EA Interview

Eurogamer got the chance to sit down for a chat with Brown, and discuss how strong EA's line-up is looking, who's got the best chance of winning the next-gen console war, and whether it's fair to say that EA relies too much on sequels instead of producing more original IP... Read on to find out what he had to say.

[Dick Jones]

Guy seems fairly intelligent.

[BoneMagnus]

I like this guy's straight forward responses. His "business first" model will likely offend the "arteests" of the gaming world, but we often forget that these are companies - and companies' top priority is sales.

I also agree with what he said about Sony. Look, I love my 360, and will wait until the verdict is out on the PS3, but I think the position that Sony has made fatal errors is grossly exagerated. It never ceases to amaze me how the gaming public have the audacity to question top executives/programmers/ engineers when we have no formal education or practical experience to back it up. Anyway, I guess I went on a bit of a rant. Sorry!

[Dick Jones]

"It never ceases to amaze me how the gaming public have the audacity to question top executives/programmers/ engineers when we have no formal education or practical experience to back it up."
Same could be said about the people who disagree with Bush. According to your statement, unless you have the formal education he had at HARVARD or practical experience of single handedly leading the greatest superpower in the world then please shut the **** up. Right? Thats what your getting at?

[deepio]

I agree, it certainly doesn't take a genius to speculate on the gaming industry.

[THELANDSOFSAND]

yes, i think we have the right to question their actions. EA act as if the public know nothing of gaming or the dirty side of the industry. Not all of us are sheep you know!

[Dick Jones]

Yupp and laughing at us all the way, while BOTH democrates and republicans conspire TOGETHER; as in with each other party's help on how to get more money out of us.

[Dick Jones]

2.4 was directed towards deepio's post for which he not only edited but completely wiped clean and added a different comment entirely.

[deepio]

Yeh sorry about that, I thought you were making a pro bush statement, but you weren't, so I retracted it completely.

[Silver360]

We can question anyone that asks for our money. Anyone t5hat tells us to work overtime so we can give them more money. It isn't about the technology. The system will be good. The games will be good eventually, but when you ask for my money you have to justify it to me!!!!

[JPomper]

Crap, man... EA's crutch is that they're in it for money. They couldn't care less if people are happy with the game, just that they purchase it.

[THELANDSOFSAND]

Actually EA are having huge problems developing games for the PS3. All the 360 games currently run faster and look better-

"EA brought its gorgeous new racer by the IGN office Wednesday, and it took no time for PS3 editor Chris Roper to write up a massive three-page preview on Need for Speed Carbon. I gave the 360 version a go and was impressed with the three different car classes: muscle, exotic and "tuner" cars, which are pimped-out Civics, as Roper puts it. We saw a quick tease of the PS3 version and came away with one quick conclusion: NFSC does not look very hot on the PS3 right now. Still, there's plenty of time before this baby ships and we expect it to be on par with the 360 version."

It's the same for Madden 360!

In reference to sony:
"These guys aren't dumb."

No, they pay you a lot to pretend it's all going well, don't they Mr.Brown?

[achira]

your comment is a joke ! no source, no proof, no sense, not true. should i say more ? look at cod3, its has better graphics on the ps3. you are talking obviously bs.

[shotty]

Why would he lie. Archira are you living in denial. Face the truth for once. Xbox 360 doesn't fastforward or rewind MP3s that's a fact but maybe in the future we can. The PS3 looks like crap compared to the xbox 360, that might change in the future it might not. The ps3 right now is in the same situation as blu-ray when the ps3 launches. There will be a product that looks better and is far cheaper. Sure the PS3 looks good on paper just how Blu-ray looks good on paper with a theorectical capacity of 50GB. The thing is life is real and not theorectical, HD-DVD looks significantly better that Blu-ray and is also half the price of blu-ray. I have a feeling the same for the Xbox 360.

Everyone check out major nelsons podcast this week. It is really good and talks about blu-ray and hd-dvd. Really really informative and makes a lot of sense. Majornelson.com is the site,

[THELANDSOFSAND]

http://xbox360.ign.com/arti...

go read achira, its about halfway down the page. The madden preview also says this.

I don't need to lie about how crappy the PS3 is looking. It's obvious to everyone but the blind fanboys.

COD3 is looking identicle on PS3/360. Plus the 360 version features Live! network support, whereas the PS3 has to use slow-@ss developer servers because sony won't offer unified online service. PS3 will LAGGGGGGGGG!

[achira]

"why would he lie" ? we know why.
hd-dvd better than blue ray ? you know thats not true (you biased reviews dont say anything). but blue ray films are chaeper than hd-dvd.
"ps3 looks like crap compared to the xbox360" ? what a joke its the other way around, you know it. the only who cant face the trurh are you. when someone says something good about the ps3, then sony pays them. but you know thats the other way araound. you know ms pays a lot money that ppl say bad things about the ps3 and sony.

