Boycott EA? where do u stand?

[sabre2922]

Ive decided to boycott anything EA made or published by them.
I dont care for conglomerate corporations. I like to have a choice of what games I play even if they are sports titles :angry:
Even though they have a few good games in the bond series, racing games etc its really no big problem for me to never buy another EA game again.also many of thier multiplatform games are average and do not even attempt to take advantages of the respective systems that they appear on.
The fact is I dont even own one EA game for either my Xbox or PS2 so this should not be a problem for me.
I also think that this type of hostility and "takeover" methods are very bad for our favorite hobby and will have very negative effects in the quility and most importantly the variety of games that we will have to chose from.
so I vote yes to boycotting EA.
I really dont care to be playing EA GTA or EA sonic or mario anytime soon and from the pattern they are showing thats where things may be heading at least in my opinion.
I honestly feel that if enough of us stop buying EA products there is a chance that we could decide the outcome of the future and in the end will ultimitely have a positive effect so that we will still have a CHOICE again of what games we play from what game designers/companies that WE like best.

[crazyjackcsa]

Well buy games from one massive company (EA) or another (Sony or whatever). I picke d I don't care. Without actively boycoting the company I've managed to buy 2 games in the past 10 years from them anyway. And the only recent game I wanted was the Lord Of the Rings the Third Age. So I 'll stick with buying my average of an EA game every 5 years.

[Aussie2B]

I've been "boycotting" EA for years and years anyway. :P They put out almost nothing but crap, so I got no interest in buying their games. All my EA games are older titles, and most of them I ended up with because I bought a lot or something.

[EricRyan34]

I will still buy Madden and the Need For Speed Series

[Cauterize]

is this next?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/cauterize4/xbox_controller_s3b.jpg

Hope you love my photoshop skills! ;)

[scooterb23]

I don't care enough to boycott anyone...If EA makes a game I want, I don't care, I'll buy it...

Cool controller, too bad it is the S revision... if it were the original model, I'd like it even better, and really man, if it is going to be an EA model...it should be blue or something :)

[neotokeo2001]

I buy good games. If they happen to be EA games, What is the difference.
EA is a software company that was corrupted by the success of Madden. They learned that they could sell slight updates of Madden year after year and people would continue to buy them.

The only advances EA's Madden has made is when they were pushed by the release of the original Gameday and then later the NFL2K series. After getting beat on the Gridiron 2 years in a row (Quality not sales) EA has done the only thing they could do to protect their dwindling market share, Buy out the NFL.

Pandoras Box has been opened by the legions of Madden Fanboys and the rest of the game industry will feel the results.

-- Insert Madden Fanboy Rants Here ---

[Captain Wrong]

I really don't care either way, I'm just sick of people bitching about EA.

[tuxedojoe]

I will buy a game that I think I would enjoy, regardless of the publisher/develoiper. That being said, I currently own 0 EA games across 8 platforms.

EA has been slacking off lately. As far as I am concerned, they did not put out one good ame in 2004

[crazyjackcsa]

Not to get all old and "In my day" here. But the market isn't what it was when most of us started playing games. True I don't remember anything from before the NES. But the MArket changes after the PlayStation and we game in a very diferent world now, and the that world is what EA deals in. They make Mediocre games better than anybody and that is what the casual gamer buys.

[portnoyd]

I really don't care either way, I'm just sick of people bitching about EA.

Seriously. Can we add this as an option?

If they make a game that interests me, I'll get it. If they don't, well, there are millions of others who will find one that does, and will buy it. If I boycott, good lot of shit that'll do me if they make a game I want to play.

I'll boycott EA when they start doing something really horrendous to make their games, like killing small children.

dave

[cracked8ball]

I don't buy EA crap anyways, so doesn't really matter to me.

[Flack]

To maintain balance in the force I've decided to begin only buying EA games.

[Promophile]

I don't buy any EA games anyways... So I guess in a sense I'm "boycotting them" ;)

[mr_nihilism]

Well, my general dislike for EA won't prevent me from picking up Burnout 4 (presuming they don't fuck the game up) whenever it comes out.

Otherwise, I won't be shelling out the cash for any EA games.

[Cirrus]

I will boycott it, which I tend to anyway, as long as they don't put out another SSX game. I can't believe how good that series is, and I can't imagine liking snowboarding games...

Anyway, screw EA, but at least they can't touch our great games that we already have.

