Poll: Electronic Arts or Activision - Which do you prefer?

[MercurySteam]

First off:​

As flame-prone as this subject is, try to keep it civilized eh?​

I'm sure by now you all know of the two largest developer/publisher's Electronic Arts and Activision. As hard it is to decide, which one do you support more? Take into account the decisions each have made and the outcomes that have followed as well as which one you think has contributed to and benefited the industry the most.

Here's some good points:

Electronic Arts is partnered with Crytek, Valve, Harmonix, Hothead Games, Klei Entertainment, Epic Games, Realitime Worlds, Insomniac Games and Respawn Entertainment.

Actvision publishes the highly successful Call of Duty series.

Electronic Arts owns a large number of successful studios.

Spoiler: Full List

* BioWare in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Austin, Texas, founded in February 1995, acquired October 2007 from Elevation Partners.
* Criterion Games in Guildford, England, founded as Criterion Software in 1993, acquired in August 2004.
* Bright Light, in Guildford, Surrey, formerly EA UK [1]
* EA Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia, started in January 1983.
* EA Casual Entertainment
* EA China in Shanghai, China
* EA Digital Illusions CE in Stockholm, Sweden
* EA France in Lyon, France
* EA Freestyle in San Francisco, California, founded as EA Sports Big.
* EIS (European Integration Studio) in Madrid, Spain
* EA India, Noida
* EA Brazil, São Paulo
* EA Korea in Seoul, South Korea
* EA Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, founded as DreamWorks Interactive LLC in 1995, acquired in 2000.
* EA Mobile in Bucharest, Romania, founded as JAMDAT Mobile, founded in March 2000, acquired December 2005.
* EA Mobile in Hyderabad, India
* EA Mobile in São Paulo, Brazil
* EA Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, started in 2004.
* EA North Carolina in Morrisville, North Carolina
* EA Phenomic in Ingelheim, Germany, founded as Phenomic Game Development in 1997, acquired August 2006.
* EA Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, Utah, founded as Headgate Studios, founded in 1992, acquired December 2006.
* EA Singapore [2]
* EA Sports in Vancouver, Canada and Redwood City, California, publisher of EA's sports franchise games
* EA Studio in Bucharest, Romania, from 2008
* EA Tiburon in Maitland, Florida, founded as Tiburon Entertainment in 1994, acquired in 1998.
* Maxis in Emeryville, California Currently a label only.
* Mythic Entertainment in Fairfax, Virginia, founded as Interworld Productions in 1995, acquired in June 2006.
* North American Testing Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, opened in September 2008.
* Playfish acquired in 2009.
* Visceral Games in Redwood City, California, founded as EA Redwood Shores.

Activision also owns many successful studios, though fewer than EA

Spoiler: Full List

# Beenox in Quebec City, Canada, founded in May 2000, acquired on May 25, 2005.
# Bizarre Creations in Liverpool, England, founded as Raising Hell Productions in 1987 and changed name in 1994, acquired on September 26, 2007.[33]
# Budcat Creations in Las Vegas, Nevada, founded September 2000, acquired on November 10, 2008.
# DemonWare in both Dublin, Republic of Ireland and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 2003, acquired on May 2007.
# FreeStyleGames in Leamington, England, United Kingdom, founded in 2002, acquired September 12, 2008.
# High Moon Studios in San Diego, California, founded as Sammy Entertainment in April 2001, acquired by Vivendi Games in January 2006.
# Infinity Ward in Encino, California, found in 2002, acquired in October 2003
# Neversoft in Los Angeles, California, founded in July 1994, acquired October 1999.
# Radical Entertainment in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 1991, acquired in 2005.
# Raven Software in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 1990, acquired in 1997.
# Sledgehammer Games in Foster City, California, founded July 21, 2009
# Toys For Bob in Novato, California, founded in 1989, acquired May 3, 2005.
# Treyarch in Santa Monica, California, founded in 1996, acquired 2001.
# Vicarious Visions in Albany, New York, founded in 1990, acquired January 2005.

But then we remember that EA was once not as popular as it is now and Activision's CEO is Bobby Kotick [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/tag/bobby%20kotick?from_search=1] so neither is exactly perfect.

I myself take side with EA as they publish many games that I like and of course Kotick isn't their CEO and I've always felt that Activision is loyal to their stockholders while EA seem to at least try to please their gamers.

That's me but what do you think?

 

[koschei8]

I don't like the fact that EA's branch EA Sports sells the same game over and over to people each and every year....but Kotick is a complete asshole, having been quoted that he would like to charge people as much as possible.

So i would personally choose EA anyday of the week over Activision

 

[Polaris19]

Where is my none of the above option

Honestly, if I'm being forced to pick, EA. Only for the reason that Bioware is a part of the company, and they have made mt favourite games for the most part.

 

[TPiddy]

Where is my none of the above option

Honestly, if I'm being forced to pick, EA. Only for the reason that Bioware is a part of the company, and they have made mt favourite games for the most part.

This... both companies suck from a consumer relations standpoint, but at least EA allows certain companies their freedom, like Bioware.

 

[baka52]

It think ill have to go with EA because activistion have made some stupid moves lately
(getting rid of West & Zampella & the 88 million dollar lawsute )

 

[freedomweasel]

EA has more games I enjoy.

 

[Delusibeta]

EA actually bothers to release the occasional innovative game. When was the last Activision game that was considered "innovative"? Guitar Hero 1?

 

[MercurySteam]

EA will receive my eternal love if they ever make a Road Rash again. A proper one, that is.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

I own more EA games, so them. And as has been said, EA is less blatant about rehashing franchises, and seems to put out more new IPs, even if they're just one-shot experiments.

 

[veloper]

He missed the Blizzard part in Activision-Blizzard.
Small oversight.

 

[Delusibeta]

He missed the Blizzard part in Activision-Blizzard.
Small oversight.

Largely academic these days.

 

[JPH330]

Where is my none of the above option

Honestly, if I'm being forced to pick, EA. Only for the reason that Bioware is a part of the company, and they have made mt favourite games for the most part.

Damn, ninja'd.

EDIT: Oh shit, forgot about Acti-Blizzard. Well I'm gonna have to think a bit more about that...

 

[Colonel Alzheimer's]

Their customer service records both suck, but EA's is better. Also Ea publishes better games, hands down, and they allow innovative titles to get released. Activision has run its two major IP's in to the ground (CoD and Guitar Hero). EA gets my vote by a mile.

 

[Worgen]

Im going with ea since activision is headed by a massive asshole

 

[Dys]

Both are pretty sub par, though activision have destroyed less....I miss the likes of westwood...Activision may seem worse at the moment, but historically they have crushed less other developers.

 

[teh_Canape]

ELECTRONIC ARTS, FOR MEDAL OF HONOR ALLIED ASSAULT /nerdgasmic scream

 

[linwolf]

EA is the lesser evil, they have a lot of bad thing about them but I still buy their games.
Activision I have so great a hate for, that I wont even buy Blizzard games.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

To avenge the losses of Radical, Red Storm and Infinity Ward and due to the overall public relations incompetence of Activision's high command, I'll be voting for EA.

Although, to be fair, EA did cease the existance of Pandemic after they released a game I find brilliant.

And I actually liked the Activision line-up better.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

I'll give it to Activision hands down.
I may not agree with a lot of their personal politics but they have a better track record with me.

Most of the EA games I've played have been a major disappointment.