Wednesday, July 4th 2012
EA to go 100% Digital, Calls NPD 'Irrelevant'
EA has made a major push into PC digital distribution with Origin, and it seems to be paying off. Analysts have predicted that we're heading toward an all-digital age, and EA intends to speed up the process by actively moving toward that goal itself. "We'll continue to deliver games in whatever media formats make sense and as one ebbs and one starts to flow, we'll go in that direction," EA Games president Frank Gibeau said. "Ultimately Electronic Arts, at some point in the future - much like your question about streaming and cloud - we're going to be a 100% digital company, period. It's going to be there some day. It's inevitable." He also noted the problem that many in the industry have pointed out: our only measure of tracking sales numbers is through NPD, which tracks retail sales but has lagged behind on reporting digital numbers. Part of that is probably that the large digital marketplace Steam is reluctant to share its sales data, but it still creates a definite issue of incomplete data. "I think one of the problems with this industry right now is that people tend to look at it like they're looking at an elephant through a straw," he told GI.biz. "They only see a little parts of it and they're not looking at the total picture, right? Between Facebook, social, mobile, free to play on PC, Asia, consoles... it's a vibrant, growing, huge market. An occasional bad report from NPD, which measures a sliver of what's actually happening in gaming gives people an erroneous impression."
Mr. Gibeau also said, "My point is it's an irrelevant measure on the industry. It's totally irrelevant. We don't even really look at it internally anymore. We're more focused on our services and how we're connected with consumers." This is similar to a previous statement from corporate communications executive Tiffany Steckler, who called NPD's data "a misrepresentation of the entire industry." In a statement to GameSpot, NPD Games president David McQuillan said he was surprised at Gibeau's comments. "Successful companies are looking at how their products are performing within all channels, particularly retail," he said. "For that reason, we were surprised to read the comments by Mr. Gibeau that EA does not look at NPD data internally at all. While we will not comment on the specifics on our long-standing relationship with EA, we can say with confidence that we have daily dealings with all of our major publisher clients. And we know for a fact they're using the data." He also noted that their estimates show 56% of consumer spend is in physical software, and 70% in Q4.
While NPD defends its retail figures as valuable, it seems to understand the changing tide. The company announced last year that it would be moving into digital tracking as well. In the same breath, however, it pointed out that it needs digital retailers to open their doors to the tracking firm to have accurate figures.
Source:
Shacknews
Mr. Gibeau also said, "My point is it's an irrelevant measure on the industry. It's totally irrelevant. We don't even really look at it internally anymore. We're more focused on our services and how we're connected with consumers." This is similar to a previous statement from corporate communications executive Tiffany Steckler, who called NPD's data "a misrepresentation of the entire industry." In a statement to GameSpot, NPD Games president David McQuillan said he was surprised at Gibeau's comments. "Successful companies are looking at how their products are performing within all channels, particularly retail," he said. "For that reason, we were surprised to read the comments by Mr. Gibeau that EA does not look at NPD data internally at all. While we will not comment on the specifics on our long-standing relationship with EA, we can say with confidence that we have daily dealings with all of our major publisher clients. And we know for a fact they're using the data." He also noted that their estimates show 56% of consumer spend is in physical software, and 70% in Q4.
While NPD defends its retail figures as valuable, it seems to understand the changing tide. The company announced last year that it would be moving into digital tracking as well. In the same breath, however, it pointed out that it needs digital retailers to open their doors to the tracking firm to have accurate figures.
123 Comments on EA to go 100% Digital, Calls NPD 'Irrelevant'
Hey everyone, run to play BF, it only costs 100 dollars to get started.. lmfao.. ridiculous..
Steams buy system.... never had a single issue.
Is Origin a constant DRM? If not, origin takes my vote. " Its a constant DRM. You are in fact ignorant of the purpose of Origin. Its exactly like Steam.
It's about digital distribution. Me knowing origin is a constant DRM is not some kind of validation point for me posting in this topic.. I think you are ignorant of the OP.. ^^
Anyway, you ask questions, then you find things out.. Would everyone here like me to point out what they are ignorant towards today? Because I can start doing that.