[swlovinist]

I look at a specific game and if it is good, I will buy it. While EA has been agressive and somewhat disturbing by locking out everyone else from making a football game, I dont blame them. They do the things that they do because they can. Frankly, I am sure many other companies would do the same thing EA is doing if they knew they could get away with it.

[vincewy]

If you don't like conglomerates, then you should boycott Square/Enix as well. If you're serious about boycotting EA, simply don't shell out $40-$50 a game, wait til it drops to under $20, other than Dreamcast and Neo-Geo games, I've not shelled out over $50 for any PS2/Xbox/Gamecube games, companies earn from people paying $50 a game.

I've not bought an EA game for quite a while, last one I bought was Need For Speed Underground 1 GC for $10, next one I'll get is Oddowrld when it's belowe $20, so my stance is neutral in this poll.

[Ernster]

Why would I boycott EA, I just dont buy there games coz they dont appeal to me. But when I feel like a Soccer game, I go buy FIFA 200X :P

[TurboGenesis]

I don't buy EA games anyways. I own a total of 4 games from EA. Battle Squadron, Road Rash, Soukyogurentai, and NHL 2001. The hockey game was a gift. EA has never made games that appealed to me so its not a difficult decision for me to not buy any of their wares. I don't like much of what comes out these days so I don't have to worry about buying games. I have more fun and enjoyment playing and shopping/hunting for classic older games. SO yeah i guess i'm boycotting EA. I already know my friends are over the whole NFL fiasco.

[ubikuberalles]

Who cares? :roll: I buy games for the games and not because of some misguided conviction against "evil" corporations. If I did have such convictions I wouldn't be piecemeal about it and target just one company. Instead, I'd sh*tcan my whole collection, form protest groups and wave ugly banners in front of whatever corporate headquraters I am peeved at for that day. I got better things to do than mix that kind of politics with my gaming.

[Lady Jaye]

Count me in the camp of those who couldn't care less either way. I buy games based on my interest for them, not on who's the publisher.

I don't have that many EA games, but I don't go out of my way to look for them or avoid them.

[Ninja Blacksox]

"If the game is good, I buy it."

Put me in that camp.

I know for a fact that I will buy "FIFA 2006."

-A Boy

[classicb]

I voted YES but I'm really not in the boat of hate everything EA. I really don't like the moves they have been making and I think it will hurt gaming (I don't think it will kill it). If I thought higher of EA it wouldn't be that big a deal. Imagine if Capcom or Sega did the same things EA is doing there probably wouldn't be near the uproar. I think EA is a crap company and crap company that has this much stock in the video game world is what most of us don't like.

[-hellvin-]

I dunno, I as well don't really feel like jumping in the "I hate this company boat" as well so I just said I don't care. If the company in question puts out so much crap like EA, then why would I buy anything from them anyhow? I have not purchased anything from....them...in a long time. Well I guess I have but then again when you're working on a complete genesis collection you're gonna be buying a lot of EA games.

[-hellvin-]

is this next?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/cauterize4/xbox_controller_s3b.jpg

Hope you love my photoshop skills! ;)

And on a side note, yes, EA had a special edition version of the logitech precision controller. It's silver.

[slip81]

I don't care either way because them buying out the NFL probably won't affect anything. It just means that companies like Sega can't use players' names, and to me that's no big deal, and I think most of the people who buy non Madden NFL games won't care either. Madden has a following of dedicaded football fans, and they're going to buy Madden no matter what, even if there is something better on the market.

I'm a casual football fan and NFL game player, so to me this just means that when I play the Patriots in ESPN NFL 2K6 I'll be controlling Tom Bradley instead of Brady, who cares.

[Predatorxs]

I don't care enough to boycott anyone...If EA makes a game I want, I don't care, I'll buy it...

Ditto...

Just think of the millions of gamers worldwide, who buy EA games. Now Just think of the "few" gamers that DON'T buy EA..

It's kinda like the matrix, your not neo and your not gunna change the gaming world, so join the rest of us in the gaming matrix, and live a happy and normal gaming life.. :P

As we get sucked dry of all our energy? errr i mean cash!! and be happy that your not eating crap for dinner everyday with neo, trinity and the rest of the gang! LOL

http://www.xs.dsl.pipex.com/avator/ms_ufo.gif..XS

[spoon]

I can't boycott good games. Whatever crap games (quality wise) EaAreleases, I will stay away from. I will have to buy Madden now as it is the only way to get a football fix.

