EA Calls Gaming Recessing A "Blessing"

Reposted from Kotaku

Like many companies, Electronic Arts is having a rough time. Earlier this month, EA exec John Riccitiello called the lower than expected earnings "a clear disappointment," announcing additional, extended layoffs.

The impact of the cratering global economy on the game industry is not a bad thing necessarily says Riccitiello. It is a "blessing." Hard times means we'll see less "junk" on the store shelves.

"A lot of the riff-raff is going to go bankrupt," he said. "Our company was too big for the current economic environment," he also stated, "and it was probably slowing us down."

He also went on to talk how sequels can be innovative, the viability of PC gaming and outsourcing. More in the links below.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/TE9CknYrJkg/ea-calls-gaming-recessing-a-blessing

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EA Mythic next for job losses

QA and customer service staff set to go, says report.

Following the dropping of Pandemic Brisbane, it looks like the next EA studio in line for job cuts is Warhammer Online dev EA Mythic.

Click here to read the full article:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=206209?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS

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Warhammer: Age of Reckoning goes gold

EA firing up servers on September 18.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is all finished and on course for the big September kick-off. Click here to read the full article

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=196008?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS

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WoW is a Dirty Word

Most of the Rock, Paper, Shotgun guys recently posted their thoughts on the Warhammer Online closed beta; they were descended upon by WAR supporters (some rabid, some a little more even-tempered) for drawing more comparisons between WoW and WAR. After this little display of MMO chest thumping, Alec Meer put up a thoughtful piece on why it is that WoW has become a dirty word, both in and out of the industry, and why people are so quick to leap to vociferous defense of their games:

MMOs aren't like other games. They're closer to a lifestyle choice, for a lot of people defining how their spare time is spent, how their lives are lived. So if you criticise the game, you criticise the player. God knows there are plenty of non-MMO games that people treat as though they're bound to their very souls - witness the pile-on for Eurogamer's MGS4 review, or even the outrage about various RPS writers being down on Stalker: Clear Sky - but it's even worse with MMOs. Telling a WAR player that his game is similar to WoW is like telling a goth that he's emo. No-one wants to be told they're not unique and interesting, to be dismissed as a stereotype they're not.

WAR is not WoW. But it is a lot like it in a number of crucial ways, and for one essential reason: money. I suspect Mythic and EA aren't too concerned about the comparison themselves - they might disagree with the sweeping generalisation, but if they didn't want to be compared they would have gone for an entirely different interface and art approach. Saying WAR is like WoW is not the same as saying it's a bad or a lazy game, but unfortunately there are guys who do intentionally make the comparison unfavourably, and that's perhaps understandably made a lot of WAR fans very touchy.

Personally, I'm fascinated by the fan communities generated by MMOs, popular ones and not -- not being much of an MMO player, I find 'people watching' to be more entertaining than the game in a lot of cases. I don't have the patience to wade through the original comment thread, but I'm pretty sure I could rattle off the general reaction with little prompting. Meer's thoughts, however, are deserving of a read.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/385290879/wow-is-a-dirty-word

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Warhammer Online cinematic trailer

[reposted from joystiq]

There's a war going on. No, we're not talking about the one between the Armies of Order and the Armies of Destruction depicted in the recently released cinematic trailer for EA's upcoming MMO Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Nope, we're talking about the war being waged on blogs and in forums over which fantasy MMO-themed video is better: this one or the Wrath of the Lich King opening. Since it's a war, you all have to watch both and pick a side. Apathy is not a choice!

Download it in high-def from BigDownload at http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/warhammer-online-cinematic-trailer/

http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/371313390/

Warhammer Online open beta starts Sept. 7

[reposted from Joystiq]

If you can't wait to get your hands on Warhammer Online, EA announced today that an open beta for the game will kick off Sept. 7, giving you a whole 11 days to play before the general populace sullies it on Sept. 18.

So, how do you get in? Just pre-order the game with one of EA's "select retail partners." (We don't know who they are yet, but even money says GameStop is one of them.) Also, those who are already in the closed beta will automagically be invited. So, are you getting in on the ground floor? Or have you been burned one too many times by start-up MMOs?

http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/368201864/

WAR to be waged on Sept. 18

[reposted from joystiq]

We were a bit concerned when Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (or WAR, on the streets) had its release date changed from the comfortingly specific "Sept. 23" to the vague and unsettling "Sept. 08." Little did we know, that change was just a chrysalis from which a new, just as specific but even earlier date could emerge: Sept. 18.

EA would also like you to start referring to Sept. 18 as the "Day of Reckoning," and that's fine, if you want to help drum up some extra interest among friends or family. Just do us a favor and put the kibosh on that when you go out into public, OK?

http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/357430320/

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EA Confirms Next KOTOR Is MMO

[Reposted from Kotaku]

As EA confirmed today, the next Knights of the Old Republic is going to be a MMO. From Portfolio.com: "We've got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development," said Riccitiello. The first title, based on the Warhammer property, will launch soon. "And the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it."
Does Riccitiello mean the oft rumored Knights of the Old Republic Online? "Yes," he said.
Watch out World of Warcraft, you just might have some serious competition here.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/338459353/yep-next-kotor-is-mmo

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2K's First MMO: Champions Online

[reposted from Kotaku]

City of Heroes developer Cryptic Studios have found a publisher for their next superhero MMO, Champions Online - none other than 2K Games. The MMO, in development for the Xbox 360 and PC (though Microsoft hasn't approved the concept yet), will mark 2K's first entry into the MMO market.

