More Moore on EA Sports
by JC Fletcher 
{ Nov 24th 2008 at 8:10PM }
MTV Multiplayer has posted another statement from EA Sports president Peter Moore about the company's prospects on Wii. Apparently the smiling athletes and "All-Play" control schemes are working, but not so much that sales of the Wii versions of their sports franchises are catching up to those on the other consoles. "The challenge we face is that that consumer gets Wii Sports right out of the box," Moore said, "and that's a sports experience that's good enough for a lot of people."
Moore seems happy with the status of the Wii games as "secondary" versions, and selling them as companion pieces for multi-console owners. " I think there's going to be a very strong multi-console ownership in homes. And I think that's bearing out." It's an interesting strategy, and one that Moore hopes will cause sales of the Wii games to grow. It's also interesting for Moore to so frankly discuss the lack of market dominance on the Wii.
Does anyone else think that if there's one segment of the video game market that isn't dominated by EA Sports, it isn't such a bad thing? In fact, it's nice to have a bit of variety in the industry.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dan @ Nov 24th 2008 8:22PM
I'd definitely prefer that EA not dominate every aspect of the gaming industry, particularly sports.
But if the alternative is that nobody so much as tries to make a huge, fun sports game on the Wii... then yeah, it's really important that EA keep pushing.
Competition is good for the system. I don't feel like third-parties have fully "gotten" the Wii yet.
El Capitaine @ Nov 24th 2008 9:26PM
oh my gosh is the Regginator in the flesh!
Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2008 8:21PM
Try one thing. Just one.
Try not advertising the game as if it were a 360 exclusive.
ChromeAlchemist @ Nov 24th 2008 8:32PM
So Moore is blaming Wii Sports for poor sales on the wii? And does that include Madden? I hope not.
I'm going to go ahead and blame advertising. Those bastards have more than enough money to advertise their wii games well, but refuse to. And they cannot blame regions either (save for japan i think. Europe should be booming, i'm from england, and many people I know own it, albeit on 360, including my housemates)
If anything, Wii Sports should be a gateway game to their titles, considering they have basically no content whatsoever. More crap from Moore as usual.
ramuji @ Nov 24th 2008 9:31PM
Unfortunately, Japan cannot shoulder the blame either as far as the Wii is concerned, since none of the Madden games has ever been released for the Wii here.
swimsamongsharks @ Nov 24th 2008 8:50PM
I really hope EA continues to make a sports push for Wii. Let me just say that Wii Sports is fun and all but after owning it for 2 years I'm ready for something new. Wii Play wasn't it. But why should EA wait the market out?
Well first of all for the 1st year Wii was sold out on the spot by Nintendo fan boys who buy Zelda, Mario and other Nintendo Franchises. During the same period 3rd party games were crap. Lot's of people including myself got burned bad that very first year. Year 2 was a transition year in which new games came out but still the Wii was hard to find. Add the Wii Fit buzz and breaking the Wii market was tough. Unless you are Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
Once Wii is in the hands of the masses and not just the fan boys and the mom's with Wii Fit the market for sports games will open up. Oh and maybe make a better version of Tiger Woods 08. I didn't care for it that much.
Let's face it EA Sports makes the best sports games hands down. The Wii market for the EA Sports core titles will come in time. At the same time really work on incorporating the Wii-mote and Balance Board in some new titles. Lets face it all the games in Wii Sports can be improved on. So maybe they don't need to reinvent the wheel (wii sports) but make it better. I'd pay 50 bucks for a better golf game that isn't full of animation and buying of clothing. Sorry that Swing Golf game is annoying as hell.
jborah007 @ Nov 24th 2008 9:40PM
One thing that EA certaintly doesn't dominate is the Wii. And Madden's new casual look and feel made me want to throw up, especially when i waggled my way to a "boost"
jun-bug @ Nov 25th 2008 4:08AM
ea sports biggest downfall with the wii, in any sport mind you is the cartoonish appearence of every sport. i have madden 08, 09 nba live 08 ,09 fifa 09 upon about 60 other games, but the ea games are far greater cartoonish than what is seen on the other competing consoles.
that's the whole problem with the wii, they decided not to have it hi def , (being an owner of an hdtv capable of 1080p) that is the only reason i would get ps3 or xbox360
and yes i have the component out it just doesnt compare.!nintendo has to make a channel or add a component that will make the wii hi def and not just in the four hundreds at best.
guttertalk @ Nov 25th 2008 9:47AM
I think Moore and EA have misunderstood the Wii as the dumber brother in a multi-console home. Many of their attempts dumb down the game rather than add to the game. Madden for the Wii was missing key modes and gameplay that the core fan wants, but those missing features were justified with the "all play" features. (The ability to draw a pass route with the remote is, however, a great feature.)
I think Moore is confused, too, about the so-called casual player that jumps right into Wii Sports, which is almost like a demo disc. The game play is not that deep, although entertaining, even for someone not interested in sports. But I can't see that same person buying Madden of any flavor.
Add features like 5-on-5 and simplified controls for the Wii version, but the vast majority of purchases will still come from the core and hardcore owners. Leave them feeling cheated, and you'll lose that market. (Just go read any number of All-Play Madden forums, and see how cheated many feel.)
I think your core Madden play would buy it primarily for themselves but would use the family features and modes to play with their kids or wives/girlfriends. If EA used that model, I think their sales would pick up, because the core player would have all the features the 360 or PS3 owner has.