EA CEO: Console transition is over

John Riccitiello predicts 200 million current-gen systems sold by 2013, says merger and acquisition opportunities are drying up.

Happy days are here again for the game industry, according to Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello. In a presentation to the Reuters Media Summit in New York yesterday, Riccitiello said the "longest, hardest transition in the history of the industry" was finally over, according to a report from the wire news service.

"Last Friday marked one of those points where you can say something's changed," he was quoted as saying. "Around the world, based on the data I've got, it was pretty clear that the transition is now over."

Last Friday was Black Friday in the US, the day after Thanksgiving and the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Both Nintendo and Microsoft have touted their sales figures for that week, with the former selling 1 million systems between the DS and Wii, and the latter moving more than 310,000 Xbox 360s. While Sony hasn't put an exact number on its sales for the week, it did say that PlayStation 3 sales had tripled.

Riccitiello also said the PS3's performance of late has convinced him that this console generation will be a "three-horse race," saying it didn't always look like the PS3 would be able to compete with the Xbox 360 and the Wii.

"I think from this point, pleasantly for me, it's sort of fat city in the game industry," Riccitiello said, predicting that current-generation console sales would hit the 200 million mark in 2012 or 2013.

The EA CEO also addressed the issue of mergers and acquisitions in the industry. Having announced the $855 million purchase of BioWare-Pandemic last month, Riccitiello was not bullish on further consolidation, either by his company or others in the industry.

"Is it ripe or has it already been picked? I would argue that it's been largely picked," Riccitiello said. "That doesn't mean it's done. I think there will be more consolidation to come. But let's just say a lot has already happened."

337 Comments

  • cas11123

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:52 am PT

    "Pc only have 2 types of online game genre. Shooters and MMORPG's, Xbox have all Multiplayer games available for online gameplay."

    @ bosspower360: Sorry buddy, but your argument is completely flawed. First of all, you forgot to add RTS games to that list as well. Second, that's pretty much all the games that matter for online play and guess what.. they're better on PC!

    But that's not all! We also get get voice chat, video chat, instant messaging, and I can challenge my friends online as well. We can even downlaod Movie rentals in HD format.. hell we can DL them for free if we wanted to.. and we don't have to pay 50$ a year for it either.

    As Pilch_R_eD has so graciously pointed out, we also get to play all those classic games you mentioned *for FREE*, LONG before xbox or the concept online console play even existed. But that's not all, I can play my 1994 copy of System Shock or 1993 version of Doom on my shiny new computer. In fact, I can play ALL of my old games on my new PC! That's right, I don't have to buy them all over again on xbox live to play them!

    As for who has more variety.. PC or xbox.. do I even need to go there? I'm sorry but consoles nowadays are just wannabe PC's. Pretty much everything you described can be found on PC and better. I own a 360 (and many consoles before it), and it doesn't compare to a PC.

    Oh and I forgot to mention that not only are our games better.. but they're cheaper too AND they'll carry over to my next PC upgrade, unlike your xbox games. Have fun buying Halo on xbox live for your xbox1080.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    Also the PC has emulation of all the old games from Atari systems, all the sega systems, NES, SNES, Gameboy, GBC, GBA, N64 and PSO. Most of such have online capability to play all those old games online multiplayer. So you get them all for free, and play them singleplayer and multiplayer for free too. Sorry Bosspower360, your argument against PC lack of variation is PWND. Besides, PC multiplayer is heaps better especially for things like shooters. Last i heard you guys got up to 16 players, maybe 32 now im not sure. Weve had up to 64 and higher even in some other games for quite a long long time. for *ef are ee ee* = "F.R.E.E"

  • scrymonster

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    PC On-Line games: Shooters just like the ones you mentioned for game consoles, MMORPGs of which there are many and various, Action-Adventure games such as Dungeon Siege, TitanQuest or Neverwinter Nights, Boardgames of just about every type from Scrabble to Manopoly, Racing games, Sports, and the two genres which just don't exist on game consolues...
    Flight simulators such as IL-2
    and
    RTS....StarCraft, TotalWar series, Age of Empires and others
    really? no game veriety? really?

