EA Sports

ASCII Man · 19 Feb 2004, 12:34 (Ref:879291)

What's up, or rather down, with EA Sports?
It seems as if they seem pretty intent on destroying their reputation of a top class game publisher anywhere but in the USA.

First they release the abomination that's known as F1 Career Challenge '99-'02 that seems to be made by a group of Chinese monkey's and then they cut out all the great stuff in FIFA 2004. (FIFA 98 is vastly superior except naturally in graphics)
Their rugby game is even worse...

All while the US based games (Madden, NBA Live, NHL, etc.) have been made with marvellous dedication, precision and research.

If they put in HALF of the effort they put in their US based sportgames, then FIFA/Rugby/F1/Etc. would have been enjoyable at the very least.

So, what's up with that??

Hobson · 19 Feb 2004, 13:14 (Ref:879327)

Maybe because the US is both their home market, and their largest market?

I must admit, the last EA game I played was NFSU, and that was OK but too easy.

Their quality has been going down for a while now, seeming like they want to cash in events rather than making good games. But thats normal business sense, as most of the games sold are to casual gamers instead of committed gamers like us.

I think.

Knowlesy · 19 Feb 2004, 16:59 (Ref:879506)

The FIFA games were never good, World Cup '98 and Road to World Cup '98 aside.

I wonder about the people who buy these games over Pro Evolution Soccer.

Oh no, I forgot, FIFA has got real player names....

ASCII Man · 19 Feb 2004, 17:46 (Ref:879534)

Yeah, but i'm not falling for it again.
FIFA 2004 is the last EA game that i will have ever bought, i won't have any more of their ****!

Same goes for Codemasters, genius at pay!
*******s!

Knowlesy · 19 Feb 2004, 21:42 (Ref:879826)

I think it's anger management for you now, mate!

**BertMk2** · 20 Feb 2004, 09:40 (Ref:880212)

Codemasters are normally reliable for driving games, the Toca and Colin Mcrae series are great. EA sports can't do driving games and I don't really buy much else (haven't got the patience for stuff like prince of persia).

ASCII Man · 20 Feb 2004, 10:56 (Ref:880276)

Quote:

Originally posted by knowlesy
I think it's anger management for you now, mate!

Well, you would be ****ed off too if you payed 60 Euro's for that ****ing ****!

Try Hard · 20 Feb 2004, 11:23 (Ref:880291)

I must admit, I never liked EA games and it was only recently that i tried one of there's (F1 2002 and F1C) and i have to say i'm fairly impressed, (although admitadly i brought them more for the mods than anything else). But i would never buy any of there Nascar games, they just don't compare to the papy games! I was considering buying Fifa 2004 (would be my firt ever footbal game if i had done), but i decided against it in the end, and haven't thought about it since.
The next game on my list is rainbow six 3 (for xbox), and then I'm waiting for GTR, (plus the Prototype C mod form virtua_LM)
But bar that i generally ignore EA stuff.... It's princaples thing, I mean, how can you call all the so called "add-on" packs for the Sims, not a cash in!!!

Personally, I think Codies had a little bit of a hick up recenlty, with TOCA RD and CMR3, but CMR4 seems to show them back at their best.
Hopefully TOCA RD2 wil be much better (and the PC version have decent handling!)

Ed

**BertMk2** · 20 Feb 2004, 16:43 (Ref:880599)

Quote:

Originally posted by Try Hard
Personally, I think Codies had a little bit of a hick up recenlty, with TOCA RD and CMR3, but CMR4 seems to show them back at their best.

Totally agree with the RD bit - the 'story' added nothing worthwhile and the character you have to play as was a total arsewit. I'd be happier if they spent the extra time and effort making sure the AI was up to scratch.

I thought CMR3 was ok, CMR4 is superb but I really could live without some of the bonus cars - why include a 2nd impreza, the transit, 2CV and Pajero? The 6R4 was a big loss from CMR3, the other group B cars were there so why no 6R4. A mk2 escort would have been good as well and maybe a chevette HSR, Fiat 131 abarth, Lancia Stratos. What other classics could have been put in?

429CJ · 20 Feb 2004, 18:04 (Ref:880665)

Quote:

Originally posted by ASCII Man
All while the US based games (Madden, NBA Live, NHL, etc.) have been made with marvellous dedication, precision and research.

EA Sports's NHL 2004 is nowhere near the quality of SEGAs NHL 2K4.

Jordi · 21 Feb 2004, 11:26 (Ref:881285)

F1 Challenge 99-02 is not too bad, not in the PC at least!

ASCII Man · 21 Feb 2004, 17:13 (Ref:881435)

I'm not really talking about their PC games, they always seem to be good so why can't they put in the same effort in the console versions?

@429CJ: I wouldn't know, i never played any NHL game in my entire life...

enemy-ace · 21 Feb 2004, 20:21 (Ref:881517)

My first experiences with video games came on the Playstation platform but when I discovered the PC games I put the Playstation away for good. I don't really play anything other than racing games, so I can't speak for other titles. My experience though has been that playstation is geared mainly at a more arcadey game while as the PC versions lean more to the sim side. In regards to EA, I have found that they have gotten progressively better throughout each of their F1 titles. The PC version of F1 challenge is probably the best F1 sim out there, and the ability to mod the game only enhances it.
Playstation games are just too limiting IMO.

Es Nes · 21 Feb 2004, 21:43 (Ref:881563)

yeah, the pc version of f1 2k2 and f1c is fun ... if for nothing but scr and lm93 mods for f1 2k2 and the upcoming prototype c/gtp/80s mods and scc for f1c

429CJ · 22 Feb 2004, 18:13 (Ref:882002)

ASCII Man: I just pointed out there's new contender on the sports game market, SEGA Sports, and it seems, that EA has finally got some competition, which is good.

f1manoz · 22 Feb 2004, 22:55 (Ref:882231)

I've got FIFA 2004 for PC. It looks good, runs good and has interesting options, but there are a few that they took out which limits the game somewhat.

EA on PC are pretty good. Don't know about consoles...

ASCII Man · 23 Feb 2004, 15:30 (Ref:882872)

Quote:

Originally posted by 429CJ
ASCII Man: I just pointed out there's new contender on the sports game market, SEGA Sports, and it seems, that EA has finally got some competition, which is good.

Do they release games for the PS2 too?

I just checked out their site and looked at some ESPN NFL screenshots!
Whow, an in-helmet cameraview!!
Schweett!

429CJ · 23 Feb 2004, 18:09 (Ref:883026)

Yes, they do.

MichaelH · 25 Feb 2004, 23:05 (Ref:885658)

I don't mind them, the Xbox versions of their games tend to be based on the PC rather than the PS2 code, so we get superior versions of games, especially Career Challenge, which obviously is a bit watered down, but the handling and driving feel are far better than I expected wheras everyone I've spoken to says on PS2 it's awful. So I'm happy with that.

I'll also stick up for FIFA 2004, it's very good. The gameplay still isn't that accurate, but it's better tuned as a game and more believable, less soggy in the controls though maintaining the sense of density to the players which I think it's traditionally done better than Pro Evolution.

The 5 year career mode has had me up into the small hours, buying players in, calling Sunderland *******s for repeatedly refusing my offers for Marcus Stewart, and generally getting immersed.

Then there are the sloppy, half-arsed bugs that crop up and so nearly ruin it, the random slowdown/jerkiness out of the blue, the **** free kick system which was done better in 2003 and working your way to promotion to the top flight to find Arsenal and Chelsea have been relegated. Gee thanks.

Anyway, I like it. EA get a hard rap which I'm not sure they deserve.