[THELANDSOFSAND]

ummm. no

nobody has to pay anybody anything to say bad stuff about the PS3. its a struggle to find something good to say!

[ASTAROTH]

To all the 360 fans saying that microsoft is interested in gamers not like sony which is only interested in MONEY. Dumb guys this is business, no one really cares about gamers. They only cares about our money. Its obbious that EA has respect for SONY, they had make their fortune with the PS2. They are not loyal to anyone (LAND OF SAND). Theyre only making money out of old franchises. They bougth the competition. Theyre arrogant as hell. In my opinion EA is the worst and most oportunist video game company out there. As they said this is bussines, they dont even care about us. They said something that I agrre with. They are looking to the biggest user base and in this area the 360 has an advantage rigth now. So as always expect great things from EA to the 360 and crappy ports( money making oriented) to the PS3. This is simple, this is business you all retarded fans who come to blame one to another.

[deepio]

You're right, Microsoft do put sales ahead of anything else just like any business should. BUT, you tell me the last time Sony actually did anything based on the feedback from its customers? At least Microsoft seem to be doing just that. Just look at the 360 Dashboard changes recently made. Microsoft are a company that like user and community feedback, it's ever present with the majority of their software and services. I'll be interested to see how often Sony will be making changes to their online service based on customer response!

[ACE]

you took the words out of my mouth....

spot on mate.........

sony dont care about there sony droid fans lol

[ASTAROTH]

About what you said. Sony did consult its consummers via a poll, or survey wathever you prefer to name it. It was made via the PLAYSTATION UNDERGROUND members. I complete the poll, but that doent mean Sony is interested in my opinion. In the end they give S##t about my opinion. The same goes to Microsoft. Dont be so Irrational trying to defend a company that the only thing that matters to all of them is MONEY.About the dashboar changes, Microsoft knows the online and computer market better than anyone so keep improving on that cause they know its their strong selling point in the next gen. That is a Business strategy that I give the credit to them. It worked with the original Xbox, so they are sure it is going to work for the 360.

[deepio]

Whether Microsoft improved their dashboard because they know their online service is a key selling point is beside the point. The did it based on customer feedback which is an example of customer focus we have yet to see from Sony. An playstation underground members poll is hardly an example of this, as you say.

Yes, Businesses are in it for the money, but it isn't that simple, that's a rather shortsighted view of a businesses goals. Sure, Microsoft are no saints, hell I've sworn at Bill quite a few times when I've got the blue screen of death, but personally I feel like I'm goin to get more from them when something goes wrong or there's something I don't like than I would from Sony. When my PS2 broke, I had a b1tch of a time trying to get a replacement, it took forever. My 360 was back to me within a week.

[TheXgamerLive]

It's a strugle now to find anything at all to say that's good about the ps3. I'm tired of hearing crap about this system that's not even out yet and so far wont be able to come out in it's current state. It's crap, it's bottleneck 3 it's unplayable.

[USMChardcharger]

well i always thought that EA supported the PS2 better than the original xbox.
and he backed that up saying they go with the biggest installed base.

now we are seeing them do more for M$.

EA is clearly about money and not much more.

(on a side note, i can't help but like this guy though...seems honest and motivated for games)

[The Real Deal]

This is something I have been saying for over a month now. Game Developers go where the money is. Gamers go where the games are. Microsoft being first to market and having a 7 to 10 million consumer lead will get them the best games over the next year. Every developer wants a piece of that pie. On top of that the xbox 360 is easier and cheaper to develope for. That makes for happy Developers. So not only are they making games for a system with the largest install base starting in 2007 but its the cheapest to program for and the easiest. I'm not saying that Microsoft is a sure win in the next gen. But the odds are heavily in their favor this time around. Sony has a major uphill battle. More expensive system to buy, smaller install base, harder to develope for, and more expensive to develope for. Will all this be worth the price of admission? We will see. But its unlikely with Sony saying it will take 3 to 4 years to see the potential. Hmmmmm

[gamerriffic]

what a good interview, hardly seen that the interviewed person gives a whole essay with every question that is asked. good find.

[The Real Deal]

Senior analyst P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research has published a new note estimating that Microsoft will sell greater-than-anticipated amounts of its Xbox 360 console, eclipsing even the company's own sales estimates. According to McNealy, the system will sell 6 million units by the end of June 2006, and from 10 to 12 million by the end of the year.

[shoota33]

to bad xbox have not even sold 5 million units and its almost the end of july