Video game sales thread December: It's over, use the new thread

cloudeagle

Hi! Welcome to the sales thread. Here we talk about how games have sold, marketing, PR comments, analysis of analysts and all kinds of other business-related stuff. Occasionally we make poop jokes.

To kick things off, here's a book based on a video game based on a book.



And now, the current month's info.
Data care of NPD Group



PlayStation 2 333.2K
PlayStation 3 1.36M
PSP 654.7K
Xbox 360 1.31M
Wii 3.81M
Nintendo DS 3.31M





PC games dropped a stomach churning 23% in 2009 to $538 million in the U.S. via NPD

Uncharted is now up to 950k sold in US. 4.3M PS3s sold in Calendar 2009

Fencingsax

Do you honestly have to post that?

cloudeagle

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Pureauthor

...Is that scythe made out a spine?

Leitner

I'll be honest I find it hilariously amazing. Not like anyone gives a damn about the covers of classics anyway (it's not like they're re-writing it is it?), and if it encourages people to pick it up, then that's a good thng right?

Capt Howdy

To be fair, I refused to buy the American Psycho book without Christian Bale on it. So maybe... no, I got nothin.

Waiting to see if NSMB Wii destroyed some sales record.

mere_immortal

Pureauthor wrote: »

...Is that scythe made out a spine?

He stole it from Death.

Brainiac 8

Fencingsax wrote: »

Do you honestly have to post that?

It's what dreams are made of.


Actually the book of the game of the book proves a very argued point. Many try and say that EA wasn't trying to ape the story for their game, that they shouldn't be held to the raping of the original poem. EA working to release the "poem plus other behind the game stuff book" proves that they are very much attempting to make their horrid Demon wang game seem like fine art.

When in fact it's the equivilent of Howard Stern rather than Homer.

Lunker

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

But like I said: I'd buy it for the lulz! I wish I could use it in grad school, but something tells me the EA-branded version doesn't have a scholarly apparatus.

mere_immortal

Lunker wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

That is sickening.

Capt Howdy

Oh shit, I just read the back of the book! That is fucking hilarious.

cloudeagle

Lunker wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

But like I said: I'd buy it for the lulz! I wish I could use it in grad school, but something tells me the EA-branded version doesn't have a scholarly apparatus.

Woah, twice now. Just knew about the one. But that book's in the public domain now, isn't it? Authors could put Twisp and Catsby on the cover if they felt like it.

Fencingsax

I am going to be pissed off for the rest of the day.

Fencingsax

cloudeagle wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

But like I said: I'd buy it for the lulz! I wish I could use it in grad school, but something tells me the EA-branded version doesn't have a scholarly apparatus.

Woah, twice now. Just knew about the one. But that book's in the public domain now, isn't it? Authors could put Twisp and Catsby on the cover if they felt like it.

Well, Twisp and Catsby aren't public domain, but I think so.

cloudeagle

Fencingsax wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

But like I said: I'd buy it for the lulz! I wish I could use it in grad school, but something tells me the EA-branded version doesn't have a scholarly apparatus.

Woah, twice now. Just knew about the one. But that book's in the public domain now, isn't it? Authors could put Twisp and Catsby on the cover if they felt like it.

Well, wisp and Catsby aren't public domain, but think so.

Damn you for pointing out the gaping logic flaw on a funny knee-jerk response. :P

lowlylowlycook

cloudeagle wrote: »

Fencingsax wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

cloudeagle wrote: »

And yeah, based on how Wuthering Heights' cover was Twilight-ized (as Lunker said), this new cover doesn't surprise me at all.

Still makes me both giggly (for the blood n' boobies crowd who will read it and go "what the fuck is this?") and depressed.

Edit: Yep. Gotta celebrate stupid milestones. This is the first time a classic's been shoehorned with a game's imagery, I think.

Note the "Bella & Edward's FAVORITE BOOK" graphic. :?

But like I said: I'd buy it for the lulz! I wish I could use it in grad school, but something tells me the EA-branded version doesn't have a scholarly apparatus.