On a side note, no, I don't think this whole situation is great for the game industry. As with most everything, it has it's pros and cons.

[goatdan]

I've decided to stop buying EA games myself recently, but it has nothing to do with their business practices or anything like that. It is based purely on the fact that I think their games have stunk lately. I finally got copies of games like Sim City 4 (ex-favorite game series, might I add), LOTR: ROTK and a few others I had really been looking forward too. I haven't played any more than an hour or two becuase I was so disappointed in them. It was immediately back to Sim City 3000 and TMNT.

When EA makes a game that I'm interested in at a price that I'm willing to pay, I'll happily purchase it. But I'm going to be overly wary of any game with the EA logo on it from here on out from the negative experiences I've had recently.

And I am sure that Madden is a great series, but I don't buy sports games unless they are super cheap. That's why I got the ESPN series this year and why I've never owned a Madden. I like football, but not enough to actually care to boycott them over it.

[Algol]

EA generally doesn't make anything I'm really interested in, so I voted "I don't care."

[nate1749]

If someone is boycotting EA for their business practices, then would they be boycotting microsoft as well? EA looks like unicef compared to them.

Nate

[Richter Belmount]

I dunno I loved Def jam fight for ny but I dont like the ea name it isnt like i wont buy their every title id buy square or konamis every title not ea.

[katchoo]

why deny yourself a game you would like just because it's made by a company you don't like?

I had a "no xboxes" rule for our house...trying to lead the march to mircosoft's downfall, but then Shenmue II came out....and all of the sudden there was an xbox in the house. ^_^

[Richter Belmount]

why deny yourself a game you would like just because it's made by a company you don't like?

I had a "no xboxes" rule for our house...trying to lead the march to mircosoft's downfall, but then Shenmue II came out....and all of the sudden there was an xbox in the house. ^_^

damn =P if there was more people like you , I loved that game yet everyone else doesnt have it grrr..... -.-

[Fuyukaze]

I havent cared for EA in years sense the deal with Square. I dispise a good majority of their product because I just cant stand them. The curent popular games they make tend to piss me off due to how they recieve so many great reviews for being so original even when the features that are soposed to be new in said games were original in games that came out years ago for other systems. That said, I realize the futility in trying to boycott a company these days. I dont consider being a serious gamer to be an insult and saying that, I also consider a number of people who post here to be such. That said, we are a minority of the gaming population with a good majority being people who play games only for a few specific franchises. Most of which are aparently owned by EA. Untill EA does something to upset them, I doubt very seriously EA will ever change any of its ways. Why should they? As is, they are at best upsetting only a small percentage of the gaming populace. That tells me they have no reason to change. None what so ever. Thats fine with me, I can accept this. I may not like EA, but atleast I still have the choice to buy games from some other company. Untill that changes, I will continue to ignore EA. Why should I give them my money or any of my time? Are they not beneath me?

[Ernster]

I think boycotting EA is stupid. Why are they going to care if they sell 1 or 100 less copies? Why miss out on a good game just to prove a point which will not change EA's ways anyway. Frankly if your gonna boycot EA do the same with Microsoft products, but hang on arent you on Windows now? Hippocrits. :P (yes I know theres other OS's)

Anyway basically EA make great sports game, and when I feel like a sport game I wil boy from EA, assholes or not.

PS This post isnt directed to anyone in particular just random ppl who fall into the scenario :evil:

[sisko]

I'm not boycotting them, but I'm not buying any of their games either. I think the last game I bought was SSX Tricky, which was after it had been out for a year already.

I simply have no interest in the games they produce.

[xaer0knight]

I voted YES but I'm really not in the boat of hate everything EA. I really don't like the moves they have been making and I think it will hurt gaming (I don't think it will kill it). If I thought higher of EA it wouldn't be that big a deal. Imagine if Capcom or Sega did the same things EA is doing there probably wouldn't be near the uproar. I think EA is a crap company and crap company that has this much stock in the video game world is what most of us don't like.

I will boycott them more than i did Square during the N64 days! one another note GO FRANCE! i hope the take a good look at the Ubisoft postition.

1. EA buying the NFL license. Its bad for business, sega even said that. KCEJ (konami) did the same with Japanese Baseball league, and even that didn't go to well. If there is no one there to raise the bar or try to set a new standard, how would a Madden '09 title look? it will look the same as Madden '04 because there is no one to put competition and set new innovations out there that EA looked over.

