Unity is to close the VFX tools company Weta Digital, meaning the loss of 265 jobs, as the company concentrates its focus on game development.
An unrelentingly grim year for the games industry is almost at a close, but still the reports of job losses keep on coming. Unity has announced that it’s to close Weta Digital, a VFX software company connected to filmmaker Peter Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta FX.
Reuters (via Gamespot) reports that the closure will affect some 265 employees, and comes as Unity announces a renewed focus on videogame development.
In a statement to FX Guide, Weta wrote:
“Unity believes the Weta Digital team are remarkable, but Unity needs to become leaner as it focuses its expertise on its core business,” the statement says, explaining why this decision was made. “It also believes it makes more sense for Weta FX to own full end-to-end production activities directly.
An unrelentingly grim year for the games industry is almost at a close, but still the reports of job losses keep on coming. Unity has announced that it’s to close Weta Digital, a VFX software company connected to filmmaker Peter Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta FX.
Reuters (via Gamespot) reports that the closure will affect some 265 employees, and comes as Unity announces a renewed focus on videogame development.
In a statement to FX Guide, Weta wrote:
“Unity believes the Weta Digital team are remarkable, but Unity needs to become leaner as it focuses its expertise on its core business,” the statement says, explaining why this decision was made. “It also believes it makes more sense for Weta FX to own full end-to-end production activities directly.
- 11/29/2023
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Unity’s latest earnings report reveals the company is planning to lay off more employees and cut certain products.
Unity posted its Q3 earnings report recently, which revealed that the company is still making a loss, although not quite as much of a loss as in the past.
Revenue was up 69 percent to $544 million, while the company made a loss of $125 million, down from a loss of $250 million last year. Revenue in the ‘Create Solutions’ division – i.e. the division that handles the Unity engine – was flat. But revenue from the ‘Growth Solutions’ division – which handles ads products and services – was up by 166 percent.
The disparity between the flat engine division and growing ads division perhaps explains the Unity management’s focus on its LevelPlay platform for placing advertising and monitoring performance. Anonymous sources inside Unity recently suggested that the introduction of Unity’s infamous Runtime Fee was a ploy...
Unity posted its Q3 earnings report recently, which revealed that the company is still making a loss, although not quite as much of a loss as in the past.
Revenue was up 69 percent to $544 million, while the company made a loss of $125 million, down from a loss of $250 million last year. Revenue in the ‘Create Solutions’ division – i.e. the division that handles the Unity engine – was flat. But revenue from the ‘Growth Solutions’ division – which handles ads products and services – was up by 166 percent.
The disparity between the flat engine division and growing ads division perhaps explains the Unity management’s focus on its LevelPlay platform for placing advertising and monitoring performance. Anonymous sources inside Unity recently suggested that the introduction of Unity’s infamous Runtime Fee was a ploy...
- 11/14/2023
- by Lewis Packwood
- Film Stories
Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver, who are both University of Southern California alumni, have joined the School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors.
The writer, director and producer, known for Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Creed, is a two-time Oscar nominee. He credited the school for all the skills he has used during his more than a decade-long career.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Dean Daley, Kevin Feige, and Donna Langley for this esteemed opportunity, and I am excited to be joining alongside my friend Tracy Oliver, who has blazed her own incredible trail in film and television,” Coogler said. “I look forward to working with them and the other distinguished members of the board to support Sca’s continued pursuit of building the best environment for their students.”
Oliver is a writer, director and producer known for Girls Trip, Little, First Wives Club and Harlem. She was...
The writer, director and producer, known for Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Creed, is a two-time Oscar nominee. He credited the school for all the skills he has used during his more than a decade-long career.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Dean Daley, Kevin Feige, and Donna Langley for this esteemed opportunity, and I am excited to be joining alongside my friend Tracy Oliver, who has blazed her own incredible trail in film and television,” Coogler said. “I look forward to working with them and the other distinguished members of the board to support Sca’s continued pursuit of building the best environment for their students.”
Oliver is a writer, director and producer known for Girls Trip, Little, First Wives Club and Harlem. She was...
- 2/3/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
USC School of Cinematic Arts alums Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver have joined the school’s Board of Councilors.
The appointment was announced by Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and the Sca’s Board of Councilors. The board guides the school’s overall strategic planning, development and fundraising efforts.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver as the newest members of the Sca Board of Councilors,” said Langley. “Ryan and Tracy have dominated the industry with their innovative craft and mastered the art of storytelling for a global audience. They wholly embody the attributions of the next generation of this board and our business.”
Coogler (class of 2011) and Oliver (2010) are the youngest alumni appointed to the board and join a group that includes Langley,...
The appointment was announced by Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and the Sca’s Board of Councilors. The board guides the school’s overall strategic planning, development and fundraising efforts.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver as the newest members of the Sca Board of Councilors,” said Langley. “Ryan and Tracy have dominated the industry with their innovative craft and mastered the art of storytelling for a global audience. They wholly embody the attributions of the next generation of this board and our business.”
Coogler (class of 2011) and Oliver (2010) are the youngest alumni appointed to the board and join a group that includes Langley,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmmakers Ryan Coogler and Tracy Oliver are the newest and youngest members of the USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director Coogler graduated from the program in 2011. “Girls Trip” writer Oliver is an alum of the Class of 2010.
The Board of Councilors oversees strategic planning, development, and fundraising efforts for the film school. Fellow industry board members include Chairman Donna Langley, Chair Emeritus Frank Price, Sarah Bond, Kevin Feige, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas, Bill M. Mechanic, Shonda Rhimes, John Riccitiello, Steven Spielberg, Kevin Tsujihara, John Wells, and Robert Zemeckis.
Also Read:
Rick Singer, Mastermind of College Admissions Scam for Children of Hollywood Elite, Sentenced to Prison
“Ryan and Tracy have dominated the industry with their innovative craft and mastered the art of storytelling for a global audience,” said Langley in a press release, who made the announcement with Elizabeth M. Daley,...
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director Coogler graduated from the program in 2011. “Girls Trip” writer Oliver is an alum of the Class of 2010.
The Board of Councilors oversees strategic planning, development, and fundraising efforts for the film school. Fellow industry board members include Chairman Donna Langley, Chair Emeritus Frank Price, Sarah Bond, Kevin Feige, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas, Bill M. Mechanic, Shonda Rhimes, John Riccitiello, Steven Spielberg, Kevin Tsujihara, John Wells, and Robert Zemeckis.
Also Read:
Rick Singer, Mastermind of College Admissions Scam for Children of Hollywood Elite, Sentenced to Prison
“Ryan and Tracy have dominated the industry with their innovative craft and mastered the art of storytelling for a global audience,” said Langley in a press release, who made the announcement with Elizabeth M. Daley,...