Woah, twice now. Just knew about the one. But that book's in the public domain now, isn't it? Authors could put Twisp and Catsby on the cover if they felt like it.

Well, wisp and Catsby aren't public domain, but think so.

Damn you for pointing out the gaping logic flaw on a funny knee-jerk response. :P

Gabe and Tycho could put out the book with the T&C cover.



In other news:
Study: Industry hit by 11,500 layoffs since 2008

cloudeagle

So spouses of Rockstar employees claim their SO's are being worked to death and their bosses are going back on their promises.

To whomever it may concern,

In response to the unfortunate circumstances, some wives of Rockstar San Diego employees have collected themselves to assert their concerns and announce a necessary rejoinder, in the form of an immediate action to ameliorate conditions of employees.

The turning for the worse came approximately in the month of March of 2009. Till present, the working conditions persists to deteriorate as employees are manipulated by certain hands that wield the reigns of power in Rockstar San Diego. Furthermore, the extent of degradation employees have suffered extends to their quality of life and their family members. Though it is presumed, this unfortunate circumstance is due largely to ignorance and unawareness of most, with enlightened knowledge, action must be taken to protect the rights of employees and those who depend on them. Realizing that such broad claims could hardly spark any interest to take a stand, a better illustration of the wrongs made unto Rockstar San Diego workers is necessary. Futhermore, the detailed descriptions about to be given can serve as a starting point as it will provide a clearer direction for change.

Initially, as work pressure in the office increases, so do the stress levels of employees. Recently, with the amount of stress that has been built up, there have been physical manifestations caused by stress making health a concern. It is known that some employees have been diagnosed with depression symptoms and at least one among them is acknowledged to have suicidal tendencies. These will not be ameliorated with a full time masseuse and will only worsen if no change to improve conditions take place and managers continue with their dishonesty of deadlines. There are understandably times when crunching in work is needed and extended working time is expected. However; as with all systems known to man, there must always be an effort for balance. Ergo, where there are times of acceleration, there are other times of deceleration in order to recuperate. This is not being practiced though, and instead of valued employees, a sentiment grows that they have lost not only the sense of being valued but turned into machines as they are slowly robbed of their humanity. The managers at Rockstar San Diego continue in their dishonesty, pushing their employees to the brink promising temporariness fully equipped with the knowledge of another deadline just around the corner. The reigns whip again, and it becomes mandatory to work close to twelve hours a day including Saturdays, regardless if an employee has finished all his duties prior. These, yes all these are horrendous, yet what makes it unacceptable has yet to come. The fact that these conditions, the same ones that have been proven time and time again to worsen the mental, physical and emotional parts of employees, are also met with further obstruction of employees rights. That of even any effort to retain any health still owned by the employee by seeking medical attention on a Saturday, because on Sundays most medical offices are closed, they must call in sick. Furthermore, not only is it not received with sympathy and understanding rather the must endure an attitude presented to them that they pose a hindrance! No, such core hours step outside the law and will not be accepted as the norm!

In the last years, there have also been many cuts on benefits despite the increasing demands on employees. After dedicated hard work on a project, weeks of comp time were offered as a reward and illustration of appreciation and understanding. Far from what is currently being met by the employees after nearly a year of constant strenuous activity. Little is there to motivate continuation as they also have lost a free vacation week between Christmas and New Year. Without time to recuperate and no efforts made to alleviate the stress of such conditions would procure on an employee after a period time, serious health concerns. Yet, now the health concern becomes another financial concern as the stripping of medical benefits surfaces to realization. It becomes rather worse rather than better as employees gain experience and become "senior". Instead of appreciation, numerous non-exempt designers and artists have had their overtime pay cut as a result for being "too senior". Looking to upper management provides no comfort rather the contrary. With unsuitable behavior from a newly promoted studio manager that vulgarly speaks the F word in most sentences and those who refuse to look at the workers' faces as they pass in the hall, it is clear their attempt to ignore the injustice they have implemented on their once valued and appreciated employees. Perhaps it should be them who explain to our children and loved ones the absence of their increasingly frustrated fathers.

