Them's Fighting Words - Riccitiello's "White Knight" Claims "Bullshit" Says Analyst

[fitbabits]

And so the Electronic Arts versus Take-Two debacle continues.

Janco Partners' Mike Hickey, responding to comments made by Electronic Arts' John Riccitiello in a New York Times article where he opined that Electronic Arts is like Take-Two's "white knight", had this to say:

"My belief is Rockstar would be perfectly happy if EA never put a bid in at all. White knight commentary is total bullsh*t, and disrespectful to both the developers at TTWO and the new management team that has already achieved success."
Source - Game Daily.biz (http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/analyst-eas-riccitiello-disrespectful-towards-rockstar-taketwo/?biz=1).

That's one way to put it. This whole episode is already a sad state of affairs, and it's only going to get uglier. I guess that's why it's called a "hostile" takeover.

[AversionFX]

I don't think EA realizes that most of the gaming community reviles them.

[fitbabits]

I don't think EA realizes that most of the gaming community reviles them.

Oh, I think they realize, but I simply don't think they care while they are making money hand over fist.

[Doctor Setebos]

There's only one way this whole thing can be resolved: caged deathmatch.

[Johan]

I don't think EA realizes that most of the gaming community reviles them.

IF that's true, it's not evidenced by sales...which disgusts me to no freaking end. :(

Corporations don't respond to whining, they respond to their financials. If they're selling their product, they have no incentive to change what is working. None.

[menage]

IF that's true, it's not evidenced by sales...which disgusts me to no freaking end. :(

Corporations don't respond to whining, they respond to their financials. If they're selling their product, they have no incentive to change what is working. None.

It' s just like television. Dancing with the whatever or American Idol scores more viewers then something with more depth.

It's like the hamburger compared to a decent meal.

Just boycot crap. At least they won't take your money. Buy Okami instead:p

[morose]

Also realize that the vocal minority on sites like this are just that... a minority. The majority of people buying games couldn't give two shits who owns the company that is making it. That's the unfortunate reality, and I don't see it changing. I mean, look at film or TV and the same thing is true. Lowest common denominator stuff pays the bills because it gets the audience.

[boratika]

"Something wicked this way comes"

[Orphiuchus]

I already dont buy EA games because of what they did to Ultima 9. I would love to see a large boycot of EA, but I think we all know that its not going to happen, at least not on a scale where they would care.


Instead lets just start murdering EAs upper management.

^If you are a cop then this was a joke.

^if not then this was a joke.

[Citizen Philip]

EA doesn't give a shit about gamers. They make their money by barfing up re-hashes of sports games and the Sims. They can go to hell.

That sore bit in my craw: My brother bought Battlefield 2 when it first came out, and I decided to give it a whirl to see how it was. I'm not going to say my gaming configuration is optimal, but it's mine: I use the keypad and mouse. Those motherfuckers would not allow me to map the keypad for some reason: you were not allowed to do it. I was so goddam angry (in context of a game I didn't pay for) that such an arbitrary and stupid problem made it out into a retail product.

Sure they fixed it in a patch, but really. Ef them.

[nulmas]

EA could do a lot of good to the industry if some of the comments Riccitello made recently were sincere... Which I doubt.

[Zacharai]

I buy games from EA if they're good. If they aren't good, I don't buy them.

Is that enough, or is this some sort of 'principles' thing? Because I don't have any of those.

[EGO]

Also realize that the vocal minority on sites like this are just that... a minority. The majority of people buying games couldn't give two shits who owns the company that is making it. That's the unfortunate reality, and I don't see it changing. I mean, look at film or TV and the same thing is true. Lowest common denominator stuff pays the bills because it gets the audience.


You are DEAD ON!

The thing that bitching people in forums don't realize is... (gasp), they're NOT the majority. They aren't "gamers", they're "hardcore" and they're actually THE MINORITY.

So, you're bitching about EA really doesn't mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things because you people don't even really buy games anyway, no matter how much or how loud you scream. Most people hating on EA are passive-aggressive people that fire up torrents long before they go to a store with cash in hand.