- 2/1/2023
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
This story about the best film schools in the U.S. first appeared in the College Issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
Before diving into this list — TheWrap’s seventh annual film school rankings — keep one critical caveat in mind: The dream campus for one student can turn out to be an academic nightmare for another. It’s all subjective and to some degree a barrel full of apples and oranges. After all, the best schools for learning how to direct aren’t necessarily the best for learning how to write or produce. Just because a college or university has a high number on these pages doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right place for you.
That said, there is something of a science to how we put together these rankings. For starters, TheWrap reached out to every school listed and collected data points on everything from class size...
Before diving into this list — TheWrap’s seventh annual film school rankings — keep one critical caveat in mind: The dream campus for one student can turn out to be an academic nightmare for another. It’s all subjective and to some degree a barrel full of apples and oranges. After all, the best schools for learning how to direct aren’t necessarily the best for learning how to write or produce. Just because a college or university has a high number on these pages doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right place for you.
That said, there is something of a science to how we put together these rankings. For starters, TheWrap reached out to every school listed and collected data points on everything from class size...
- 10/31/2022
- by TheWrap Staff
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
How do you prepare students for an entertainment industry in a constant state of flux? For some, the answer is LED walls. Schools ranging from Chapman to Cal State Northridge are doubling down on digital production in an effort to prepare their students for industry. And while rising tuition costs have would-be filmmakers worried, schools are increasing scholarships or offering fully funded MFAs.
These 25(ish) programs offer students the best chance at navigating Hollywood’s changing terrain.
1. American Film Institute
Los Angeles
The prestigious graduate program consistently churns out Oscar winners, including Coda director and 2022 Oscar winner Sian Heder, and blockbuster directors, and has made an effort to diversify its student body. Over half of the incoming students are women, and nearly half are filmmakers of color — all are eligible for new funds like the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship. This year, AFI’s...
How do you prepare students for an entertainment industry in a constant state of flux? For some, the answer is LED walls. Schools ranging from Chapman to Cal State Northridge are doubling down on digital production in an effort to prepare their students for industry. And while rising tuition costs have would-be filmmakers worried, schools are increasing scholarships or offering fully funded MFAs.
These 25(ish) programs offer students the best chance at navigating Hollywood’s changing terrain.
1. American Film Institute
Los Angeles
The prestigious graduate program consistently churns out Oscar winners, including Coda director and 2022 Oscar winner Sian Heder, and blockbuster directors, and has made an effort to diversify its student body. Over half of the incoming students are women, and nearly half are filmmakers of color — all are eligible for new funds like the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship. This year, AFI’s...
- 8/5/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eric Brevig and Greg Butler have been hired as visual effect supervisors at VFX and animation studio Dneg, the studio announced Thursday.
Both Brevig and Butler come to the studio as winners of the Academy Award winners for best visual effects. Brevig won for “Total Recall” in 1991, while Butler won and Oscar and a BAFTA for “1917” in 2020. In addition, Brevig received Oscar nomination for “Hook” and “Pearl Harbor” along with a BAFTA nomination for “Men in Black,” while Butler received a BAFTA for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” and a Visual Effects Society Award for best character animation for his work on the character of Gollum on “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.”
“I am proud to have both Eric and Greg, two highly accomplished industry veterans each with their own incredible legacy of breathtaking work, join Dneg’s creative ranks,” Namit Malhotra,...
Both Brevig and Butler come to the studio as winners of the Academy Award winners for best visual effects. Brevig won for “Total Recall” in 1991, while Butler won and Oscar and a BAFTA for “1917” in 2020. In addition, Brevig received Oscar nomination for “Hook” and “Pearl Harbor” along with a BAFTA nomination for “Men in Black,” while Butler received a BAFTA for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” and a Visual Effects Society Award for best character animation for his work on the character of Gollum on “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.”
“I am proud to have both Eric and Greg, two highly accomplished industry veterans each with their own incredible legacy of breathtaking work, join Dneg’s creative ranks,” Namit Malhotra,...
- 6/23/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay, Wilson Chapman, Shalini Dore and Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, has joined the USC School of Cinematic Arts (Sca) Board of Councilors which helps guide the college’s overall planning, development, and fundraising efforts.
“Donna’s understanding of global industry trends and insight about what makes media entertaining and impactful will be very valuable to our School,” said Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts who made the announcement today.
“I look forward to her contributions to the Board, and to the future growth of all our divisions. She will also be a great inspiration to our students,” added Daley.
Board of Councilors Chair Frank Price states, “Donna is a proven business leader at the helm of one of the industry’s most successful film studios, and her experience and knowledge will contribute immensely to our overall vision for the School and its talented students. We are honored to have her join the Board.
“Donna’s understanding of global industry trends and insight about what makes media entertaining and impactful will be very valuable to our School,” said Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts who made the announcement today.
“I look forward to her contributions to the Board, and to the future growth of all our divisions. She will also be a great inspiration to our students,” added Daley.
Board of Councilors Chair Frank Price states, “Donna is a proven business leader at the helm of one of the industry’s most successful film studios, and her experience and knowledge will contribute immensely to our overall vision for the School and its talented students. We are honored to have her join the Board.
- 2/21/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
John Saavedra Jan 16, 2019
Electronic Arts may not be entirely happy with the Star Wars license deal it made with Disney in 2013.
It's been a long, brutal five years for Electronic Arts when it comes to its coveted Star Wars license, which the publisher acquired back in 2013, only months after Disney's $4 billion Lucasfilm buyout. In the years since EA secured the rights to make Star Wars console games, the publisher has only managed to release two titles: Star Wars Battlefront and its controversial sequel. But there have been other projects in the works in that time, including the scrapped action-adventure game from the now-shuttered Visceral Games and an open-world title from EA Vancouver that was just canceled this week.
Why has EA had so much trouble getting new Star Wars games on shelves? According to Kotaku, EA's difficulties with the Star Wars license might have something to do with CEO Andrew Wilson,...
Electronic Arts may not be entirely happy with the Star Wars license deal it made with Disney in 2013.
It's been a long, brutal five years for Electronic Arts when it comes to its coveted Star Wars license, which the publisher acquired back in 2013, only months after Disney's $4 billion Lucasfilm buyout. In the years since EA secured the rights to make Star Wars console games, the publisher has only managed to release two titles: Star Wars Battlefront and its controversial sequel. But there have been other projects in the works in that time, including the scrapped action-adventure game from the now-shuttered Visceral Games and an open-world title from EA Vancouver that was just canceled this week.
Why has EA had so much trouble getting new Star Wars games on shelves? According to Kotaku, EA's difficulties with the Star Wars license might have something to do with CEO Andrew Wilson,...
