I feel what is happening @ EA is that the investors see mobile gaming and in app purchases as the big cash cow, with only bonus points for them: little to no piracy, no complicated multi platform and low level coding required, smaller low risk high yield projects, no super critical customer base, etc etc.
This is the only explanation for these kinds of shutdowns. At the same time, EA sacrifices so much talent that they will inevitably one day wonder where it all went. For cash flow EA is making great short term moves, but for long term sustainability, they are cutting their own wrists. With only one possible outcome: when the app craze bubble bursts, they will be forced to buy successful studios again to get back in the game, and their brand will be worth less than nothing. Or, the app bubble just keeps growing and EA becomes that publisher nobody really cares about regardless; because nothing it produces is memorable IP.
Inevitably EA is on course for that scenario. Will be fun to watch. As for the gaming market? No reason to be sad really, we need to ditch EA sooner rather than later. Let them have their annual sports game portfolio and leave the real games to that talent that got laid off and now works in independant studios. We have already seen how much good that does for our favorite pastime
Bottom line: if you make such radical moves as a company, shit just hit the fan, the business model is deemed wrong. Says alot about EA management and vision.
Yeah man, I think it is actual, genuine fear. Especially in DS1, with its simplicity, small selection of weapons and its limited ammo and resources. I did feel the sequels sorta missed that, esp in part 3 when it becomes a mod your own guns fiesta.
