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'The Sims 4' launches this September on PC
You like playing with people's lives, right? When The Sims 4 hits this fall, you'll be able to take that to an entirely new level. Your virtual people will have "heart," can die of laughter and you can import someone else's custom person (or house, even) directly into your game, pretty simply from the look of it. When and where does it all happen? September 2nd this year, and on PC.
EA Sports wants its 2014 World Cup game to appeal to all, not just FIFA fans
"We don't have limitless resources. We wanted to bring the game to as many people as possible and right now that was the 360 and PS3." That's what 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil's lead producer Matt Prior had to say about the title not launching on Xbox One or PlayStation 4. Which is to say, EA's leaning on console-adoption numbers as the primary reason for the lack of a proper game on Microsoft's and Sony's newest consoles. Instead, EA Sports plans to bring some "engaging" World Cup-themed content to FIFA 14's Ultimate Team mode, in the hopes that'll be enough to satisfy disappointed Xbox One and PS4 owners.
EA finally brings an offline mode to SimCity
SimCity has been surrounded by problems since its reboot last year, including having to deal with negative feedback due to the nature of its "always-on" gameplay. Now, EA's hoping to turn some of these frowns into smiles, announcing that SimCity's long-awaited offline mode will be available starting today. The update, after getting through its final test phase, began rolling out earlier this morning and should be at your mercy momentarily. As a result, EA says there's going to be server down time "for a few hours," so expect to put those city-building skills on hold for a little while. Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it. In the meantime, check out the video tutorial after the break.
Electronic Arts is exploring virtual reality
When you're the CEO of the second largest video game publisher in the world, people have a tendency to take what you say seriously. Case in point, Electronic Arts' Andrew Wilson recently revealed his company's plans for virtual reality. At a South by Southwest panel, Wilson said that his company is less focused on the technology of VR, and more interested in exactly how people consume it. As he sees it, we interact with games in three different ways: leaning back, leaning in and looking over -- relating to console, PC and mobile gaming, respectively. With VR, he thinks there will be a fourth: getting in. He says that this could happen either via a headset or even a hologram popping up from your living room floor, and he's pushing his team to explore it. Think of this along the lines of Amazon (hypothetically) announcing that it'd accept Bitcoin for payment and you're on the right track; that there's another major player in the VR space helps validate the medium. While this could all be taken as pie-in-the-sky speculation, the fact that EA is clearly invested in the virtual reality isn't anything to write off -- just look at what the company's done with mobile gaming.
EA Sports told the NCAA it was using real players in its college football titles -- back in 2007
Back in September, EA Sports announced that it would shutter its NCAA Football series after losing support from the college sports governing body and due to ongoing legal spats. As part of that news, the video game studio said that it had settled its case with those suing over the use of their likeness in its releases. During the course of the last week, though, a federal district court judge ordered documents be made public in the Ed O'Bannon player-likeness suit. So why does that matter? Well, as it turns out, EA sought use of player names and faces "just as they are shown on TV broadcasts", and a document shows that the NCAA knew "hidden" rosters were being used back in 2007. This news comes after an EA Sports exec said last year that the NCAA gave it the official OK to match up real names and with virtual jersey numbers -- directly identifying actual players. And as AL.com reported, the NCAA is suing EA Sports for not protecting it during the aforementioned settlement proceedings. What's more, in exchange for the ability to pack its games with player likenesses, EA agreed to sprinkle in "academic-related features." That's why "academic prestige" is part of the recruiting pitch options in Dynasty mode and explains the inclusion of player suspensions in previous releases. You know, the whole "violation of team rules" type thing? The O'Bannon lawsuit is still in progress, so it could be quite a while before we find out just how much those player likenesses were really worth. [Image credit: NCAA Football 14/EA Sports]
Report: Less than 1 percent of mobile gamers responsible for half of all in-app purchases
With the runaway success of Candy Crush Saga, it's perfectly natural to wonder just how many people are dropping coin in freemium mobile games. One firm's answer, however, might surprise you. A very small number -- 0.15 percent, to be exact -- of total mobile payers contribute half of monthly in-game revenue, according to in-app marketing company Swrve. The outfit also says that over 60 percent of the money made within the first two weeks of a player's life is made on the first day. Meaning, if most people install a game and don't make any purchases almost immediately, they likely won't at all. The report comes from a limited sample, but designers hoping to build the next fragile confection-like phenomenon are probably studying it for secrets right now. We've embedded the provided infographic after the break should you want a peek at a whole lot of graphs for yourself.