- 1/16/2019
- Den of Geek
As if she didn't have enough to do, super-achiever president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, with a raft of "Star Wars" sequels in the works, is joining the USC School of Cinematic Arts (Sca) Board of Councilors, announced Dean Elizabeth M. Daley. Typically, Kennedy joins a board comprised entirely of film and TV industry alpha males, except for alpha female Shonda Rhimes: Chair Frank Price, Frank Biondi, Jr., Barry Diller, Lee Gabler, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Levine, George Lucas, Michael Lynton, Don Mattrick, Bill M. Mechanic, Barry Meyer, Les Moonves, Sidney Poitier, John Riccitiello, Barney Rosenzweig, Scott Sassa, Steven Spielberg, Kevin Tsuijihara, John Wells, Jim Wiatt, Paul Junger Witt and Robert Zemeckis. Prior to joining Lucasfilm in 2012 to take over the reins from George Lucas, Kennedy headed The Kennedy/Marshall Company, which she...
- 6/23/2015
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Kevin Tsujihara, chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Bros., has joined the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (Sca) Board of Councilors, Sca Dean Elizabeth M. Daley announced Wednesday. The Board plays a key leadership role in the school’s overall planning and development, as well as supports its fundraising efforts. Tsujihara joins the Board’s other notable industry icons: Chair Frank Price, Frank Biondi Jr., Barry Diller, Lee Gabler, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Levine, George Lucas, Michael Lynton, Don Mattrick, Bill M. Mechanic, Barry Meyer, Les Moonves, Sidney Poitier,...
- 4/1/2015
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Telltale Games has added Unity Technology CEO and former EA CEO John Riccitiello to its board of directors.
In addition, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer was appointed to the company's board as part of Lionsgate's investment in Telltale.
"As Telltale continues to lead the revolution in next generation interactive storytelling, I'm excited to welcome two top executives to our board," said Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner.
"Jon Feltheimer and John Riccitiello have decades of experience delivering premium entertainment to audiences everywhere."
Riccitiello added: "Telltale has created something entirely new. Their games combine linear storytelling and gameplay in an entirely new way that is fresh, unique, and compelling.
"I'm excited to partner with Kevin and his team at Telltale as they build on their success in bringing together some of what is the best of television, film and video games."
Telltale recently announced Minecraft: Story Mode as part of a partnership with developer Mojang.
In addition, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer was appointed to the company's board as part of Lionsgate's investment in Telltale.
"As Telltale continues to lead the revolution in next generation interactive storytelling, I'm excited to welcome two top executives to our board," said Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner.
"Jon Feltheimer and John Riccitiello have decades of experience delivering premium entertainment to audiences everywhere."
Riccitiello added: "Telltale has created something entirely new. Their games combine linear storytelling and gameplay in an entirely new way that is fresh, unique, and compelling.
"I'm excited to partner with Kevin and his team at Telltale as they build on their success in bringing together some of what is the best of television, film and video games."
Telltale recently announced Minecraft: Story Mode as part of a partnership with developer Mojang.
- 2/24/2015
- Digital Spy
The president and CEO of CBS Corporation has joined the USC School Of Cinematic Arts board of councillors, Dean Elizabeth M Daley announced.
“Les is an innovator whose insights and creative energy are legendary,” said Daley. “His experience spans the entire media landscape so in addition to contributing to the overall vision and goals of the school, Les has the kind of practical knowledge that will benefit all our divisions.”
Board councillors include chair Frank Price, Frank Biondi, Jr, Barry Diller, Lee Gabler, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Levine, George Lucas, Michael Lynton, Don Mattrick, Bill Mechanic, Barry Meyer, Sidney Poitier, John Riccitiello, Barney Rosenzweig, Scott Sassa, Steven Spielberg, John Wells, Jim Wiatt, Paul Junger Witt and Robert Zemeckis.
“The board of councillors is dedicated to making sure students at the School Of Cinematic Arts have the resources they need to prepare for careers in the industry,” said Price. “Les...
“Les is an innovator whose insights and creative energy are legendary,” said Daley. “His experience spans the entire media landscape so in addition to contributing to the overall vision and goals of the school, Les has the kind of practical knowledge that will benefit all our divisions.”
Board councillors include chair Frank Price, Frank Biondi, Jr, Barry Diller, Lee Gabler, David Geffen, Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Levine, George Lucas, Michael Lynton, Don Mattrick, Bill Mechanic, Barry Meyer, Sidney Poitier, John Riccitiello, Barney Rosenzweig, Scott Sassa, Steven Spielberg, John Wells, Jim Wiatt, Paul Junger Witt and Robert Zemeckis.
“The board of councillors is dedicated to making sure students at the School Of Cinematic Arts have the resources they need to prepare for careers in the industry,” said Price. “Les...
- 12/17/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Electronic Arts has announced that Andrew Wilson, former head of EA Sports, is being tapped to to take over as the publisher’s CEO. Wilson replaces John Riccitiello, who departed the company back in March.
Wilson, who has been with the company since 2000, previously served as both an executive producer on the company’s FIFA franchise and as the executive vice president of the digital goods service Origin. During his tenure leading EA Sports, the company acquired the rights to produce Ufc fighting games from the now defunct Thq.
In a statement on EA.com, Executive Chairman Larry Probst, who had been serving as the interim CEO following Riccitiello’s departure, praised Wilson:
“I am convinced that Andrew was an inspired choice by our Board, and one I expect the team at EA will enthusiastically support. Andrew is the first studio executive to serve as our CEO, a testament to...
Wilson, who has been with the company since 2000, previously served as both an executive producer on the company’s FIFA franchise and as the executive vice president of the digital goods service Origin. During his tenure leading EA Sports, the company acquired the rights to produce Ufc fighting games from the now defunct Thq.
In a statement on EA.com, Executive Chairman Larry Probst, who had been serving as the interim CEO following Riccitiello’s departure, praised Wilson:
“I am convinced that Andrew was an inspired choice by our Board, and one I expect the team at EA will enthusiastically support. Andrew is the first studio executive to serve as our CEO, a testament to...
- 9/18/2013
- by Eric Hall
- We Got This Covered
Michael Lynton is the latest high-profile Hollywood name to join up with the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The CEO of Sony Entertainment has been appointed to the school’s Board Of Councilors, which deal with planning and development and maybe most importantly fundraising efforts. Lynton, who went to Harvard, joins board members including chairman Frank Price, Frank Biondi Jr, Barry Diller, Lee Gabler, David Geffen, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Levine, George Lucas, Don Mattrick, Bill M. Mechanic, Barry Meyer, Sidney Poitier, John Riccitiello, Barney Rosenzweig, Scott Sassa, Steven Spielberg, John Wells, Jim Wiatt, Paul Junger Witt, and Robert Zemeckis. Said Price in a statement today: “The Board of Councilors works in the interest of Sca’s students, who will be the future leaders of our industry. Michael is actively working on laying the groundwork for that future, and he will use his expertise to support the...
