24 réponses à ce sujet

[Jsthompson1984]

Here is a question for everybody. The merger with EA has given bioware many more tools in its conquest of the rpg world.  Does anyone think Dragon Age Would have fallen by the wayside to become more of a underground  success ( im looking at you Jade Empire) than the commercial hit that , at least in my opinion, it's shaping up to be?

[BoomWav]

I don't think so. However, I do believe it helped a lot and that it'll help make DAO even better than it could have been.

[CJohnJones]

The downside is that EA gives you room to hang yourself. I'm looking at you, Marc Jacobs of Mythic. What I mean is that they give you time and money to really finish your product, but it had better succeed.


Edit: I'd like to clarify that I am a Mythic and EA fan and WAR had a lot going for it, but the endgame overreached and that hurt the long-term viability of a character. For that, MJ got the Dr. Evil treatment.

Modifié par CJohnJones, 16 octobre 2009 - 04:30 .

[Fulgrim88]

One might hate EA with a passion, but you've gotta admit that they've got hell of a marketing machine.

As long as that results in many preorders -> many money for Bioware -> even better games, i'm happy.

They ruined a few very creative studios in the past by "harsh rule" and too much pressure (R.I.P. Bullfrog, R.I.P. Westwood), but i guess they've learned their lesson

[Seagloom]

It is possible it would have been more of an underground success. Perhaps even PC exclusive. EA's marketing push has definitely helped in garnering awareness for DA, but I can't help feel it's tainted the game a bit too. Some aspects of DA, such as the ever growing amount of spin off materials and bajillion preorder packages feel like EA influenced decisions. None of it is likely to negatively impact DA, but the pessimistic cynic in me can't help wonder if EA's goals may unduly affect development of future BioWare games. Moreso if SWtOR isn't a complete success.

Modifié par Seagloom, 16 octobre 2009 - 04:50 .

[AClockworkMelon]

Seagloom wrote...

It is possible it would have been more of an underground success. Perhaps even PC exclusive. EA's marketing push has definitely helped in garnering awareness for DA, but I can't help feel it's tainted the game a bit too. Some aspects of DA, such as the spin off materials and bajillion preorder packages feel like decisions influenced by EA. None of it is likely to negatively impact DA, but the pessimistic cynic in me can't help wonder if EA's goals may unduly affect development of future BioWare games. Moreso if SWtOR isn't a complete success.

I fail to see how the preorder goodies have in any way 'tainted the experience.' It's the same people making the game as it was who made BG, BG2, NWN, Jade Empire and Mass Effect. EA's money hasn't 'tainted' them.

Unless we play DA and find that it's dropped in quality compared to BW's other games, claiming that EA has tainted or poisoned them is snobbery.

[Critical Miss]

Seagloom wrote...

It is possible it would have been more of an underground success. Perhaps even PC exclusive. EA's marketing push has definitely helped in garnering awareness for DA, but I can't help feel it's tainted the game a bit too. Some aspects of DA, such as the ever growning amount of spin off materials and bajillion preorder packages feel like EA influenced decisions. None of it is likely to negatively impact DA, but the pessimistic cynic in me can't help wonder if EA's goals may unduly affect development of future BioWare games. Moreso if SWtOR isn't a complete success.

I tend to see the opposite because all the advertising has penetrated the masses for a what is seen as niche style RPG. DA:O will certainly set a standard in the gaming industry and see other developers compete. That's my take on it, anyway.

Modifié par Critical Miss, 16 octobre 2009 - 04:53 .

[Shattered Shield]

the pre-order goodies are to make the non-fans say "hey this is cool let me buy this"

[Seagloom]

AClockworkMelon wrote...

Seagloom wrote...

It is possible it would have been more of an underground success. Perhaps even PC exclusive. EA's marketing push has definitely helped in garnering awareness for DA, but I can't help feel it's tainted the game a bit too. Some aspects of DA, such as the spin off materials and bajillion preorder packages feel like decisions influenced by EA. None of it is likely to negatively impact DA, but the pessimistic cynic in me can't help wonder if EA's goals may unduly affect development of future BioWare games. Moreso if SWtOR isn't a complete success.