IRL: FIFA 14 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. What? You thought we were done covering the next-gen consoles? Just because we've written full reviews of the Xbox One and PS4 (along with a comparison guide), doesn't mean we've said everything there is to say. Now that more games are starting to roll out post-launch, you might see us get hands-on with some of them, especially if that game is FIFA 14, and especially if the reviewer is Engadget's resident football fan Edgar Alvarez. Read on for a double-dose of impressions, with feedback from both consoles.
Titanfall reaches Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC on March 11th
The many gamers buying an Xbox One for Titanfall (or don't mind the Xbox 360 and PC versions) can now mark a date on their calendars: EA says that the shooter will reach North America on March 11th, 2014. While that's more than four months away, the company is offering a Collector's Edition that just might encourage a few pre-orders among well-off players. If you can spend $250 -- yes, that's half as much as an Xbox One -- you'll get an 18-inch, LED-lit Atlas Titan figurine that's likely to be the centerpiece of your gaming den. You'll also receive an art book and a large schematic poster. You'll want to act quickly if you like the idea of a miniature (albeit stationary) robot, though. EA says that the Collector's Edition is available in "extremely limited" numbers, which suggests that supply will run out by launch day.
EA's free-to-play FIFA 14 arrives on iOS and Android
Whether you refer to it as fútbol, football or soccer, there's no denying that the FIFA franchise is one of the sports' best options for gaming across the various existing platforms. Now, following in the footsteps of its relative Madden 25, FIFA 14 is available for iOS as well as Android. As with its sporting game sibling, the renowned title's latest mobile edition can be downloaded at no cost, with EA hoping to bring in revenue by way of in-app purchases -- which includes anything from Ultimate Team points to the unlocking of additional game modes (such as Manager and Tournament). Be prepared to make some room for FIFA 14 on your device though, since the app's size is a little more than 1GB in both the App Store and Google Play.
SimCity on Mac is 'totally unplayable' (Updated)
Update #2: EA has further commented on the launch day woes, insisting that the installation issues have been ironed out. Update #1: A Maxis spokesperson had this to say in regards to the launch day woes: There are a small number of players who have encountered issues with SimCity for Mac. Our live team is working individually with our players to resolve their issues and get them into the game as quickly as possible. Original story: The Windows launch of SimCity didn't exactly go smoothly in March. There were issues with offline play -- namely, it doesn't exist -- and servers were flooded and impossible to connect to. But those issues seem to pale in comparison to today's release of the Mac version, with many players unable to even install the game. The official EA forums are overrun with Mac gamers desperately trying to get their purchases to work correctly on computers ranging from brand-new Retina MacBooks to iMacs that are just a few weeks old. I've been told by one player that in order to even download the game, he was forced to reinstall EA's Origin download application three times. Comments from players on social media are decidedly negative ranging from "It's totally unplayable," to "It is a disaster." Yikes. There also appear to be issues with attempting to start the software, with the game lagging on even the most capable Macs. Many users are reporting that the game can't be played in full-screen mode and will repeatedly default back to a small window without being prompted. Here's what Twitter has to say on the matter: Hey, PSA everyone: Despite being delayed multiple times, @SimCity doesn't work for Mac. HOW. ABOUT. THAT. - Nicholas Salazar (@TheNickSalazar) August 29, 2013 Review: @SimCity for Mac -- Doesn't startup fullscreen. Can't click anything. http://t.co/T35GwFz1Hz LOL MAXIS - Mike Beasley (@MikeBeas) August 29, 2013 With Mac launch disaster on top of everything else, it looks like @Maxis just can't catch a break with @SimCity. :'( - Kyle (@macdaddyjoshua) August 29, 2013 We've reached out to EA for comment and will report back if and when we get a response, but until then, it might be best to hang on to your cash and wait for a fix.
