Newsweek's N'gai Croal (awesome name) had a chance to talk to Electronic Arts' CEO, Larry Probst. Love them or hate them, EA is a major player in the industry, and their games have the power to move hardware units. Croal asked Probst about making original games for the PSP, something that seems outrageous to the CEO: I'm not so sure that I agree with the premise that we're strategically focused on building original product for the PSP. "That's news to me. It's more likely that we would target platforms like the PS3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii if we had an original in mind. Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP."
Croal points out the success of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories as one reason why publishers should look into making exclusive games for the handheld. However, Probst believes that without more units out there, the chances of original PSP games from EA is slim. Like the rest of the sane world, he notes that Sony should lower the price, and maybe even make a redesigned console, in order to reinvigorate sales.
Check out the rest of the interview to see Probst's other PSP thoughts, and why Nintendo matters.
See also:
Fun = DS, not PSP, says EA exec
EA makes a lot of money on PSP
[Via Joystiq; Image via Games Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-01-2006 @ 8:23AM
Michael Anderson said...
"Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP."
I know *I* feel exploited ... with that strategy, no wonder we have so much CRAP to choose from!
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12-01-2006 @ 10:26AM
bxbailey said...
well that's help me decide never to buy another EA title for any platform again. I'm done with EA.
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12-01-2006 @ 11:28AM
Bored said...
Boicott EA!
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12-01-2006 @ 12:26PM
TJ said...
I don't care if a company never releases a original game for the psp. Just as long as its good. Games is not the main focus for sony when it comes to the psp, so i couldn't see it being the main focus for any game company releasing a title for the psp. I didn't buy a psp for just games. I've gotten my money worth so far. Anything new is good.
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12-01-2006 @ 12:50PM
pixelator said...
And people act like Sony has an exclusive license on arrogance..?
So thanks EA, fuck your consumers because you're too greedy to make an effort on a non-ported, non-sports title... The beancounters rule the industry, especially in the USA. That's one reason that (as a developer) I haven't worked on a game in years, the execs and marketing jerks (and they're ALL asses, trust me) run the show. The actual designers, programmers and artists, the real creative force in the industry, have virtually no say in what games get made. And even when they do, if there's a beancounter standing in the way, you can forget it.
The game industry kowtows to the almighty dollar, period.
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12-01-2006 @ 2:50PM
Diman said...
It's funny that he says that because Medal of Honor Heroes wasn't really a direct port and did it's on thing, overall it was a good game.
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12-01-2006 @ 7:40PM
Virtuous said...
I won't pre-order EA titles anymore. "Army of Two" will fail just like "The Godfather". EA will continue to fail in establishing new franchises.
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12-02-2006 @ 12:42AM
Paradoxysm said...
@5.
Darn those capitalist swine! Eh, comrade? Eh?
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12-02-2006 @ 2:58PM
pixelator said...
8: point taken, but there's a not-so-fine line between abject greed and making good, creative games. I was only a lead artist/designer, but I saw enough to know that the bean counters ran the show, and that any real vision was usually stifled... And that was when there was LESS of an emphasis on rehashing existing franchises!
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12-03-2006 @ 9:32AM
Lulu said...
How's EA going to make GOOD games in future with its boss having such crappy attitudes?
Even their breadwinner game, the Sims franchise is going down. Look at the latest release the Sims 2 Pets.
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12-04-2006 @ 9:34AM
Jon said...
Wow, way to spit on Sony as they struggle.
Im an Nintendo fan but thats just wrong.
F*** EA!
There bad rep will make them fall.
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