I fail to see how the preorder goodies have in any way 'tainted the experience.' It's the same people making the game as it was who made BG, BG2, NWN, Jade Empire and Mass Effect. EA's money hasn't 'tainted' them.

Unless we play DA and find that it's dropped in quality compared to BW's other games, claiming that EA has tainted or poisoned them is snobbery.

They taint it because it comes across as blatant attempts to bribe consumers into preordering. The last time I recall BioWare pushing a preorder campaign was for Shadows of Amn, and that was minor by comparison.

I'm not worried about Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2's quality as enjoyable games, and I have no interest in SWtOR. But I do worry if EA's present hands off approach with BioWare might change if their sales numbers failed to meet expectations. Right now they're leaving BioWare alone on the development side and that's about it. The games industry is an ever shifting beast, and while I hope things remain as they are, I can also easily imagine how quickly they might shift.

Modifié par Seagloom, 16 octobre 2009 - 04:56 .

[Phoenixblight]

Then Bioware just has to continue with the same quality that they have in the past. Really Seagloom, I fail to see your point. Its a new IP they are going to try to attract as much audience as they can, now that they can with EA supporting them.

Modifié par Phoenixblight, 16 octobre 2009 - 05:00 .

[foxwood1084]

in the last few Years EA has really turned around, by letting its houses do what they are suposed to do. And the marketing can't hurt the more people buy it the better, even if they seem to be confused by what they get a first. EA could be worse at lest Bio wasn't bought by Activition.

[Phoenixblight]

foxwood1084 wrote...

in the last few Years EA has really turned around, by letting its houses do what they are suposed to do. And the marketing can't hurt the more people buy it the better, even if they seem to be confused by what they get a first. EA could be worse at lest Bio wasn't bought by Activition.

Amen to that can you imagine that. There would be a lot of Nerdrage going on if that was the case.

[SheffSteel]

There are pros and cons to EA's marketing campaign. Getting lots of people hyped up about the game is certainly going to help initial sales, but... marketing is not truth, and this campaign may not have reached the right people. There's already been a bit of a backlash against e.g. the heavy metal music in the trailer videos, and there is a potential problem if the campaign reaches people who otherwise would not have been interested in the game. If a singleplayer story-driven RPG is not your thing, then you're going to be disappointed, and a lot of disappointed people around launch time isn't good.

[Seagloom]

Phoenixblight wrote...

Then Bioware just has to continue with the same quality that they have in the past. Really Seagloom, I fail to see your point. Its a new IP they are going to try to attract as much audience as they can, now that they can with EA supporting them.

Jade Empire was a new IP and that didn't work out so well for them. Granted they didn't have EA's deep pockets and marketing machine working for them either back then.

Quality is irrelevant in my opinion. I expect EA cares more about sales than actual quality. Of course quality is *preferred*, as a good game is far more likely to attract repeat business and improve a developer's reputation among gamers, but if it failed to sell then quality wouldn't help much. Some of the best games ever are complete financial failures and never saw a sequel because of it. 

My worry is if BioWare were to put out a game and it sold, but didn't sell good enough to meet expectations. Would EA still let them do their thing at that point? Or would they start micromanaging them more? As I wrote before, I'm cynical. EA has a long history of burying developers when they fail to deliver, and although BioWare wasn't in any financial trouble when they signed on, I don't think that will save them unless all of their major releases from here on are reasonable sales successes.

The preorder stuff is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and not really my point.

Modifié par Seagloom, 16 octobre 2009 - 05:14 .

[Jsthompson1984]

We can look at it big picture, Bioware has three games coming out in the next year. if two out of three are commercial success's EA might see it as an acceptable loss to let bioware do whatever they want in regards to Future releases

[Taltherion]

I reserve judgement until I've played the game. Then I will know if EA had a positive influence or a negative one.

