Game News EA: We Lost Some Fans With Dragon Age 2

[Volourn]

DA2 was a LOT cheaper to make so the profit was likely pretty darn good and that's all EA cares about.

 

[Chateaubryan]

P.S. Nothing suggests DA2 failed in the ways that matter to EA.

If EA is so satisfied with DA2 sales, why aren't they trying to milk it further with plethora of DLC ? Shouldn't they take advantage of the momentum ?

DA2 was a LOT cheaper to make so the profit was likely pretty darn good and that's all EA cares about.

What of the advertising cost ?

 

[DragoFireheart]

DA2 was a LOT cheaper to make so the profit was likely pretty darn good and that's all EA cares about.

Isn't there more to a company's goal than to maximize short-term profit? How about long-term gains? Sustainability? Hasn't EA been losing money each year? Why would you further help that by encouraging the development of shoddy games?

 

[Gord]

Isn't there more to a company's goal than to maximize short-term profit? How about long-term gains? Sustainability?

This is not how our capitalistic system works. In fact short-term profit is more important then sustainability.
Gotta please the shareholders.

And management? Most managers' contracts are also favoring short-term profit.
Heck, if they fuck up big time and have to leave they often still get a bonus.

 

[Angthoron]

Well, the problem with game dev is that the publishers think in the same terms as major film companies - you're supposed to cash in on your title in the first 8 weeks, then it doesn't matter any longer. First two weeks are basically intended to be the "best" part, and many publishers, EA included, are trying their damnedest to sell those millions in the first week thanks to pre-order bonuses and special discounts and other "premium" content boni.

Thing is, though, as one could guess, games aren't movies. The trick works for a while, but unlike the movie-going that can be just about endless for each and every possible customer, gaming is a finite resource as only the most omnivorous of players would be staying around and buying a game after another.

This is why the companies are trying to broaden their audiences, draw in the non-players etc, so that THE GAME they sell will be bought by at least SOME fraction of THE BUYERS. For some strange reason though, they don't treat THE BUYERS as distinct enough groups that might want several different games rather than one SUPERGAME.

 

[Volourn]

"development of shoddy games"

DA2 isn't a shoddy game. Moran.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

P.S. Nothing suggests DA2 failed in the ways that matter to EA.

If EA is so satisfied with DA2 sales, why aren't they trying to milk it further with plethora of DLC ? Shouldn't they take advantage of the momentum ?

ME1 was pretty successful and all the DLC it got was that mission with the batarians, and even then it was after people had kind of given up on getting anything. I dunno if they're in a hurry.

 

[sgc_meltdown]

DA2 isn't a shoddy game. Moran.

Yeah, I wouldn't call DA2 slipshod at all. It did exactly what it set out to do.

 

[Chateaubryan]

If EA is so satisfied with DA2 sales, why aren't they trying to milk it further with plethora of DLC ? Shouldn't they take advantage of the momentum ?

ME1 was pretty successful and all the DLC it got was that mission with the batarians, and even then it was after people had kind of given up on getting anything. I dunno if they're in a hurry.

Mass Effect was out in 2007. If I remember correctly, DLCs were fairly new at the time and most users weren't as accustomed to online marketplace as they are now. EA/BioWare was probably only poking to see if it had potential.

 

[mysterious-stranger]

"development of shoddy games"

DA2 isn't a shoddy game. Moran.

Yeah, it's a shitty game.

 

[hoverdog]

"development of shoddy games"

DA2 isn't a shoddy game. Moran.