2. EA gets suied for unhealthy/unsafe/overworked working conditions by its employees. I hope the employees win that.

3. EA buys 19.9% of stock in Ubisoft. Well EA said it themselves that Ubisoft were direct competitors (im thinking platformers). If everyone did what they did, Capcom would buy stock of SNK just because the make KoF and then buy stock of Midway because the make Mortal Kombat. Konami would of bought stock from KOEI because of WinBack. Nintendo would of bought NEC or Sega Stock because of the Tg-16/PCE and the Genesis. To me it just doesnt make since. Competation is good for the gaming community, and with out it there would of been a lot of bland systems and games.

4. Electronic Arts attempts to buy Digital Illusions CE. I dont know what the could gain from this aquire. Mavbe because EA wants more PC games and be more dominating in the PC gaming Industry and after buying, a home state PC developer, Westwood. I really enjoyed there C&C series up to Yuri's Revenge and now with all this going one, it was the only RTS/War game i like now since EA owns it, i dont know what to think, i still enjoy it. The only EA game i own too.

Digital Illusions CE/Ubisoft, will give them cheap labor because DI CE is a Swedish PC Developer and Ubisoft in a French Console/PC Company. (Just Kidding) @_@

[alexkidd2000]

I would take it up the ass before I bought anything made by EA.

And comparing to Microsoft is retarded. Microsoft has never taken anything away from me that I love. Its not like Microsoft makes the ONLY os. There are others to choose from. I really see no reason for this comparison.

[DigitalSpace]

I voted no. If a game interests me, I'll buy it, regardless of the publisher. I do hope EA starts treating their employees better, though.

And if those of you who are boycotting EA do find a game published by them that you might like, allow me to suggest buying a used copy.

[JJNova]

why deny yourself a game you would like just because it's made by a company you don't like?

I don't think enough people in the united States boycott companies. We always complain about the things that we don't iike, yet never do anything to change it. Especially when it comes to price points in stores. "How can they charge 17 dollars for this 50 cent manufactured CD?", "How dare they release Warcraft 3 for 63 dollars!?", "Milk prices have gone up again!?"..... But of course it boils down to consumer demand. If you stop paying those prices, they stop being those prices. Just like when dealing with a used car salesmen, It's better to sell a car for 5k today, then MAYBE sell the same car for 8k tomorrow.

With people that want to boycott EA, I say more power to them. I think it's unjustly called for, because EA's business practice isn't an evil. They aren't making the soncoles software, therefore enforcing that only EA or EA endorsed games will run on the console. They are simply a company that has taken America's Idea of creating a better product, becoming large, and dominating. Shit, it's the American Dream.

So I voted, "No". Which really should have been an "I don't care." But I look at I don't Care and No as being the same thing since you are asking for an opinion. Or maybe trying to form an army. Regardless, there aren't enough "Yes" votes to outweigh the alternatives. More power to your fight, even though I don't know what it is you want EA to do to win you back. Stop getting larger? Stop creating funds to develop new games? Stop buying smaller companies (which have to want to sell by the way) that have better Platform/Adventure/Puzzle games, therefore improving their own products?

What did Electronic Arts do to you? Eat your children?

[Push Upstairs]

Well, i havent given EA money since i bought "American McGee's Alice" (which came out in 2000) and i dont care either way i doubt my opnion about EA counts.

But i do think exclusive rights to the NFL license is a BAD thing.

[Fuyukaze]

JJNova wrote-

More power to your fight, even though I don't know what it is you want EA to do to win you back. Stop getting larger? Stop creating funds to develop new games? Stop buying smaller companies (which have to want to sell by the way) that have better Platform/Adventure/Puzzle games, therefore improving their own products?

I see the point your making and its rather valid. Personaly, what I would like them to do to win me back as a customer is a number of things. First off, I have nothing against being a large company. Being large just means you are putting more people to work then the smaller companies. Last I knew, this was a good thing. What I want are the following....

1.Stop buying up competition just for one to three of their franchises so you can simply shut them down. Buying a competitor just to break them into peices? Yes, this is a regular buisness pratice. Its not considered a good buisness practice though as it generely hurts the industry.

2.Worry more about the quality of your own product then what everyone else is making. As of late, EA has given me the impresion that they are not interested in making the best game posible, just one thats a hair or wee bit better then the next leading game thats simular.

