EA Chief Attacks Call of Duty Franchise
Black Ops was "mid-80s" game, Activision CEOs aren't gamers.
Outspoken EA CEO John Riccitiello probably won't be sending anyone at Activision a Christmas card - he's recently attacked the Call of Duty franchise for its dwindling critical reception, and the attitude of the publisher's executives.
"I don’t know that having two guys that probably don’t play the games, in the form of the CEO of Vivendi and the CEO of Activision, come out and say 'Treyarch is our lead developer,' like you could anoint that," he said to Industry Gamers.
"[Treyarch] didn’t make a 90-rated game; I think it’s 86 now. I don’t think review scores are the be-all, end-all, but we all know a mid-90 when we see it, but this was mid-80s. I don’t think you could anoint them by an executive saying, 'it’s so."
Riccitiello added, with likely a glint in his eye and the knowledge of Respawn Entertainment on his side, that "the question, I think, really is, 'what developer is going to put forward the next great FPS that sort of follows [what Infinity Ward did]?' It’s wishful thinking, and let’s hope for Activision’s sake they’re right. I think it’s far from proven that the gaming consumer views a product from Treyarch in the same category as a product from what was Infinity Ward."
Apparently, EA's situation with the Medal of Honor franchise - which wasn't exactly critically acclaimed - is totally different, with Riccitiello noting that the 2010 reboot "exceeded expectations" and that the series is a slow-burner. "[It took Activision] five or six editions to get into double digit millions [with the Call of Duty series]."
"I don’t know that having two guys that probably don’t play the games, in the form of the CEO of Vivendi and the CEO of Activision, come out and say 'Treyarch is our lead developer,' like you could anoint that," he said to Industry Gamers.
"[Treyarch] didn’t make a 90-rated game; I think it’s 86 now. I don’t think review scores are the be-all, end-all, but we all know a mid-90 when we see it, but this was mid-80s. I don’t think you could anoint them by an executive saying, 'it’s so."
Riccitiello added, with likely a glint in his eye and the knowledge of Respawn Entertainment on his side, that "the question, I think, really is, 'what developer is going to put forward the next great FPS that sort of follows [what Infinity Ward did]?' It’s wishful thinking, and let’s hope for Activision’s sake they’re right. I think it’s far from proven that the gaming consumer views a product from Treyarch in the same category as a product from what was Infinity Ward."
Apparently, EA's situation with the Medal of Honor franchise - which wasn't exactly critically acclaimed - is totally different, with Riccitiello noting that the 2010 reboot "exceeded expectations" and that the series is a slow-burner. "[It took Activision] five or six editions to get into double digit millions [with the Call of Duty series]."
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Comments
ghoti 20 Dec 2010 14:15
1/2
It's always sad to see adults acting like children.
deleted 20 Dec 2010 14:24
2/2
@ghoti
Yes and sadly when I play COD i hear many children acting like adults too!
Yes and sadly when I play COD i hear many children acting like adults too!