[Fulgrim88]

And remember that if EA chooses to put Bioware on a tight leash, forming an angry mob is always an option

[Leman]

I doubt EA is going to harm Bioware at this point. EA has started attempting to turn its image around and with Greg and Ray in the high places of EA I really don't think a leash will be put on Bioware.



And like Fulgrim said, we could always riot!

[Ashbery]

EA seems to have given Bioware terrible marketing and little else.

[AClockworkMelon]

Ashbery wrote...

EA seems to have given Bioware terrible marketing and little else.

While we may hate the marketing, there are legions of people out there who normally wouldn't have paid Dragon Age a moment's notice. I hate the trailers but I think their marketing is a success.

[Leman]

I would have to agree. The marketing was geared toward the masses and it seems to be working. While I am not sure how I feel about certain groups within those masses joining the RPG community, the money they bring in can only help Bioware create better and better games.

Modifié par Leman, 16 octobre 2009 - 06:56 .

[Phoenixblight]

Seagloom wrote...

Phoenixblight wrote...

Then Bioware just has to continue with the same quality that they have in the past. Really Seagloom, I fail to see your point. Its a new IP they are going to try to attract as much audience as they can, now that they can with EA supporting them.

Jade Empire was a new IP and that didn't work out so well for them. Granted they didn't have EA's deep pockets and marketing machine working for them either back then.

Quality is irrelevant in my opinion. I expect EA cares more about sales than actual quality. Of course quality is *preferred*, as a good game is far more likely to attract repeat business and improve a developer's reputation among gamers, but if it failed to sell then quality wouldn't help much. Some of the best games ever are complete financial failures and never saw a sequel because of it. 

My worry is if BioWare were to put out a game and it sold, but didn't sell good enough to meet expectations. Would EA still let them do their thing at that point? Or would they start micromanaging them more? As I wrote before, I'm cynical. EA has a long history of burying developers when they fail to deliver, and although BioWare wasn't in any financial trouble when they signed on, I don't think that will save them unless all of their major releases from here on are reasonable sales successes.

The preorder stuff is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and not really my point.

Those companies that have been gutted in the past were putting all their eggs in one basket and trying to promote it as best as possible but they lacked in the actual game which effected the sales so ofcourse EA was not going to take a chance on them. Bioware on the other hand has two games coming out next year which one for sure will sell like hot cakes and if the MMO is handled properly (which I honestly doubt it won't be) will be another game that sell. Dragon Age is a new IP I am sure that EA/Bioware have seen the risks but as long as Bioware continues to put out its normal quality they will stay afloat especially with Greg and Ray being in charge of the RPG division.

[Red Viking]

Jsthompson1984 wrote...

Here is a question for everybody. The merger with EA has given bioware many more tools in its conquest of the rpg world.  Does anyone think Dragon Age Would have fallen by the wayside to become more of a underground  success ( im looking at you Jade Empire) than the commercial hit that , at least in my opinion, it's shaping up to be?

I have to agree.  As fantastic as Bioware games are, not all of them have been mainstream hits.  There has been a significant increase in marketing ever since the EA merger,

[Limafoxtrot]

Fulgrim88 wrote...

One might hate EA with a passion, but you've gotta admit that they've got hell of a marketing machine.
As long as that results in many preorders -> many money for Bioware -> even better games, i'm happy.
They ruined a few very creative studios in the past by "harsh rule" and too much pressure (R.I.P. Bullfrog, R.I.P. Westwood), but i guess they've learned their lesson

I think most of the EA hate comes from their yearly titles like Madden, NBA and Need for Speed, along with the mediocre movie games they put out (Harry Potter stuff etc).    People see very small changes game to game for full price new releases.  Also they seem to have hopped onto the microtransaction bandwagon big time - from Sims 3 storefront to consumables for the sports games to stuff like jerseys and stadiums as dlc that really should be in the game.

The flipside is they also make or publish a lot of good games and have even started trying some new IPs like backing Bioware, Dead Space and Mirror's Edge.

[Azrailx]

no it helped to create its marketing plan