Madden NFL 25 for iOS available now as a free download
EA's kicking off its free-to-play mobile strategy with an iOS version of the much-anticipated Madden NFL 25. Available now via the App Store, the popular gaming franchise arrives on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad as a gratis download, though there are (naturally) a slew of in-app purchases that Electronic Arts is hoping you'll splurge on. For example, there's an All Madden Bundle priced at $100. As far as gameplay goes, the publisher says this year's Madden on iOS has been improved with much better touch controls, which should go hand-in-hand with stuff like Ultimate Team and its trademark official licenses for all 32 squads. Speaking of which, we're really wondering who's listed as the starting QB for the New York Jets...
EA COO Peter Moore: 'We don't ship a game at EA that is offline' (video)
Electronic Arts is a mainstay in the game industry. From early days on the PC, pre-game consoles, to its current role as one of the world's largest game companies, the EA name's been synonymous with gaming. To stay in such a position, the publisher's had to adapt to changing trends in gaming, as games moved from home PCs to game consoles, and now to the internet. The next console generation is no exception, with EA promising two of its largest franchises -- Battlefield and FIFA -- for the launch of both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this holiday. And that's to say nothing of EA's investment in a nascent game studio composed of the people responsible for the Call of Duty franchise, Respawn Entertainment -- a pretty major coup considering that those folks previously worked at EA's main competitor, Activision. It's with all this in mind that we sat down to speak with EA Chief Operations Officer Peter Moore at Gamescom 2013, not long after Moore held press attention captive in an hour-long presentation. He said his company's current dedication to online functionality in its games is unmatched: "We don't ship a game at EA that is offline," he told us, an echo of his competition's claims about the next generation of game consoles. Head below the break for a lengthy discussion with Moore on all things gaming in 2013.
Get your Electronic Arts and Sony PlayStation liveblogs here today, live from Germany
Haven't got your fill of all things next generation? Well, stay tuned because Gamescom 2013 promises to shed a little more light on the coming console war and we're bringing the news to you live. While Microsoft's shied away from throwing a full blown presser here in Cologne, Germany, rival Sony's still got some PlayStation 4 (and Vita) secrets to share with the world at 10AM PST / 1PM EST today. But let's not get ahead of ourselves: Electronic Arts is also doing it up properly for this Euro-centric industry tradeshow, hosting its own live event at 7AM PST / 10AM EST. You can catch all the news as it happens at the times below. 1PM EST to 2PM EST: Sony press briefing liveblog 10AM EST to 11AM EST: EA press briefing liveblog
Humble Bundle's Origin package offers up some of its biggest games yet
Humble Bundle has had a pretty good run with its game offerings so far, but its newest grouping of Origin titles provides some of its biggest names yet. Included in the bundle are Mirror's Edge, Medal of Honor, Dead Space, Dead Space 3, Crysis 2 Maximum Edition, and Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box (most of which are available on Steam). The games can all be purchased for $1, but paying over the average (currently $4.54) will also net you Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 Starter Pack. Buying the bundle won't just score you some sweet games; you'll also be contributing to a few good causes, as Electronic Arts is donating its share of the proceeds to charities like the Human Rights Campaign, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. For more info, check out the video after the break or follow the Humble Bundle link below.
SimCity finally coming to Mac on Aug 29
SimCity fans with Macs rejoice! You're finally going to have a version of SimCity that will run natively on your favorite computer. Electronic Arts has announced that the classic sim game will finally make it to OS X on August 29, 2013. The game was originally supposed to arrive on June 11, but EA pushed the release to August in early June. At the time, SimCity's senior producer Kip Katsarelis blogged that "we do not believe [the Mac version] is ready for prime time yet," and that "we want to ensure the Mac is a great experience for our players and that is why we are taking more." The Mac version will be compatible with the Windows version, so you can build and grow your city from either platform. If you've purchased SimCity for Windows, you'll be able to download the Mac version through Origin, which is EA's digital distribution service.