Yet and still, there is more to be said of the working conditions that Rockstar San Diego employees have had to suffer. While managing to endure through the trying times, they still were hit with more blows. Again balance is denied, as working conditions worsened with no appreciation. Working harder, longer, faster, yet there was never a guarantee of a bonus nor if there was any earned, when they will be received! Moreover, bonuses could significantly be reduced based on ANYTHING management comes up with, while the employee would have no way to know about it. Thus bringing to light, the current Rockstar management has grown a thirst for power as it enables itself to grow in the Rockstar's structure. Besides bonuses, financial appreciation has lacked in other aspects as well. For four consecutive years, salary raises have not adjusted properly to cover inflation. This is especially unjust to those who significantly contribute to projects. Further than unappreciative, employees are disrespected when lied to as a whole on how Rockstar games does not generate money and as claims of justification for unappreciated employees are made pointing to the deficit, meanwhile the last Grand Theft Auto game made over a billion dollars of revenue. “Over a billion dollars of revenue”, so where is the recognition and appreciation to those of whom, without them, such success would not have been made?

Conclusively, if these working conditions stay unchanged in the upcoming weeks, preparation will be made to take legal action against Rockstar San Diego. This is the course that naturally presents itself, as either these conditions were manufactured from unawareness and actions to improve conditions will prove such innocence. Or if no action is seen after this letter, it clear that other aspects are the cause of the deteriorated conditions of Rockstar San Diego employees and must be further addressed. Rest assure, all that is desired is compensation for health, mental, financial, and damages done to families of employees.

With all due respect,

Determined Devoted Wives of Rockstar San Diego employees.

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RockstarSpouse/20100107/4032/Wives_of_Rockstar_San_Diego_employees_have_collected_themselves.php

Santa Claustrophobia

Is that supposed to be the actual Dante's Inferno? Written by Alighieri? Not a novelisation?

At this point, the only problem I have is that it doesn't have the author's name on it.

Sipex

@ rockstar wives: Horrible if true.

Not that I don't believe it to be true but you can never be certain at first.

This does reflect on one of the reasons I gave up my dream as a game designer. Game developers are often overworked and underappreciated for those in the IT sector. I remember reading a story about this with EA previously and no doubt it's happened before that too.

One of the disadvantages to working in a field where EVERYONE wants in. If you leave, so what? Some eager kid replaces you.

Couscous

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26722/QA_Platinums_Inaba_Nude_Makers_Kouno_On_Infinite_Space.php

Infinite Line is the new Nintendo DS game from Nude Maker (Steel Battalion) and Platinum Games (Bayonetta). Inspired by the novel Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke, the game aims to bring hard sci-fi to a wider audience on the DS -- but some reports have hinted that the game is much lighter than that.

The pending release of the game via publisher Sega as Infinite Space in the West, as well as Nude Maker president Hifumi Kouno’s comments below, may shine some light on the subject. If you haven’t heard much about Nude Maker before, it’s an odd, very creative, and rather small studio, having only around nine people.

It was one of many studios to splinter from the dissolution of the huge Osaka-based Human Entertainment, and when it’s not working on games like the huge Steel Battalion, the company makes erotic games for the PC. Gamasutra had a talk with Kouno about this subject some time ago, and he spoke candidly about the hows and whys of his working in that genre.

This is notable since, in our more recent talk, we discussed the recent regulations being imposed by the government on the Japanese pornographic game industry.

While most of what the government decries is totally understandable – underaged females, or those who appear underaged, as well as involuntary sexual situations – other elements, such as banning of hypnosis, and regulation of sexual scenes to a certain percentage of the content, are slightly less obvious.

(Japan has two self-regulatory software boards for content like this – but they have had little say in the government’s decisions. For more information on this subject, check out a notable post on weblog Canned Dogs.)

In this interview, Kouno and Inaba share their thoughts on this regulation, as well as the new Tekki Online. Both worked on Steel Battalion, known as Tekki in Japan, with Capcom. Since that time, a Korean company made a third-person online mech shooter called Metal Rage.