3.No monopolies! Its bad for Banking, its bad for Computer OS', and its just as bad for Football games. I cant believe this was allowed to go thru. True, it doesnt eleminate the fantasy football games with fake teams and fake players, it just crushes any and all real competition. When you play a football game, you play it because you want to see your favorite team. Not because you want to play a made up team in an imaginary location.

If they could do even two of these three things, I would start considering the purchases of their product. As is, I can not in good judgment do so. If the only way they can make their own product look good is by elimenating their competiton, then they DO need to fail. I am sorry, but thats the marks of a bad company floundering for something to keep them in the game. I realize the Square/Enix merger could be viewed in the same light, but I have to wonder how so? Has Enix canabalized Square in any way as of yet? Not that I can tell. Actualy, the Sammy/Sega merger has been the one closest resembleing it as far as I can tell. Its true, being this way is preventing me from playing any number of "quality" games that are available, but in all honesty, I dont mind as I still have an ass load of "quality" games available to play that I havent touched in years sense I first bought them beyond opening them to see what the instruction manuel looked like.

[FantasiaWHT]

If it's a good game, I'll but it, I don't give a crap who made it.

Normally that's not a problem, since EA doesn't really make any great games. They make average-to-good games VERY VERY well, and they turn out massive quantities of them.

Since that's what the majority of gamers want, what are they doing wrong? They sell more games than any other company, because they make a LOT of games, and almost everything they make is a decent game that's worth playing.

So they're making a sports monopoly, who cares? Honestly, every football game... is STILL FOOTBALL. No matter what you do to it, it's the exact same game. It'd be like every RPG having the exact same characters, story, battle system and character development system, just switching around graphics, sounds, and what buttons you press to accomplish things.

Honestly the only people who would boycott EA would be those that barely buy any EA games in the first place, so what's the point?

[Oobgarm]

Summing up my thoughts on this:


Count me in the camp of those who couldn't care less either way. I buy games based on my interest for them, not on who's the publisher.


Just think of the millions of gamers worldwide, who buy EA games. Now Just think of the "few" gamers that DON'T buy EA..


I think boycotting EA is stupid. Why are they going to care if they sell 1 or 100 less copies? Why miss out on a good game just to prove a point which will not change EA's ways anyway.


They aren't making the soncoles software, therefore enforcing that only EA or EA endorsed games will run on the console. They are simply a company that has taken America's Idea of creating a better product, becoming large, and dominating. Shit, it's the American Dream.


What did Electronic Arts do to you? Eat your children?

That last one is in there more for comedic relief than anything else. It seems that many people forget that EA doesn't cater to the hardcore gaming crowd, much like the one that frequents these here boards. EA has gotten very good at marketing their product tot he casual gamer, the demographic that dominates the sales charts. They know that gaming isn't just for us geeks anymore, and they've taken advantage of that. The only way they could sell an RPG game, the holy genre of hardcore gamers, was to slap a big name on it like LOTR. And that made the game sell well.

I'm all for the 'live and let live' mentality. Let EA manufacture and peddle their wares to whomever they deem appropriate. If it's a good game and interests me, I'll check it out. If they want to buy other companies, then let them do so. As mentioned before, both parties have to be in agreement about it. If they want to destroy franchises I once loved, then I'll enjoy the games I love, and not the new ones.

And I think that the NFL/AFL buyout was an excellent idea from a business standpoint. They wanted a way to protect themselves, and they did it in the most profitable way possible. From a gaming standpoint, it bites, as I've never really liked a Madden game, but life goes on. There's no point in worrying about or complaining about something you have no control over.

I voted for 'I don't care', by the way. ;)

[Nature Boy]

I really don't care either way, I'm just sick of people bitching about EA.

Bingo.

[YoshiM]

I love this. Just because "it's football, it doesn't affect me" or "I don't like what EA puts out, it doesn't effect me" doesn't mean EA's actions will not have a wider effect in the future. I wish people would stop looking at their own situation and take the blinders off.


So they're making a sports monopoly, who cares? Honestly, every football game... is STILL FOOTBALL. No matter what you do to it, it's the exact same game. It'd be like every RPG having the exact same characters, story, battle system and character development system, just switching around graphics, sounds, and what buttons you press to accomplish things.

