Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by REDRZA

Road, you know you and i are cool, but no way this is true. First off, EA Tiburon's M.O. about trying "to do something else the next year" has been to tune and tweak the old, stale, crusty "legacy code" they have been using for years, taking minor steps forward and backward in the process. As for next years budget being less because of this years poor sales. Thats utterly laughable. What about all those years we as Madden fans purchased this game to the tune of record sales, and STILL got the same old code tuned and tweaked the following year? In the good years, the budget wasn't increased. If they arent selling as many games as they used to, as a business eventually you have to INVEST money to make money. It's been a very long time coming, and many of us have been saying it over and over, this game needs new life. They need to build a better, smarter, deeper, more authentic game ground up.

I know what they need game wise.

Companies also give directives from the top on down. If you laid off a lot of people last year, your stock is real low right now and you have declining sales from year to year, they just can't keep pouring tons of resources into negative numbers.(i didn't even include the exclusive license as KJ pointed out)

If you think that EA will keep pouring more and more resources into a declining product area, that's your call.

I will preface this by saying I don't know what goes on behind the board room and EA and Tibouran and I could be wrong.

My business sense and experience tells me that won't happen.

[crayzman]

I've bought both Madden and NCAA since 05 up until this year when I didn't buy Madden and definitely have no interest to. Like most other people have said, it's just not worth it because it has become stale. Odds are I'll pick up FIFA when it comes out instead (though maybe not, NHL 11 looks like it could be stuck in my PS3 for a very long time.)

[24]

With EA's stock plummeting and the quality of games (for the most part) on the next gen consoles since they secured the NFL Liscence it is only a matter of time before there exclusive deal gets revoked. not bashing them or anything but it is plain facts if a business is not performing that what company would want to deal with said business exclusively? 2 years ago EA was at 49 dollars a share now they are barely exceeding 15. You can partially blame it on the stock market crash but companies like take two did not experience a 34 point decrease

[jmarcguy]

I haven't bought a Madden since 01. No biggie I just liked 2k. I dropped madden in the 90s when Gameday came out. I just assumed I'd come back to it eventually. This yr I got a ps3 so no more 2k5. Wanted to give Madden a try. It's not bad! What bothered me though was how much the game felt like my game in 01!! Even the graphics, though tremendously improved, look similar to the 01 models. There was alot I enjoyed but not enough to justify spending $60! Renting was enough. I want Madden to succeed but I also want choices.

[Sort of Irish]

Madden is a lot like HBO's Entourage; I know each episode is going to be full of Hollywood cliches and unnecessary cameos but I still insist on watching. I guess I'm holding onto the slim possibility that something unexpected happens and the series turns itself around.

Same applies to Madden. I bought it this year and didn't really expect much but hoped that maybe, just maybe, the game would make a big leap from it's last installment. It didn't and now I'm left with what is basically Madden '10.

[shadthedad]

The sky is not falling for EA sports. If you guys paid any attention to the pre sale promotions; amazon offered a 20 dollar game credit and walmart offered a 20 dollar gift card to anyone who pre ordered madden 11. That let's me know that EA is offering some type of incentive to retailers who sell the most copies....that's it. Contrary to the majority of comments, this year's madden is awesome! And I would dare say it's one of the best Maddens (from a gameplay standpoint of all time). Keep up the good work Ian. Madden 2011 is light years ahead of madden 2009. Don't believe me.... Play 2009 or you tube it.

[tomzenns]

Its because the game is not good enough for people to shell out $60.
$60 for a couple new features and rosters?
no thank you.

[PacMan3000]

Quote: Originally Posted by CYST2000

I don't think EA will do anything differently. Ian asked them for a new engine when he first started and he was declined. As long as they can put in less money and get a ton out they won't make the game any better.

When did Ian ask for this? News to me.