Cash Grab Dungeon Keeper Was Wrong, Admits EA CEO
- Thread starter StewShearerOld
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All crap, the entire thing. That was a Dungeon Keeper game in NAME only. It was designed, from the ground up, 100%, to be a cash grab abusing the name of the IP.
They knew damn well what they were making wasn't a Dungeon Keeper game and that absolutely nothing about it would appeal the fans of the real Dungeon Keeper games in any way whatsoever.
Your words mean less than nothing, they just make you look even more inept and clueless. It disgusts me how they willingly put the name up on the line to be crapped all over just for an attempt at a short lived "game" designed purely to cash in on the 5% of people who waste money on a shallow mobile game.
They knew damn well what they were making wasn't a Dungeon Keeper game and that absolutely nothing about it would appeal the fans of the real Dungeon Keeper games in any way whatsoever.
Your words mean less than nothing, they just make you look even more inept and clueless. It disgusts me how they willingly put the name up on the line to be crapped all over just for an attempt at a short lived "game" designed purely to cash in on the 5% of people who waste money on a shallow mobile game.
If this CEO wanted to crates a "player first mentality" then the "game" you released should not fucking exist. Cow clickers are designed for the sole purpose of fucking over the player. EA has not done really anything consumer friendly since that return policy on Origin. As many people have already said in this thread, EA needs act on its words.
EA's first mistake was thinking that all "old-school gamers" want to play mobile games.
EA's second mistake was thinking that a series from the late 90s is the kind of game these "old-school gamers" with mobile phones would play.
EA's third mistake was using old, outdated mobile game mechanics few use anymore.
And the fourth and final mistake EA made was believing the Dungeon Keeper fandom would be alright with it.
And here's the reality:
"Old-school" gamers don't want old franchises on non-dedicated mobile devices. They want them on PCs, consoles, and dedicated handhelds.
America-wise, the mobile phone/tablet users that play F2P games with microtransactions are mostly "retro gamers" - People who went to arcades in the late 70s and early 80s because that's where the great games were, and became accommodated to paying in quarters in order to progress through a game they didn't own. Much of that generation of gamers didn't bother with consoles that much after the crash. When mobile phones became a critical asset, followed by the smartphone, "retro gamers" looking through the app store found games that are akin to the very ones they played in the arcades, with easy mechanics and controls, including the option to progress faster or easier through a small payment - It just feels natural to them given what they grew up with.
EA needed to aim for the attention of the "retro gamers" if they wanted it to somewhat work, but instead got the attention of the "old-school" gamers, used to the console and PC games starting from the mid-80s to early 2000s. They're not conditioned to making to small payments, instead buying the game straight up (or their parents did to be more accurate). Progression to them means having the skill - You can't pay your way through the games they grew up with. They want the whole game, not a base game with a bunch of it locked away though small payments. Getting the treatment "retro gamers" got back then feels like a betrayal to them.
In other words, EA should have watched and studied mobile phone and tablet demographics much, much more closely. There's a stronger divide in demographics between what they grew up with, where they lived, and what they played. EA got the completely wrong demographics' attention just by using a series they were fond of; a problem easily avoided through new IP.
EA's second mistake was thinking that a series from the late 90s is the kind of game these "old-school gamers" with mobile phones would play.
EA's third mistake was using old, outdated mobile game mechanics few use anymore.
And the fourth and final mistake EA made was believing the Dungeon Keeper fandom would be alright with it.
And here's the reality:
"Old-school" gamers don't want old franchises on non-dedicated mobile devices. They want them on PCs, consoles, and dedicated handhelds.
America-wise, the mobile phone/tablet users that play F2P games with microtransactions are mostly "retro gamers" - People who went to arcades in the late 70s and early 80s because that's where the great games were, and became accommodated to paying in quarters in order to progress through a game they didn't own. Much of that generation of gamers didn't bother with consoles that much after the crash. When mobile phones became a critical asset, followed by the smartphone, "retro gamers" looking through the app store found games that are akin to the very ones they played in the arcades, with easy mechanics and controls, including the option to progress faster or easier through a small payment - It just feels natural to them given what they grew up with.