In this day, if it doesn't have the NFL license it ain't "real" football. In the states the NFL is a big deal. If I recall correctly Madden 64, which didn't have the NFL license (but did have the Player's Association license) didn't sell as well as NFL Quarterback Club '98 (though I could be wrong). People will get something they can associate with in someway. If they follow sports just a bit and enjoy the video game version it means more to them if they took their favorite team to the Super Bowl even if in real life that team had a snowball's chance in hell. The NFL, NBA and MLB are huge properties that millions of people know and love, even if you don't care.

If this line of thought held true then a game like Beyond Good and Evil should have been at the same level of sales as Zelda: Wind Waker. Story and characters aside it's pretty much the same game, right? Why do games like Mario Golf sell like hotcakes when it's just like any other golf game? Simple: association. Can you think of a non-licensed sports game that sold well enough to make a blip on the radar? I can't.

Personally, I'm not a big sports fan. To me personally the NFL deal doesn't make a hill of beans. But what I do see is a possible broader problem (something that MLB and the NBA saw as well)-the possibility of console exclusitivity. What if Sony or Microsoft decides to line EA's pocket with cash direct or by reducing license fees if they make Madden for their console only? Think it can't happen: look at Dreamcast-besides Sega's financial woes EA's announcement (and act) that they would not make games for Dreamcast is also attributed to that system's downfall (check out this editorial (http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/076/076056p1.html) on it. I can't find the actual article where EA announces their PS2 focus). That kind of exclusitivity is a loaded gun, ready to go off with the right price. Even if it's a limited time console exclusive, the effects could be severely damaging for a competing system.

It's not right. EA is effectively shafting the consumer by artificially reducing their choices. It's really hard to associate the situation to get the point across other than some niche areas (Apple's lockdown of the iPod so you can't easily load in downloaded songs from other download services like Real comes to mind). They are getting too big and getting too much power.

[Sylentwulf]

Where's the "this is really stupid" vote?

[NintendoMan]

I can't completely boycott them because I HAVE TO HAVE the:
Bond and SSX games. Other than that I don't care for them.

[Predatorxs]

why are we even having this discussion? shouldn't we be playing games, instead of bitchin about them? O_O

I thought this place was for gamers not for big girls that have nothing better to do? :P

http://www.xs.dsl.pipex.com/avator/ms_ufo.gif..XS

[esquire]

Ive decided to boycott anything EA made or published by them.
I dont care for conglomerate corporations. I like to have a choice of what games I play even if they are sports titles :angry:

Geez, I hope you don't buy any Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft games/systems, being that they are all big conglomerates and all. I also hope you don't play any games where the software company gets the exclusive rights to publish games based on movies/books etc. such as Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons, James Bond (ironically an EA game license), Lord of the Rings (book [Sierra] and movie [EA] licenses), because you don't have a choice there with respect to the games being developed.

Seriously, this whole boycott thing is a joke. Boycotts are about as useful as those online petitions. I would really like to see how many of the so called boycotters will remain committed to the cause. Better yet, take it to the next level and show us how committed you really are by burning all your EA Games that you already own, or perhaps sell them all and donate the money to a charity.

After this post, I am boycotting this thread. LOL

[Wavelflack]

You realize that if you "boycott" EA, and purchase only games NOT made by EA, then you are being directly influenced by EA...only in an inverse fashion. EA is dictating your software choices.

In any case, boycotting a company simply because they have become "too big", "too powerful", or "too influential" is inane. Let's take Microsoft, for example: Is the Xbox NOT a quality piece of hardware? Is it NOT capable of creating and maintaining a quality entertainment environment? Is it NOT "as advertised"? Would it be a better machine if it was manufactured by some small-time company? Of course not.

What has Microsoft, EA, or any other big name company done to detract from your gaming? EA may have purchased the rights to NFL, but so what? Does that mean that they cannot produce a quality NFL title? Does that mean that other game companies are now incapable of producing quality football titles? Does a NFL license really affect the gameplay of a title, or only it's marketability? And finally, should a company NOT display business acumen in pursuing success?

If EA doesn't offer any games you are interested in, then feel free not to buy an EA product. That's not a boycott, by the way. You can't boycott something you have no interest in purchasing in the first place. If EA DOES offer games you want, but you refuse to purchase for political or ideological reasons, then go right ahead and deny yourself. It's idiotic and pointless, but that's your choice to make. I mean EA's choice for you to make.



