EA CFO Eric Brown says online distribution service is growing steadily; freemium brand extensions bringing in new customers.
Earlier this week, Electronic Arts CFO Eric Brown traveled to the Citi 2011 Tech Conference, dishing on Battlefield 3's preorder sales figures and Star Wars: The Old Republic release status. Today, Brown took another turn on the investor conference speakers circuit, offering up new information on its Origin store and freemium success stories as part of UBS's Best of Americas 2011 event.
According to Brown, the Origin client has been installed by 3.9 million users. A full-on replacement for the EA Store, Origin serves as a hub and infrastructure for downloading and playing PC games, as well as ordering boxed products for other platforms. Though it currently only offers games published by EA, Brown reaffirmed the company's intent to begin selling other third-party software through the service.
Brown also addressed EA's strategy of extending many of its popular franchises with freemium online versions, saying that results have varied from mildly to wildly positive. Specifically, Brown said Battlefield Play4Free has brought 1.4 million players to the franchise, while Dragon Age Legends has introduced 600,000 gamers to the series.
Those numbers spiked dramatically for Need for Speed World and Battlefield Heroes. EA's freemium racing game has been played by 7 million players who have not played a high-def version of Need for Speed. Similarly, 7.2 million Battlefield Heroes gamers have never played an installment in the franchise on high-definition platforms.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
If ea would actually do madden right on the pc and not dumb it down..Maybe ill buy it instead of the xbox version..Its a shame they tend to water down football games an other games on the pc..No reason to do this..Why hurt the consumer when they no what the real madden or tiger woods golf looks like..If 2k can do this with basketball an sell millions..Why cant ea..It really is sad as a poster said how they treat us pc gamers..
EA is nt customerfriendly. Read the recent forum thread of their "free to play" Battlefield 4 free community: http://battlefield.play4free.com/en/forum/showthread.php?tid=61323
EA's Madden 12 need to invest back to servicing there servers that keeps shutting me down from day 1 of it release, Don't let the money mongers justify getting rich without rending service for there wealth households.
if Origin means EA will put more support on the PC, then it's a good thing. They have almost forsaken PC gamers! Specially EA Sports. FIFA players cried for 4 years before they got the "next-gen" treatment on their PCs. Recently, some people bought Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2012, only to find out it's almost the same game as Tiger Woods Online and not even comparable to Xbox360 and PS3 versions!! I've even read somewhere that some of them have got refunds for the game!
3.9 million...all for Battlefield? I don't understand why else would someone sign up. Hell, even just for Battlefield I still would be too scared to signup. I don't trust EA.
So almost 4 million computers have been infected with malware? Tho that is just my opinion after trying this program. I was playing an old game and Origins maxed out my cpu in the background. After that, quick un-install fixed that problem. However since this is a new program, I am willing to give it a second shot in a half a year or so.
@fattass21 EA didn't pull this off, BF3 did. I'm all for competition but if EA isn't going to bring innovation to the table, and just hijack exclusives, then this isn't competition, its bullying.
congrats EA. i may not agree with them on many things, but to be able to pull something off like this, kudos.
I'm truly sick of seeing this argument on every forum ever. You people bore me. The world can not be controlled and manipulated like the games we play. Things change and we have to roll with the punches. Origin is here whether you like it or not. Deal with it. Or don't. But for the love of god stop talking about it.
EA vs Valve is going to turn into a console war on the PC, only the platform is the storefront from which to purchase software. Then there's the Mac App Store and the upcoming Windows App Store that may also be potential competitors for digitally distributed and boxed PC content. It's going to be interesting seeing how all of this plays out and to see how many companies try their hands at this. OnLive is competing too, they just have a completely different approach at the delivery of the content.
@decoy1978 shhhht i think EA is spying on us , don't give them more ideeas.............Although i've wished origin Never was released and that we weren't obligated to install it to play BF3 i just can not pass BF3 ...and yes i will buy it on retail no download for me that's why i have steam ....they can have millions of users but if the users install origin just to play an EA game they aren't true Origin users they are just there for the game and they have only 2 choices don't install Origin don't buy the game don't play it legally :D second install origin buy the game and play it legally but with some isues, EA is watching you >:)......choose wisely
On the positive side I guess you could say Battlefield 3 has already sold atleast 3.9 million copies lol.
and yet another reason why i like consoles more, none of these client required bull****. hope The Old Republic doesn't require it (might not buy if it does)
@ decoy1978 BF3 is still in the works - what about that? You think people install it before the game to be ready for the launch or what? That's silly. Imagine that not everyone is a Steam user and Origin hater. Some people actually install and use it, instead of believing the likes of you, who probably didn't even bother to try Origin out.
I am quite sure no one installs Origin because they wanted Origins. A good solid majority will do it because your forcing them through BF 3. If given a choice, I guarantee you people would NOT install Origins...
"Freemium?" Seriously? I like how these executives think of all these cute names that don't actually exist for services that no-one actually wants and/or used to be given outright with their product.
