New EA CEO says video games are "boring"

According to EA chief executive John Riccitiello, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, "We're boring people to death and making games that are harder and harder to play."

Riccitiello became CEO at EA in April in his return to the game maker. EA's former chief operating officer had left the company in 2004 to help found Elevation Partners, a media and entertainment buyout firm.

The video game executive criticized the industry for rolling out sequels to new games that add little from the previous version.

"For the most part, the industry has been rinse-and-repeat," he was quoted as saying. "There's been lots of product that looked like last year's product, that looked a lot like the year before."

At a time when both the XBox 360 and PS3 are losing sales, apparently at the expense of the Nintendo Wii, Riccitiello's comments seem dead on. While the Microsoft and Sony consoles have the advantage in technology and established titles, the Wii seems to be thriving on something completely different. It's fun.

Source: Reuters

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 9 Jul 2007 9:32

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28 comments

jinggoy

Nothing is original anymore!!

9.7.2007 09:56 #1

ZippyDSM

ZOMG!!! thats because you morons at the top approve these short sighted projects that are released buggy and under deved, my god give the man a cookie....

9.7.2007 10:02 #2

olavinto

Quote:Nothing is original anymore!!
Exactly what I think also. Now it's very rare to see a game that brings something new to it's genre. New RTS games for example are very similar to and rarely there's one really exiting and addictive to play. You may play it, like it very much and it can be very good in almost everything but all it really does is update graphics and other stuff that has already been made before. Units may look different and so on but that's it. Usually if a new game is good it's because of it's story not new and exiting features.

Blizzard is one of the best developers and Warcraft III had a good story but not that much anything else that was new to the genre. Half-Life 2 was very good because it had an interesting story but it really didn't bring anything new to the genre. Halo was very good game but did it introduce any really new features? It had an interesting story. Max Payne games are maybe the best games that I know: the first game introduced some new features and a very good story. The sequel did what a good sequel should do: it fixed almost all the problems of the first game and had a good story.

Oskari Lavinto
� http://www.olavinto.net

9.7.2007 10:32 #3

champ2131

The word "boring" was taken out of context...a typical way to stir things up.....

9.7.2007 10:32 #4

gallagher

EA is a major culprit behind this. I loved Microsoft's XSN sports titles, but EA then bought the rights to many of the professional sports and XSN vanished. EA continues to issue new games each year when all they should do is perhaps update the rosters. Games could be so cooler if they would just reissue them perhaps every 3 years--not this worthless new game trash every year.

Besides, I never liked EA anyway. They had to monopolize the sports titles to get business. Bad as Apple and Microsoft have been.

Look at Guitar Hero II. They should be selling new songs for it, not issuing a new disc every single year. Focus on quality, not quantity.

9.7.2007 10:36 #5

akaangus

Isn't this the same company that has released, in just TWO YEARS, all for money...

The Sims 2

The Sims 2 University

The Sims 2 Nightlife

The Sims 2 Open for Business

The Sims 2 Pets

The Sims 2 Seasons

The Sims 2 Bon Voyage (Soon)

The Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack

The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff

The Sims 2 Glamour Life Pack

The Sims 2 Happy Holiday Pack

The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff

The Sims 2 H+M Fashion Stuff

Go shove it up your ass, EA

9.7.2007 10:40 #6

newcloud

the only games i think are boring are EA games
there good for half an hour then there shit
so i stop buying them i HATE EA games

9.7.2007 11:13 #7

spydah

Originally posted by akaangus:Isn't this the same company that has released, in just TWO YEARS, all for money...

The Sims 2

The Sims 2 University

The Sims 2 Nightlife

The Sims 2 Open for Business

The Sims 2 Pets

The Sims 2 Seasons

The Sims 2 Bon Voyage (Soon)

The Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack

The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff

The Sims 2 Glamour Life Pack

The Sims 2 Happy Holiday Pack

The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff

The Sims 2 H+M Fashion Stuff

Go shove it up your ass, EA

It doesnt stop there. Look at Madden all before they upgraded to the 360 level and even that also. EA has no more creativity left in them. They will keep pushing poor quality games out that no normal person will keep very long unless they are a collector. They care more about quantity then quality and fun. Sooner or later they will understand they people want to enjoy a game and have fun rather then seen 20miles around a damn stadium.

9.7.2007 11:20 #8

vinny13

Look at Need for Speed. Got a little plain, so they made underground... and once again, plain. All downhill after Underground 2. Most Wanted is ok, but it lost a lot of creativity in customization, and then Carbon was even worse! Worst $60 I've ever spent!

9.7.2007 11:26 #9

vurbal

You guys did read the part where it says he left in 2004 and just came back this April, right? IOW he's agreeing with you.

9.7.2007 11:43 #10

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by vurbal:You guys did read the part where it says he left in 2004 and just came back this April, right? IOW he's agreeing with you.yes he is,however they tend to say things they never do,the whole industry is caught up in short sighted franchises and projects.

9.7.2007 11:47 #11

scott2k7

he may say that but the games will keep coming out there mostly boring lol even though he thinks that he will just scam ya a little bit more

9.7.2007 12:12 #12

vurbal

Okay. I guess I'll have to bow to the psychics on this one. I'm not arguing the point. Only time will tell.

9.7.2007 12:27 #13

scott2k7

they will bring out sims 3 soon then all the addons i u bought them itt would be like $300 lol

9.7.2007 12:29 #14

duckNrun

Hey here's a new idea, it might have a niche market but then gamers' machines ARE a niche market and they sell...

The Game? DIE-or-RIAA!

WAY too many jokes and ideas to be made out of that title. I'll leave the rest to you guys! lol

;-)

9.7.2007 12:49 #15

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by duckNrun:Hey here's a new idea, it might have a niche market but then gamers' machines ARE a niche market and they sell...

