EA "always has new IPs in development" and is targeting "one to two" a year going forward, new EA Labels president Frank Gibeau has said.
"We're always going to be in the new IP business," he said. "It's entertainment - we have to stay fresh and we've got to change with the times and stay ahead of the curve in terms of what people are anticipating and want.
"We're always going to be building new IP and the mix that we have now is... you're right, we do have a lot more titles now that are proven, where as a few years ago we we're coming out with a lot of IPs because the cupboards were bare. We had been a licensed-oriented group."
He added: "Of course I'm talking about the Games label at that time; it was Bond, Potter and Lord of the Rings. As those went away or diminished, we didn't have anything."
That, Gibeau explained, was the reason the company decided to invest in fresh titles back in 2008, releasing the well-received Mirror's Edge and Dead Space, and it looks likely those won't be the last original games from the publisher this generation...
"I figure we'll probably be doing one to two new IPs a year as far out as I can see - and we always have new IPs in development," the exec stated.
"We go through a green light process and in technology development and gameplay development we're always looking at new, fresh ways at applying product."
In the same interview, Gibeau didn't rule out rebooting classic EA franchises either. In fact, he told CVG the publisher is looking to re-imagine and bring back "a couple" of classic franchises.
Comments
21 comments so far...
budge on 24 Aug '11 said:
I'd love a second Mirror's Edge game but i'm not too fussed about a third Dead Space. I found myself not really caring for Isaac halfway through DS2 and just trudged through it for some trophies.
EA should remaster Road Rash for PSN/XBLA.
TheLastDodo on 24 Aug '11 said:
EA's commitment to creating and pushing new IP's is one of the best things about this generation.
StonecoldMC on 24 Aug '11 said:
Yip.
Need For Speed.
Fifa
Madden
The Sims
Harry Potter
NHL
Tiger Woods
Family Game Night
Rock Band
NBA
Keep up the good work Electronic Arts!
KK-Headcharge78 on 24 Aug '11 said:
Sadly their constant regurgitation of eons of titles undermines this.
JakeyBaby on 24 Aug '11 said:
Mirrors Edge and Dead Space were alright and all... But DEEEAATHSPANK!!!! Is where it's at
WHERESMYMONKEY on 24 Aug '11 said:
It's just a shame that you send these new ips out to die. Shadows of the Dmaned and Mirrors edge were both brilliant neither of them sold very well. Why because you didn't bother splahing out the cash to let people know about them.
LordVonPS3 on 24 Aug '11 said:
If all of these games were released every other year instead of every year - I'd be far more interested in more of them.
2 years is a reasonable amount of time to make some significant improvements...
While something like CoD is an every year title - it's important to remember that different teams work on alternating titles - odd numbered CoDs and even numbered Modern Warfares.
Forza Motorsport is in a 2 year cycle now and frankly - although I'm not wholly impressed by the improvements in FM4 - I recognize that compromises have been made due to the 360's capabilities and yet while some things have been taken away, there are other additions made.
TheLastDodo on 24 Aug '11 said:
Yip.
Dead Space
Mass Effect
Bulletstorm
Dragon Age
Mirrors Edge
Shadows of The Damned
Dantes Inferno
Brutal Legend
Overstrike
Respawn TBA game
DeathSpank
Left 4 Dead
The Saboteur
Army of Two
skate.
My list is bigger so that means I win right?
Keep up the good work Electronic Arts.
@KK:
I'm not saying every game is perfect or was pushed properly but EA have put a lot more effort in than 99% of third party publishers/developers this gen and when a new IP fails (Mirrors Edge) EA don't just bin the game and the developers off like other publishers do, they go back to the drawing board and for this I applaud EA.
ingy on 24 Aug '11 said:
I'm with you on Mirror's Edge, but i fear the need to give 'more action' in games these days will spoil the sequel, just like Dead Space 2, and Mass Effect 2, amongst others.
budge on 24 Aug '11 said:
Exactly. I'm not a fan of all this hollywood blockbuster style action, i like my games to have a thoroughly engaging story with likable characters not cheap thrills and shocks.
I also hope that EA produce another Skate game. I've got the first two but never bothered with the third game. I loved making my own skate vids and photos.
NO SUPER POWERS on 24 Aug '11 said:
mirrors edge fails whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttt,
sorry it didnt fail, for everyone who bought it, it is a fantastic game and everyone who owns/played it has been begging for a sequal. how can that be a fail, numbers in games sold dont make a game fail, it just means its a sleeper and a fantastic game, hell i bet it sold more copies now its £5 than it did when it was £35, i get were u going with your post i really do, dont write off reinvent or improve but saying mirrors edge failed is like saying shenmue failed cos it didnt sell as many as say cod ,fifa , madden, another franchise gamers have been begging for.
just please ea dont change anything in ME2, just make it longer and co-op, nothing needs changing, hell even take away the guns, nobody liked them in the game anyway
StonecoldMC on 24 Aug '11 said:
Edited by moi
Very_Silver_Ownz on 24 Aug '11 said:
Mirrors Edge didn't sell because it didn't have any sex, blood or gore.
TheLastDodo on 24 Aug '11 said:
And to think that some people say power corrupts.
My original point was that regardless of success or lack of it, EA develop and publish more new IP's than any other third party developer/publisher this generation and my point still stands.
StonecoldMC on 24 Aug '11 said:
@Dodo
And to think that some people say power corrupts.
Mwahahahahahahahahahahahah
.
I get what your saying, I just feel that some peope hold EA in a very lofty position when they are just as bad as everyone else in my eyes (closing Devs, canceliing projects, same annual titles), thats just me though.
TheLastDodo on 24 Aug '11 said:
I hold EA in loftier position because they've given me more fun experiences than pretty much everyone else this generation but don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying EA are perfect, I'd rather not have Online Passes and Season Tickets and the constant mudslinging war with Acti and all the other balls like that but I look through my collection and I guess 40% is comprised of EA developed or published titles.
As for annual titles, well they're a necessary evil, without the likes of FIFA & NFS we probably wouldn't have got Dead Space, Mirrors Edge etc. The money has to come from somewhere.
almanac2015 on 24 Aug '11 said:
To be fair to EA the yearly updates sell. The new IP's they have made haven't exactly been a failure but they have been moderately successful at best. I like EA this generation - their games are improving and the commitment to a new IP or two per year is brilliant for the gamers.
shellster2 on 24 Aug '11 said:
I think EA have made a real go of it this gen. I've got loads of EA titles. FIFA in particular they have done an outstanding job with. I still cant putt on the latest tiger woods though. I must be a spanner, or just old.
geo xvii on 24 Aug '11 said:
Does IP mean intellectual property? i ve been seeing this for ages...
Toasted_PSP on 25 Aug '11 said:
If milking these popular franchises allows EA to fund new IPs and helps new ideas come through I dont mind these franchises been milked for all EA can get out of them.
Mastermue on 26 Aug '11 said:
Potential, yes, but not on the pc, not unless you want EA's Origin spyware. Yes dear friends, if you want to play EA games on your pc then you have to agree for them to monitor your pc habits (not all gaming related) which they will sell on to other companies. You have no choice, it's in the EULA with no opt out option. (That includes the retail disc version too)
Sure hope BF3 is worth that
On consoles though, lots of lovely potential there.