  • Bosspower360

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 4:33 pm PT

    people don't make sense when talkin about game consoles. Sony has the better build? So what i'm not trying to live in a Playstation 3. I want better Games and a better Network. Xbox Live is a Ripoff? 50 dollars 4 13 months. now with that 50 dollars i get voice chat, video chat, instant messaging, and i can challenge my firends online. we can even downlaod Movie rentals in HD format. if it was a garbage as the Playstation Network 50 dollars would be too much. But we have way more games available in our store than the Playstation Network. and the variety of games we can play online is better than PC. Pc only have 2 types of online game genre. Shooters and MMORPG's, Xbox have all Multiplayer games available for online gameplay. Super Nintendo Classics like Contra and Street fighter 2, Neo Geo Classics like Fatal Fury Special and soon Samurai Showdown 2, Classic arcade games like Mortal Kombat, Double Dragon, and Ninja Turtles Arcade, Sega Gemesis Classics Like Streets of Rage 2 And Golden Axe can only be played online thru XBOX LIVE. 50 Dollars is a bargain. PC Let's See ur List of Game Variety, u will name all shooters no action games, PS3 i already kno ur online game pale in comparison. u only have 3 games worth downloading Tekken 5 online, Drakes Uncharted, and Warhawk. there's no comparison between the 3.

  • Bosspower360

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    Ianista i'm glad u understand what i am trying 2 say. those fanboys weren't saying anything about who came out first when the ps1 and ps2 were kicking everybody Butts. now i hear a million and 1 excuses cuz the shoe is on the other foot. Playstation never had a superior 1st party lineup but that was protected by the fact that they had 3rd party exclusives. they were able 2 take their precious time making games like a god of war and a grand tourismo. Now those 3rd party games are on Xbox and now the Xbox 1st party games have protection. all sony can do is make the best games from their own library. But they never had a system selling game. as we are clearly seeing right now.

  • lanista

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 2:35 pm PT

    TriiiM3 - so if the X360 was released a year later then the quality would have been as good as the PS3 - I assume that's what you mean?

    Bosspower360 - I hear you, PS2 fanboys whipped the crap out of the Xbox. Now the boot may be on the other foot. PS2 fanaticism annoyed the hell last gen.

  • AlexFerny

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 3:15 am PT

    360 is not that much better than the PS3 ...
    360 has the better games, but again FPS games like Halo3 SHOULD be played with a mouse not a pad
    BUT 360 also breaks alot more often, I thought I'd never say it - but Sony has the better build quality (and I used to love MS keyboards & mice coz they lasted).
    PS3 is also a hell of alot more expensive, there was no need for Blu-Ray drive, its a waste of money especially since HD DVD is a far better format with no retarded BD+ or region locks.

    If you want multiplayer gaming, but while having crap hardware and being ripped off for being able to play online (XBox Live) - get the XBox

    If you want fun gaming, get the Wii

    If you want to waste your money - get the PS3

    Oh, and PS1/2/3 controllers are the best design ever, XBox pads suck in comparison

  • thunderbone

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:33 pm PT

    If I actually buy a next-gen system, it will likely be a 360. It's more reasonably priced, and has more games that I actually want. And, just like last generation, the controller is better. The 360 controller is vastly superior with better button placement and more stable analog sticks. But, I will say, at least the PS3 finally addressed the issue for braking and accelerating in racing games by making L2 and R2 more like the XBox controller's triggers. Though, the B/C issue still plagues me. I don't care how much "better" the new games are. I still want to play my old favorites. Many of which will never have sequels. I hope in time, the 360 will have the same B/C that the PS2 did with PSX games.

    Another quality I like in the 360 is XBL Arcade. It's just like the biggest draw to the Nintendo Wii for me is the VC and it's games.

