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EA Backs Off On Activision, Makes A Play For Peace

For much of the year, EA and Activision have been trading blows in statements and interviews.

Truthfully, EA has been the aggressor more often than not, with company boss John Riccitiello saying they were designing Battlefield 3 to "take down" Call of Duty . Obviously, they were referring to the long run; EA doesn't expect BF3 to beat Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in the sales department.

But EA has continued to be confident and in some ways, kinda cocky. Therefore, it's a little surprising to see EA executive vice president Patrick Soderlund make a respectful comment after their game hit store shelves. As he told IGN :

"We all respect what Call of Duty brings and what they're going to come with. Right now we're out in the market, and that's all I know. When they come out, they come out, and I wish them the best of luck. They're partners in this industry, and I play all their games and I look forward to many of them, and all I can do is try and make sure that people stay interested and want to have more Battlefield."

While BF3 is a fantastic game, we still think they didn't do quite enough to intimidate Call of Duty. . Even so, the game shipped 10 million and sold 5 million copies in its first week, so EA should be plenty satisfied.

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Douchebaguette
Douchebaguette
12 years ago

10 million is enough to make a difference if they continued (would they want to? I mean annual releases? They'll probably continue with Bad Company). Kind of sad how absolutely epic games with more playtime and depth will only gain half those sales. It's a blessing actually.

EA have done what they can (their stunts and challenges) as the game has already released; sounds like EA are in an evaluation mode of sorts. Either that or the staff got slapped. With a fish.

Excelsior1
Excelsior1
12 years ago

whatever ea. i found their trash talking to be quite a turn off. i am not a big fan of ea as a company although i like some of their franchises. they have some of the most over priced content you can find on psn. they also have some the most arrogant employees you'll ever see on the ea forums. they could us some humility.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
12 years ago

ahem, CoD map packs for $15 including rehashed maps. That's all I really need to say.

Excelsior1
Excelsior1
12 years ago

those map packs are over priced as well. ea would charge s similar price if they could get away with it. they'd slap an online pass on there as well and tell you we are sorry for the inconvience when your damn code won't work. i spent 4 days trying to get my mass effect 2 code redeemed. turns out the cerebus network was down for 4 days. that was an online pass on a sp game for the love of god. wtf ea?

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
12 years ago

Such is the lame direction of our industry, must I remind you of the Catwoman fiasco?

Dancemachine55
Dancemachine55
12 years ago

Feeling bad about how you acted, eh John?

It just looks like you're trying too hard. No one at EA should've mentioned Call of Duty at all!! Leave the bickering to editorials, journalists and fans. Activision staff seemed to be pretty tame about all this, just showing off the game, the multiplayer and merely acknowledging but not commenting on the competition.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but for once I'm actually on Activision's side. (in terms of behaviour against competition) EA execs have acted incredibly childishly and immaturely towards Activision and Call of Duty that it hurts their image… at least to those paying attention.

Yes, I will be getting Battlefield 3, should be arriving in the mail soon. I will eventually get MW3 once the price comes down or many of my friends get into it.

However, I am very close to not supporting either BF3 or MW3 at all with all this childish bickering going on. Not only that, but there are heaps of games coming out around them that I would much prefer to play, like Uncharted 3, Sonic Generations, Batman Arkham City, Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, Dark Souls, Red Dead Redemption GOTY Edition, Saints Row The Third, Gears of War 3, Halo Anniversary, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 or Zelda Syward Sword.

Yep… MW3 and BF3 have a lot of competition this holiday season, and I LOVE IT!!!

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
12 years ago

We should bear in mind Activision was in a position to stay aloof, they knew they would outsell anybody on name alone.

Dancemachine55
Dancemachine55
12 years ago

Sadly, I don't see Call of Duty going the way of Guitar Hero anytime soon. If Acti stick to one CoD game per year and make enough changes to make it appear new, even though it's the same engine from the last 5 years, then yeah… CoD ain't going anywhere.

The online and split-screen multiplayer, the multi-platform release, the pick up and play controls, the short and easy to finish campaign, the killstreaks and levelling systems, CoD has everything a casual and hardcore shooting fan could want. No steep learning curve here, which is why everyone plays it.