- 8/28/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
One of the main concerns that many gamers have had with the recent Xbox One reveal is that the idea of the “walled garden,” in which the company uses restrictive DRM to wield total control over your console and what you do with it, just won’t die. For instance, Xbox One games will require installation – no big deal, game installation was introduced for the PS3 and Xbox 360 to reduce loading times – ostensibly providing “ease of use” while conveniently dampening the sale of pre-owned games by requiring users to pay for an activation code to unlock the game, is just the first in what amounts to a series of giant steps back.
You’d think that games companies, usually at the forefront of technology, would be more concerned with using that technology to help themselves and users, but no. Even though the pre-owned games market has always existed, games companies are increasingly cracking down,...
You’d think that games companies, usually at the forefront of technology, would be more concerned with using that technology to help themselves and users, but no. Even though the pre-owned games market has always existed, games companies are increasingly cracking down,...
- 5/24/2013
- by Rob Batchelor
- We Got This Covered
Two years ago at E3 2011 Electronic Arts former-ceo John Riccitiello stood on stage next to Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata and proclaimed that there was a “breakthrough in [their] relationship with Nintendo, based on a stunning breakthrough in game technology. What Nintendo’s new console [the Wii U] delivers speaks directly to the players of EA Sports and EA games.”
Now, just six months after Nintendo launched the Wii U in North America, the “breakthrough” relationship appears to be official over, as Electronic Arts has confirmed that they have no further games in development for the console.
“We have no games in development for the Wii U currently,” Electronic Arts spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku earlier this week — although he later left open the possibility that EA might resume development in the future.
Electronic Arts and Dice have made it perfectly clear in recent weeks that they are not interested in even trying...
Now, just six months after Nintendo launched the Wii U in North America, the “breakthrough” relationship appears to be official over, as Electronic Arts has confirmed that they have no further games in development for the console.
“We have no games in development for the Wii U currently,” Electronic Arts spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku earlier this week — although he later left open the possibility that EA might resume development in the future.
Electronic Arts and Dice have made it perfectly clear in recent weeks that they are not interested in even trying...
- 5/17/2013
- by Justin Alderman
- We Got This Covered
Shares of Electronic Arts were surging 9 percent in the after-hours session Tuesday as the maker of video games forecast fiscal-year earnings above the expectations of Wall Street. In the most recent quarter, revenue declined to $1.2 billion fro $1.4 billion in the same frame last year. Net income fell to $323 million from $400 million. Electronic Arts has been going through changes of late, including downsizing its staff and losing CEO John Riccitiello, who stepped down in March. And on Monday, the company said it struck a deal with Disney/Lucasfilm to create games based on
read more...
read more...
- 5/7/2013
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Following redundancies at Square Enix and Slant Six Games earlier this month, EA have become the latest company to lay off staff, specifically from its mobile segment in Montreal. It’s been a testing month for the American based industry giant, what with the resignation of CEO John Riccitiello on March 30 and the turbulent launch of SimCity after an eleven year hiatus.
In a statement, here’s what the company had to say:
“EA is sharpening its focus to provide games for new platforms and mobile. In some cases, this involves reducing team sizes as we evolve into a more efficient organization. These are difficult decisions to let go of good people who have made important contributions to EA, and whenever possible we retrain or relocate employees to new roles.”
Though it’s too early to call this a statement of intent, these redundancies come only two months after a...
In a statement, here’s what the company had to say:
“EA is sharpening its focus to provide games for new platforms and mobile. In some cases, this involves reducing team sizes as we evolve into a more efficient organization. These are difficult decisions to let go of good people who have made important contributions to EA, and whenever possible we retrain or relocate employees to new roles.”
Though it’s too early to call this a statement of intent, these redundancies come only two months after a...
- 4/12/2013
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
John Riccitiello has resigned his position as both chief executive officer of Electronic Arts and as a member of the company’s board of directors, after almost six years heading up the video game publisher. Riccitiello’s final day with EA will be on March 30, 2013.
In a public statement EA’s board chairman, Larry Probst, explained that EA’s lower than expected financial performance is the reason behind Riccitiello’s resignation as CEO.
“Today John Riccitiello submitted his resignation to EA’s Board of Directors,” Probst announced. “In a letter to the Board, John outlined that while the company has made enormous progress in improving product quality and transitioning to digital games and services, our financial performance is tracking below the expectations set at the beginning of our fiscal year.”
“We thank John for his contributions to EA since he was appointed CEO in 2007,” Larry Probst added in the press release announcing Riccitiello’s resignation.
In a public statement EA’s board chairman, Larry Probst, explained that EA’s lower than expected financial performance is the reason behind Riccitiello’s resignation as CEO.
“Today John Riccitiello submitted his resignation to EA’s Board of Directors,” Probst announced. “In a letter to the Board, John outlined that while the company has made enormous progress in improving product quality and transitioning to digital games and services, our financial performance is tracking below the expectations set at the beginning of our fiscal year.”
“We thank John for his contributions to EA since he was appointed CEO in 2007,” Larry Probst added in the press release announcing Riccitiello’s resignation.
- 3/18/2013
- by Justin Alderman
- We Got This Covered
Electronic Arts is teasing that they will have an announcement to make during the Game Developer’s Conference later this month, which has lead to speculation that the publisher is finally ready to give Battlefield 4 a proper reveal.
IGN is reporting to have received a “save the date” invitation from Electronic Arts, that asks those attending to RSVP for a “March 26, 2013 – 7Pm” event at a movie theater in San Francisco. The date happens to be on the second day of Gdc (which runs from March 25th through March 29th this year), and just after this year’s Pax East convention.
The invitation itself does not specifically state that the event is Battlefield 4 related, however, the colors used for the image are very similar to Battlefield 3‘s box art.
During an Electronic Arts’ earnings call last January EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed that the timeline for the debut of Battlefield...
IGN is reporting to have received a “save the date” invitation from Electronic Arts, that asks those attending to RSVP for a “March 26, 2013 – 7Pm” event at a movie theater in San Francisco. The date happens to be on the second day of Gdc (which runs from March 25th through March 29th this year), and just after this year’s Pax East convention.
The invitation itself does not specifically state that the event is Battlefield 4 related, however, the colors used for the image are very similar to Battlefield 3‘s box art.
During an Electronic Arts’ earnings call last January EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed that the timeline for the debut of Battlefield...
- 3/9/2013
- by Justin Alderman
- We Got This Covered
An unconfirmed report is claiming that Electronic Arts has canceled production on Dead Space 4, and has “effectively axed the series” following weaker than expected sales of Dead Space 3.