EA needed to aim for the attention of the "retro gamers" if they wanted it to somewhat work, but instead got the attention of the "old-school" gamers, used to the console and PC games starting from the mid-80s to early 2000s. They're not conditioned to making to small payments, instead buying the game straight up (or their parents did to be more accurate). Progression to them means having the skill - You can't pay your way through the games they grew up with. They want the whole game, not a base game with a bunch of it locked away though small payments. Getting the treatment "retro gamers" got back then feels like a betrayal to them.
In other words, EA should have watched and studied mobile phone and tablet demographics much, much more closely. There's a stronger divide in demographics between what they grew up with, where they lived, and what they played. EA got the completely wrong demographics' attention just by using a series they were fond of; a problem easily avoided through new IP.
It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission am I right EA? These guys will never learn. There was outcry from the very beginning about this but they chose to ignore it. So like others are speculating, I'm sure they didn't make as much money as they hoped otherwise they would of kept their mouths shut, ethics be damned.
I guess EA's PR department saw how Ubisoft were taking a beating lately and thought might as well throw this out in to the wild hoping to go unnoticed.
"we promise we'll never do this specific thing again"
*rifles through file cabinet of anti-consumer tactics for money and throws away one sheet of paper*
they couldn't apologize without slipping in their argument that tricking people into liking something that is worse means that it is not worse
like somehow their own self serving justifications seem reasonable out loud without bribing people
Henceforth, EA shall be known as Ebenezer Arts. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old publisher!Hero in a half shell said:EA repeatedly say a lot of positive things.
EA repeatedly do a lot of negative things.
Ebenezer Scrooge proved he had changed by acting different, being more generous and open, and actually acting upon his promises. EA have yet to prove they have changed.
MEND YOUR WAYS EBENEZER!
Why don't I belief them. Oh yes I am not born yesterday
Really saying "I'm Sorry" isn't going to fix the problem is it. Yes a company needs to make money, fact of life. And it seems these days companies are more in service of those who own shares then those who actually buy and use their products.
But stop lying about that. You tried how far you could put your hand in the lions mouth and..whoops it bit. You are not sorry, the only thing you are sorry about is you got bitten hard.
Reality is they would do this again.. who knows what old IP they got laying around. Maybe a F2P Command and Conquer IOS game. "You need 200 command points for this action" / "Buy Command points at the online store"
Probably the same horrific way of handling..
Nope not believing you at all EA. You put your hand in the cookie jar to find the mouse trap. The only reason you "feel sorry" is because it hurts. That is all.. you are a relative succesfull sociopathic organisation. And you know what that is precisely how it is these days...
Remember when you being and you wanted to put your heart in your games. To really make the best games and make players enjoy their time. I guess those people of those days left the company long ago. Those Indie developers actually might lack finesse at times.. but they tend to come with one thing. Heart... and no I am not calling Captain Planet.
But what made Minecraft so fun.. it was just fun. It was made with enjoyment in mind.
I remember buying Dragon Age, yes the first one, great game, lovely story and all kinds of nice RPG-ish things. But the DLC was already smelling bad.
I wish you luck EA, I don't boycott you but I don't really buy EA games anymore these days. To much bullshit around it really and that is sad.
Now don't get me wrong buying Ubisofts Assasins Creed Black Flag to find that yes even on the PS3 it has UPLAY on it..ergh. You are not alone in bad choices.
So again I wish you luck EA. Though I foresee that for the coming two years you still will earn a certain golden poo award. Remember, yes from a business stand point the shareholders are your closest allies. But they tend to come with a sharp knife.. the actual consumers will pull the final judgement upon you.