I think the fanboyism in this thread is making people get all pumped up. EA and STEAM don't pay your bills, relax fellas..I rarely had a problem with steam buying games..
I have had issues where it's stuck a game in downloading though at a % but the % won't go up of finalize. I have had some instances where I had to delete some inf files I think, so steam would not brain fart..
Regardless I think it's generally good to have competition. If steam is the only digital site they'd corner the market and that never works out for consumers..
I love the games that come from EA and Valve as well.
They both have great things about them, both have some issues..
Can't say I prefer either.. One thing I do know is that I hate how willing EA is to rape it's customers at every turn.. They'll save tons of money in distribution, packaging and all of the other micro management they loose by going digital but will we see any savings?
No, not only will we not see savings, EA will come up with some elaborate "and 100% BS" reason, as to why they need to raise prices..
I can't believe people actually think the excuses are valid reasons, it hurts my brain.. It's just so painfully obvious.. If you cut out the fat, you make more money..
I said:
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Lol people comparing steam to origin.. I don't like either of them tbh. The moderators at steam will lifetime ban you on a whim or if u piss off a freind of theirs, then they won't even talk to you about it.
Origin is fine, it's just very basic, no frills. It's what I expect from EA. They want to make money, not a community..
Is Origin a constant DRM? If not, origin takes my vote.. I don't like crap running in the background when I'm gaming and steam has a tendency to go crazy on memory useage..
All I know is, if prices go up when they should be coming down. I'll just stop buying from the companies who are slimy like that..
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If I was emotionally charged I'd of said something like "I'm going to storm into their office and start firing wildly".. I think your emotionally charged, everything you are saying in this topic points to it.. Idk why you think everyone who posts in here is directly challenging you or something.. I'm just speaking my mind.. That's what forums are for..
I'm too stoned to be emotionally charged...lol..
Peace and <3 TMM peace and <3..
Thinking something is funny doesn't mean I'm all bent out of shape about it.. You seem to be bent out of shape, about even the idea of anyone being bent out of shape..
Does everyone have to share your opinion in here or something? Was that a prerequisite to posting?
Jeeze.. I have to fight for my own opinion apparently....lol..
PS: Might consider having a mod clean up this thread.. Getting off topic..
power usage for said servers?
back ups of said servers in case of issues?
servers across the world for multiple regions to maintain download performance?
Cost of paying people to keep those servers in top form
Cost of storing user data, for said games keeping them tied to various accounts various backups of said accounts.
Cost of support across clients with live support built into the Origin client
shall I continue, all these factor into the cost of a server, Games that dont sell or get downloaded often still need to be maintained on said server etc. All this adds up,
My guess is it adds up to about the same cost as buying discs burning discs making packaging and shipping to stores.
Theirs alot more that goes into keeping their servers running properly up to date and most importantly SECURE, security probably being the biggest burden,
Im just playing devils advocate here i could care less its Origin it sucks as theirs no sales ill always buy from Steam do to this.
Its good to see them moving toward Digital as ease of access, maybe over time they will conform in order to compete better and thus we will see sales etc, as with any product money talks bullshit walks,
and customers like deals lol
NO OTHER program i have installed EVER does that, so who at EA thought it was alright to spam ads?
Imho EA should stfu untill they get a decent amount of games on origin(which ive no roblems with GUI,wise), and they deffinately need to UnGay their system, while i understand that it costs to run a server, once thats up and running anyway it shouldnt cost that much more to host more titles, and when they brought it out they said you would be able to link your older EA hardcopies to it, Crysis still wont, NFS pro street wont and many other titles i own that are not That old, to link them id have to buy them again, epic FAIL and not gona happen plus EA assed up my steam bought(pre and stupid) crysis 2 so bad i didnt play it for months and it now isnt installed thru steam but origin, yet in the steam folder and even then i had to get onto EA online to get it working.
Seems to me EA's burning more bridges then its building, and i only prefer steam due to the larger catalogue, and OBV beause they do deals and good ones at that.:D:D something EA think is ruining the sector(dicks)