Citing an anonymous source “familiar with the unannounced project”, VideoGamer is reporting that Visceral Montreal had already started pre-production on Dead Space 4, and was working on developing prototypes and story ideas when EA executives canceled the project last month. The report also claims that Electronic Arts has internally announced that the company will undergo restructuring, and they have shut down Visceral Montreal as a result of the lower than expected sales of Dead Space 3.
Officially, Electronic Arts had Dead Space 3 pegged to outsell both of its predecessors, and CEO John Riccitiello once stated that he believed the title would “get into that five million unit cadence“. EA has yet to announce any sales data for Dead Space 3, however, their last earnings call...
Citing an anonymous source “familiar with the unannounced project”, VideoGamer is reporting that Visceral Montreal had already started pre-production on Dead Space 4, and was working on developing prototypes and story ideas when EA executives canceled the project last month. The report also claims that Electronic Arts has internally announced that the company will undergo restructuring, and they have shut down Visceral Montreal as a result of the lower than expected sales of Dead Space 3.
Officially, Electronic Arts had Dead Space 3 pegged to outsell both of its predecessors, and CEO John Riccitiello once stated that he believed the title would “get into that five million unit cadence“. EA has yet to announce any sales data for Dead Space 3, however, their last earnings call...
- 3/5/2013
- by Justin Alderman
- We Got This Covered
Electronic Arts has stated that they intend to debut Battlefield 4 in “about 90 days” from now, and hinted that the game could potentially be headed for next-generation consoles.
EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed the timeline for the debut of Battlefield 4 during the publisher’s earnings call with investors last night. As part of a response to a question about EA’s stated goal of turning Battlefield into a yearly franchise, Gibeau noted:
“…we’ve already talked a little bit about that we have a Battlefield title coming next year, but we’re not in a position right now to talk about our development plans and our Sku plan long term. That will come in about 90 days when we get to show you some Battlefield stuff.”
The exact release date for Battlefield 4 was not discussed, however, Gibeau stated that they are planning to launch the shooter sometime during their fiscal 2014 year...
EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed the timeline for the debut of Battlefield 4 during the publisher’s earnings call with investors last night. As part of a response to a question about EA’s stated goal of turning Battlefield into a yearly franchise, Gibeau noted:
“…we’ve already talked a little bit about that we have a Battlefield title coming next year, but we’re not in a position right now to talk about our development plans and our Sku plan long term. That will come in about 90 days when we get to show you some Battlefield stuff.”
The exact release date for Battlefield 4 was not discussed, however, Gibeau stated that they are planning to launch the shooter sometime during their fiscal 2014 year...
- 1/31/2013
- by Justin Alderman
- We Got This Covered
Over 17 years after founding the company together, CEO Ray Muzyka and Vice President Greg Zeschuck are saying goodbye to the company that they built.
Announced over at BioWare's blog with follow-up posts from both Greg and Ray in separate entries, where the duo explain their reasons for leaving while thanking fans and friends of the company as well as BioWare's owners EA for all the support.
This is kind of a bummer for fans of BioWare's titles given how instrumental Greg and Ray appeared to be over the years to the company's vision as well as its passionate community (and the seeming passionate devotion of BioWare employees). The unlikely game developers, who started out as med school students who would up dabbling in programming, comes to what feels like an abrupt end, even as Muzyka explains in his post that he'd announced his intentions to step down back in April to EA.
Announced over at BioWare's blog with follow-up posts from both Greg and Ray in separate entries, where the duo explain their reasons for leaving while thanking fans and friends of the company as well as BioWare's owners EA for all the support.
This is kind of a bummer for fans of BioWare's titles given how instrumental Greg and Ray appeared to be over the years to the company's vision as well as its passionate community (and the seeming passionate devotion of BioWare employees). The unlikely game developers, who started out as med school students who would up dabbling in programming, comes to what feels like an abrupt end, even as Muzyka explains in his post that he'd announced his intentions to step down back in April to EA.
- 9/18/2012
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
Vince Zampella has told Cvg that the announcement for Respawn Entertainments first game will be “hopefully soon” the game will be published by EA.
However there is no set time when the game will be announced, both Jason West and Vince Zampella were in the audience at EA’s press conference last night. EA CEO John Riccitiello went to congratulate the pair after their lawsuit with Activision was settled.
Since the inception of Respawn Entertainment there have only ever been a couple of teases on what the studio is working on. The game has been described as a sci-fi shooter.
[Source] VG247...
However there is no set time when the game will be announced, both Jason West and Vince Zampella were in the audience at EA’s press conference last night. EA CEO John Riccitiello went to congratulate the pair after their lawsuit with Activision was settled.
Since the inception of Respawn Entertainment there have only ever been a couple of teases on what the studio is working on. The game has been described as a sci-fi shooter.
[Source] VG247...
- 6/5/2012
- by Tony Hicks
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Electronic Arts held the second major event of Monday’s pre-E3 press conference smorgasboard, showing off ten of their upcoming titles in La’s Orpheum Theatre. When EA’s CEO John Riccitiello took the stage, he explained that the briefing would be “less like the Oscars, and more like Sundance” — a reference to the relatively pomp-free presentation, although a single minute of these games features more explosions and slow-motion-neck-stabs than a decade of Sundance. We’ll have a more in-depth look at each of these games once E3 kicks off tomorrow, but for now, here’s a quick rundown of...
- 6/5/2012
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
I love a good E3, for any avid gamer E3 is an exciting time to grab a nice cold beer, slouch into your modern wheeled arm chair and see the next generation of hardware and new games unveil in semi-glamorised form for us all. Even the stressed yet buzzing journalists can pry a little bit of enjoyment of witnessing something genuinely surprising being revealed, I can imagine a journalist audience of half nods and sideways glances right now, the excitement’s there we just show it in a different way.
Now, I’m not talking surprise in the terms of ‘That GTA V looks like the best GTA yet!’ as that’s not too surprising, if it wasn’t then it would be disappointing if anything. I mean surprising in a ‘Well, I never saw that coming!’ kind of way. Let me offer an example; Portal 2’s announcement for PS3 had been surprising,...
Now, I’m not talking surprise in the terms of ‘That GTA V looks like the best GTA yet!’ as that’s not too surprising, if it wasn’t then it would be disappointing if anything. I mean surprising in a ‘Well, I never saw that coming!’ kind of way. Let me offer an example; Portal 2’s announcement for PS3 had been surprising,...
- 5/7/2012
- by Lee Burton
- Obsessed with Film
We all kind of knew this game was coming already. One because it’s a high flying EA franchise which is going to be milked for everything its got, and two because Dead Space 3 has already kind of been leaked a couple of times in the past.