In Japan, the publisher (GameYarou) chose to call the game Tekki Online, but it has nothing to do with the original, and neither Nudemaker nor Capcom receive any compensation for it. The company chose to skirt this issue by changing the characters in Japanese, from the original (鉄騎), literally meaning “steel mounted warriors” to the new (鉄鬼), literally meaning “steel demon.”

Both words are pronounced the same way, which is both clever and nefarious on the part of publisher GameYarou, which when translated means "let's game!" Using the company's own trick, another reading of the same phonetics could also mean "game bastard." This interview was Platinum Games creative force Atsuhi Inaba’s first encounter with the imposter, and he was none too pleased.

In this brief interview, we discuss all of the above, as well as future plans for both companies.

Now that Infinite Space is done, what is Nude Maker working on?

Hifumi Kouno: Mmmm, well, not much. (laughs) We're looking for someplace to fund the next project. Kind of floating around, so to speak.

So you're not working with Platinum again right now.

HK: Well, we're working on the overseas versions right now, but we aren't working on another title at present, no.

Atsushi Inaba: Don't take that to mean "we're never working with them again," though. (laughs) Nothing like that.

So you have nothing to do with Tekki Online?

HK: Well, I was the director on... oh, you mean the ripoff! (laughs) That was wholly developed by a Korean outfit, and when they put it out in Japan, the publisher put that name on it for some reason.

AI: [looking at the Tekki Online material] Oh, man, this is terrible!

HK: [english] Fuckin' bastards! (laughs)

Sorry! I thought you would’ve known all about this.

HK: If you ever run into the company that made this, tell them that I'd like to see them go out of business as soon as possible! (laughs) Tell 'em it'd be better for the whole game industry if that happened!

Getting back to it, with Infinite Space, initially I thought it was going to be more serious sci-fi. Where did the decision to have anime-like characters and scenes come from?

HK: Well, if we had made it fully hard-SF in style, then the only group the game would've received praise from is the hardcore audience. If we pursued that style too closely, then we'd only be appealing to a pretty small piece of the pie; it'd be harder for new users to get into the thing.

The essence of Infinite Space is still serious SF, and I don't think that's ever changed at all; it's something you'll definitely feel as you make your way toward the end of the story. However, the introductory phase -- your first little while with the game -- is a bit softer and more anime-like.

It's easier to get to grips with, and it makes the game accessible to a wider range of people. And once those people get more into the game, I think they'll realize that "hard" SF is pretty interesting stuff, too.

Have you seen Battlestar Galactica?

HK: The new one, right? I have the DVDs; it's pretty neat.

That seems like one way to open it up, because that became very popular in spite of being pretty deep. That seems like a way to keep the audience youthful and open them up to hard sci-fi.

HK: Mmm, yeah. That popularity isn't there in Japan, though, sadly.

I have big hopes for the game either way. What do you think of the eroge rulings happening now in Japanese politics?

HK: (laughs) What's that got to do with me?

Well, I’m sure it has nothing to do with your games, but...

HK: Well, to give the really serious answer, new regulations or whatever in video games is really no skin off my nose. I mean, I don't want games to be seen as an antisocial activity; to me it's a matter of how far I can go without hitting those regulations.

Eroge are created for the enjoyment of adults, of course; they aren't meant to depict children, nor are they supposed to have a negative impact on children. If new regulations help to reduce the chance of that happening, then I don't really mind them.

I absolutely agree that some elements of Japanese eroge are pretty degrading and backward - but it seems to me that any kind of direct regulation of the game industry by the government is a stepping stone to more regulation. So perhaps the violence of MadWorld may eventually not be acceptable, using the same justification.

HK: Well, I would agree that most of the government's forays into regulating any type of popular media have been spearheaded by stupid people without much idea of how things actually work in the world. At the same time, though, there are games out right now that sort of don't know where to draw the line -- enough to make you think "Are these toddlers, or what?”

I see nothing wrong with some of the more gory and violent games that come out here from America, but I do think there are also game creators that just wallow in that and make gameplay a second priority as a result.

