Riccitiello Admits EA Missed The Wii Bus

[Andy Chalk]

Riccitiello Admits EA Missed The Wii Bus

Nintendo Wii [http://www.ea.com].

In an interview with the DS [http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_10012948?source=rss] titles coming. And so I think that issue's sort of behind us."

He added that despite the increasing domination of the videogame market by consoles, EA has greater commitments than simply seeing an expanded base of consoles. "We've transcended them a little bit. We've got a big mobile business, a big PC business, a big direct to consumer business, increasing advertising business, microtransaction business, subscription business - all things that live outside the world of [console sales]," Riccitiello said.

Like many other industry figures, Riccitiello pointed out that even though Nintendo is far and away the industry leader in this console cycle, there is a "meaningful" market for the runners-up as well. "This cycle is like every other cycle before it: There's been a dominant player (in this case, the Wii)," he said. "Unusual in this cycle is there's a second and third place that is meaningful, against which we can build a profitable business. That's a good and positive thing."

via: MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/31365/We-should-have-bet-on-Wii-admits-Riccitiello]


Permalink

 

[HobbesMkii]

Jeez, this guy talks a lot. You know there are 24 stories on the Escapist w/ the John Riccitello tag? Aren't there any other people who comment about things? Gabe Newell, maybe?

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

We've got a big mobile business

lol, I never see people talk about the "mobile phone gaming" industry.

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

We've got a big mobile business

lol, I never see people talk about the "mobile phone gaming" industry.

Outside of Japan, of course. Square Enix is bringing both multiple Final Fantasy titles and a Kingdom Hearts title out on phones over there.

 

[Jimmyjames]

I don't even agree with Riccitello. They released the EXCELLENT "Boom Blox" and Wii owners were so busy playing WiiSports and WiiFit that they didn't buy it. The shit of it is that EVERYONE that I've shown that game to loves it.

The majority of Wii owners are killing any possibility of hardcore Wii gaming. Did anyone see Nintendo's E3 travesty?

 

[Melaisis]

Jim's right: Bloom Blox was great, but EA was cursed with low sales figures for doing something so innovative, so no wonder they're complaining. For once, EA are not mainstream enough.

Besides, the Wii isn't a 'bus'; more of a 400-tonne, heaving locomotive.

 

[HomeAliveIn45]

We've got a big mobile business

lol, I never see people talk about the "mobile phone gaming" industry.

Outside of Japan, of course. Square Enix is bringing both multiple Final Fantasy titles and a Kingdom Hearts title out on phones over there.

I just threw up in my mouth a little

 

[AlphaWolf13]

We've got a big mobile business

lol, I never see people talk about the "mobile phone gaming" industry.

Outside of Japan, of course. Square Enix is bringing both multiple Final Fantasy titles and a Kingdom Hearts title out on phones over there.

I just threw up in my mouth a little

It's kind of ridiculous how big phone gaming is over there... Unfortunately it never catches on over here.

 

[Echolocating]

They released the EXCELLENT "Boom Blox" and Wii owners were so busy playing WiiSports and WiiFit that they didn't buy it. The shit of it is that EVERYONE that I've shown that game to loves it.

I've been wanting this game for a while, but not enough to fork over $50 for it. I think a large majority of Wii owners bought the system because it was more affordable; Boom Blox would have sold way better at $40 or less. When I see the price drop, I'll pick it up right away.

 

[Andy Chalk]

That's a very good point, and one I think EA misjudged. Gamers may be cool with paying 50 or 60 bucks (or more) for a title on the PS3 or 360, but the prevailing attitude seems to be that Wii games should be cheaper. Especially stuff like Boom Blox, which accurately or not has a strong odour of "casual" about it - a genre that's always been cheaper than mainstream. If people aren't going to pay 50 bucks for Peggle, why would they for Boom Blox?

 

[AlphaWolf13]

They released the EXCELLENT "Boom Blox" and Wii owners were so busy playing WiiSports and WiiFit that they didn't buy it. The shit of it is that EVERYONE that I've shown that game to loves it.

I've been wanting this game for a while, but not enough to fork over $50 for it. I think a large majority of Wii owners bought the system because it was more affordable; Boom Blox would have sold way better at $40 or less. When I see the price drop, I'll pick it up right away.

Wow, that game does look really fun.

 

[SeniorDingDong]

Boom Blox was overpriced, advertised to the wrong audiance and had a stupid box art.

I am sure it is funny and I´ll give it a try later, but without any background information you might think it isnt more then just a retarded Jenga.

I even know people that are dissapointed with Boom Blox, because they hoped that EA + Spielberg should have done something more "meaningfull".

 

[Joeshie]

Actually, I think you will be all happy to hear that Boom Blox has sold over 450k units [http://kotaku.com/5030718/boom-blox-sells-450k-spielberg-talked-down-from-ledge], a much more respectable number.

Either way, if you actually look at what EA is releasing on the Wii, it's mostly just shitty casual games, which seems to be the only thing people are releasing on the Wii anymore. So long as EA relegates the shitty casual games to the Wii, I'll be very happy with my 360 and the impressive EA lineup for the PS3/360.