The first many of us heard about the game came when an Israeli TV crew caught a quick glance of a Dead Space 3 logo and a few necromorphs on a computer moniter. Previous to this however EA boss John Riccitiello mentioned Dead Space 3 during an investor meeting where he said,
“I think it will probably take Dead Space 3 before we get into that five million unit cadence versus say three, four.”
Finally let’s not forget that a few supposed plot details were also leaked, mentioning ice planets and shadow Isaac. So really this story is simply just one in a long line of Dead Space 3 leakages.
The first many of us heard about the game came when an Israeli TV crew caught a quick glance of a Dead Space 3 logo and a few necromorphs on a computer moniter. Previous to this however EA boss John Riccitiello mentioned Dead Space 3 during an investor meeting where he said,
“I think it will probably take Dead Space 3 before we get into that five million unit cadence versus say three, four.”
Finally let’s not forget that a few supposed plot details were also leaked, mentioning ice planets and shadow Isaac. So really this story is simply just one in a long line of Dead Space 3 leakages.
- 4/18/2012
- by Corey Milne
- Obsessed with Film
Dead Space 3 has appeared on South African shopping site BT Games. The online retailer is taking pre-orders for the survival horror title, despite the game having never been announced. Despite the lack of confirmation, BT Games has previously outed Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode and Jak And Daxter HD Collection, reports IGN. Dead Space 3 was first mentioned by EA CEO John Riccitiello at a conference last year. A logo for the game was subsequently spotted on Israeli television, after a news show toured an Electronic Arts studio. A (more)...
- 4/18/2012
- by By Liam Martin
- Digital Spy
Mass Effect 3 is a critical hit, with a Metacritic rating of 95 right at this moment and now news has come in indicating that the game is somewhat popular as well!
According to EA, the game which has only been out in the Us for the past three days and just now releasing in Europe has shipped 3.5 million copies already. In addition, John Riccitiello the head of EA the game said Mass Effect 3 sold 890,000 copies within the first 24 hours of release.
Riccitiello stated:
“we anticipated it doing well, so we’re happy”
In addition, Riccitiello also stated that the day one Dlc that everyone was talking about has sold extremely well. Apparently 40 percent of the people who bought Mass Effect 3 also purchased the From Ashes Dlc:
“The tie ratio at the register is the highest in their history”
In other words, we can expect to be seeing much more day one...
According to EA, the game which has only been out in the Us for the past three days and just now releasing in Europe has shipped 3.5 million copies already. In addition, John Riccitiello the head of EA the game said Mass Effect 3 sold 890,000 copies within the first 24 hours of release.
Riccitiello stated:
“we anticipated it doing well, so we’re happy”
In addition, Riccitiello also stated that the day one Dlc that everyone was talking about has sold extremely well. Apparently 40 percent of the people who bought Mass Effect 3 also purchased the From Ashes Dlc:
“The tie ratio at the register is the highest in their history”
In other words, we can expect to be seeing much more day one...
- 3/9/2012
- by Matt Mann
- Obsessed with Film
Electronic Arts has expressed concerns about the financial state of a "major European retail partner", thought to be Game. EA's John Riccitiello told investors that the retailer's financial condition could affect future earnings. "We are concerned with the financial condition of one of our major European retail partners, which could lead to both increased bad debt and lost sales," he said.
Chief financial officer Eric Brown said that the company was "focused on some isolated European retailer issues", admitting that a "negative outcome could adversely (more)...
Chief financial officer Eric Brown said that the company was "focused on some isolated European retailer issues", admitting that a "negative outcome could adversely (more)...
- 2/2/2012
- by By Liam Martin
- Digital Spy
EA’s upcoming Mmorpg Star Wars: The Old Republic is already causing quite a stir among fans, and it is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated online titles of any platform.
Just looking at the figures for the recent beta test must feel pretty reassuring for EA - over two million eager gamers volunteered to test the game, and over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend, over 750,000 people logged onto the game to play.
So it would seem like The Old Republic is set for an eventful launch, and one assumes a hefty profit courtesy of its estimated success. Furthermore, when you consider that EA CEO John Riccitiello claimed that the game only needs 500,000 subscribers to turn a profit - which is 250,000 less than they had playing over just one small test weekend - it's hard to see how this could fail.
Saying that, The Old Republic is rumored to...
Just looking at the figures for the recent beta test must feel pretty reassuring for EA - over two million eager gamers volunteered to test the game, and over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend, over 750,000 people logged onto the game to play.
So it would seem like The Old Republic is set for an eventful launch, and one assumes a hefty profit courtesy of its estimated success. Furthermore, when you consider that EA CEO John Riccitiello claimed that the game only needs 500,000 subscribers to turn a profit - which is 250,000 less than they had playing over just one small test weekend - it's hard to see how this could fail.
Saying that, The Old Republic is rumored to...
- 12/8/2011
- Shadowlocked
Gamers always love a good war between developers and publishers. Who could forget such moments as the battle between Sega and Nintendo in the early 90’s, culminating in the infamous slogan ‘Sega does what Nintendon’t’. Jumping forward to 2011, a similar war of words is underway between EA and Activision, with the companies dueling over the launches of the latest entries in their hugely popular online Fps franchises.
EA have been nothing but explicitly outward in their attack of Infinity Ward’s blockbuster franchise. Earlier in the year, EA boss John Riccitiello accused the series of jumping the shark as well as actually saying he wanted the series to “Rot from the core”. Along with mocking the new subscription Elite service, it was embarrassingly discovered recently that the domain name Modernwafare3.com was directing to EA’s own Battlefield site.
Activision on the other hand have been a lot more laid back,...
EA have been nothing but explicitly outward in their attack of Infinity Ward’s blockbuster franchise. Earlier in the year, EA boss John Riccitiello accused the series of jumping the shark as well as actually saying he wanted the series to “Rot from the core”. Along with mocking the new subscription Elite service, it was embarrassingly discovered recently that the domain name Modernwafare3.com was directing to EA’s own Battlefield site.
Activision on the other hand have been a lot more laid back,...
- 10/20/2011
- by Stephen Leigh
- Obsessed with Film
Fox Business Network.s (Fbn) Liz Claman heads to Silicon Valley for the fourth annual .Three Days in the Valley. summit, an exclusive three-day behind-the-scenes look inside the high-tech business capitol of the world. The event began Monday October 17th, as Claman provided viewers with unprecedented access to tech industry heavyweights, up-and-comers and venture capitalists as she investigates the state of the technology business along with its new trends, products, and stars. Interviews include: Intel CEO Paul Otellini; Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello; Sony Playstation CEO Jack Tretton; PayPal President Scott Thompson; Pandora CEO Tim Westergren; Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen; SanDisk CEO Sanjay Mehrotra; DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg; Microsoft Strategic and Emerging Business Development Corporate Vice President Dan'l...