You're right World, name recognition alone will make this thing sell like hotcakes. Look at fashion labels, Coka Cola, Apple, McDonald's, Disney, all these things draw people in through name recognition alone even if there are better quality products out there.

aaronisbla
aaronisbla
12 years ago

dont take it out on the makers of the games if they werent taking crap. Dice has been relatively quiet if i recall correctly, its mainly EA thats doing all the talking. Almost the same for activision…almost, but dude from sledgehammer games did partake in his share of talking as well

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
12 years ago

I don't see the peace play there, seems like another cocky remark. You only wish your enemy luck when you don't think much of them in the first place.

Still though, it's about time someone stood up to the aging rehashed FPS king so I like the cocky attitude from EA.

Underdog15
Underdog15
12 years ago

EA just got all their jabs in, then tried to be the nice guy a week before their opponents release so they can't in good conscience brag about a win.

You can't kill and then teabag an opponent that just wished you the best of luck without a little negative PR.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
12 years ago

Bobby Kotex needs a good tea-bagging

Underdog15
Underdog15
12 years ago

Are you obliging?

Actually,

Where's LV… I bet he would do it for us. He's thought his boy parts are neat for a while now.


Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/2/2011 10:20:21 AM

frylock25
frylock25
12 years ago

i think lv said he was going out to get a scarf

tes37
tes37
12 years ago

Yeah, good luck Activision, although you don't need it. But still… I'm going to be a good sport and keep both middle fingers crossed for you.

Nas Is Like
Nas Is Like
12 years ago

It kind of seems like EA is acting like they won…

aaronisbla
aaronisbla
12 years ago

5 million in the first week sounds like a winner to me. They mentioned CoD simply to get the hype rolling, and it seems as if it worked. Its a great game, enjoying it a lot and as much as some hate trash talk, i think it was a smart move on EA's part

ZenChichiri
ZenChichiri
12 years ago

I think EA was just trying to get media attention by bashing Activision. I don't think that they did it just to sound arrogant, but to get the word out on their new game. Heck, it worked too. The sales are pretty darn impressive when comparing to Bad Company 2. That game sold about 2.3 million in 2 weeks after release and Battlefield 3 is now at 5 million in a week.

JackDillinger89
JackDillinger89
12 years ago

BF3 only sold 5 mill in a week? MW3 will sell that in a day.

tridon
tridon
12 years ago

Personally, I would've liked to have EA work this hard to market Medal of Honor. I love Battlefield and I enjoy Call of Duty, but Medal of Honor started it all.

Geobaldi
Geobaldi
12 years ago

Actually the Battlefield and Medal of Honor series both started in November of '99. Battlefield was called Codename Eagle for the first game though and was released in the UK first before coming to the US a few months later. I've been with Battlefield ever since and it's still my favorite of the three series.


Last edited by Geobaldi on 11/2/2011 10:32:36 AM

___________
___________
12 years ago

wow, EA put a sock in it?
im shocked!
they must of woke up and kicked all the trash talking 10 year olds out the door.
THANK GOD!
if i said half the crap they did about my companies competition id be fired so fast my head would spin clean off!

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
12 years ago

bleh it all comes down to the games. I don't really care what the PRs have to say as long as they give us the goods.

BF3 is awesome. Now I am waiting to see if MW3 will live up to the challenge.

firesoul453
firesoul453
12 years ago

Now thats what im talking about!!!

THey admitted competition is a good thing!!!

EA I almost like you again

Stang
Stang
12 years ago

Everyone plays for peace when they know they are about to get their ass kicked.

MW3 Baby !!

Underdog15
Underdog15
12 years ago

Le sigh….

Personally, I hope as many games as possible are popular. That way, everyone has a game that works for them.

Diversity is necessary.


Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/2/2011 11:47:29 AM

DjEezzy
DjEezzy
12 years ago

I agree with world. I mean does anyone remember all the smart and snarky remarks kotex has said in the past?

Stang
Stang
12 years ago

This is clearly EA trying to back track after coming across very childish in their comments. Even hardcore BF3 fanboys have said EA's comments were silly.

Activision didn't bite.

dirdiggler
dirdiggler
12 years ago

please tell me mw3 won't have the online pass?

Stang
Stang
12 years ago

No Activision doesn't do those silly online passes like EA – you can buy COD used and still get the full game.

Most of COD Elite is free – you only have to pay if you want to enter the contests, get the DLC early etc.

DjEezzy
DjEezzy
12 years ago

nope they just have cod elite. so you have to pay to get full benefits of cod mp. That is so much better… lol

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