Battlefield 4's Battlescreen map exclusive to next-gen and PC, Battlelog now fully web-based
In holiday 2011, while fans of both the Call of Duty and Battlefield series were gearing up for virtual war, the publishers behind each megafranchise were gearing up for a different type of virtual war. With the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Activision's in-game social network -- dubbed "Call of Duty Elite" -- went live. Just prior, alongside the launch of competing title Battlefield 3, EA introduced its "Battlelog" system. And thus began a parallel virtual war for fans' loyalty, battled via user numbers and engagement metrics. It's a pretty boring war, but its armaments are the games many of us know and love. The first-person-shooter social network war continues to this day (in silence, of course), with EA recently stepping up its rhetoric surrounding this October's entry, Battlefield 4. Since E3, where some new Battlelog features were shown for the first time during EA's presser, the company's released its first big Battlelog marketing video (seen below). But we wanted more details about what the first next-gen version of Battlelog will look like, and what EA's DICE studio has been able to accomplish with new hardware.
EA revenue from downloads and web now overtaking that of disc-based games
If you think EA's bottom line is primarily driven by endless Madden sequels, think again. In reporting its fiscal first quarter results, the studio has revealed that its digital businesses -- DLC, mobile and the web -- now generate more official revenue ($482 million) than disc-based games and distribution ($467 million). The company isn't breaking down these figures, although it says that DLC and mobile are the main factors. We do know that iOS plays a crucial role -- EA says that Apple is now its largest retail partner in terms of pure sales. The revenue shift isn't completely surprising when the company is big on flagship mobile games and the free-to-play model, but it suggests that discs are losing some of their luster at one of the world's largest developers.
EA's CTO Rajat Taneja and COO Peter Moore on plans for next-gen and Origin
It's E3 time, people, and the launch of a pair of brand new consoles has the gaming world abuzz with the possibilities they bring. The success of those platforms isn't just about the black boxes, however. Gaming publishers like Electronic Arts are building many of the games people will want to play on Xbox One and PS4. So, when we got the opportunity to speak with EA's CTO Rajat Taneja and COO Peter Moore about the company's plans for next-gen, we jumped at the chance. Rajat regaled us with tales of all the back-end work going into preparing Origin for next-gen, and chatted about the challenge of scaling up to accommodate all of the new users that will come with the new consoles. Naturally, that led to a discussion about the company's single identity framework that allows gamers to access their EA account on any gaming platform. Meanwhile, Peter talked of the importance of Origin's single login service, EA's ability to produce games that take full advantage of the new capabilities of next-gen consoles and even how the lesson's learned from the problems with Sim City will be applied to future games. You don't have to take our word for it, though -- check out the pair of videos after the break to hear for yourself first-hand.
Star Wars Battlefront game under development at DICE (video)
At its pre-E3 event today, EA confirmed the Star Wars Battlefront franchise will return. The game is currently being developed by DICE and will use the same Frostbite engine that powers the Battlefield games. EA snagged the exclusive rights to develop Star Wars games after the end of game development at LucasArts, and this is a blend of IP and developer that certainly makes sense. A brief teaser trailer appeared to show off a battle on Hoth, we'll find out more details as they become available. Take a look at the trailer embedded after the break.
Electronic Arts E3 2013 liveblog!
When EA reps took the stage at Microsoft's Xbox One unveiling event a few weeks back, they were part of a very small group of game companies represented. The world got a first look at EA's new sports game engine, Ignite, and a tease of what to expect come this holiday, but we're betting there'll be even more interesting stuff presented during the company's press briefing this afternoon at E3 2013. A closer look at Battlefield 4 and a thorough detailing of EA Sports' various annual franchises are locks, as is a second premiere of Respawn's new game Titanfall. What's got us really excited is a possible Mirror's Edge sequel reveal. Find out with us in real time with the liveblog just below the break. June 10, 2013 3:45:00 PM EDT
