A good part of the reason that Electronic Arts is the reigning Worst Company In America is the video game publisher’s increasing use of nickel-and-diming customers through microtransactions. The company took a lot of heat recently when the CFO declared that all its games would feature these in-game purchases for a wide range of add-ons, but now he’s is saying that’s not exactly what he meant to express. [More]
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How I Turned A Walmart Gift Card Into An EA Game Preorder By Way Of A Kitchen Appliance
By 2.20.13
Reader O. wanted to preorder a new game from 2012 Worst Company in America champ EA, and he wanted to use some money that he had on a Walmart gift card. Fair enough. What he did have was a $50 Walmart gift card and some cash. Walmart theoretically carries EA gift cards, so he should have been able to visit his nearest Wally World, pick up a card, take it home, and pre-order a delicious Crysis 3 download. Indeed, he was able to do that, but only after he took a pocketful of cash across the street and bought his desired EA gift card at GameStop. You can use a Walmart gift card for anything that the store sells…except prepaid debit cards. [More]
EA Customer Service Head On Improving Relations: We’ve Got A Ways To Go
By 12.21.12
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]
EA Apologizes For Free Game Goof. Customers Who Earned Credit Will Still Get It
By 10.15.12
Over the weekend, EA unintentionally made a lot of people happy by accidentally sending out a rewards code that could be used by anyone. EA also angered those who had earned the credit but hadn’t used it by the time EA deactivated the code. Now the company is trying to set things right. [More]
EA Atones For Years Of Anti-Customer Behavior By Accidentally Giving Away Thousands Of Games For Free
By 10.15.12
Video game publisher Electronic Arts is the reigning Worst Company In America for, among other things, its history of nickel-and-diming customers by withholding content only to sell it later as marked-up add-ons. It’s only fitting that someone at EA screwed up and released a code that allowed people to score thousands of games for the low price of absolutely nothing. [More]
EA Sues Zynga Over Facebook Game That Also Has Simulated People Doing Everyday Things
By 8.3.12
There’s a fight brewing in social media gaming land: Electronic Arts is steamed at Zynga over its new “The Ville” game, which EA claims is a total ripoff of “The Sims Social,” both games that are played on Facebook. EA is suing, claiming The Ville is an “unmistakable” copy of The Sims Social. Both do have characters that are you know, people, who do things like build homes and put fancy virtual stuff in them. [More]
EA Settles Price-Fixing Lawsuit But Apparently Still Has Madden Monopoly On NFL Games
By 7.23.12
Electronic Arts (aka our Worst Company In America winner) has settled a lawsuit alleging that it was overcharging for some of its most popular sports titles, including Madden NFL as well as NCAA Football and Arena Football games. But while the settlement restricts EA’s ability to sign exclusive deals with the NCAA and Arena Football, it appears its Madden Monopoly on NFL titles will march on intact. [More]
EA To Finally Appease Ticked-Off Mass Effect 3 Customers On June 26
By 6.22.12
When video game giant Electronic Arts became the (to some) surprising winner of this year’s Worst Company In America tournament, the company was also in the middle of one of its biggest PR problems ever, as fans of the bestselling Mass Effect series of games felt like they’d been bilked out of piles of cash when the trilogy ended with an apocalyptic shrug. [More]
Keep On Rocking: EA Not Shutting Down Rock Band For iPhone
By 5.3.12
Good news, rockers! We heard back from our friends at EA, and yesterday’s panic over the kill switch on Rock Band for iPhone was premature. They tell us that the in-app message was an error, and you can buy the game with confidence if you feel so inclined. [More]
(Updated) EA's Rock Band Game For iPhone Will NOT Self-Destruct In 29 Days
By 5.2.12
UPDATE: We heard back from EA this evening. They tell us that the message to players was an error, and Rock band is NOT being turned off after May 31. [More]
EA Trying Hard To Lose Customer Over A Few Bucks
By 4.25.12
If you’re not really a fan of electronic games, it might not be clear to you why EA took the top poo in this year’s Worst Company in America Tournament. Maybe Alex’s experience can serve as an illustration. There was no huge amount of money involved, and his problem with EA didn’t affect his day-to-day life. But the utter lack of response from EA to a real and easily solved problem makes even a loyal customer like Alex feel that they don’t matter. [More]
The Day After Winning Worst Company Crown, EA Does Something Nice For Mass Effect Fans
By 4.5.12
As much as we’d love to think that yesterday’s victory by Electronic Arts in the Worst Company In America tournament pushed them to do something nice, we have a feeling that it’s just a coincidence that the video game publisher has announced it will release some downloadable content — for free! — to appease angry Mass Effect 3 players. [More]
EA Responds To Worst Company Win By Name-Dropping Past Worst Company Winners
By 4.4.12 — Updated: 3.21.13
Usually when we announce the winner of the annual Worst Company In America tournament, the victor chooses to quietly reflect on their triumph rather than make a public comment. But not this year’s champ, Electronic Arts, which has responded to being voted the WCIA winner by hinting that it’s not as bad as other companies. [More]
The Voters Have Spoken: EA Is Your Worst Company In America For 2012!
By 4.4.12
Whether it’s on a console, a PC, a smartphone or tablet, hundreds of millions of people play video games every day. Yet most mainstream media covers the industry the same way it treats adult dodge ball leagues and cat fashion shows (both noble ventures, but neither of them multi-billion dollar industries). And the only time you hear legislators discuss video games is when some politician decries them as the death knell for all things righteous in the world (hint: they’re not). Now, after years of being ignored and relegated to steerage, game-players have voted to send a message to Electronic Arts and the gaming business as a whole: Stop treating your loyal customers like crap. [More]
There's Still Time To Vote On Worst Company In America Final Death Match
By 4.3.12
A record number of voters have turned out to choose between Bank of America and Electronic Arts for the winner in the Worst Company In America 2012 tournament, but there’s still time to have your say in which business walks away with the Golden Poo. [More]
Worst Company In America Final Death Match: Bank Of America Vs. EA
By 4.2.12
Here they stand, surrounded by the carved-up carcasses of their fallen competitors. “Make us proud… Win the poo,” the ghosts of the vanquished call out from another realm, demanding that these two remaining contenders for Worst Company In America prove that all this bloodshed was not in vain. [More]
Third-Place Worst Company In America Winner To Be Honored With New Bronze Poo!
By 3.30.12
Last year, when Bank of America lost by the narrowest of margins to BP in the Final Death Match of the 2011 Worst Company In America tournament, we listened to readers who called for the creation of the first-ever Silver Poo trophy. That honor will remain in place for the 2012 tourney, and will be joined by a Bronze Poo for the company coming in third — or rather, “turd” — place. [More]
Let's All Do A Slow Clap For Your Worst Company In America 2012 Semifinalists!
By 3.29.12
What began as good, clean fun between 32 bad businesses quickly devolved into something so violent and grotesque that it would make a great PG-13 movie featuring Lenny Kravitz in a small but pivotal role. And now, only four contenders for the Golden Poo remain, each with a worthy claim to the trophy. [More]
