EA: Gamers Will Support New IP Long-Term

Electronic Arts Vice President says that the risks taken on new franchises will pay off in the long run.

Mirror's Edge was one of EA's notable risks last year

By Adam Doree

In a new interview published today on Kikizo, Electronic Arts Vice President and CEO of EA-owned BioWare Corp has said he believes the risks being taken by the firm on new franchises such as Mirror's Edge will pay off in the long run.

Asked whether the strategy ordered by EA CEO John Riccitiello of focusing on higher-quality games was actually working, Muzyka said: "I think the strategy is working pretty well. It's a good strategy in the sense that it can lead to higher returns, because the fans appreciate that you're investing in quality, and they appreciate that you're investing in innovation."

John Riccitiello recently told shareholders that some of last year's EA titles had not performed as well as they'd hoped, most notably the latest iteration of Need for Speed, which was widely panned by reviewers - and this time, gamers listened.

The company plans to keep exploring its latest inventions to help weather difficult financial times ahead, with new properties like Dead Space headed to the Wii - a platform Riccitiello says EA must support much more strongly.

EA will monetize new IP like Dead Space by further supporting Wii

And while the gamer perception of EA has changed over the last few years as a result of its determination to make decent games, it's fair to say that its share price is not what it once was.

So is the strategy of making decent games actually harming EA?

Muzkya doesn't think so. "I think there have been some challenging circumstances in the broader economy", he points out, adding that the new IP can still win new gamers: "They're willing to support that kind of thing long-term, so I think John has the right vision in that sense."

He added: "I would argue that a new IP, when you work on it and iterate it, eventually becomes an established IP or licensable IP."

Elsewhere in the interview, Muzyka discusses upcoming BioWare games like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Dragon Age: Origins. Check it out in full here.

Just make more games featuring Faith from Mirror's Edge - job done.