  • Bosspower360

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 8:39 pm PT

    Oh so now u Sony boys r talkin PC's. Playstation needs backup go get Crysis, UT3, and Team Fortress 2. C only problem is all these games r coming to the xbox so where's the exclusive game titles. U c internet gaming came out on PC. But 360 made it Mainstream. $50 for 13 months of Flawless Gaming. Pc don't don't have the extensive online Category that Xbox has. Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Fatal Fury, Streets of rage, Golden axe, Mortal Kombat, R u kidding me Sony or Pc can't compete with the xbox lineup of online games. Pacman is online Tetris is online Ninja Turtles is online. PC can't compete which is why xbox is the industry leader. pc only have shooters and RPG's online. but i can't play fatal fury streetfighter Smackdown and whatever else.it's every aspect of competetive gaming that make xbox live Revolutionary. But u boys is 2 busy playing ratchet and clank to realize. I'm not knockin clank it's a fine 1 player platform title but it just can't compete with the heavy hitters of gaming. after 200 price cuts it's finally able 2 b competitive with the xbox. yeah we have the Red light of death but that hasn't stopped sales. and that should tell u sony morons that even though our sytem malfunctions and have no Blu ray player and only display at 720p we r still the industry leader. because we have the best games. Sony is never the first system to come out so that xbox had a one yaer headstart is just an excuse u sony boys came up with to deal with the mass amount of losing u r now seeing. U guys r not even in Second place. The Wii is our toughest competetive and the nintendo boys r not talkin and trashin anybody. but u sony boys run ur mouth sony has come out second everytime they released a system. the saturn came out ahead of the playstation 1. games were Panzer Dragoon, Nights, Virtua fighter 2, and Sony came out and crushed the Saturn. The Sega Dreamcast Came out a whole year ahead of PS2 and had a steady release of games Streetfighter 3 third strike, Soul Calibur, Marvel Vs Capcom 2, Capcom vs Snk, Nba 2k, Ready to Rumble. PS2 came and crushed the dreamcast. So y they can't do it a third time. y r we hearing the excuses of being 1 year ahead. because every one knows Sony is down and down big. and the formula they used the previous generations will not work this time around. This time they will have to earn a hard fought victory if they r 2 win this console war this time. Xbox is not going to run like Sega did. it's Game on and Sony has a lineup 2 compete. Metal gear, Kill zone 2, God of War 3, Gran Tourismo 5, Tekken 6, Final Fantasy 13. All the Marbles R riding on this lineup right here. Vs Ninja Gaiden 2, Bio Shock 2, Gears of War 2, Dead or alive 5, and Too Human. Game on. we'll see who comes out of this with the lead. Multiplatform games don't count, 1 year ahead will not mean anything. Sony Best Vs Microsoft Best in 2008. i hope no one pushes anything back.

  • DDSolar

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:27 pm PT

    TriiiM3

    In my country we use a lot of illegal copys of the games. So we have a theory: MS made high rate failure so that peopl who modified their xbox to read those copies count send them to ms for repairx3

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:12 pm PT

    response to: Bosspower360 So you ment to say, you agree with me.

    ???

  • TriiiM3

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 4:30 pm PT

    Markevens - thank you sir for making a good point...

    Bosspower360 - dude..get your head out of your butt, there is no dominance whatsoever with the 360. Ever think about why the failure rate for the 360 is so high? well thats because they didnt spend enough time on R&D for the system so they could have it out a year b4 the PS3. Sony is smart for developing a system that offers more than 360 could, Blu-ray, remote play, browser, HOME(lobby) service...etc. Now if the 360 and PS3 came out at the same time...

    That would make it a different story...with your BS dominance crap.

  • markevens

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 2:42 pm PT

    Wow, all the comments are directed at other people's comments instead of the article. Of course this article simply state the obvious as everyone in the industry has long refered to the old consols as legacy and new consols as current gen. 360 fanboys need to get real. The PS3 is a very capable machine and just because 360 got a year's head start and Sony bumbled their first year doesn't mean the console is out. Oh, and by the way, revolution in online gaming... PCs have been there done that for over a decade. Ever hear of a little game called World of Warcraft, hmmm. You like your halo3, Crysis whoops it any day. Online shooters, try CS, or BF2, or Team Fortess 2, or UT3. You think XBox life is "revolutionary?" PC have had that kind of service for years, WITHOUT PAYING A CENT! But if you want to be proud to be pimped by Microsoft, go ahead.

  • buruburu

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:48 pm PT

    get on board the REFUBITORY train with xbox 360?
    or the gameless PS3? hmmmmm...

  • lanista

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:39 pm PT

    "The EA CEO also addressed the issue of mergers and acquisitions in the industry. Having announced the $855 million purchase of BioWare-Pandemic last month, Riccitiello was not bullish on further consolidation, either by his company or others in the industry. "Is it ripe or has it already been picked? I would argue that it's been largely picked," Riccitiello said"

    Yeah right.

    I reckon EA's CEO is wrong. I very much predict mergers are NOT over. In fact I'd put money on it.

    Next up? I think there could be an Activision and Vivendi merger. That would make a company bigger than EA.

    Let's wait and see who's right - me or John Riccitiello......??

  • niels200683

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    Gokuja said:

    Also codgin, Sony has the most first party exclusives releasing for their platform i believe. thats what I've read anyway, correct me if I'm wrong. Sure MS may be buying some, but Sony already has them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    That's very... very... very funny...

    Especially since it's a basic fact that in every generation (past & current, so far) - nintendo has had most exclusive titles...

