RaychelSnr's Blog
It all started here on OS.
One could argue the revolution began on this very blog space, but let's be honest: it wasn't just me. It was the videos by the basketball faithful on YouTube, including the viral 500k Elite Jesus video. It was the outcry on various forums.
It was the consumer with a voice louder and clearer than it's ever been.
"This product is crap, and we demand something better."
While I can't pin down when the decision to 'delay' Elite 11 was made, I'm betting the decision was made early Monday morning in a board room full of executives with looks on their faces which resembled deer in headlights.
But that's not the story here -- at least not tonight.
The story today at least, is that the customer finally won triumphantly in the sports gaming realm. We aren't here to be messed around with, and when you release a product that isn't up to par we aren't taking it. The customer knows when we see a piece of crap sitting on the store shelf for $60. That's a lot of money.
We know highway robbery when it's apparent.
And for at least one night, the customer is indeed 100% correct. You can say sports gamers just let EA know what they already did deep down: release a product which is just atrocious and see your basketball dreams die a very painful and lonely death.
It also confirms our suspicions that EA is panicking. How much more erratic can you get than getting the disks prepped, shipped, and moved only to decide that you just spent millions on the biggest compact-disk recycling project in history?
If anything, 2K has to be enjoying this show. Because no matter how anyone who might still be holding onto the EA basketball flag today spins it, this is nothing less than a full fledged retreat by EA. They knew they were beat in every facet and not only a retreat and regroup was necessary, it was the only choice other than full on basketball cancellation.
Let's just hope EA does the right thing and releases Elite 12 instead of Elite 11 as a stopgap around playoff time -- but more on that in a blog tomorrow.
Because today is about us, it's about the consumer, it's about being proven that we have a voice and that if something is so egregiously wrong -- we can make something happen. This may become a new trend, it might even set off a revolution in sports gaming development cycles.
But for the rest of the night, let's just relish in the fact that the consumer was heard loud and clear and EA listened -- no matter if was due to necessity or simply out of convenience.
Power to the consumer OSers, we made a difference today.
Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.
# 32
Galarius @ Sep 29
Well, in spite of this, I think thjis is the best year EA Sports has ever had...NHL and FIFA are killer, Madden (and especially NCAA 11) are definitely improved, so this is not a representation of where EA is right now.It just shows that you can't rebuild a game these days in one year.
# 33
Galarius @ Sep 29
And I ripped on EA hard until last year when it was apparent that they were listening to the customers and trying to be more SIM
# 35
GaryT531 @ Sep 29
I just cannot believe that this is what it has come to for EA. When I was a kid no EA basketball game has ever let me down. NBA Live was a better game every year, and much better than any other basketball game that came out. Now EA is on the other side of that fence. Just think about it, EA's yearly basketball game canned a week before release until further notice. The absolute right decision, but just unbelievable. I remember the days counting down on my calender as a teenager for NBA Live 95, 96, 97...It is amazing to me how far this company has fallen.
I really hope that they can restore their prominence in the basketball market again someday with a game that finally blows us all away again
I really hope that they can restore their prominence in the basketball market again someday with a game that finally blows us all away again
# 37
mnus03 @ Oct 1
god bless the internet for giving us a voice...its not only sending ea a message but its also the reason 2k has evolved so well. Its giving gamers a voice and devs ears.(if they're willing to listen)
# 38
Mad 69 @ Oct 4
Was Elite that bad? I had no idea until reading this blog, I've never really played a B-ball game but after seeing all the hype on this site I'm going to have to give 2K11 a shot...
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Much respect to David Littman and his work on NHL. But don't try to tell me that simply because he's on NBA that it somehow matters. That's like peeing on my head and trying to convince me it's raining.