http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6580&Itemid=2

EA: Wii Caught Us Flat-Footed

By Kris Graft
Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello admitted today that his company was “on the wrong horse” when it opted to focus primarily on Xbox 360 and PS3 during the console transition period.

Speaking at EA’s investor meeting today, Riccitiello, who recently took over Larry Probst’s postion as CEO of EA in April, called fiscal 2007 “the toughest year in the company’s history.”

He added, “[The last transition] was tough because we typically have two to three platforms and a five year period… 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.

“That got ahead of us a little more than our expectations.”

Shares have been languishing around the $50 mark for the past few years.

“Our stock hasn’t moved as much as we’d like,” Riccitello told one investor during a Q&A. He admitted that EA was on the “wrong horse” by concentrating mainly on the PS3 and Xbox 360 while throwing less resources towards the Wii during the console transition.

Nevertheless, Riccetello said that EA had the second-largest market share on Wii as of March with 19 percent, thanks mainly to Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Only Nintendo had a larger share.

The firm shipped six new Wii titles in fiscal 2007. EA also shipped eight titles on Nintendo DS.

The emergence of online, wireless and geographical differences in the console realm also made things complicated in fiscal '07.

Riccetiello said that the PS3 was the greatest investment platform in the last fiscal year, a console on which EA had seven titles.

The firm said the recent company-wide reorganization and a focus on creating new IP and nurturing of current IP will help make money for investors in the future.

Riccitello emphasized EA’s recent push to create new IP. He said that there is a “strong investment in [new] intellectual property” at the firm, with games such as Army of Two, Rock Band, Crysis, a Stephen Spielberg Wii game and Playground.

Meh

Interesting, but I'm not real happy with the support EA has been giving the Wii, especially not a crappy puzzle game from Spielberg (I know giving game creation over to freaking movie directors was a bad idea).

EA has been doing pretty good with the wii. I'm happy about MySims, and the sports titles, and to a lesser extent Boogie. Still wish that EA would bring over more titles and not be afraid of the "casual" gamers not buying it.

I agree, naz. Will that change? Not so much in the West, and especially not EA. However, some of their ports are very well done, and the Sports game's controls make them stand out far more than the rest.

It doesn't surprise since even the Wii caught Nintendo with their pants down.

Haha...

Its a start from EA, but I expect to see a lot more - and more quality - next year.

Who gives a f*** about EA anyway?

Sports fans.