CNBC Interview with EA CEO John Riccitiello

My first thought when seeing this video was that I want to do naughty things to Julia Borsten(sp?). Also, did you guys see that cameo by Glenn Close midway through the vid?

In regard to the actual content of the interview, everything I have purchased game-wise in the past three years has been completely digital. I can't believe digital sales only make up 40% of EA's sales. If that is the case, then Riccitiello is right and there is definitely room for EA to make a huge move in digital.

The way Riccitiello responded to the SWTOR subscription question was interesting. He sort of blew it off as old news. This gave me the vibe that he has seen recent sub numbers and is fairly satisfied with the state of things. It actually makes me more confident that the SWTOR subscriber base is strong.

Console gaming is on the slide, and with new platforms like Ouya on the horizon, EA is in a pretty good position to do well if they are quick to adapt with digital content. A lot better off than say Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo.

I know everyone hates EA, but their stock is pretty ridiculously low right now. I think he's right in calling it a good buying opportunity.

Thanks to the OP and ^this.

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Yes, *facepalm* indeed. You seem to be discounting subscriptions. You know, almost the entire basis of income made from MMOs.

EA releases an iteration of Madden, FIFA, and a few other titles once a year every year. Activision releases a Call of Duty every year. Blizzard (and Bioware, I suppose) releases a new expansion for their major MMO every three years or so . . . Yet they get paid as if they released three new AAA titles per year. With WoW's subscription numbers, that's essentially 30 million units sold. Per year. Without producing any significant new content. And not including expansions. That's 20 years of the Madden series covered in three and 15 years of The Sims covered in five. Maybe Bioware and EA were pragmatic enough to realize they would never reach WoW's numbers, but you can't tell me they weren't expecting a bigger chunk of the pie than this. Even 3 million subscribers would put TOR in the same league as FIFA and well ahead of Madden.

So you waste $200 on any new MMO that comes out? I wish I had that kind of money...

Yep the EA/BW-tanic is slowly sinking. It's a shame, BW by itself and SWTOR both had a lot of potential.

Thinking how big Stock listed businesses model act with their buying companies, if SWTOR fails I would not be surprised for them to sell BioWare all together. This a very expensive close to 200 million US$ project, and the current layoffs of senior management in BW and involved with the game also hint at this.

And IMO for them at the moment SWTOR is a failure, even with 1 million subs. Yes they cover the expenses with that number for the project, but I think they had a forecast of 2 million subs average the first year not 1 million.

This my 2 cents on a business perspective.

Noone is ever going to reach WoW's numbers. Simply wont happen. WoW runs on anything even my cousin's HP from 2007 runs it great. It wouldnt even let him install star wars because he only has 128mb vid card. I know you guys say well upgrade. He doesnt have the money to upgrade and WoW runs fine.

WoW is a one-off kind of thing. You will never see another MMO even come close to them. 3 million subs for swtor is dream. They better try to keep the 500-800k or so they have left instead of trying to aim for WoW numbers. Lets keep the game online.

Thank you for posting this information.

Some of the comments on the forum thread are flat out hilarious. I am so glad that I unsubbed. I am still waiting to see if the developers for this game BW and EA actually turn this around.

Seeing as how the CEO of EA and by extension BW as it is a subsidiary of EA, is comparing it's business mode to Zynga and trying to advertise that EA, as a whole is doing "phenomenally well" while the SWTOR fans suffer from the "open sore" that this is tells me exactly where us the unfortunate subscribers fall in the priorities scheme for the publisher and co-developer for this game, EA. Not very high indeed.

The last product that EA was involved in that actually met my expectations was Might & Magic for Sega Genesis. Heroes of Might & Magic VI for the PC was also enjoyable at least for me.

At least I am happy to know now, where i stand with regards to my subscription and what it matters to EA. A tiny drop in a bucket for which they are grateful and will not address as this game SW:TOR is just a minuscule component of their project portfolio. A CEO claiming that investors do not understand the gaming industry...? SEC is who needs to understand how your numbers work. Bottom line, if you are not profitable, your stock will continue to show it.

Investors believe in a product and they, wait for it, invest in it. As they no longer believe in a product gues what, they stop investing in it. EA gets less funds from investors as a result. Best of luck trying to salvage the circus of a Public Relations that you made for yourself Mr. CEO. Perhaps you should "invest" in some media training classes / seminars, you need them. Or step down from your post before your current investors / Board of Directors ask you to do so. Seems like you have enough money to retire safely.

Stop messing around with franchises that you evidently do not understand. Maybe you did pick the wrong industry. If MMOs are so hard to compete in if they are not FtP, then why charge so much money for a product of sub-par quality and sub-par support?

Goodbye.

Not just their CEO but EVERYONE that gives an interview, writes a press release, or officially puts information out on these forums needs to do the same. It's either "spin" or "foot-in-mouth" and always nothing of value. Usually the "information" just fuels rage, rumor, and tin foil hats. GJ EA/BW ... GJ.

Which isnt any different from any other MMO (WoW, LotRO, AoC, Rift, et al). As soon as anyone from the developer/publishers say something, the "fan" base rips it apart and complains about it - whether or not it was said well and intelligently.