to spend $1000 dollars on two new consoles"
You probably only need one. As they'll both be getting all the big third party titles. And if you hadn't wasted $350 on the Wii U you'd have had more money towards that $1000. So you probably could've bought both :-)

Thatguy-3103988d ago

The problem here is that third party games don't sell well on Nintendo platforms. Any third publisher can release games on the next xbox and the ps4 even if they're not out yet because in those systems third party games Do sell. It seems that people just buy nintendo consoles for exclusives and get everything else on the other platforms.

GraveLord3988d ago

EA games sold horribly on Wii U and even on the original Wii they never really sold well considering the install base. You can't blame EA for making the business decision, its just not worth supporting Nintendo. The "core" gamer audience just isn't there. Even the "party game crowd" isn't there anymore.

Klad3983d ago

Its to early to judge the Wii U! They ported inferior versions of multiplats to the Wii U & did not promote them well enough. The only superior version of a Wii U port i can give them credit for is Need For Speed!! I live in the UK & i have not seen any EA Wii U games promoted over here!!! Also...I think EA made some rubbish ports to the Wii, even tho Wii's tech was alot weaker than the other consols, they still should of made more original titles unique to the Wii's strengths.

Neonridr3989d ago

Fact is EA will be missing out on millions once the install base inevitably grows. Which is fine with me, there are a lot of games by EA that I don't care to play. It's a shame for them because it will leave developers like Ubisoft & SEGA to make millions in their absence.

I honestly think EA is nuts if they think they will just ignore the system completely. I am willing to bet EA will eat their own words and change their minds once they see the numbers climb on the Wii U.

Just my two cents.

PopRocks3593989d ago

Well, you know what they say; money speaks louder than any vendetta ever will.

Should the Wii U sales climb as you say, we may see a different attitude from EA as well as other developers. But first those sales need to climb before anything else and right now that is the big thing Nintendo should focus on.

torchic3989d ago

of course EA will come back to support the platform once the install base grows. that's the main reason why they're not supporting it.
there's no business in the entire world who's aim is to make a loss.

and to people who will obviously say

"but but we won't support them! we will boycott their games!"

for the Wii U to sell more it has to grow outside of it's current Nintendo loyalist fan base i.e. the broader, more casual market. those people don't care about loyalty, they're just in it for the games; the popular ones that EA have in abundance.

NobodyImportant3989d ago

"Fact is EA will be missing out on millions once the install base inevitably grows."

@Neonridr. No they won't.
The Wii U install base will grow when Mario comes out, because everyone will be buying Mario. They still won't be buying EA games.

If EA had your business sense:
I know! Let's build a next gen title that will run on PCs and on 8 core 8GB consoles...
...and how about we create a totally separate version for the Wii U where we have to use completely different lower poly assets, lower res textures and a smaller map, and then somehow cut some of our AI routines and physics. And let's do this for a console that's owners only buy Nintendo games.

Erm. I don't think so.

EA could techically port PS3 / 360 versions, but when the next gen gets going. Why waste resource on developing for a completely different console with a low install base and who's owners aren't going to buy your game anyway.

Baka-akaB3988d ago

It's far from being a fact that they are missing on millions . Even if you were right , it's millions wasted on wii u developpement for minimum two years with no return .

Meanwhile nothing prevents EA from coming back on wii U WHEN the install base is better . What do they risk ? Alienation ? The general public doesnt care about that , and will quickly forget .

Other franchises taking over in football , hockey and us football and selling millions ? Very unlikely ... and if it happens EA will jump right back into the fray .

Sure their attitude is greedy and despicable , but it does make sense

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3988d ago
RAFFwaff3989d ago

because ea basically wanted an 'unprecedented partnership' with nintendo if they used ORIGIN. it was a case of "use origin or else..." now corrupt ea are flexing their muscles. whats so hard to understand? cryengine 3, frostbite 3, etc will all run on wii U if developers take their time with the architecure. do ea seriously think we gamers are that naive!!?? considering nintendo have done much more positive things for our beloved industry, im backing them all the way in standing up to the worst company in america. F*ck ea.

deafdani3989d ago (Edited 3989d ago )

After all these months, I have yet to see a single reliable website giving official confirmation about this Origin rumor. So far, I only read this coming from commenters like yourself mostly from sites like this.

I guess gamers love them conspiracy theories.