Keep feeding the machine people...and when there is no one left to compete with EA we can go back to playing Jacks, Checkers, Chess, and Sorry. EA needs more competitors b/c if they become a monopoly like they did with Madden, they will price gauge just like they did with Madden. When NFL 2k5 came out like magic Madden 05 went from $50 to $30, because EA knew it had to compete.
With Steam when you buy a game you buy a game, The client has its offline mode, help with patches and unless you delete the game the stuff stays on your computer. Check the EULA for Origins apparently they can get rid of your "Purchase" games without permission after 2 years. Basically you rent a game from there and that too for full price.
"while Dragon Age Legends has introduced 600,000 gamers to the series." While I don't want to steal their sunshine on this..... did they really introduce 600,000 gamers to the series, or are many of that number just fans of the series that wanted another go at the game in a different way? I may be nitpicking, but there is a difference.
@kweeni Why would it matter, they have sunk their claws into the people forced to download it just as much as they have for those that downloaded it just to check out the service. In saying that though, if they want to brag about success then maybe they should say how many accounts have actually purchased games through it, that would be a better number to talk about.
Origin is good for business guys.. I love Steam but the more competition out there the better. Steam is the big boy on the block and rightfully so but I would like to see better deals more consistently... I will agree though that I only installed origin because I want 2 games. BF3 and SWTOR.
Humm, Need for speed on Origins, £35. Need for speed on Steam £3.75! Sorry, but i have yet to see any sort of deal on Origins. Till then AVOID.
@GrimJackal It looks like lfebaggins posted the link you requested. I obviously don't work for Valve, but everything I said about Origin is 100% true. Sure I have Steam installed, but I don't see where that makes me a fanboy. Also, I downrated your post because you're spreading lies.
I'm sorry but SCREW Origin. The only two games I have ever attempted to install and play I have had issues with. The files wouldn't unpack or it wouldn't patch right. Not to mention EA's poor customer service. Then out of the 7 different gentlemen I spoke with only one of them seem to know their jobs and how to help me. I'll stick with Steam. If that means I don't get to enjoy BF3 like I want to then so be it. Their loss.
Seriously, they acting like if it was not a hostage situation I would have installed that damn program. That program can rott until I absolutely need it to play the titles that will have me "Forced" to have it installed. Get real, EA.
Just because I installed it, doesn't mean I'm going to purchase anything through it. Even then, my next build will be for gaming only so i don't have to worry too much about your program.
The ONLY reason I installed Origin was for BF3. I really dont want to use another service like Steam, but I guess I didnt have much of a choice, oh well....... oh wait I could get it on PS3.... nah, PC for BF3 for sure!!
@tBear7130 Thanks for following my comment with your's. You like made my point for me haha. Just so ya know.. I made a STEAM account 3 years ago and they've been "monitoring my buying and playing habits" since 3 years ago. Ya know what they do with that info? They sometimes make suggestions about games you might like based on your purchase/play history. They also have this list u can see with all your friends and it says "what your friends are playing" and it shows you what games your friends have bought and played recently to once again.. give u ideas like "hey maybe I should pick up that one because so-and-so has it too." Now sure, you may not like them doing that.. but it's not like they're committing identity theft or something lmao.. they're just trying to sell you some dang games haha.
The NUMBER 1 reason for the vast number of installs is for SWTOR. If not for that I would not touch the install myself. Looks like they are pretty much doing a monopoly distribution for SWTOR forcing purchase through Origin/EA and thus the shell. But I am sure the FORCED installation and the monitoring of our habits is not spyware.. Now they get our data and habit data for free and yet the price of their games still go up. Add it to the list of shells I can think of just off the top of my head. Uplay - sucks. Windows Live - always disappoints. Steam - are you serious. and now Origin - wants to monitor their customers recording play habits. Way to "improve" DRM.
some of the people on this site really creep me out. You're honestly that paranoid of installing something on your computer that you think this company is going to single you out and rob you blind, go through your email and net history, or sell your information to other companies? My question to you paranoid freaks is WTF are doing on your computers that is so dang bad you have to be THAT pathetically paranoid to believe that "big brother" is after you or some crap. Hate to break it to ya but you're just another gamer, nobody is after you because you're not anymore special than me or anyone else here for that matter. I for one am glad people like that won't be getting BF3 because they're too afraid of EA and Origin lmao. Good... less wierdos and more friendly and outgoing people to play with. The community for this game seems to be getting better and better.. No COD kids and no crazies either :-P
Virtual computer with only origin installed. Gotta do something I want the new star wars when it comes out.
@raahsnavj I wonder how many of these downloads are reinstalls. Like you said you removed it after DL, maybe people just do like you and install it whenever they need something, then delete it lol
I'm sure they are including mine, which was required to get 'free' stuff for my EA software I bought last year and finally got around to installing. Once I got it I quickly removed it. I have no desire to buy from EA if this is their only way to access their games in full.
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