EA: To Cut 5-11% of Workforce

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/343845/ea-poor-battlefield-3-old-republic-performance-result-in-layoffs/

EA will soon be shedding5-11% of its workforce. The heavy cuts were delayed slightly with exact numbers still not known but the slowing numbers of subscribers for MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic have been highlighted as a financial issue and also recieving some of the blame is Battlefield 3 which is said to have made less than half its marketing costs back.

[teddymeow]

Crazy!! How much did they spend on marketing for BF3?!

Although, the real reason is that'll be to pay for Spatials new mansion!

[Neon Ignition]

Apparently they spent $30m just on marketing and made $13m back. EA was stupid when it came to BF3's marketing, a year long COD smear campaign when all it needed was a decent push a couple months before release, doubt sales would have been any different with it.

[FelixofMars]

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...500-1000-staff - Changed to no layoffs as such. maybe they are burning the dead wood.

[Kaido]

They'll probably do a pay freeze / bad pay rises this year and let good people quit tbh, burning the dead wood requires lay offs.
How much was spent on the dev for the game? sounds like a crappy ratio for consumers

[capcom_suicide]

Apparently they spent $30m just on marketing and made $13m back. EA was stupid when it came to BF3's marketing, a year long COD smear campaign when all it needed was a decent push a couple months before release, doubt sales would have been any different with it.

That is a crazy amount of marketing! As a reference, how much does the film industry use per blockbuster?

It makes me sick to think that a huge marketing budget is the reason that creative and loyal members of EA lose their jobs. Bad for them, and bad for the industry.

I feel that gaming is turning into:

1.) Mobile games that earn loads on limited investment (Angry birds, cut the rope etc)
2.) Casual games that earn money selling to non gamers (Wii Sports, Kinect etc)
3.) Established blockbuster series. (Battlefield, COD, Mario Kart, Oblivion)

If the big players now have to put $30million into marketing, rather than R&D I can't help but feel that those of us who started gaming in the 8 bit days are going to feel more and more alienated.

[FelixofMars]

This is exactly what is happening currently. Hopefully there will be more original Kickstarters and more Indie games. I have quite a few OST's for games ike MDK,Giants & Okami its starting to make me want to replay them. It makes me sad because I can't think of any games in this generation that are as unique.

[FelixofMars]

Possibly, or just shut a whole studio then setup a new one. They have done this before.

They'll probably do a pay freeze / bad pay rises this year and let good people quit tbh, burning the dead wood requires lay offs.
How much was spent on the dev for the game? sounds like a crappy ratio for consumers

[Team Andromeda]

Apparently they spent $30m just on marketing and made $13m back. EA was stupid when it came to BF3's marketing, a year long COD smear campaign when all it needed was a decent push a couple months before release, doubt sales would have been any different with it.

I thought BF 3 sold well ??. I think like most studios EA is just cutting back staff for other reasons not just sales

[EvilBoris]

EA is a bit in the **** this year, their spending has been more than their revenue, so they are in the red.

[NW2013]

Must be spending too much on their forum moles.

[Daragon]

Unfortunately, TOR was always going to be a big risk for EA and sadly it seems not to have had the desired effect.

The game dries up after the hundred or so hour class storyline which can be completed within the trial month - they invested far too many resources in story and not enough in social content. It's very sad when you have players talking about "endgame" only a month after the game launches, I've never understood why it's called that.

[FelixofMars]

As for BF3, I am sure they spent more than they needed to trying to sink the COD series. Sadly I find BF3 less impressive than Bad Company 2. I really enjoyed the multiplayer in BF:BC 2 the maps where mostly good, the destruction was a nice touch and actually useful. I always found if I went on a rampage and built up enough momentum you could get some serious damage in while BF3 it never feels like I am getting very far before being picked off.

I seriously hope the next BF is back to Bad Company TBH.

[mekanor]

Sad to hear that tor could be a part of their problems. It's absolutely amazing, I'll keep my subscription going for a long time.

[Neon Ignition]

I think with BF3 they expected it to make bigger in roads against COD than it did. EAs never been shy of aiming for impossible targets now and then rather than try and identify an emerging game type and dominate that instead