EA is just one of many developers that currently ain't supporting the console, and the most likely reason is simply install base. That does not mean they will NEVER make any game for the Wii U, it just means they are waiting to see if the consumer base grows to a good enough number to warrant the investment for games on this platform.

RAFFwaff3989d ago

ea are in a financially viable position to support the wii u with SOME of its franchises until the console inevitably gains ground after summer. other companys with less financial muscle than ea are sticking with wii u. ea are acting like petulant kids, so again i ask, how naive are you?

iplay1up23989d ago

Yes,but as commented above. PS4/Nextbox have 0 install base, and will be coming out in the same time frame.

MattS3989d ago

If you looked at EA's financial reports you would realise pretty quickly that it is not in a position to support a platform that it will only sell 10,000 copies on.

Tell you what, @RAFFwaff - you guarantee with a contract to EA that you will buy one million copies of a game on Wii U. I bet you EA produces that game.

MasterCornholio3989d ago

I dont believe the Origin scandal either because other developers (Epic) are abandoning the Wii U as well so it cant be just Origins.

The most probable reason is that the Wii U is selling poorly and given the history of 3rd party games on Nintendo systems, many developers are reluctant to release their games on the Wii U. Also the fact that Nintendo chose powerPC over X86 makes games from the PC, 720 and the PS4 a lot harder to port to the Wii U which is why Epic isnt even bothering with the system.

kwyjibo3988d ago

The Origin rumour is the invention of internet imbeciles.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3988d ago
N4g_null3988d ago

EA better get to work on that engine. Activison is still there with blops. cod with the nunchuck truly is better than keyboard and mouse. they already have two screen online play working. they are building a fanbase. capcom has monsterhunter and resevil coming already. they are building a fanbase. EA is possibly boycotting future revenue as their teams will only have the $box and ps4 to gain revenue. those consoles will be dominated then by first party games there also. EA could become the next thq they already had a failed console release and are seen as one of the worst companies in gaming. they better be doing r&d some where because unity3d is going to come out of no where and eat their lunch.

you dont have to have the EA deal confirmed or you can believe the install base does warrent development. yet not perparing or finding ways to be ready if and when the wiiu takes off is just asking to close your doors.

i though about getting madden yet the lack of features turned me off to it. i have 2k13 and when they ever get an nfl lic ill buy their game.

its just too bad for crytek though. they should have went with activison i guess. ps and xbox gamers really dont like their tech. lol eternal darkness is looking good though. EA hasALSO broken the simcity franchise... wooow. employees there better get the resume ready. EA might get sluaghtered becuse they believe their own lies. no they really do. meanwhile ubisoft is going strong.

Baka-akaB3988d ago

How about crytek release games instead of "tech" ? With their arrogance and the way to go around with their games , they wouldnt fare better with activision .

If anything Activision would let go right after Crysis 2 flopping on consoles .

_QQ_3989d ago

It makes sense that they want to sell to a large install base, but when sales pick up Nintendo won't be the ones crawling to EA.

jcnba283989d ago

A bunch of children run EA.

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80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

60°

8 of the most useless amiibo figures ever released

A new list goes over eight of the the most useless amiibo, ranging from the Shadow Mewtwo card to the Qbby figure.

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nintendoeverything.com
80°

Looking Ahead: The Lingering Questions About the Next Mario Kart

VGChartz's Mark Nielsen: "10 years. It’s been almost 10 years since the last mainline release in the Mario Kart series. Mario Kart 8 came out for the Wii U in 2014 and became the best-selling game for the system by a sizeable margin, and later pulled the same magic trick on the Nintendo Switch under the stage name Deluxe. All in all, it's sold nearly 70 million copies over the last decade and is still selling like hot cakes to this day, so it’s no wonder Nintendo has been in no rush to replace it. However, with rumors of a new system being just around the corner, and reports a few years back that a new Mario Kart is indeed under way, it seems the era of 8 might very well be drawing to a close. It’s an exciting prospect to be sure, but after two Nintendo systems with Mario Kart 8 at their heart, a lot of questions remain about how Nintendo will choose to follow it up."

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vgchartz.com
Yi-Long6d ago

I hope they just keep building on Mario Kart 8; Add a track-creation tool, and probably open it up to more Nintendo IPs with new tracks and characters, so Metroid, Punch Out, Starfox, Animal Crossing, etc etc.

gold_drake6d ago

there wont be a new one until the switch 2 comes out.

nintendo needs their bangers early on