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Report: Investors shouldn't put faith in EA 'management's current guidance'
EA hasn't been the money-printing powerhouse it had been in previous years, and Cowen Research group blames the decisions of EA's top brass for that. Cowen Research revealed in its latest report (via GI.biz) that EA could still hit its expected revenue of USD 4.3 billion for the next financial year, but that the company would need to see growth in publishing revenue that outperforms overall industry figures by a considerable amount, despite the tough economic climate of today. Digital distribution will also play a key role in EA's economic future, as the company has stated recently, and EA hopes to grow its business there by 100 percent over the course of the year. Cowen Research's report again sees this as a possibility for the company, yet points out there is considerable risk involved. One also has the company's two big Wii games to consider: EA Sports Active and Boom Blox: Bash Party. EA expects each to sell 1.4 million and 350,000, respectively, but Cowen Research's report doesn't put much stock in third-party success on Wii. Cowen Research is hesitant to value third-party numbers where Rock Band and Guitar Hero figures are ignored, as the top five percent of third-party titles on Wii sold an average of 860,000 copies, compared to the more lucrative numbers of 1.2 million on the PS3 and 2.5 million on the Xbox 360. These games only accounted for 31.8 percent of total game sales on Wii, compared to 34.2 per cent on the PS3 and 41.2 per cent on the Xbox 360. Cowen Research finally points out that a buyout could be in the cards, with the company's share price reaching historical lows.
GameStop encourages women to be 'active and healthy' ... and stuff
Jumping on the release of EA Sports Active this week, GameStop has revealed plans for a sports and gaming hybrid campaign targeting the ladies. A cadre of pseudo-celebs and the game retailer have teamed up to promote women's health through a recently launched website called "Fit at Any Age." Various generic crucial health information is available on staying fit in your 20s through your 50s, as well as abbreviated interviews with each of the celebrities involved. We hate to be the naysayers but this thing stinks of advertising and half-assery. Those looking for good health advice along with their copy of EA Sports Active, well, probably aren't reading this site. But if you are, you probably wanna head somewhere other than the "Fit at Any Age" campaign site.
Watch British 'celebs' play EA Sports Active
What's the best way to sell a Wii-based fitness product in the UK? Have popular singer Alesha Dixon and Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton demonstrate your product, obviously. Ignore the fact that they're two very attractive young women in workout gear. That's totally not what these videos are about. They're about ... what was it called again? Right, right -- EA Sports Active. Check out the video after the break to see these two ladies strap on and get sweaty together. There's some gameplay footage too, if that's your thing. The second video can be viewed over at the official EA Sports Active website.
Joystiq hands-on: EA Sports Active
While Wii Fit never really felt like it could replace the gym experience entirely, EA Sports Active actually does feel like it offers an approximation -- and they did it simply by including a piece of rubber. Amazing, right? We took the new personal trainer for a spin yesterday, and while we don't know if this will give us a Charles Atlas body right away, it definitely felt like a substantial workout. Go on, "break" a sweat in our review ... behind the break. Sadly, bad puns do not burn any calories whatsoever. %Gallery-36788%
Pachter sees potential in EA Sports Active, dismisses Spore
Wedbush Morgan diva analyst extraordinaire Michael Pachter, the man who finds the idea of Apple buying Electronic Arts "retarded," is confident about EA's gaming lineup -- particularly on the Wii -- and is raising the company's stock expectation to $27 (currently $20). Using the royal We, His Analytical Lordship was particularly impressed by EA Sports Active and Tiger Woods, which He sees becoming "blockbusters" on the Wii. Of course, Pachter can't show his love without asserting his authority with a beating. Warhammer and Spore were graciously cut with love by the soothsayer. He remains skeptical about Warhammer Online's potential, stating that with 300,000 subscribers the game is probably only making about $10 million in profit (which didn't save many staff members) and estimates the game would break even in operating cost if it dips to about 250,000 subscribers. Pachter also isn't confident about EA's attempts to turn Spore into a franchise, noting that that the game "sold about as well as a typical SpongeBob game." Yeah, that's got to sting a little. Update: Pachter let us know he writes his reports with Edward Woo. So, our loving crack about the royal We wasn't accurate. There goes our image of Pachter in full Elizabeth I garb. So sad.