The Game? DIE-or-RIAA!

WAY too many jokes and ideas to be made out of that title. I'll leave the rest to you guys! lol

;-)mmmmm more like R.I.A.A or D.I.E (Download It Everyone)

9.7.2007 12:55 #16

duckNrun

But if it's that way then the play on the way the words sounds isn't the same. lol

9.7.2007 13:02 #17

bicuspid

Yeah, of course what he is saying is redundant, but hey, at least the guy is actually acknowledging it! Perhaps it is just to get on the good side of gamers and build hope for more sales; but, maybe a top exec is finally seeing that the gamers weren't just complaining, they were actually right. EA has put out mediocre games since 96 (as far as I'm concerned), maybe they can help rejuvenate the market and edge other companies to produce worthwhile games again.

The gaming community has been mostly dead to me for a while, trying to be an optimist for once haha.

9.7.2007 13:28 #18

rosedog

Wanna talk about rushed games, NFS:Carbon... BORING! Most Wanted is still better than that game.

Madden games? Every year, nah, pass.

9.7.2007 13:35 #19

spydah

Originally posted by rosedog:Wanna talk about rushed games, NFS:Carbon... BORING! Most Wanted is still better than that game.

Madden games? Every year, nah, pass.
What EA needs to do is relinquish the damn football game license and let other companies compete on that market and drive the creativity up. Its sad they choose to take away our opinions as customers on what we can buy as far as football games are concerned for the poopie madden series thats just getting worst with better looking stadiums and 20mile sights to see out side the stadium. All i can say is ALL PRO FOOTBALL 2K8!!!!

9.7.2007 13:49 #20

spydah

Oh i meant to mention Live also. Complete crap!!! 2k7 Basketball best B-Ball game ever!!!

9.7.2007 13:50 #21

Xplorer4

I cant see the fuss on NFS Most Wanted and Carbon. Most Wanted ventured into the free roam capability. Maybe SRS and Midnight Club series went there first but it was something new in the NFS series. Carbon was the first NFS game to venture away from being focused on tuners and super cars and allow you to venture into Muscle Car Racing.

Sure some customization options were lsot which sucked, but I believe most of the games being released on PS2/Xbos these days are maxing out the capacity of the discs so the programmers had to sacrifice some things in order to bring new things to the game, and bug fix things

9.7.2007 14:41 #22

spydah

Originally posted by Xplorer4:I cant see the fuss on NFS Most Wanted and Carbon. Most Wanted ventured into the free roam capability. Maybe SRS and Midnight Club series went there first but it was something new in the NFS series. Carbon was the first NFS game to venture away from being focused on tuners and super cars and allow you to venture into Muscle Car Racing.

Sure some customization options were lsot which sucked, but I believe most of the games being released on PS2/Xbos these days are maxing out the capacity of the discs so the programmers had to sacrifice some things in order to bring new things to the game, and bug fix thingsI love Most Wanted but the glitches suck the most about that game. EA did steal from Midnight Club on both games of Most wanted and Carbon with the free roam and muscle cars in so forth. EA needs to be consistent and need to build from Most Wanted with that series. I hope they dont screw up Need for speed Pro Street.

9.7.2007 14:58 #23

sandeep14

they need to improve FIFA and NBA; gameplay-wise.

10.7.2007 02:34 #24

ChromeMud

Quote:"New EA CEO says video games are "boring""Yeah,well he would say that while he's sipping champaign on his
luxury yacht in the Caribbean while a supermodel gives
him a good...!

10.7.2007 04:41 #25

BcMester

Originally posted by Xplorer4:I cant see the fuss on NFS Most Wanted and Carbon. Most Wanted ventured into the free roam capability. Maybe SRS and Midnight Club series went there first but it was something new in the NFS series. Carbon was the first NFS game to venture away from being focused on tuners and super cars and allow you to venture into Muscle Car Racing.

Sure some customization options were lsot which sucked, but I believe most of the games being released on PS2/Xbos these days are maxing out the capacity of the discs so the programmers had to sacrifice some things in order to bring new things to the game, and bug fix thingsFree roaming was introduced in Underground 2, and there were quite a few muscle cars in the game as well. And removing the variety of customization options of UG2 from the new games was the single biggest mistake NFS had to suffer so far. I actually think that MW and Carbon didn't bring ANYTHING new to NFS, but on the contrary: they got worse and worse - BORING. The EA man is right.

Too bad you can't return PC games once the box is opened.

10.7.2007 09:28 #26

ZippyDSM

Quote:Originally posted by Xplorer4:I cant see the fuss on NFS Most Wanted and Carbon. Most Wanted ventured into the free roam capability. Maybe SRS and Midnight Club series went there first but it was something new in the NFS series. Carbon was the first NFS game to venture away from being focused on tuners and super cars and allow you to venture into Muscle Car Racing.

Sure some customization options were lsot which sucked, but I believe most of the games being released on PS2/Xbos these days are maxing out the capacity of the discs so the programmers had to sacrifice some things in order to bring new things to the game, and bug fix thingsFree roaming was introduced in Underground 2, and there were quite a few muscle cars in the game as well. And removing the variety of customization options of UG2 from the new games was the single biggest mistake NFS had to suffer so far. I actually think that MW and Carbon didn't bring ANYTHING new to NFS, but on the contrary: they got worse and worse - BORING. The EA man is right.

Too bad you can't return PC games once the box is opened.and thanks to the anti consumer activities of the industry you cant even take them to EB/GS and sale them used,no you can only do it online and a few local shops that are not run by the industry....

10.7.2007 09:34 #27

borhan9

For the most part EA makes good decent games but only when they stick with sports i love their sport based games.

16.7.2007 23:31 #28

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