EA has scoped the rights to create games based on some of Hasbro's biggest properties like Monopoly and Scrabble.
The games are aimed at a mass audience (your mum and sister) and will launch across the likes of mobiles, online, handheld, PC and consoles from early next year.
"The gaming market has never been more primed for a revolution in how families enjoy games," said Kathy Vrabeck, President, EA Casual Entertainment Label. "Hasbro is the ideal partner to help propel this change. Their games define fun. These are games that we all love and remember from our childhoods. The combination of EA's market leadership in the interactive space and Hasbro's timeless franchises is a perfect partnership for today's market. Together EA and Hasbro can create the next generation of fun for a new wave of kids and families."
EA has scoped the rights to create games based on some of Hasbro's biggest properties like Monopoly and Scrabble.
They got the rights because no other developer lacks such creative vision that they need to acquire the board game franchises to bolster the fact they've totally dropped the ball on the "casual" gaming explosion. That these games generally only cost Ł10 in Woolworths anyway will be a further insult when they charge us Ł30+ for them on console.
The games are aimed at a mass audience (your mum and sister) and will launch across the likes of mobiles, online, handheld, PC and consoles from early next year.
...who would probably feel much more comfortable playing the board game. Let's be honest, these games are always better on your dining room table anyway.
"The gaming market has never been more primed for a revolution in how families enjoy games," said Kathy Vrabeck, President, EA Casual Entertainment Label.
True, the market is primed, but does that mean that this market should be asked to pay new money for old rope? Oh wait, you're EA, so I guess the answer will always be a definite "yes!". Can we expect Scrabble '07, '08, '09 etc from now on then?
For God's sake EA stop relying on easy answers that secure quick profits and start defining family gaming through creativity and innovation - as EyeToy and Wii Sports have. Otherwise when the next big thing comes along you may not have such an easy solution to fall back on.
I dont really get why anyone who likes to play the board games would buy the video game for 30 quid and play it on a console rather than just dust off the actual board game.....I dont see the mothers in the families enjoying it either, I believe most mothers would say something along the lines of "Video games are now making you kids completely unsociabble, you now play board games on your console against computer opponents rather than real people....what is the world coming to?!!"...
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