I do think that creators like these do need to take some responsibility for their actions, and I think recent government drives toward regulation is a sort of punishment against that, regardless of how wrongheaded it is. It's natural, of course, for anyone to desire more freedom of expression, to not have to worry about what the general community feels is appropriate or not.

The government, meanwhile, is trying to counterbalance that, and the resulting debate is sort of what defines our society as a whole. It's an ongoing issue, certainly, and it results in the social balance we have today. The game industry, in a way, has yet to find that balancing point.

Inaba, any opinions on this?

AI: Well, I agree that the game industry is still in its infancy, in many different meanings of the term. I think that, both in terms of what forms of expression the industry uses within its products and how it interacts with the government and other regulating bodies, we don't have any real voices of experience to rely on.

The movie industry is a different story -- people accept violence in movies as a way of providing the experience, but some still feel uncomfortable about violence in video games.

Other industries have self-regulating bodies, but now we're seeing the government trying to regulate games outside of industry advisement. If they enforce rules outside of the industry, I think that could affect a lot of games.

HK: Well, like Inaba said, there is a place in video games for sensible violence, when it's a part of the gameplay and the story. If all you have is a game where you can kill kids, kill tons of innocent people, and there's no meaning or reason to it, well, in some ways it can't be helped if people look at that negatively.

Obviously we could go on forever about this, but as I’ve only time for one final question, Inaba, how do you feel about the current trajectory of Platinum? Are you satisfied with the way you're going so far?

AI: Well, we still haven't released all the titles we've announced, and we've got a lot of other stuff in the works too. It's hard to say whether I'm satisfied yet, but we did build this company two years ago because we wanted to do new and really exciting stuff.

The things we couldn't do ourselves, we've been able to collaborate with other outfits like Nude Maker, so in that aspect, I'm really happy with where we're going.

Elvenshae

Santa Claustrophobia wrote: »

Is that supposed to be the actual Dante's Inferno? Written by Alighieri? Not a novelisation?

At this point, the only problem I have is that it doesn't have the author's name on it.

Yes. It ... does? ... have his name on it. It's called Dante's Inferno.

It also mentions Longfellow, the translator.

Lunker

Santa Claustrophobia wrote: »

Is that supposed to be the actual Dante's Inferno? Written by Alighieri? Not a novelisation?

At this point, the only problem I have is that it doesn't have the author's name on it.

But it has a big ol' picture of Dante on the front, with the cross stitched in his chest and everything, just like in the original text!

Santa Claustrophobia

Elvenshae wrote: »

Santa Claustrophobia wrote: »

Is that supposed to be the actual Dante's Inferno? Written by Alighieri? Not a novelisation?

At this point, the only problem I have is that it doesn't have the author's name on it.

Yes. It ... does? ... have his name on it. It's called Dante's Inferno.

It also mentions Longfellow, the translator.

And I suppose that people instinctually know that Dante was more than just the protagonist, right? I mean, just because I know the difference between author and translator and that I'd always seen the name Dante Alighieri attributed on the covers of various versions that everybody else has, too. Right?

Pureauthor

You mean to tell me that there are people who don't know Dante Alighieri wrote Dante's Inferno?

cloudeagle

Psst... it's just called The Inferno, not Dante's Inferno.

Sipex

Pureauthor wrote: »

You mean to tell me that there are people who don't know Dante Alighieri wrote Dante's Inferno?

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or seriousness.

Either way it saddens me that overworked rockstar workers get less cred than a book of a game of a poem/book.

Brainiac 8

I think it's because it is so unsurprising. EA previously got busted for the work conditions their people had to work under.

It's a tough career path, one that is highly sought after, and there are bound to be companies that work their people to death. How else does Ubisoft get so many Imagine/Petz/Babiez games out per year?

Pureauthor

Seriously, everyone knows that Dante wrote the Divine Comedy and then after that he went on the found a demon-slaying business.

Brainiac 8

With wangs.

Sipex

@Brainiac: Very true, poor guys. Don't even get paid that well.

I just hope that movement leads to some better treatment for the employees regardless.

