14 February 2008
Josh

EA admits mistakes it made in acquiring WestWood Studios and Bullfrog Productions

EA has admitted that the company “blew it” when it came to acquiring all-star developers like WestWood Studios (the makers of Command & Conquer) and Bullfrog (Dungeon Keeper, Theme Park, Popolous). All this from Electronic Arts’ CEO John Riccitiello.

He continues, “We at EA blew it, and to a degree I was involved in these things, so I blew it. When I talked to the creators that populated these companies at the time, they felt like they were buried and stifled. The command and conquer model doesn’t work. If you think you’re going to buy a developer and put your name on the label . . . you’re making a profound mistake.” Riccitiello said at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas.

EA bought out Peter Molyneux’s Bullfrog in 1995, soon after Molyneux had left. The same fate landed on Command & Conquer developer Westwood Studios, whose core members left once EA swallowed the company up.

Riccitiello blames EA’s choice to force its management structure on the acquired developer, which he says serious hampered their creative freedom.

The good news out of all this negativity is that they promise it won’t happen again, that they’ve learned from their mistakes. EA’s boss man has sworn to preserve the “company culture” at their newest acquired studios, BioWare (Mass Effect) and Pandemic (Mercenaries, Star Wars Battlefront, Full Spectrum Warrior). “It seems to be working,” Riccitiello added. “I think we are on a good track.”

It’s good to hear that EA is learning from past mistakes, too bad Westwood had to go through. They were a great developer.

21 April 2008 16:48
repoisoning

I hate EA. I don’t care that they admitted their mistakes. They are the ones responsible for why my favorite video game series (Command and Conquer) has gone downhill. Unless they can somehow get Westwood Studios and all their members back up and running, I will always hate their guts. An apology is NEVER going to change that.

20 July 2008 04:49
kavoh

I agree poison. they can all burn for that. command conquer will beat any game they come out with. R.I.P Westwood. R.I.P

6 September 2008 14:01
Terkaal

Everytime I see that EA symbol on a game, I feel I just want to see the world burn. All the games from my childhood I remember that I loved and played are never going to be seen again thanks to EA. Lets look in detail for example at Command and Conquer Generals. Jesus Christ….That game is like sitting down in a cold dark room being forced to listen to some grumpy old man talk to you about his toenails. It just isn’t fun! I’ve lost count of how many games by EA were packed of US Propaganda since 9/11. Games were supposed to be a way to escape the real world for some fun, not an extension of the political thought machine. DOWN WITH EA!

9 December 2008 20:00
Devian

Where’s Dungeon Keeper 3?
Lands of Lore lost!

Damn it, EA!