Really saying "I'm Sorry" isn't going to fix the problem is it. Yes a company needs to make money, fact of life. And it seems these days companies are more in service of those who own shares then those who actually buy and use their products.
But stop lying about that. You tried how far you could put your hand in the lions mouth and..whoops it bit. You are not sorry, the only thing you are sorry about is you got bitten hard.
Reality is they would do this again.. who knows what old IP they got laying around. Maybe a F2P Command and Conquer IOS game. "You need 200 command points for this action" / "Buy Command points at the online store"
Probably the same horrific way of handling..
Nope not believing you at all EA. You put your hand in the cookie jar to find the mouse trap. The only reason you "feel sorry" is because it hurts. That is all.. you are a relative succesfull sociopathic organisation. And you know what that is precisely how it is these days...
Remember when you being and you wanted to put your heart in your games. To really make the best games and make players enjoy their time. I guess those people of those days left the company long ago. Those Indie developers actually might lack finesse at times.. but they tend to come with one thing. Heart... and no I am not calling Captain Planet.
But what made Minecraft so fun.. it was just fun. It was made with enjoyment in mind.
I remember buying Dragon Age, yes the first one, great game, lovely story and all kinds of nice RPG-ish things. But the DLC was already smelling bad.
I wish you luck EA, I don't boycott you but I don't really buy EA games anymore these days. To much bullshit around it really and that is sad.
Now don't get me wrong buying Ubisofts Assasins Creed Black Flag to find that yes even on the PS3 it has UPLAY on it..ergh. You are not alone in bad choices.
So again I wish you luck EA. Though I foresee that for the coming two years you still will earn a certain golden poo award. Remember, yes from a business stand point the shareholders are your closest allies. But they tend to come with a sharp knife.. the actual consumers will pull the final judgement upon you.
EA has conformed to a pattern over the last 12 months with Sim City, Battlefield 4 and Dungeon Keeper. Release shitty or broken game, ignore criticism by dismissing it as the buzz from an angry minority and point to your massive sales figures, wait until months later and admit you were wrong, then release another game and repeat all over again.
"Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson believes the company failed when it came to "delivering value" with its Dungeon Keeper game"
** Activate Corporate Speak Translator
Andrew Wilson said "amazingly gamers appear to be somewhat smarter than we anticipated. This came as a shock to the development team, who were convinced the drooling morons we call our customers would lap up every drop of vomit we spew out and pay for the opportunity to do it. So it seems in future we will now be forced to add an element of subtlety to our cash grabs, its not something we planned for, but I believe we are up to the challenge".
/Corporate speak translator off
** Activate Corporate Speak Translator
Andrew Wilson said "amazingly gamers appear to be somewhat smarter than we anticipated. This came as a shock to the development team, who were convinced the drooling morons we call our customers would lap up every drop of vomit we spew out and pay for the opportunity to do it. So it seems in future we will now be forced to add an element of subtlety to our cash grabs, its not something we planned for, but I believe we are up to the challenge".
/Corporate speak translator off
Maybe but that's part of the problem for veteran gamers. The noob market is now so large, even abject failures get enough sales to make the process worthwhile for the company. I think this is a problem that will continue to grow. As more and more newcomers to gaming learn to expect less and less from the games, quality gaming experiences will become rarer and rarer. The fact is the developers just don't have to try anymore, they just have to recycle (poorly) any half baked old crap and they still make a profit. Andrew Wilson could just fart and provided the noise sounded like the words "Call of Duty" people would be paying to hear a recording of the fart.-Dragmire- said:
lol sorry not sorry
You didn't just not walk the line as well as you could have, you completely disregarded it. No, more like you acted purely to spite the very concept of a line. I'm honestly surprised you didn't charge to uninstall that goddamn abomination of a 'game'.
You didn't just not walk the line as well as you could have, you completely disregarded it. No, more like you acted purely to spite the very concept of a line. I'm honestly surprised you didn't charge to uninstall that goddamn abomination of a 'game'.