Oh and I don't understand why people think that there aren't "gamers" making these games they hate so much. There are thousands of good people who go to work everyday to try and make something great. Do you think they wake up each morning going, "Goodie another day to do a half-assed job and piss off some kid in the forums with new levels of mediocrity! Muhahaha!" Nope, it's not like that at all.

[Derella]

I buy games from EA if they're good. If they aren't good, I don't buy them.

Is that enough, or is this some sort of 'principles' thing? Because I don't have any of those.
That's how I operate too. I buy good games, and don't buy crap games. I don't really care who publishes the game.

[dark_inchworm]

The "new" EA seems to think that by buying up hot studios (Bioware/Pandemic) and trying to persuade us they'll be treated well, we'll shower them with our good graces.

I say that they should take their pre-existing studios and franchises and straighten those out (not synonymous with "kill them") before treading elsewhere.

Even if I did give a damn about EA, I would not approve of this buyout.

[LongStepMantis]

"Something wicked this way comes"

"EA am become death, destroyer of worlds."

[RudyPoo]

Tired of everyone bitching about stuff EA did years ago.

-R

[fitbabits]

Tired of everyone bitching about stuff EA did years ago.

-R

Well, Poo, Rudy! We sure are sorry...

Oh, and if by "years ago" you mean in the last few days, then you're right.

-eph

[RudyPoo]

Well, Poo, Rudy! We sure are sorry...

Oh, and if by "years ago" you mean in the last few days, then you're right.

-eph

I understand your point.

I've worked on 4 EA titles in the last 5 years. They have done a better job of handling buisness and managing the team/game then any other company I have worked for in the last 10 years. Internally it's not a bad place to work and I really believe that there is a new direction they are heading in.

Yes, there is plenty not to love about how they have treated some of us gamers and the negative impact they may have had on the industry with some of the big moves in the last decade. I can agree there. I just wish people could try and realize that perhaps there might be some good stuff that comes from EA - it's too big of a company for all of it to be be totally evil, and the knee-jerk "EA is teh devil" response is getting old and shows some serious un-informed bias.

-R

[fitbabits]

I understand your point.

I've worked on 4 EA titles in the last 5 years. They have done a better job of handling buisness and managing the team/game then any other company I have worked for in the last 10 years. Internally it's not a bad place to work and I really believe that there is a new direction they are heading in.

Yes, there is plenty not to love about how they have treated some of us gamers and the negative impact they may have had on the industry with some of the big moves in the last decade. I can agree there. I just wish people could try and realize that perhaps there might be some good stuff that comes from EA - it's too big of a company for all of it to be be totally evil, and the knee-jerk "EA is teh devil" response is getting old and shows some serious un-informed bias.

-R
Thanks for your insight - it's appreciated.

Look at if from the point of view of those people who haven't worked at Electronic Arts and so don't know what the company is like to work for. Joe or Jane Doe only see that which is in the news/blogs/whatever, and there's very little of thst which would have one rejoicing and the supposed new direction. For every quote from EA about a new direction, you have a headline where someone in the company is slinging disparaging remarks at their competitors, or some other egregious move or statement.

Your uninformed bias comment is fair to a degree, but is it any wonder?

[Micasa]

You must have worked for some truly shitty development houses, since EA is the one that got slapped with the lawsuit over working conditions.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Most people hating on EA are passive-aggressive people that fire up torrents long before they go to a store with cash in hand.

The majority of the people who criticize Electronic Arts are pirates?


Seriously, did Evil let in the retard brigade this week? Is the site that strapped for viewers and cash? :p

[grunter]

You must have worked for some truly shitty development houses, since EA is the one that got slapped with the lawsuit over working conditions.What was the outcome of that lawsuit?

[RudyPoo]

What was the outcome of that lawsuit?

Double overtime is my friend now.

-R

[mister_slim]

I can't dislike EA right now. The EA Partners program is doing good, they're giving studios more freedom, and they seem to be headed in the right direction. The good outweighs the bad.