This week third-party publisher and developer Electronic Arts held an analyst meeting in which it dropped numerous hints as to some of the future intellectual properties (IPs) gamers can expect to enjoy through to 2011.
No new KotOR... no new Black, says EA. Sorry about that. Credit: EA.
The list of promised titles included, quite unsurprisingly, a wealth of new releases covering EA Sports properties, plus new boxing game FaceBreaker and Playground. EA will also be offering up a long list of financially attractive sequels and series editions to the likes of Need for Speed, Burnout, skate, Rock Band and The Sims. Again, nothing remotely surprising -- and, all in all, kind of dull and predictable.
What likely saved EA’s meeting from inspiring a comatose reaction in those reading about it was the tantalising prospect of Mass Effect creators BioWare being tasked with producing a brand new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic role-playing adventure, while Burnout creators Criterion were listed as helming a sequel to 2005’s under appreciated shooter Black.
Sadly, today’s news sees Electronic Arts promptly ending the promise of genuinely exciting software via a statement apologising for a presentation mistake that would have otherwise outlined its ambition to produce something other than the formulaic franchise mediocrity it repeatedly churns out to appease the stilted and unimaginative masses.
Sorry, slight rant there.
In a note to TeamXbox , a PR representative for Electronic Arts said that it was not made clear during the presentation that a slide called “Best Creative Talent” addressed “future and past titles,” and that the likes of KotOR and Black were included to indicate “past portfolio releases and the pedigree of the studio.” The PR rep went on to say that the inclusion of such games and their developers does “not specifically address future sequels.”
Needless to say, the tagged-on apology for “any confusion this may have caused,” is unlikely to stem the flow of tears from EA fans who thought their faithful slog through countless annual (full price) statistical sports upgrades and half-baked racing titles was finally going to lead to some worthwhile IPs.
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