"2K Games is a terrific publishing partner for Champions Online," said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. "Cryptic is proud that Champions Online will be 2K's first MMO title and we look forward to working together towards a tremendous launch next year."

An interesting move on the part of Take-Two's publishing arm, delving into this new industry segment while TT is still being eyed like a giant cartoon roast chicken by EA. I suppose it doesn't hurt to baste every now and then.


NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that it will be the North American and international publisher for Cryptic Studios'™ highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) action game, Champions Online™, being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft* and Games for Windows®. Champions Online is scheduled for release in spring of 2009.

"2K Games is excited to work with such a talented group as Cryptic Studios," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Given their stellar pedigree and amazing grasp of the MMO genre, we are confident that Champions Online will deliver an innovative and exciting action MMO experience to gamers."

Cryptic Studios, based in Los Gatos, CA and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games for Windows PC and current generation systems. As an independent, employee-owned company, Cryptic is committed to delivering high quality, innovative cross platform MMO gameplay. Cryptic is best known as the creator of the award-winning City of Heroes® and City of Villains™ MMO titles. Based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG, Champions Online will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe.

"2K Games is a terrific publishing partner for Champions Online," said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. "Cryptic is proud that Champions Online will be 2K's first MMO title and we look forward to working together towards a tremendous launch next year."


Champions Online is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, log onto www.champions-online.com

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/331839172/2ks-first-mmo-+-champions-online

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Warhammer Not Expected to Rival World of Warcraft

[reposted from Joystiq]

Serving as the CEO for a high-profile game publisher means having responsibilities beyond just attending the occasional meeting or PR function. Many gaming industry executives also find themselves moonlighting as Flavor Flav-esque hype men (and women) for their company's blockbuster releases. Then again, some leaders take a different approaching to promoting their big titles, replacing boisterous claims with cautious, realistic optimism. Then there's a third group of leaders, who etch their upcoming games into their flesh.

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello fits neatly into group number two, as his comments to a group of investors concerning EA Mythic's upcoming Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning demonstrates. Riccitiello plainly stated that "Warhammer Online [will be] a strong entry in the MMORPG space," but will not "rival WoW." We appreciate Riccitiello's candor, but with Warhammer out of the running, we're beginning to wonder what it will take for a title to knock Blizzard's billion-dollar baby from its position atop the crest of the MMO dogpile.

http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/317600278/

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EA Online Reaching For 60% of Asia in 5 Years

[reposted from Joystiq]

After showing considerable interest in conquering Asia, Electronic Arts has been noticeably mum of late regarding its plans for the region, lurking like a rogue in the shadows, as if waiting to club the market on the back of the head with a fat bag of cash. Now EA has admitted as much, with EA Asia's vice president Chris Thompson telling Reuters that the company looks for the region to comprise some 15 to 20 percent of its total business by 2012. Compare this to the meager 5 percent of EA's wallet it's responsible for today. Key to this expected growth is the Asian market's love affair with playing games online. According to Thompson, while online gaming represents a respectable 10-15 percent of the company's Asian footprint today, "five years from now, that the online portion of our business could be representing somewhere plus or minus around 60 pct of our business." Mama always said if you're gonna set a goal, make it lofty, though with Hellgate: London finding some rare success in Korea and Warhammer Online waiting in the wings, maybe there's method to EA's infatuation with Asia after all.

http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/314631210/

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Sims Franchise To (Re)Explore, Virtual Worlds?

[from Kotaku]

In a somewhat bizarre interview with The Times Online, Nancy Smith (head of the Sims division at EA) said that " in light of the popularity of virtual worlds ... the Sims may soon become a multi-player game." The article fails to mention the failed experiment of The Sims Online, later rebranded to "EA-Land" and scheduled for closure in August. But Smith talks of potential new (and old) modes for online play:

Ms Smith was adamant, however, that The Sims would not break wholly with its past, and would continue to require players to buy and install software on their machines before being able to play. Some virtual worlds, such as Club Penguin and Habbo Hotel, can be played entirely within a web browser ....

The Sims franchise would also continue to explore new revenue models that have become associated with virtual worlds, she said, including sponsorship and the sale of 'virtual goods', as on the fashion-focused virtual world for teens, Stardoll.com.

It's a really odd interview in light of the online element that already fell flat on its face; maybe second time will be the charm for the Sims?

The Sims prepare for a sociable future [The Times via Worlds In Motion]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/306946984/sims-franchise-to-explore-uh-virtual-worlds

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Business Models

You may want to head on over to this Gamasutra feature by Paul Hyman where the online game market has a battle raging between subscription-based and alternative microtransaction-related business models. Gamasutra examines the matchup with SOE's John Smedley, Three Rings' Daniel James and EA Mythic's Mark Jacobs.