EA - Traditional console dev cycle is gone forever

[TT✘Here]

This is a real shame since this is why the quality of games have gone down. Why spend years and millions on a core game when you can make multiple small Apps and possibly make more money for a fraction of the price?

"The industry has radically changed and the pace of change has accelerated dramatically. Gone forever is the 4-to-5 year console cadence that gave developers ample time to invest and retool for the next big wave. Consider that just 18 months ago there was no iPad, Google was experimenting with Android, and most big games were limited to a single revenue opportunity at launch. Consider that each of the major consoles now has a controller that encourages users to get off the couch and get into the action. While the game industry has fundamentally changed, games are reaching a far larger audience base than ever before." - EA CEO John Riccitiello

[Snowy]

I'd rather have one big game that is good compared to a lot of short s***ty ones.

[TT✘Here]

I'd rather have one big game that is good compared to a lot of short s***ty ones.

Definitely agree. I know the iPhone has a ton of apps for example but how many are good? Whats the percentage of that?

[cook]

I dont get it. EA is only making Apps now?

[TT✘Here]

^ No they just said that spending 4-5 years on one project doesn't make financial sense in this new market

[cook]

No wonder why the NFS series has like a game per year and they all come out with potential to be better.

[TT✘Here]

No wonder why the NFS series has like a game per year and they all come out with potential to be better.

Exactly!

[Shane]

No wonder why the NFS series has like a game per year and they all come out with potential to be better.

I thought NFS had 2 games per year now.  One the more simulation style shift (Shift 2 this year already) and the more arcadish version (NFS: The Run in the fall).  Sorry, but I think Shift 2 will be the last NFS game I buy if you really want to milk the franchise that badly. 

But yeah, just bring me Battlefield 3 EA and I'll be happy. 

[TT✘Here]

2 games a year is just overkill even if they are different types. They should switch to two year dev cycles and alternate years (release a Shift type game in 2012, then an arcade one in 2013) for example

[Snowy]

I don't mind devs putting out multiple games a year if they're different series. Atlus is great about it, since they realease 3 games a year.

[TT✘Here]

I don't mind devs putting out multiple games a year if they're different series. Atlus is great about it, since they realease 3 games a year.

Atlus developing is pretty much three series: Megami Tensei, Trauma Center & Etrian Odyssey and then they release other games from time to time to. They mainly publish games instead of developing.

[Snowy]

Right, and all the games they make are great, because they release them sparingly. Demon's Souls was published by them and good too.

[TT✘Here]

Yup, they do a great job of picking up titles that other developers don't localize to the US. Like they published some of Nintendo's internal games for the Gamecube that they didn't localize.