    Not just because they attract third party developers, but because they actually make games themselves... while ps3 / xbox360 both rely on third party developers and bought (which apparantly means rented) software houses... These third parties will always smell opportunities to make more money, resulting in multi-console releases & usually PC releases - wait a year and you've got halo 3, Fable or Devil May Cry 4 on PC - wait another and it's on sale for 5 dollars. - all it takes is patience...

    If you truly want to go for exclusives, buy the only console by a company that also makes games.

    Not that I don't enjoy playing games on Xbox or Playstation - even though I enjoy Halo more on PC (but yeah, it's a shooter - and I've always hated gamepads for shooters)

  • niels200683

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:13 pm PT

    Batosaims said:

    the ps3 wont win this console generation there is no way they can catch up to the 360 or the wii sales beside the fact that most of their triple a titles like tekken 6 and mgs4 will eventually be ported on the 360

    and their half ass sales

    the chances of ps3 winning this console generation are about as good as seeing mario and link on a non nintendo system -------------

    Damn... PS3 is going to win this console generation??? I've played zelda & mario games on the Philips CD-I, you know...

  • dj_b02us

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:55 am PT

    helloooo. atari is one legged, dying, and BEGGING for release. theyre very much buyable as, if nothing else, a brand name to aquire.

  • Bosspower360

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:28 am PT

    Hatieshorror i didn't even want to mention the 200 dollar price cut. i was just talkin from a console abilty standpoint. But since u brought it up, Sony never dropped it's price 1st ever. Now it dropped twice in 1 year. Xbox raised it's price a whole 100 dollars with the Xbox elite. and the halo edition of 360 is still 399, and 2 games come with the xbox now. Forza Motorsports 2 which was nominated for racing game of the year by the way, and marvel ultimate alliance which is the better version of the 2. sony dropped its price twice in 1 year. Goes Back to what i said b4. 360 Dominance.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:04 am PT

    PS3 is way behind in sells and, it took a $200.00 price drop just to get there weekly sells just below that of the Wii and 360. Its still a distant third.

  • Bosspower360

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 9:37 am PT

    I'm reading these post and i see PS3 get a little momentum and people start mouthing off like Sony is doing something. XBOX is still running the show with all our Pc ports, and american RPG's. We're not just running the show we are dominating 2 the point where people didn't think Sony could compete. Dominance so I don't care about the rearview. I'll go with the 360 Exclusives Anyday over Ps3's. Ninja Gaiden 2, Bio Shock 2, Gears of War 2, Against Any Lineup. Don't care about being on pc 8 months after 360 release. my friends list on xbox live which is little or none on wii and ps3 demands that i get the game now. madden leagues, NBA 2k8 league play r only done on 360 with the extensive xbox live network. Ps3 better bring their A game or they won't make it out of 2008. they fighting for survival and Xbox is tryin 2 knock them out. Game on. Xbox Live is getting a New Update that's going to put it light years ahead of the Playstation ******* Network. Keep your Platform Games Clank And Uncharted. We Don't want them. We are a gaming Community. 1 player Platform games R a minority on 360. we want to play only the best 1 player games ever. Devil may cry, Resident evil, Grand theft may be multiplayer 2 accomodate the awesome xbox live community. These People talkin and they have no idea what it's like to be playin a game and then get called into battle by a friend, or get challenged to a race, or get called into the ring to fight Triple H, U see once u r playin ur little Uncharted no one can see u playin that game. where once i'm playing Halo 3 and my friends want to play Smackdown or PGR4 or Virtua Fighter 5, yes that's online 2, i can throw my copy in and defend my undisputed title. Can't do that on Sony or Nintendo. Till u boys catch up with the revolution of online gaming keep ur comments toned down. 360 Run The show and I don't see Sony catching up no matter what gimmick they got. u can giveaway Blu tooths with ur games, keep the Blu-ray, and make all the ! player platform titles u need. WE WILL STILL DOMINATE IN 08 AND BEYOND As the slogan goes. LOL.

  • Gokuja

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 9:04 am PT

    Also codgin, Sony has the most first party exclusives releasing for their platform i believe. thats what I've read anyway, correct me if I'm wrong. Sure MS may be buying some, but Sony already has them.

  • TriiiM3

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 7:39 am PT

    Codgin - How cheap do you want the PS3 to be dude? $400 is a freaking steal already with its Blu-ray drive in it! You people are asking too much sometimes with price drop this and price drop that...if you want something cheap than get a kid system like a Wii, or 360 that will just break a month later.