Peter Moore: EA Sports Active is a 'platform'
EA Sports president Peter Moore spoke to VG247 about the state of the economy, offering careful statements about layoffs, sequelitis, and PC releases of sports franchises. But of everything happening at EA Sports, Moore had the most to say about the upcoming Wii exercise program, EA Sports Active. "I call it a platform," Moore said. "Yes, it's a game, but it's bigger than a game, bigger than a franchise, bigger than a product. It's a true platform that we can sell expansion packs, sell more peripherals, ultimately get some download on there." Interesting choice of words, considering that EA Sports Active's biggest competitor is literally a platform. Moore said that he hopes to add biometric data soon. "If I can do that, if I can get your heart-rate on the screen, I mean then I can really drive towards what my vision of this product ultimately can be." Active and other exergames like it, according to Moore, can help EA and the game industry in general deal with "the most vitriolic press," including the Daily Mail, who frequently "blame [videogames] for pestilence, the plague, everything, and I think it's good that we have things to point to that say, 'This is getting you off the couch' and provide a little bit of balance." %Gallery-36802%
Video: EA Sports Active Balance Board features in detail
You've already seen what comes in the box, now watch what the Balance Board adds to EA Sports Active. Using the fitness-focused peripheral, players can lunge to hit tennis balls, skate on one foot and dance the night away, all in the name of exergaming. Of course, use of the peripheral is optional but this trailer recommends adding it to your daily routine and the game's 30 Day Challenge (aka, the Career Mode) to "broaden" Active's variety. To recap: EA Sports Active makes use of a leg strap, resistance band, the Wii-mote, nunchuck and (optional) Balance Board. We presume EA is looking to break some kind of Guinness World Record for most peripherals used by a player, at once. We can't wait for Active's next add-on to be revealed -- a spandex leotard that measures the player's heart rate and reduces their self-respect. %Gallery-36802%
See the accessories included in EA Sports Active
Peripheral gaming is in. Exergaming is in. So, EA Sports Active really should rake in the bucks. It'll support (but won't require) the Wii Fit balance board and to make the package even more attractive, it'll include two peripherals in the box. The leg strap (after the cut) will allow you to attach the Wii Remote to your leg. The game will then keep track of your movement, allowing you to run and jump without feeling too tethered down by a physical object. The resistance band (above) will allow you to do other exercises that work out the upper body -- a rarity in the Wii exercise genre. These two peripherals are small, and really do allow for some freeform movement. Will you be picking them up? %Gallery-36802%
'Wii Fit girl' resurfaces as EA Sports Active spokesmodel
In these two videos, EA's Jen Riley walks us (and a live audience) through EA Sports Active, the Wii exercise program that includes the crazy-looking resistance band gear. Helping her out is a familiar face, Lauren Bernat, better known to perverted Nintendo fans as "the Wii Fit girl." Yes, she has a face. Bernat seems to have made the best out of what could have been the most horrifyingly embarrassing situation ever, so good for her. She is also sensibly dressed for this EA Sports Active demo. Good for her. The videos are available after the break, for those of you interested in EA's cardio-centric take on Wii exercise. %Gallery-36788%
Here are the sports in EA Sports Active
If you're anything like us, you've been staring ruefully at your gut thinking, "Just you wait until EA Sports Active comes out Mr. Tumnus, then we'll see who's the boss!" Meanwhile, your belly's remembering similar conversations before the release of Wii Fit and My Fitness Coach and sporting as much of a smile as stomachs can manage, which is really more of a smirk. Now, thanks to the game's official site, we've got a full list of actual sports contained within the game to help you give your tummy threats a little more impact, including "Squat Jump, Fast Dance and Punch Bag," which (assuming the rules haven't changed from our days at St. Victoria's School for Troubled Boys) has us hoping for an included Wii Cup. Check out the full list of activities after the break.
EA Sports Active: Call Now
If you're going to try to sell a fitness item to people, you might as well use the marketing methods employed by other fitness items. At least, that's the philosophy seemingly behind this new trailer for EA Sports Active, which would be right at home in the late-night Paid Programming television block. Bob Greene, whom you might know from his work with Oprah, demonstrates the fitness title in much the same way as we could imagine, say, Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley, or Fitness Celebrity John Basedow doing. Except, rather than the spaces between segments of HGTV shows, these trailers are going to end up being shown mostly on gaming websites like this one, to people who probably wouldn't be receptive of the advertising even if we did like the game (which we kind of do!) %Gallery-36802%
EA's exercise game revealed: EA Sports ACTIVE
EA has officially announced their fitness game, titled EA Sports ACTIVE. The game will support, but not require, the Balance Board, and will include two leg straps for the Wiimote and Nunchuk, as well as a resistance band. EA's Peter Moore described the game's focus as a "Western cardiovascular approach," contrasting with the stretching and balance exercises in Wii Fit. Speaking to GameSpot, Moore suggested that ACTIVE will become a "product line," which we already knew because it is "a game published by EA." Players will also be able to create "playlists" of exercises, a feature conspicuously missing from Wii Fit. In addition, Active will provide real-time feedback on exercise performance, including calories burned and such. The whole thing sounds like a smart companion piece to Wii Fit. %Gallery-36802%
EA Sports Active shaping up for Spring '09 Wii-lease
Let's pretend for a moment that, just like us, you absolutely love physical exercise. With that out of the way, we can dive right into discussion of EA's new fitness game, EA Sports Active. Developed in collaboration with Bob Greene (he's Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer, it says here), the Wii-exclusive sweat-em-up will launch in Spring 2009. Though deemed "perfect for the whole family," EA Sports Active also claims to be "designed specifically for women seeking a simple, fun and cost-effective way to achieve a healthy lifestyle." Said lifestyle is achieved through a variety of cardiovascular workouts on a "Fitness roadmap," coaxed along by on-screen feedback and enabled by two Nunchuk-holding leg straps, as well as a resistance band for upper body training. The Wii's Balance Board peripheral will add further functionality to several exercises. And don't think this is just EA warming up. According to EA Sports president Peter Moore, Active "is a true fitness revolution and a space in which we intend to be leaders." Let's see if the publisher has the stamina to keep up with the runaway success of Wii Fit. %Gallery-36788%
