Mountain View (CA) - Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello admitted that the company should have spent more time working on the Wii instead of focusing on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

At an investor meeting, Riccitello reportedly said, "One of the biggest challenges, of course, was that not a lot of people anticipated the success of Nintendo that they’ve shown with their wand controller and their Wii."

EA recently ended its 2007 fiscal year, calling it the "toughest year in the company's history."  Riccitello said the company jumped on the "wrong horse" by devoting most of its time on the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, which competed with the Wii for launch sales last year.

EA's list of Wii launch titles was short, consisting of sports game ports Madden NFL 07 and Need For Speed Carbon.  After Nintendo's console became such a phenomenon, the publisher quickly purchased partner company Headgate Studios to develop exclusively for the Wii.

Now EA has a strong devotion to the Wii and has been confirmed as the first third-party publisher to tap into the Wii's full online gaming platform.

EA is currently working on two known exclusives for the Wii - an unnamed puzzle game under the direction of Steven Spielberg, and a collection of mini-games called EA Playground.

mini games

Jul 27, 2007 13:34     

With the success of Mario Party, Wario Ware and Raymond: Raving Rabbits, everyone seems to be jumping on the mini-game band wagon. It will be interesting if these shallow games in terms of depth keep selling or if the Wii truly is just a fad. I guess we'll know in about 4 years.
matt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re mini games

Jul 27, 2007 14:28     

Remeber Wii is going for the none hardcore, so Mini Games are what they want. They dont want games that you have to devot hours to get into and keep playing. Most Wii games are pick up and go.
Chuck report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

In about 4 years they'll be talking about the next-...

Jul 27, 2007 14:32     

In about 4 years they'll be talking about the next-next gen console. The Wii wins because it's inexpensive and fun, just as the mini games are popular because anyone from a 4 year old to a grandmother can pick them up and have a good time with a very short learning curve.
Andy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

mini game trend

Jul 27, 2007 14:46     

I rented Rayman and was actually quite dissapointed by it. Though the mini game trend is good for those who simply pick up a game to play casually, I Do hope it isnt a lasting trend. Story-driven games such as Resident Evil and Zelda, I hope, remain at the top of development lists.
John P report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Mini games are simpler to create

Jul 27, 2007 15:26     

The way I see it, while a large bunch of mini games is still some work, it doesn't compare to the cost and time spent creating full games, with real stories, UI, etc. I imagine that's one reason the mini games appear on the Wii right now. Hopefully (and probably) more serious games will appear with time.
ET report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA=Whore

Jul 27, 2007 15:41     

Ok...SHUT UP FAN Boys, because I have all three consoles! Now, EA and other big software makers are whores. They go for the next best thing and while there is nothing wrong with that...don't say that you jump on the "wrong" horse/s. I remember when MS Xbox was dying for an EA title and nothing...not until Sega bust out with their NFL 2K series and the Xbox took grab a hold to second place. I think the EAs of the world need to innovate and quit whining about the "wrong" horses. Ride MFs Ride...show us that you can stay relivant no matter the platform. Hell, show your short sighted shareholders that you can be cutting edge. Grow a spine EA and turn out unique games that gamers are going to love. Yes, that goes to Activision, THQ, Sega (specially you Sega), etc.

Richard report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA Sucks

Jul 27, 2007 19:49     

I don't know if it's only me, but their games (other than sports games) always look cheap for some reason.
axt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE: EA=Whore

Jul 27, 2007 19:59     

You have all 3 consoles? Seems like a huge waste of money to me. But then again, maybe I just prefer to spend my money on things that are worth while buying.
PoosMcGee report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA= too much money, not enough innovation

Jul 28, 2007 11:03     

Does anyone else not think it's sad that they bought their partner company to make wii games? Can't say I'm surprised. EA sees a problem, throws money at it, and they assume the problem is fixed. EA doesn't need to be spending money to make games like everyone else is. THEY have the money to hire the talented staffs they need to actually make THE NEXT BIG THING, not follow it. I think it's a pathetic admission of EA to say they didn't see it coming and personally i think it reflects all of EAs' lack of serious innovation titles.

Bob report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA= needs better direction...

