As a Consumerist reader and tipster puts it, the news that Electronic Arts has signed a deal to develop and publish games based off Star Wars, it’s as if “millions of Star Wars gamer nerds cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced…” That’s a reference to (spoiler alert) the destruction of an entire planet (Alderaan) in Episode IV, for those not in the know. [More]
Help Us, Obi Wan Kenobi: EA Signs Deal With Disney To Publish New Star Wars Games
By May 7, 2013
play datesWhile it’s been busy winning our Worst Company In America 2013 (second year in a row!), mucking up game releases and dumping the Wii U, Electronic Arts has made the time to announce the arrival of Sims 4 for Macs and PCs in 2014. Wonder if there will be a required online-always situation or if EA has learned its lesson with SimCity. We won’t hold our breath. [EA Blog]
Despite “Strong Partnership,” EA Says Madden NFL 25 Won’t Be On Nintendo’s Wii U Console
By May 2, 2013
Calm those quivering lips, Wii U users, it’s true, it’s really true: For the first time since 1991, Electronic Arts’ Madden series will sidestep a Nintendo console. The company’s newest offering, Madden NFL 25, won’t be available for the Wii U, but hey guys, don’t worry — the two companies totally still have a “strong partnership.” [More]
EA Releasing First Patch For SimCity Today: Mansions For Mayors, Still No Offline Mode
By April 22, 2013
If you’ve been holding your breath for Electronic Arts (our Worst Company In America 2013, everybody!) to update SimCity with an offline mode, well, keep holding it. The company is releasing a patch today at 4:00 p.m. ET with a few new things and a variety of fixes, but that offline mode players have been wishing and hoping for is nowhere in sight. [More]
Report: EA Quietly Making Staff Cuts At Customer Service Center In Ireland
By April 16, 2013
It was nary a few months ago when Michael Lawder, the head of customer service at Electronic Arts, was touting the company’s new call centers in Texas and Ireland as part of its effort to improve the customer experience. What does it say about the Worst Company In America 2013‘s dedication to that plan when it’s reportedly started laying off staff at the Galway customer service center? [More]
EA Celebrates Its New WCIA 2013 Term By Killing Off SimCity, The Sims Social On Facebook
By April 15, 2013
We should’ve known that Electronic Arts is far from being the kind of organization that would just sit back and relax on its Worst Company In America 2013 laurels. Just last week it made layoffs at its studio in Montreal and is now following that execution by lining up SimCity Social and The Sims Social on the chopping block. Both Facebook games will shut down June 14. [More]
4 Years After Launch, Sims 3 For Mac Still Sucks And EA Doesn’t Care
By April 12, 2013
Our readers are already intimately familiar with the anti-consumer behavior that won EA its second gleaming Golden Poo trophy in a row. One issue that we haven’t heard a lot about, though, is the continued suckiness of the current generation of “The Sims.” You know, that other Maxis title. [More]
EA Will Have Another Chance To Botch A Game Release With SimCity For Macs Coming In June
By April 10, 2013
Fresh off the heels of its two-peat as Consumerist’s Worst Company In America with the 2013 win (nominated and voted on by you, our dear readers), Electronic Arts is giving itself the chance to botch yet another game release with the impending launch of SimCity for Mac users on June 11. [More]
Probably No One Is Shocked That The First Free Downloadable Content For SimCity Is An Ad
By April 3, 2013
Money makes the world go ’round, even if that world happens to be a virtual one like EA’s much talked about new SimCity. And nothing brings the dollar dollar bills rolling in like advertising, which is why we’re completely unsurprised that the first bit of free downloadable content (known as DLC) offered up for SimCity boils down to an ad. [More]
EA Didn’t Give Me A SimCity Refund, But Agreed To Switch It For A Game I Can Actually Play
By March 19, 2013
Yesterday Electronic Arts offered up a list of freebie games for disgruntled SimCity customers (and oh yeah, its CEO announced his resignation), but from what Consumerist readers are saying, the options are at best “meh” and at worst, laughable. Reader L. hadn’t had much success playing SimCity but realized his chances of getting a refund were more than slim. [More]
EA Unveils List Of 8 Free Games It’s Offering To Disgruntled SimCity Customers
By March 18, 2013
UPDATE: Electronic Arts has announced that CEO John Riccitiello is stepping down. His last day on the job will be March 30. Maybe he didn’t want to have to accept another Golden Poo? [More]
EA Disabling User Accounts Because It Thinks Any Contact With Amazon Must Be A Refund Request
By March 18, 2013
UPDATE: Electronic Arts has announced that CEO John Riccitiello is stepping down. His last day on the job will be March 30. Interesting timing, eh? [More]
EA Insists SimCity Must Be Connected To Servers, Gamer Figures Out How To Run It Offline
By March 15, 2013
For the swarms of angry EA customers ticked off at the company for forcing players to play the new SimCity in an always online mode, the slow, problem-riddled servers have been a huge annoyance. Calls for EA (our Worst Company In America 2012) and Maxis to allow gamers to play in offline mode have been dismissed by the company as not possible, but lo and behold, one game modder is claiming it is quite possible. [More]
Using The EECB Gets Me A SimCity Refund, But What About Everyone Else?
By March 12, 2013
Consumerist reader Kevin was one of many SimCity gamers ticked off last week (likely plenty are still fuming this week), but unlike many of his fellow players, he was able to procure a refund for the deluxe digital edition. What in the what? “But EA doesn’t seem to be giving out refunds!” you might’ve just yelled at the screen. Kevin attributes his success to the executive email carpet bomb, or the EECB. [More]
EA: We’ve Solved A Bunch Of Server Issues But SimCity Isn’t Going Offline
By March 11, 2013
Last week EA and its subsidiary Maxis were up to their eyeballs in complaints from gamers who purchased SimCity and then were unable to play it due to widespread server problems. Amid the furor were cries from customers who wanted to do away with the “always-on” DRM feature. While EA has been busy apologizing and offering free games, it sounds like that offline mode is going to remain but a dream. [More]
New In The SimCity Saga: Maxis Promises More Servers, Refund Rumors Abound
By March 8, 2013
Here’s Why The Launch Of SimCity 5 Ticked A Lot Of People Off This Week
By March 7, 2013
On Tuesday, EA released the highly anticipated newest iteration of SimCity, a game that fans have been waiting years for, eagerly counting down the days until they could flex their god-like creation muscles and craft fresh societies as they see fit. Except SimCity 5 can’t be played offline, unleashing a torrent of complaints about crashing games and slow and wholly unavailable servers. Consumerist’s Worst Company In America 2012, everybody. [More]
EA Customer Service Head On Improving Relations: We’ve Got A Ways To Go
By December 21, 2012
Winning Consumerist’s title of “Worst Company Of The Year” is likely the kind of award that stings, as Electronic Arts found out last April. In light of its reputation for awful customer service, the company says it’s really working hard to turn all those frowns upside down. And thought it might not seem like it, EA’s customer service head says things are going to change for the better in how the company handles its customers’ issues. It’s all part of a three-year plan. [More]