    Sony is definitely picking up now with the new lowered pricing. I even want a second one just because of its built and quality. Right now I am using my ps3 as much as the 360, only thing I don't like about the 360 is that its freaking LOUD and the fact that it could crap out on me at anytime...Gotta love the RROD! Microsoft is trying to hard to beat out Sony, in the end Sony will win because of the name and the quality they offer(blu-ray drive). 2008 will be different for Sony, bye bye Microsoft.

  • Codgin

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:51 am PT

    Microsoft have bought most of the greatest studios out, thats why they have some amazing exclusives. The PS3 is too soon, in a few years when Blue Ray picks up the pace (After its drop in price), the PS3 may be more attractive. I think the fact it isn't backwards compatible annoys a lot of people as well, every other console is, and it increases said consoles library of games. The Wii is a no brainier for why its successful, it appeals to everyone looking for fun, its something fresh and new, and Nintendo are wizard game makers, ones that Microsoft can't buy

  • potatoesman

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:40 am PT

    impulsive wats your face..
    shut up ?

    games lots of, xbox no ps3 have.

    noob

  • Lord_Alan

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:32 am PT

    "The PS3 is finally becoming what the PS2 was, the place to get all the best games in their best form."

    Like the Orange Box?

  • Duffleman

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:16 am PT

    I own a 360 and a PS3. Until the last couple of weeks my PS3 just sat there gathering dust, while my 360 was being used morning until night, but something tells me that in 2008 my PS3 will be getting a lot more use. Although I haven't used it much, i'm very fond of my PS3. It's well built, quiet, and has a reassuring quality feel about it. At the moment you cannot deny that the 360 has the better games, and the better version of most multi-platform games, but ask most kids to choose between the two, and they'd say PS3. why? because of the brand. You'd be mad to write off the PS3.

  • jogunther

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 2:30 am PT

    We all know Sony will stick with it too the end. Those companies that remain loyal like Square Enix and Insomniac, with Ratchet and FFXIII, they will get my money for sure. If not just for being loyal and copping out on having to put in a lil more effort. You can really tell these games are a breed apart.

  • Anamosa41

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 11:31 pm PT

    You would be wise not to say that just yet batosaims. It's too early to tell.

  • batosaims

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 11:04 pm PT

    btw if u look at the sales by the end of 2006 the 360 had sold over 9 million units

    with the ps3 at the end of the year it hasnt even scratched 6 million

  • batosaims

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:59 pm PT

    the ps3 wont win this console generation there is no way they can catch up to the 360 or the wii sales beside the fact that most of their triple a titles like tekken 6 and mgs4 will eventually be ported on the 360

    and their half ass sales

    the chances of ps3 winning this console generation are about as good as seeing mario and link on a non nintendo system

  • Acidtwist

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:36 pm PT

    Boycott

  • ThickFreak

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 8:33 pm PT

    Don't go to any CNet website on Monday, including GameSpot!! Get Jeff back!!!

  • indysurfn

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 7:07 pm PT

    Very interesting article about the PS4 Yes I meant to say PS4 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/18/will-sony-ever-make-playstation-4/

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 6:39 pm PT

    Without a doubt the PS3 is gonna rock next year. If the system can sell almost 7 million systems in 1 year without any 'halo-esq' games, imagine what it's gonna do when all the franchise games come out (and those other gems that are gonna rock: BLP and white knight). Don't forget that 2 final fantasy 13 games are going to come out. Sucks that japan will get those first.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 5:43 pm PT

    So what if X360 games are ported to the PC? Those who buy X360 ports on PC would likely never own a console anyway, and some people don't want to use a PC for games. And it's laughable to think that the PS3 can catch up the X360 or Wii, considering that MGS4 and FF13 has been delayed until next year, Ratchet & Clank has been suffering in sales, and let's not forget the flop Lair is. And FYI UT3 is a PC port, soon to be released on X360. It's not a exclusive.

  • CameronFarmer

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    wow impulsivity...just wow, any other bull you wanna spread that makes no sense?

  • impulsivity83

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 3:19 pm PT

    Is it just me or are other people REALLY happy with their PS3 lately? Ever since the Halo 3 Launch all the good games with the SOLE exception of Mass Effect and Super Mario Galaxy have been all either multi console or all PS3 all the time. I dropped over 800 dollars on Sony stuff in the past week already between 5 awesome PS3 games (3 of which were exclusives, Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted which was AMAZING, and of course a UT3 preorder from amazon along with assassins creed and rock band) and the has become awesome over time new PSP along with games.