Also...I wonder if Rockstar North treats their employees the same way and if they know how the employees in Rockstar San Diego are treated.

@Pureauthor: Right then, sarcasm. Thanks for clarification.

I had a sarcastic zinger thought up but you don't really qualify if you're not serious about that statement.

Lunker

Speaking of Visceral Games and EA ... Dead Space Extraction was really good! It was primarily the Visceral connection that led me to download the Dante's Inferno demo just to see what they could bring to the table.

Man, that was a bad idea.

Drake

You know what? I'm willing to put up with all kinds of crap if it keeps the classics alive.

cloudeagle

Drake wrote: »

You know what? I'm willing to put up with all kinds of crap if it keeps the classics alive.

It won't. The overlap between people who would love an ADD, Beavis and Butt-head version of Hell and those who would actually sit down to read The Inferno is practically nil. This is just ham-handed marketing.

Brainiac 8

cloudeagle wrote: »

Drake wrote: »

You know what? I'm willing to put up with all kinds of crap if it keeps the classics alive.

It won't. The overlap between people who would love an ADD, Beavis and Butt-head version of Hell and those who would actually sit down to read The Inferno is practically nil. This is just ham-handed marketing.

This seems like a perfect opportunity to mention a new quote of our favorite rockstar analyst Pachter!

“EA did not have the products that people wanted (in 2009, and they are) blaming everything on the environment. This company lacks introspection. Their core business is not performing well and they can’t explain why.” - Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter

Scarily I agree with him...and sadly Dante's Inferno will suffer the same fate as some of their previous attempts.

Elvenshae

Santa Claustrophobia wrote: »

Elvenshae wrote: »

Santa Claustrophobia wrote: »

Is that supposed to be the actual Dante's Inferno? Written by Alighieri? Not a novelisation?

At this point, the only problem I have is that it doesn't have the author's name on it.

Yes. It ... does? ... have his name on it. It's called Dante's Inferno.

It also mentions Longfellow, the translator.

And I suppose that people instinctually know that Dante was more than just the protagonist, right? I mean, just because I know the difference between author and translator and that I'd always seen the name Dante Alighieri attributed on the covers of various versions that everybody else has, too. Right?

I suspect that more people think of Dante as the author of Dante's Inferno rather than the character, because I suspect that more people have heard of "Dante's Inferno" than have actually read any part of The Divine Comedy.

Look, Dante is like Madonna. He only needs one name.

cloudeagle

Why are we not talking about EA performing so abysmally? Seriously, their quarterly losses just keep going up and up, falling short of expectations. I'm starting to wonder how long they can go on like this. Seriously, when was their last profitable year? 2001 or so?

Brainiac 8

I'm thinking that this year may be the year Disney finally buys them out....it seems very very likely, especially considering how far the company has fallen in the last couple of years.

I mean really, how low can their stock get?

Elvenshae

cloudeagle wrote: »

Why are we not talking about EA performing so abysmally?

... Because you're being all butthurt about Dante's Inferno in not one, but two separate threads?

Santa Claustrophobia

What's to talk about? For years people hated EA because of their 'grind-it-out' mentality. Everybody cheered when they announced a switch to more IP-friendly production. Then, two years of raisins and Activision buying Blizzard and we find out the old way was the best way.

The real question is how long will it take until Activision buys out EA?

Brainiac 8

Aw, did Cloud hurt your feelings?


He's an intellectual snob...so he's just sort of like that.

Im in ur thread, callin u a snobs!

Elvenshae

Brainiac 8 wrote: »

Aw, did Cloud hurt your feelings?

Not mine - he's just asking a dumb question. "Why are you all talking about this thing I'm talking about instead of this other thing?" "Uh, because you're talking about it?" is really the only appropriate answer.

He's an intellectual snob...so he's just sort of like that.

He's also, you know, missing the point. He said, in the other thread, that he'd've been fine with the whole Inferno thing if only they'd said "inspired by" instead of "based on" (because, you know, that's a massive linguistic change) and when they do that and when it's pointed out to him that they've been doing it all along, he's still not happy about things.