EA Montreal Shifts Focus To Bigger, "HD-Quality" Titles
Army of Two: The 40th DayEA has been doing some shuffling lately, what with their 1500-employee layoff and purchase of Playfish, and along with this comes a new focus for EA Montreal.
According to a recent Edge interview, EA Montreal General Manager Alain Tascan has said the team will shift its focus to "action titles and HD-quality products," rather than sticking with simpler and more casual projects for the Wii (they've produced the likes of Boogie Superstar and Skate It). As we've all seen, 2009 has really been the year when the PS3 and 360 have pushed forward and the Wii has fallen back; said Tascan:
"The Wii market is a little bit unpredictable these days. We’re going to see how Christmas is going to do and while with the Wii we have had very successful titles, we are going to focus on big, blockbuster-type titles. It doesn't mean that we are going to abandon the Wii, but as a studio we want to be ready for new challenges."
Leading the charge will be January's Army of Two: The 40th Day, which really appears to be a significant step up after the merely average original title. We've also heard that The Saboteur - from the now-defunct Pandemic Studios - has landed in EA Montreal's lap, so that could be another step in the right direction. Tascan says they're "just trying to adapt to the reality of today" and that if you fail to adapt...well, bad things can happen. For my part, I've been wondering all year how many third-party developers are going to move their focus away from the faltering Wii. I seriously doubt EA Montreal will be the last.
11/24/2009 10:52:06 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (21 posts)
jaybiv
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 11:25:18 AM
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2 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 11:26:10 AM
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The Wii's success is good for Nintendo, bad for for most 3rd parties.
3 up, 0 down
BTNwarrior
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 11:42:08 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 12:00:42 PM
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2 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 3:30:01 PM
With as many Wii units that are out there, I thought developers were going to shift more focus and capitalize on the potential gold mine that is the Wii owner base. And just because they are making a game on the Wii doesn't mean they have to incorporate the waggle. Just make a straight up game, no special jiving of the controller necessary. I would have liked to see how nice a looking game they could have made.
And I am sure you would answer that the Wii has sub par graphics, and the Wii owners are too casual, but Mario/Zelda games look great, and they sell rather well. When Nintendo develops a game they tend to strike gold, when other developers develop a game for the Wii, they tend to strike out (Dead Space Extraction).
I believe Little Big Planet would have sold a lot more on the Wii than it did on the PS3.
That being said, if I had to give up either my PS3 or my Wii, well, I will begrudgingly give up the Wii, but hands off my PS3.
I had higher hopes for the Wii's potential, and now it seems all is lost for it now that developers are going to "shift focus", as they say, away from it.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/24/2009 3:43:16 PM
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zee
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 8:14:31 PM
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just2skillf00l
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 1:58:24 PM
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Graphics are last generation. Games are fun mostly if not only with others; besides the exclusive mario or zelda games. Waving the controller around gets sort of tiring. I don't want to use this function in every game; a choice would be nice. I want to bring out the full potential of my high definition television; something that your console can't even remotely satisfy. Why do I have two controllers in my hand, I just can't display MY full potential when gaming; i feel like there is a disconnect. Why does the sensor not pick up my movements like I want it to. I feel like I'm not in complete control of my gaming experience.
Well the ps3 will correct and upgrade the Wii's mistakes (despite the motion sensor being the wii's main function for advertising) some time next year and I will see how the two products compare.
I can go on and on and on. But I think I've said enough. Stay tuned for next time when I show you how the motion sensor controlled wii hardly compares to sony's first generation console...hehe
2 up, 0 down
Kowhoho
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 3:06:58 PM
Buy the wii or buy a new controller....hmmm....
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Imagi
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @ 3:49:31 AM
Anyway Nintendo has just been printing money with this console, will they blow everyone out of the water with their next gen due to their inflated bank account or will they be lazy and just continue down the easy money route, ignore the gamers that grew up with them and are sad to see them become a novelty item producer that gathers dust in peoples homes.
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Snaaaake
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 6:02:32 PM
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Sorry Nintendo, the Wii is mainly for togetherness, it won't satisfy hardcore gamers.
But imo, the 360 may not be able to do Everything but it does more than the Wii at least.
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Hezzron
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 6:42:39 PM
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3 up, 1 down
Milrite
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 7:09:37 PM
2 up, 0 down
Hezzron
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @ 9:10:20 AM
1 up, 0 down
Qubex
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 8:26:27 PM
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Q!
"i am home"
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Alienange
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 9:56:54 PM
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Last edited by Alienange on 11/24/2009 9:57:05 PM
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___________
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @ 12:59:46 AM
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JofaMang
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009 @ 11:25:16 AM