EA to Release Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Results on May 7, 2012

I predict they will count everyone who gets 30 days free gametime as "active subscribers" regardless of whether or not they are still paying customers.

Anyone know why EA is laying off workforce?

If they are (not sure if this is true or just rumor), it could be one of the following reasons:

1) Downturn in overall economic conditions in the US and globally
2) Generally downturn and negative outlook in the overall gaming industry
3) Part of annual review/layoff/people quitting their job process
4) EA is going down

Who knows it could be any of these reasons, or something else entirely. Trying to guess what's happening inside a company based on 2nd hand/3rd hand information is very tenuous.

Number one, gaming sales have only slowed in retail because of digital distribution and this generation console in nearing its end, however PC games sales are up by a wooping 20%, the enitre market for gaming (which includes consoles) is down by 2% because of slowed console sales

Number two, takes into account a demographic which isn't going to buy your game anyways

Number three is the most probable and most likley

Number four is silly and isn't happening, EA worth 5.22 billion dollars, strong sales from ME 3, dead space, sims 3 and all related DLC that goes with it, plus the sequel to Command and Conquer has just been announced. Also on a final note 1.5 million subscriptions from TOR equals 216 million dollars a year alone with out sales

A) they denied the rumor.

B) sales of games was down in the industry in March, by about 25% I believe. This may have some impact on EA financials if they got nicked by a disproportionate share of the % down.

As for SWTOR, all guidance to date is that the game remains strong on subscriptions, though the average play time of subscribers is down (seeing as the pent up launch feeding frenzy is over). In any event, they don't give product specific financials, so nothing in the EA earnings will be specific to SWTOR, or any other game. They may give general guidance in terms of total units sold, etc. and will answer game specific analysts questions during the earnings meeting though.

Since you have to have an active sub to get the 30 days free...your prediction is wrong. sorry

I say the pop went up slightly...just about to crack 2 mill.

I'm also sure that seasonal factors play a part in the decreased activity as well: The weather is getting nicer, and people spend more time outdoors. Students are preparing for final exams and projects. Major television series are winding down to their season finales, and viewers are either catching up on or re-watching the past season. The list can go on indefinitely; spring and early summer are not the biggest months for subscriber activity, especially as the hobby becomes more "mainstream" and attracts a greater variety of consumers.

[QUOTE=Ensquire;4109055]Number one, gaming sales have only slowed in retail because of digital distribution and this generation console in nearing its end, however PC games sales are up by a wooping 20%, the enitre market for gaming (which includes consoles) is down by 2% because of slowed console sales

[QUOTE]

This would actually support an argument for layoffs no? EA's profitability partially depends on its revenue sources from console games...

Because that's what people here on the forum were demanding that Bioware do...

Actually, you don't. Stephen Reid addressed some concerns that players who had just cancelled their accounts, but had time remaining would still qualify for the 30-day giveaway.

http://www.swtor.com/community/showp...&postcount=140