Ea Turns Its Back on Singleplayer Games : Othor Games

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:42 am

Well, most of us probably saw this coming, but the CEO of EA has announced that EA wont be releasing any single-player only games, everything will have some sort of multiplayer support

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119449-EA-Turns-Its-Back-on-Single-Player-Games

EA Labels President Frank Gibeau boasts that Electronic Arts no longer develops any games as single-player experiences.
Electronic Arts has made a lot of noise about the interconnected, digital future of videogames, and how the growth of the industry will come mainly via mobile devices, smart TVs and the cloud. Even so, recent comments by EA Labels President Frank Gibeau in the "Cloud Gaming Prospects for 2012" report are bold, to say the least. As he explains it, the publisher has effectively turned its back on single-player-only experiences, as it moves to make everything connected and online.

"We are very proud of the way EA evolved with consumers," Gibeau said. "I have not green lit one game to be developed as a single player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365."

To be fair to EA, that doesn't mean it's abandoning single-player, just that nothing is being made that can't support a multiplayer component, Facebook tie-in and/or whatever else the company can pile onto it. Thus we end up with things like Dead Space 3, which has evolved from a solo horror experience to a co-op shooter, or the Galactic Readiness gong show of Mass Effect 3, or Dragon Age Legends on Facebook. Single-player is still there, it's just no longer the focus, and won't be in the future.

"FIFA is a perfect example - available across 12 different platforms, FIFA fans can check their standings on their mobile device or tablet, manipulate their teams on Facebook or play an immersive game of FIFA on their PC or console. Everything is connected so the user can pick up just where they left off from anywhere," Gibeau explained. "We're deploying similar experiences in our other popular brands over the next year including Madden, Battlefield and SimCity and you'll continue to see more and more of this from EA."

Thoughts? Feelings? Smells?

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:53 pm

Thirsty. Slightly gassy.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:05 pm

... Just as well.

Not like any new EA games will be entering my library for a very long time.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:29 am

DA3 confirmed multiplayer :dead:

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:31 am

DA3 confirmed multiplayer :dead:

Pah, Dragon Age is dead to me anyay. As far as I'm concerned, the series ended with Awakening. :dry:

Can't say how I could see any sort of multiplayer improving the game if they go for the same god-awful 13-year-old-boy-appealing style of gameplay.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:31 am

DA3 confirmed multiplayer :dead:

This has potential though. Questing with friends in the DA universe, sounds intreaguing.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 5:29 am

Thoughts: I like single player games. I only like single player games. Gaming is my (rare enough) time when I don't interact with others.

Feelings: If DA2 had continued the story of the Warden, I might have had some.

Smells: like corporate spirit.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:24 pm

"We are very proud of the way EA evolved with consumers," Gibeau said. "I have not green lit one game to be developed as a single player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365."

To be fair to EA, that doesn't mean it's abandoning single-player, just that nothing is being made that can't support a multiplayer component, Facebook tie-in and/or whatever else the company can pile onto it.

DA3 confirmed multiplayer :dead:

What kind of useful/meaningful/not-screw-with-the-single-player-game MP component could there be for Dragon Age?!? :yuck:

(Ferelden Readiness? :bonk:

)

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:24 am

Why does everything need multiplayer? Not. Every. Game. Needs. Multiplayer! Get that in your stupid heads EA!

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:45 am

Why does everything need multiplayer? Not. Every. Game. Needs. Multiplayer! Get that in your stupid heads EA!

But MP is a great additional revenue stream / advertising medium! (translation: MP = $$$$$!)

:wallbash:

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:01 pm

Bleh. I truly believe corporate meddling is one of the great evils of just about any form of entertainment.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:10 am

Why does everything need multiplayer? Not. Every. Game. Needs. Multiplayer! Get that in your stupid heads EA!

Don't be stupid. That's clearly why The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series have been commercial and critical failures. Oh...

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:37 am

So no Mirror's Edge 2? Cause I can't imagine Mirror's Edge multiplayer with all the bland gunplay.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:39 pm

DA3 confirmed multiplayer :dead:

Meh, didn't seem to bother ME3 much :shrug:

So no Mirror's Edge 2? Cause I can't imagine Mirror's Edge multiplayer with all the bland gunplay.

The shooting svcks, because it's not the main focus fo the game, so why base MP on it? Two player parkour race across rooftops might work.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:14 am

Their PR could have easily spun this to make it look positive. Something like:

"We aren't abandoning the single-player experience. We're only adding multiplayer support on top of the great single-player you've come to expect (that is, if you could actually expect that from us)."

Instead they throw out stuff like "We're proud we don't care about single-player or the players who prefer it."

Who hires these people?

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:02 pm

So no Mirror's Edge 2? Cause I can't imagine Mirror's Edge multiplayer with all the bland gunplay.

~~Need For Speed~~ Mirror's Edge 2: Hot Pursuit! Parkour racing game. With additional DLC downloads for better sneakers, name-brand sporting goods logo shirt & shoe textures, and additional maps!

..... :dead:

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:28 pm

Hey, if EA wants to blow millions of dollars to try and support multiplayer and everything that goes with it for every single one of their games from now on...more power to them. They'll learn soon enough that multiplayer does not automatically equate to increased sales.

Pah, Dragon Age is dead to me anyay. As far as I'm concerned, the series ended with Awakening. :dry:

Can't say how I could see any sort of multiplayer improving the game if they go for the same god-awful 13-year-old-boy-appealing style of gameplay.

I'm glad DA2 was such a dud. Means that I could cut that turd loose once and for all and not have to worry about that series anymore. And with it, the last thing I cared about from Bioware and EA. Well, aside from Mirror's Edge, but everyone knows that's not actually happening.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:02 am

Mirror's Edge multiplayer: now everyone can see you jumping from rooftops in a variety of sixy skins, yours for a nominal amount of Microsoft points/real cash.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:18 pm

NO! The mention of Mirror's Edge made me realize. It will have multiplayer and it will be only on Origin.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:59 am

...oh for [censored]'s sake.

If this has any negative impact on Mirror's Edge 2 whatsoever I will be visiting Mr. Gibeau with a car battery and a couple of crocodile clips.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:54 pm

Thoughts? Feelings? Smells?

My thoughts are this feels like a smelly deal. If EA wants to go out of buisness just shut the door no one like to see someone shoot themselves in the foot.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 5:11 pm

Out of the scummy publishers, I've always held ActiVision in a higher regard than EA, and at this point they look like innocent angels compared to EA. ActiVision likes milking sequels, but they don't force so much stuff on the developers(forced multiplayer, online pass BS etc.)

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:20 pm

My thoughts are this feels like a smelly deal. If EA wants to go out of buisness just shut the door no one like to see someone shoot themselves in the foot.

Well, I really doubt they're trying to go out of business. Big companies like EA don't do things like this without a lot of market research being done first, so they must think it's a good move.

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:08 pm

Where is Jonahirt? We need someone to defend EA!

» Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:10 am

I thought they already confirmed this months ago.

A multiplayer component allows them to sell those online pass things that you need to play multiplayer on a used copy, don't believe that nonsense about them doing it for the good of the customer.