Jul 28, 2007 17:18     

and a better creative environment, 80 hour work weeks is just going to create lack of innovation, the best ideas for games are in the real world. Wii needs more than just mini-games, looking forward to a real Wii titles from... Ubisoft, I must be beating a dead horse by saying 'beyond good and evil': actually market it for the Wii and have it come out at $20-30 Wii control the staff, camera, they might actually turn a profit to one of the best reviewed, least bought games / the best game I ever bought for $10 CAD.

coldmast report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: RE: EA=Whore Jul 27, 2007 19:59

Jul 29, 2007 01:11     

I also have the 3 consoles - it is not a waste. The XB360 I use to play HD-DVD, the PS3 I use to Blu-Ray and the Wii I use to play games :) I have an old XBOX as well while I wait for the ability to install something better than XBMC onto one of the first 2.
Antman report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA Pt 1

Jul 29, 2007 15:22     

Regardless of what EA does ... the Wii is a disruptive force within a very stagnant gaming community and right now innovation is desperately needed. I am a long time gamer generally PC oriented but I own a Wii for the family and friends to play stupid group fun type games. For that matter other than Halo 1 2 the Fusion Frenzy was a great party game for when people other than the guys were around the house. Anything that gets EA off its lazy butt to bring innovation back to its games will hopefuly be good if they do not screw it up. I say that and I am a long time EA fan due to the various sports series.

Crockdaddy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Eh... EA has a few decent titles...

Jul 29, 2007 17:13     

I am not a big fan of the EA sports games, but there are some good ones. I enjoy some of the NFS series on my PS2, but I really prefer Battlefield 2 on my PC. I have played many consoles, but Wii DEF. takes the cake for innovation. I need to pick one up one of these days.
ZGodzicki report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Eh... EA has a few decent titles...

Jul 30, 2007 06:29     

Good luck picking one up - Around here (space coast of FL) you STILL can't find a wii on the shelves! I was going to grab a second Wii for the office and I stopped by a dozen stores, all sold out! There has never been a shortage of the 360 really, and PS3s are collecting dust!
Bear report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

The inadequate controller

Jul 30, 2007 09:02     

EA can focus all they want... it won't make the controller less shaky or more responsive. Unless Nintendo hasn't mastered its own controller (and if that's the case, it's not a good sign), the controller is too shaky to aim and doesn't respond as fast as other devices. I shouldn't have to deal with the remote going belly up mid backswing and just missing my downward swing. I shouldn't put the controller in position and then have the character ysteriously swing. It's not really that the controller is more accessible, it's just the gamer has to learn how to use it so specifically such that so called casual gamers get frustrated. Unless Nintendo can make the games really feel like you are in control (and not jump ship on their own remote by providing alternate support for the classic controller... because then really... what's the point?), this console is going to be a fad with an attach rate of 1.5.

CGomez report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Who saw the Wii for what it would be....?

Aug 01, 2007 15:35     

I know every SOB here did NOT think the Wii would be as good a machine as it turned out to be. Not until you play one can you understand what all the hype is about. So everyone over looked the Wii. That’s Nintendo’s fault for making mediocre shit for consoles in the past. What game maker besides Nintendo would invest that much capital up front before knowing if the Wii would live up to its promises? As for EA. If any game maker has lasted longer the EA then who are they. EA was around strong in my C64 days back in 1984 and they are still strong. What has happened is EA bought into the Hype that PC gaming was dead. That is why no Call of Duty 3 for anything but a fucken console. EA I hope has awakened and they know that only supporting Sony and MS is a losing situation.

gxtr report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

EA sucks

Aug 03, 2007 08:07     

EA may be very good at doing sports simulations. But wherever innovation and creativity are required, they REALLY suck. Look at what they did to Origin and the Ultima series, which were by far my favourite games of all time. Even Ultima Online is years behind other MMORPG's, despite the fact that it was the first of its genre (thanks to Richard Garriott and Origin). Ultima Underworld was also one of the first 3d games to come out and had a great story and feel. EA simply went after the Ultima brand and thought everyone would buy into it. And Richard Garriott was a gullible fool to sell, instead of staying independent or finding another partnership.

Max Demon report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE: The inadequate controller

Aug 03, 2007 09:08     

Don't blame the controller because your hands shake. The motion detection on the controller is just very sensitive. I get some shaking in some of the games myself, but I acknowledge that it's because my hands shake and not poor implementation on Nintendo's part. My brother's hands don't shake like mine do and when he plays the same games (Zelda, and the ER game) his aim is dead on and the cursor is steady.

Me report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0