EA CEO Talks Profits and Rock Band Rivalry
Some time back EA was known to push out crappy licensed games and whatnot, appearing to be a money-grabbing whore in the process. However, that has changed quite a lot recently, with the company investing in original IPs and actually good games. In fact, EA CEO John Riccitiello went on record to say that the company is cautious of prioritizing profit during game development now.
"Companies go through cycles where they are on the drug of profits," he said. Riccitiello noted that the easiest way to increase profit is to cut research and development costs: "That can be the beginning of an end."
"I’ve not only seen it, I’ve experienced it," he added. "You can seek to make profits, and then you’ll make the most profitable games you can–or you can seek to make great games that are profitable."
He also touched on the rivalry between EA and Activision music game franchises – Guitar Hero and Rock Band – noting that “rivalries are fun for people” and “invests meaning in something that is inherently sort of frivolous and fun.”