"Cutting off your nose to spite your face"

[sabre2922]

I think everyone has valid points no matter what side of the fence you may be on. its good to actually find a gaming board on the net were ppl can actually debate a subject instead of arguing and flaming a subject.
Also, in response to some of the above posts I have a few respectful replies:
first: yes, I am well aware that both sony and especially Microsoft are so-called conglomerate companies but until one of them buys out Nintendo just to dismantle and destroy them I see no reason to even attempt to boycott them. the comparisons are of EA to Miscrosoft or Sony are not completely fair in this topic simply because they still give us a choice "for the most part" even though it is widely known that Sony is and has always been highly anti-2D ever since the PSone days. but that is for another topic.
Second:I dont believe any corporation to be evil we all know that these companies are all "IN IT FOR THE MONEY" that in itself is a given. That also doesnt give them the right to monopolize a genre i.e. football or any other for that matter.
and LAST AND FOREMOST: I know that many of you here do not believe that we here at this small but very informed little board of ours could possibly make a difference in a what was once a small "geek" hobby but is now a multi-billion industry but WE CAN just remember that whole revolutions throught history has started with but a very few and ended up forming countries and creating great alliiances against the oppressors, and yes I DO see EA as an oppressor in that their methods are becoming VERY BAD FOR OUR FAVORITE HOBBY and "that I cannot forgive" quoting the Godfather :roll:
anyway if your not -_- by now I have been into videogames for the last 30 years and I see very bad things happening now moreso than ever before . more than the monopoly that the big N had back when the N.E.S. was king.More than the monopoly that Sony has had since the PSX was released and much more threatening than when M$oft announced that they would enter the video game fray with thier Xbox.
Something wicked this way comes my friends and if we can have even the slightest of effects on the variety of choice that we the gamers have then Im all for a boycott or even "useless" petitions as long as it benefits our favorite hobby for the better. ;)

[calthaer]

In any case, boycotting a company simply because they have become "too big", "too powerful", or "too influential" is inane. Let's take Microsoft, for example: Is the Xbox NOT a quality piece of hardware? Is it NOT capable of creating and maintaining a quality entertainment environment? Is it NOT "as advertised"? Would it be a better machine if it was manufactured by some small-time company? Of course not.

Let people be idealists and vote with their gaming dollars with the hope that the gaming world will become what they want it to be, not the way it is (and, thereby, assuming that it will always be the way it currently is).

[Wavelflack]

EA began as small, independent game developer, and remained at that level for many years. I wonder if these idealists will abandon and boycott the current day "niche" "quirky" developers if and when they become large? Probably.

"The plight of the common man! The rise of the proletariat!"

ZzZzzzzz...

[YoshiM]

Eh, whatever. If somehow EA or someother "big" company decides to buy out a company that put out your favorite game and then rips it apart to the point where its a shell of what it once was, don't come complaining in public. :P

[Sothy]

I cant pick up a Genesis cart in the wild without it being a godamned EA sports game so to hell with them.

[xaer0knight]

Something wicked this way comes my friends and if we can have even the slightest of effects on the variety of choice that we the gamers have then Im all for a boycott or even "useless" petitions as long as it benefits our favorite hobby for the better. ;)

Agreed! ;)

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm right with Sothy, lol.

That said, I don't boycott EA. When they put out a game I like, I'll buy it (well, the problem being that I very rarely buy new games anymore)! The thing is, they DO make good games, and that's what I care about most.

By boycotting EA you might be denying yourself good games - and the kicker is, by disregarding a game because of the EA sticker you're helping to ensure that EA doesn't make good games. Doubtful that anybody here is so committed to their notion of going on a crusade that they'd boycott a game they've become interested in just to spite EA, but stranger things have happened.

[evildead2099]

Is the Xbox NOT a quality piece of hardware? Is it NOT capable of creating and maintaining a quality entertainment environment?

Not if the Xbox you purchased happens to be equipped with a Thompson DVD drive. :angry:


What has Microsoft, EA, or any other big name company done to detract from your gaming? EA may have purchased the rights to NFL, but so what? Does that mean that they cannot produce a quality NFL title? Does that mean that other game companies are now incapable of producing quality football titles?

EA's monopoly over the NFL license does detract from the quality of other football titles in the sense that several of EA's competitors strive to perfect a sense of realism in their games. From what I've heard, game companies like Sega don't get paid to feature ads for NFL-affiliated products in their games; Sega actually goes out of its way to pay such companies to have their ads features in Sega sports games in order to enhance a sense of authenticity within their games.

