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Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:14 pm
by FlashTHD
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6319589.html
Over the past year and a half, Electronic Arts has launched a number of initiatives designed at pocketing more money from the games it sells. These programs include EA Sports' Online Pass, which erects a pay gate around online modes for those who play the label's games secondhand, and the digital-download service Origin.
Now, EA Sports has made a move to cut out the middleman altogether. Speaking to Forbes, EA Sports VP of brand marketing Chris Erb said that the publishing label plans to open up its own chain of retail stores. The first EA Sports brick-and-mortar store is expected to open this fall.
"As pervasive as digital is, there's still an offline component to acquiring new customers that remains important," Erb said. "Our approach is to be creative and innovative with whatever we're doing offline and ensure that it connects with our digital strategies. For example, we just started construction on our first North American EA SPORTS retail store, which will open this fall in the Charlotte, NC, airport."
"It is the first of what we hope to be at least three new retail stores to open in the next year, and it's a place people will be able to interact and buy their favorite EA SPORTS games," he continued. "As we look to expand the overall sports game audience, it's important for us to create environments for people to get their hands on our products and experience how much interactive sports experiences have evolved over the past few years."
The opening of the first EA Sports store coincides with the launch of some of EA Sports' biggest brands, including Madden NFL and FIFA Soccer.
Ok, so, when do we get to the part where they issue a press release blaming low sales on something or someone or other? Wait brb, I OD'd on irony reading through this thing and am going to go laugh hysterically for a bit.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:32 am
by P.P.A.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to just sign contracts with retail chains selling sports wear and equipment?
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:43 am
by MiraiTails
This is good. They should put all the sports titles in one place so I don't have to waste time skipping over them when I browse in stores.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:19 pm
by j-man
I really don't understand this. The idea of selling products in a physical store seems like the fucking Moon landing to these people (i.e. of questionable validity). A room filled with only EA Sports titles also sounds a bit like one of the upper circles of Hell.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:10 pm
by Farmer
I could understand if EA were opening a chain of stores across all their titles - considering they publish a sizable chunk of games on store shelves today - but a chain dedicated entirely to EA sports baffles me. They only release new games for each series once a year, right? So what are the shelves to be stocked with for the rest of the year once the "OMFG FIFA 2012 WITH BECKHAM'S LATEST HAIRCUT TAKE MY £40" craze has died down?
And while we're on the topic of these sport games, exactly what do they update with new releases? I understand the whole thing of player rosters, but it's not like they can add new levels or anything, with the exception of golf.
And also, why does FIFA Street, a game in which children elect to simulate playing football in the street over going to their local street and playing football have any right to exist?
No offence meant if you're a fan of the EA sports series, but I'm utterly sick of EA sports. It's virtually impossible to get anyone around me to talk about any other game than FIFA 11.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:14 pm
by Crisis
To be fair, I consider EA Sports to be marginally preferable to their real world equivalents.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:49 pm
by G.Silver
I am curious to know how many middle men will be cut out when they open three stores. Also, isn't the creation of new stores also the creation of new middle men? They have to pay for the buildings, the property they're on, and the people who work there. Somehow I don't see Gamestop feeling threatened by this.
Re: Ladies and gentlemen, the death of EA Sports
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:59 am
by Esrever
If it's just a select few locations, it'll probably be a reasonably OK branding exercise. Besides, I've seen lots of sport-themed shops in airports, and lots of booths and machines selling games. They'll probably just try to combine the two.