    The PS3 is finally becoming what the PS2 was, the place to get all the best games in their best form. This will be even more true next year as all the big Q1 games for PS3 hit. Xbox 360 is becoming Xbox 1 in that they get a few American RPGs that I either have to suffer through on Xbox or wait a bit for a PC port (jade empire, KOTOR series, FABLE, then and Mass effect now) and a very few timed exclusives like Halo 3 or Viva Pinata which don't go to the PC for a year or so. If you go to Frys you can use 400 dollars to put together a MUCH better Core 2 duo system with a little inginuity and some mail in rebates that will smoke the 360 in performance then play all the 360s best that way if not today then less then a year from now. Thats why I am far more bullish on Wii and PS3. You can't play uncharted, heavenly sword and ratchet and clank (before you write it off as childish try it, its that special kind of fun usually only Nintendo games get to) on the PC just like you can't play smash bros if it ever comes out and super mario galaxy on windows.

    As a bonus the PS3, Wii, and a 400 dollar computer you can build yourself come with better gameplay and no 33% failure rate.

    EA is right in saying the PS3 turned things around, after this coming 4 months I think most people will see that it can not only turn it around but win this generation with the 100 million+ sales the PS1 and 2 both racked up.

  • IIBlackknightII

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    I think EA thinks a lot of future happenings than the present happenings.That's why i guess EA has become careless in patches of their games,etc i think so.Well, I hope EA could improve with their patches of the games,etc in the future rather thinking of consoles like ps3, XBox 360,etc.

  • marco0798

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    LMFAO blizzard aint ever gonn be sold to no-one they are pulling sumthing like £80million+ worldwide from WoW alone nevermind the other great games they make. only company i can see even able to make an offer would be Microsoft.

  • XJRockcrawler

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 12:03 pm PT

    Gamespot and Eidos FTL

  • GIF

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:46 am PT

    Okay, so because some windbag says that the console transition is over that means it is so? EA executives are so out of touch with reality and no, the industry is not dry for talent acquisition but EA will always kill creativity and innovation because EA is run by money grubbing executives that are primarily concerned with money and not with quality, polished games that could be setting the bar for the rest of the industry. Want to make EA a powerhouse of quality? Stop buying and diluting all the developers you touch and focus on your in-house talent. Let them dictate the release dates and give them time to polish the games they are working on rather than making the release a title in one year when it is clearly NOT ready. Goodbye Bioware and Pandemic, a death awaits both of you on par with what has happened with DICE, Westwood and other developers.

  • Walter_Sobchak

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:37 am PT

    Consolidation done? Hmm, Activision Blizzard anyone?

  • chrisp1

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:24 am PT

    I must admit it all seems strange due to the fact the the whole team approves reviews before they are released. The written review seems to match the score but if you look at the video review things are different. When he was all alone with that camera he was brutal. It sounded like he was describing a game that got a 5 or lower. It seems as though Jeff was forced by the team to up the score a little and clean up the written review. I think Jeff was trying to tell us that the score he gave was even too high by the way he talked in the video review. In this way, maybe he did not follow review policy (by not allowing team input) and it was bad practice. Or maybe he's the only one who isn't a slave to $$. Perhaps we shouldn't assume the worst until we know for sure. I don't know but an official explanation is needed.

    link to video review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBD0cUeeEQc

    don't care anymore if i'm breaking some posting rule by posting a link.

  • scorched1992

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:13 am PT

    hmm I guess all these comments aren't really about the article

  • Slam-Master

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:07 am PT

    ps3 4ever

  • methehacker

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:01 am PT

    MrWu_IX what do you mean exactly by "at least post in relevant places"? You think there bill an article here on gamespot starting with: and o by the way we fired Jeff Gerstmann...?!

  • heron_noleto

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:16 am PT

    To me, Gamespot was Greg Kasavin and Jeff Gerstmann. Greg left to work at EA, but everyone was happy about it cos it was good for him and the industry. But the way Jeff was fired is ridiculous. That means gamespot isn't what it was anymore. Of course there is still Ryan and Alex, but they won't be able to speak their minds without getting fired. Good bye Gamespot, now you're just like IGN.

  • shadyelf

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:10 am PT

    I'm sad to see that they fired Jeff, I think he was one of their best. If he was actually fired for his review then that further lowers my trust of gamespot's reviews (what with Ratchet and Clank future getting a 7.5).

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!