I can't speak for football, but it would be a damn shame to hockey fans if EA monopolized the NHL license as well since EA's recent hockey games play too much like an arcade-based sports series.

[JJNova]

I can't speak for football, but it would be a damn shame to hockey fans if EA monopolized the NHL license as well since EA's recent hockey games play too much like an arcade-based sports series.

HA HA HA HA AHHAAA...



You'll know why I am laughing after you read the news.

[evildead2099]

EA began as small, independent game developer, and remained at that level for many years. I wonder if these idealists will abandon and boycott the current day "niche" "quirky" developers if and when they become large? Probably.

There's a difference between becoming successful and becoming oppressive. If EA just went about its business and didn't directly impact on how other companies could go about theirs, I wouldn't have as much a problem with it.

[evildead2099]

I can't speak for football, but it would be a damn shame to hockey fans if EA monopolized the NHL license as well since EA's recent hockey games play too much like an arcade-based sports series.

HA HA HA HA AHHAAA...



You'll know why I am laughing after you read the news.

O_O

... Oh shit.....

[buttasuperb]

I'll be buying Battlefield 2 on release.

[evildead2099]

Maybe EA should find a way to monopolize the use of humans and humanoid creatures in videogames - how well do you think the next Grand Theft Auto will do if all the people portrayed within it happen to be robots? As far as the aesthetic of humans is concerned, playing EA's games will be like playing Contra, and playing the games of EA's competitors will be like playing Probotector. :P

[evildead2099]

http://sports.ign.com/articles/574/574539p1.html

The NBA has bigger balls than the NFL.

[evildead2099]

By boycotting EA you might be denying yourself good games - and the kicker is, by disregarding a game because of the EA sticker you're helping to ensure that EA doesn't make good games.

There will always be plenty of other "good games" out there. Have some backbone and stand up for what you believe in. If enough people stick together and collectively stick it to EA with their wallets, the company will have to change its ways or succumb to the will of the game-buying public.

Of course its easier to be lazy and not do anything to affect the state of your beloved industry; no one said that significant change requires little effort.

[YoshiM]

I can't speak for football, but it would be a damn shame to hockey fans if EA monopolized the NHL license as well since EA's recent hockey games play too much like an arcade-based sports series.

HA HA HA HA AHHAAA...



You'll know why I am laughing after you read the news.

I've checked every news source I'm aware of. I'm assuming you're saying EA got the NHL as well. Got a linky to the news?

[JJNova]

I've checked every news source I'm aware of. I'm assuming you're saying EA got the NHL as well. Got a linky to the news?

Sorry, I shouldn't have been so vague. EA is attempting to add NHL to it's collection of AFL, NFL, PGA, Nascar, FIFA exclusives.

[YoshiM]

I've checked every news source I'm aware of. I'm assuming you're saying EA got the NHL as well. Got a linky to the news?

Sorry, I shouldn't have been so vague. EA is attempting to add NHL to it's collection of AFL, NFL, PGA, Nascar, FIFA exclusives.

Ah, thanks.

[howdoin]

I hate sportsgame anyway - the only "EA" games I own are SSX and Burnout 3 so I am not going to really boycott them, just continue to buy games I enjoy.

[Nature Boy]

The NBA has bigger balls than the NFL.

I wouldn't go that far - especially after reading, in that article, that the NBA would stand to lose money because of all the lost revenue from other NBA video games (NBA Live doesn't exactly sell in Madden like quantities).

Unless you're talking about the volume of the ball that is - I'd agree there :)

[evildead2099]

the NBA would stand to lose money because of all the lost revenue from other NBA video games (NBA Live doesn't exactly sell in Madden like quantities).

As far as sports games go, how do EA's Madden games stack up to EA's non-Madden sports games? The only sports games I care to play concern hockey, and I won't even touch NHL 200_ in favour of Sega's NHL 2K_ series.

[evildead2099]

the NBA would stand to lose money because of all the lost revenue from other NBA video games (NBA Live doesn't exactly sell in Madden like quantities).

As far as sports games go, how do EA's Madden games stack up to EA's non-Madden sports games? The only sports games I care to play concern hockey, and I won't even touch NHL 200_ in favour of Sega's NHL 2K_ series.