- 10/18/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Leading figures from the games industry have paid tribute to Steve Jobs, who died on Wednesday, October 5. Jobs had a huge impact on the world of computing and technology, with a direct influence on the development of games consoles, as well as on publishers and developers. In recent years, the introduction of iPhone's App Store has seen a fundamental shift in how mobile games are played and sold, moving away from traditional boxed products to cheaper, more accessible downloadable games. Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello said that Jobs was "the best role model for a leader that aspires to be great". "Steve was one of a kind. For many of us working in technology and entertainment, Steve was a new kind of hero that lead with big, bold moves and would not settle for less than perfection." Gears of War, Infinity Blade and Unreal Engine publisher (more)...
- 10/6/2011
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Electronic Arts does not plan to focus on 3D gaming and will instead favour social and online markets, CEO John Riccitiello has announced. At the company's annual shareholder meeting, Riccitiello expressed his concern at focusing on 3D game development over social and online games. "We see really high returns in these markets and very poor returns focusing on 3D, so we are allocating our resources toward new innovations," he said. "Frankly, we have not seen a big uptake for 3D gaming. We have not seen a big uptake in 3D TVs in the home, at least not yet. We are not here trying to drive a market. (more)...
- 7/30/2011
- by By Scott Nichols
- Digital Spy
This and more important news from your Fast Company editors, with updates all day.
Prepaid Plans Will Be 1/4 Of Wireless Subscriptions: By the end of 2011, The New Millennium Research Council estimates that 1 in 4 cell phone subscribers will be on a prepaid use plan, slowing edging out the dominance of more expensive subscription plans. This might be good news for frustrated owners tired of paying for unused minutes while living in areas of spotty reception (like much of New York City). -- Gf
Sony Reveals Earthquake-Period Finances. Sony's just revealed its quarterly finances for the period that includes the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster. They're predictably grim: A $200 million dollar loss for the quarter, compared to $330 million profit last year. But interestingly enough, Sony's seen its earnings take a hit from falling sales of its Bravia TVs too. --Ke
Social Net Hack Hits Millions Of Koreans. Malicious hackers have hit Sk...
Prepaid Plans Will Be 1/4 Of Wireless Subscriptions: By the end of 2011, The New Millennium Research Council estimates that 1 in 4 cell phone subscribers will be on a prepaid use plan, slowing edging out the dominance of more expensive subscription plans. This might be good news for frustrated owners tired of paying for unused minutes while living in areas of spotty reception (like much of New York City). -- Gf
Sony Reveals Earthquake-Period Finances. Sony's just revealed its quarterly finances for the period that includes the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster. They're predictably grim: A $200 million dollar loss for the quarter, compared to $330 million profit last year. But interestingly enough, Sony's seen its earnings take a hit from falling sales of its Bravia TVs too. --Ke
Social Net Hack Hits Millions Of Koreans. Malicious hackers have hit Sk...
- 7/28/2011
- by Kit Eaton
- Fast Company
How the FBI, DEA, and Ice scour Facebook, News Corp. buys own shares, Google's Offers deal site hits NYC, Plus may hit 10 million users today, and Steve Ballmer admits Windows Phone failings. This and more surprising/important news from your Fast Company editors, with updates all day.
Electronic Arts Acquires Casual Gaming Company, PopCap: The video game giant has made an aggressive move into the online space, with a $750 million acquisition of PopCap, which is best known for the viral hits "Peggle" and "Plants vs. Zombies." With earnings over $100 Million in 2010 and 30% growth, "PopCap has proven they have the right people and creative culture to sustain this success," said EA chief execuitive, John Riccitiello. -- Gf
--Updated 6:45 p.m. Est
Facebook 'Em. Quick. Take down those pics of you doing bong hits with illegal aliens. The FBI, DEA, and Ice are increasingly getting warrants to search Facebook accounts--without users' knowledge.
Electronic Arts Acquires Casual Gaming Company, PopCap: The video game giant has made an aggressive move into the online space, with a $750 million acquisition of PopCap, which is best known for the viral hits "Peggle" and "Plants vs. Zombies." With earnings over $100 Million in 2010 and 30% growth, "PopCap has proven they have the right people and creative culture to sustain this success," said EA chief execuitive, John Riccitiello. -- Gf
--Updated 6:45 p.m. Est
Facebook 'Em. Quick. Take down those pics of you doing bong hits with illegal aliens. The FBI, DEA, and Ice are increasingly getting warrants to search Facebook accounts--without users' knowledge.
- 7/12/2011
- by Kit Eaton
- Fast Company
Electronic Arts has purchased developer PopCap for $$700 million. EA will pay around $$650 million (£408 million) in cash, with $$100 million (£63 million) in EA stock to be issued to certain PopCap shareholders. PopCap has developed popular casual and puzzle games such as Plants vs Zombies, Bejeweled 3, Zuma and Peggle. PopCap's games have been met with great success on iPhone, iPad, Android, PC and Facebook. "We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games," said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. "By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience." EA CEO John Riccitiello said: "EA and PopCap are a compelling combination. PopCap's (more)...
- 7/12/2011
- by By Scott Nichols
- Digital Spy
Electronic Arts has purchased developer PopCap for $$700 million. EA will pay around $$650 million (£408 million) in cash, with $$100 million (£63 million) in EA stock to be issued to certain PopCap shareholders. PopCap has developed popular casual and puzzle games such as Plants vs Zombies, Bejeweled 3, Zuma and Peggle. PopCap's games have been met with great success on iPhone, iPad, Android, PC and Facebook. "We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games," said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. "By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience." EA CEO John Riccitiello said: "EA and PopCap are a compelling combination. PopCap's (more)...
- 7/12/2011
- by By Scott Nichols
- Digital Spy
Electronic Arts has purchased developer PopCap for $$700 million. EA will pay around $$650 million (£408 million) in cash, with $$100 million (£63 million) in EA stock to be issued to certain PopCap shareholders. PopCap has developed popular casual and puzzle games such as Plants vs Zombies, Bejeweled 3, Zuma and Peggle. PopCap's games have been met with great success on iPhone, iPad, Android, PC and Facebook. "We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games," said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. "By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience." EA CEO John Riccitiello said: "EA and PopCap are a compelling combination. (more)...
- 7/12/2011
- by By Scott Nichols
- Digital Spy
Rumors have been circling lately that someone was attempting to acquire "Plants vs. Zombies" developer PopCap Games. Given their recent obsession with the iOS market – just the other day, the company announced that their Origin service was coming to iOS devices – Electronic Arts always seemed like the likeliest buyer. Well, the publisher has just announced via press release that they have acquired PopCap for $750 million.
The purchase actually breaks down to about $650 million in cash, plus $100 million in EA stock. PopCaps' sellers could also earn bonuses based upon the developer's performance between the acquisition and December 2013. For instance, if PopCap has $343 million is earnings before interest and tax, their earn-out will be $550 million. In addition, PopCap employees will receive up to $50 million in "retention awards" over the next four years.
EA appears optimistic about their purchase, adjusting their fiscal year 2012 predictions due to the acquisition. The company has increased their...
The purchase actually breaks down to about $650 million in cash, plus $100 million in EA stock. PopCaps' sellers could also earn bonuses based upon the developer's performance between the acquisition and December 2013. For instance, if PopCap has $343 million is earnings before interest and tax, their earn-out will be $550 million. In addition, PopCap employees will receive up to $50 million in "retention awards" over the next four years.
EA appears optimistic about their purchase, adjusting their fiscal year 2012 predictions due to the acquisition. The company has increased their...
- 7/12/2011
- by Matt Clark
- MTV Multiplayer
Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello has said that the firm is beginning to realise the potential of Nintendo's Wii U. Speaking to Industry Gamers, the EA boss praised the system's touch-screen controller, explaining that it "transcends" other inputs. "It's a high definition platform and I love the controller," he said. "I just think it's cool. You're a gamer - so you've got the screen here [in your hands] and you've got the [TV] screen there and you've got full control. "Personally, while there's some great experiences on Move, and there's some great experiences on Kinect, I'm not a motion control guy. It's still too imprecise for me. I like shooting something and hitting it. I like turning a corner and feeling precision. (more)...
- 7/10/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
EA Sports president Peter Moore has said that the company is eager to develop for the Wii U. EA was featured prominently during Nintendo's E3 press conference, with president John Riccitiello praising the Wii U's "deeper online capabilities" and promising an "unprecedented partnership" between EA and Nintendo. Moore has now told Gamasutra: "My dev teams - their heads are exploding, in a good way and a bad way. How do we look at this new technology? We don't just want to bolt this on; this has to be relevant to the sports gamer." Moore added that EA is excited for Nintendo's new hardware "from the perspective of once again, Nintendo is putting a different spin on things, showing that it's not all about graphic fidelity and processing power". He said: "In (more)...
- 6/16/2011
- by By Scott Nichols
- Digital Spy
Just as the internet rumor mill predicted a couple of months ago, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo revealed its follow-up to the remarkably successful Wii home console Tuesday morning at their E3 conference at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Its name? Wii U. Let the pronoun wordplay marinate in your mind for a sec. …Yeah, I’m not sure if I like the name either. But it’s the Big N’s way of building off a console that’s attracted millions of people who were traditionally apathetic toward video games, like septuagenarian school principals. Wii titles top the...
- 6/7/2011
- by Bryan Lufkin
- EW.com - PopWatch
The release of BioWare's highly anticipated Mmorpg "Star Wars: The Old Republic" may or may not be delayed until September. There's been no official announcement on that front, though anonymous studio insiders have hinted as much. Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello didn't address the rumor during a conference call with investors, but he did have a few interesting things to say about the "Star Wars" Mmo.
The most surprising revelation was EA's subscriber expectations. "We previously described to folks that 500,000 subscribers saw the game as substantially profitable, but it's not the kind of thing that we would write home about," he said. "[But] anything north of 1 million subscribers is a very profitable business."
Compare this to "World of Warcraft," the industry-leading Mmorpg which currently boasts more than 12 million subscribers. The 500,000 figure -- hell, even the "north of 1 million" figure -- seems perfectly reasonable for a brand like "Star Wars," especially when...
The most surprising revelation was EA's subscriber expectations. "We previously described to folks that 500,000 subscribers saw the game as substantially profitable, but it's not the kind of thing that we would write home about," he said. "[But] anything north of 1 million subscribers is a very profitable business."
Compare this to "World of Warcraft," the industry-leading Mmorpg which currently boasts more than 12 million subscribers. The 500,000 figure -- hell, even the "north of 1 million" figure -- seems perfectly reasonable for a brand like "Star Wars," especially when...
- 2/2/2011
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Multiplayer
Electronic Arts has announced that it will reveal a new first-person shooter later this year. CEO John Riccitiello said that the firm's aim is to "take back" the leadership of the genre and claimed it had made great progress last year. "The intention for us is to have strong Fps entries each year," he told company investors, according to Eurogamer. "I don't want to give away the thunder from our call but for quite a long time now I've been saying it's our long-term goal to take back the first-person shooter category leadership. We've made strong progress in calendar '10 (more)...
- 2/2/2011
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Once upon a time, the big playground battle was over whether Nintendo or Sega were the big gaming guns.
And while Nintendo has carved out an incredibly successful niche all its own, the big money-flinging battle nowadays is undoubtedly between Microsoft and Sony.
Passionate fan raving aside, it’s always been a fairly closely run race (there’s only a 3 million console disparity between the two, with Xbox just nudging into the lead), although it appears some industry bigwigs believe there’s only ever going to be one clear winner.
EA CEO John Riccitiello has told IndustryGamers that Microsoft will always be playing catch-up due to the weakness of its brand.
“The Xbox brand, the Microsoft brand, doesn’t carry anywhere near as much sway as the Sony and PlayStation brand do outside the United States, and so I think the reality is the international marketplace is just so important...
And while Nintendo has carved out an incredibly successful niche all its own, the big money-flinging battle nowadays is undoubtedly between Microsoft and Sony.
Passionate fan raving aside, it’s always been a fairly closely run race (there’s only a 3 million console disparity between the two, with Xbox just nudging into the lead), although it appears some industry bigwigs believe there’s only ever going to be one clear winner.
EA CEO John Riccitiello has told IndustryGamers that Microsoft will always be playing catch-up due to the weakness of its brand.
“The Xbox brand, the Microsoft brand, doesn’t carry anywhere near as much sway as the Sony and PlayStation brand do outside the United States, and so I think the reality is the international marketplace is just so important...
- 12/23/2010
- by Matt Risley
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Activision has named Electronic Arts as a cross-defendant in its ongoing legal case against former Infinity Ward employees Jason West and Vince Zampella. The lawsuit has been amended following new evidence that "Electronic Arts conspired with two former senior Activision executives... to derail Activision's Call of Duty franchise, disrupt its Infinity Ward development studio, and inflict serious harm on the company," according to Joystiq. The evidence apparently suggests that EA Cco John Riccitiello had a meeting with Vince and Zampella while the pair still worked at Infinity Ward, which led to the sharing of confidential information and intellectual property belonging (more)...
- 12/22/2010
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.