EA Engineer Slams Wii U Over Twitter, Tweets Pulled while EA Confirms no FIFA 14 for Wii U

Post by Steve Farrelly @ 10:36am 20/05/13 | 13 Comments

Given the frustration felt by many a Nintendo fan over the Wii U's lack of compelling content, it makes sense that the development community would also be irked by the console's lack of next-generation architecture, poor networking capabilities and an overall snub at the modern gaming landscape.

Specifically, a senior software engineer for EA by the name of Bob Summerwill took to Twitter recently to air his Wii U and Nintendo grievances saying things like "The WiiU is crap", that Nintendo "should have "done a Sega" and offered Mario/Zelda as PS4/Durango exclusives" and that "Nintendo are walking dead at this point".

The Tweets have since been pulled down, but IGN has them available as screenshots. This outburst also follows confirmation by EA that they discontinued development of FIFA 14 for Wii U following "disappointing" sales of FIFA 13 at the console's launch.

"Six months ago FIFA 13 was a launch title on Wii U," an unnamed EA rep told Eurogamer. "Although the game featured FIFA's award-winning HD gameplay and innovative new ways to play, the commercial results were disappointing. We have decided not to develop FIFA 14 on Wii U."

EA aren't a small publisher, and many of their games, specifically sports-related, are among the best selling in the world, so it's undeniable this is a blow to Nintendo. What do you think, has the Wii U officially tanked before it even really began?

wii u nintendo next-generation fifa 14

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Matt
Posted 11:52am 20/5/13

I have believed that Nintendo was dead since the GameCube. I've haven't purchased a Nintendo console since the nintendo 64. They simply don't have anything exciting to offer hardcore gamers. I prefer the more high tech offerings over the simple ones. They haven't had to listen to anyone about what a traditional gaming system should be because of their continued success and ability to defy all odds. It's finally caught up to them. The other console makers are seemingly figuring out how to recreate the innovative tech of the Wii in a more gussied up package. It's time for Nintendo to go big or start farming out Mario and Co. to the enemy.

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ChaosDreamer
Posted 11:54am 20/5/13

Mentioned it before, but EA had gotten frostbite 2 working on tablets and phones, so the underpowered argument is crap. What it comes down to is that the PS4 and Xbox-whatever use essentially a PC architecture, but Nintendo have their own architecture. So EA are trying to throw their weight around and kill off Nintendo, because it is not cost effective to develop with different hardware architectures. It's all about easy ports. From what I have seen from big companies these accidental tweets are never accidental, just a convenient way to tout the company line without recourse. It's companies like EA that stifle innovation in the industry as they regurge the same crap over and over in sequels, and then bully the hardware manufactures to just make another generic console because it's easy to develop on. You can guarantee that PlayStations announcement that they 'listened to developers' and went full PC architecture actually reads as 'We listened to EA' who have been focusing on a PC oriented frostbite engine that they are rolling out to use on their entire product line.

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Eorl
Posted 12:07pm 20/5/13

I think it is going to be pretty hard to "kill" Nintendo, but we shall have to see how Microsoft and Sony go in this next-generation. I don't think we'll be seeing sales like this current gen ever again, especially without Nintendo's help.

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homie tha clown
Posted 12:27pm 20/5/13

I thought Ea was pissed with Nintindo because Nintindo said no to Orgin. I think MS and Sony are going to have it so the publishers can decide whether or not they want their games to be always online, I think EA has big plans for Orgin on the next gen consoles, maybe not at first but at some point they will stop making physical discs, plus you have this deal EA has with MS and yes saying wii u is not up to snuff when they can get frostbite 2 to work on tablets and phones is crap

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Tollaz0r!
Posted 12:28pm 20/5/13

Those tweets stink hard of sooky kid that didn't get his way. My bet is that EA wanted to play some hardball deal with Nintendo and Nintendo said, 'nope'.

So now EA is whinging and carrying on like a spoilt brat.

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paveway
Posted 01:29pm 20/5/13

Or more likely the wii u is actually s*** and no one is buying it because they already got burned by the nintendo wii gimmick first up

I believe the wii's success rode on the back of people that normally wouldn't buy consoles and aren't gamers but saw it something different for the family, which it was... playing wii sports for the first 3 months then they out them away in the cupboard.

Why would any of those people be sucked in to buy what is essentially another wii?

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Eorl
Posted 02:42pm 20/5/13

That is pretty much the case Paveway. While I absolutely love my Wii U and have had a ball so far, it is most definitely not up to scratch with the PlayStation 4 and next Xbox. I think what Nintendo needs is a bit of a shake up in their development process, because I'd love to see a proper console from them that really strives to open up the creative side of their first party lineup.

Don't get me wrong, can't wait to see what is in store with the upcoming titles for Wii U, but the old saying "lightning never strikes twice" seems to describe Nintendo's current situation. Will this "kill" them like everyone is claiming (and at least EA is hoping)? Goodness no. But it will hopefully open their eyes to the current standard that developers need and want.

Also it is interesting that several developers have said it is easy to use the Wii U, and then others (particularly under EA's wing) have said the opposite. We know the Wii U can run most engines, even CryENGINE 3 which is quite substantial. I'd love to know what exactly has got EA scrunching its nose.

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paveway
Posted 03:06pm 20/5/13

I'd actually be half interested to see what they could do if they built a balls out straight up competitor to the ps4 / next gen instead trying to cash in on the jew population that won't spend thd cash. Because they certainly aren't going to pay the cash for the same thing again

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Spook
Posted 03:15pm 20/5/13

Why would any of those people be sucked in to buy what is essentially another wii?

coz the wii was awesome?

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paveway
Posted 03:21pm 20/5/13

Lols

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koopz
Posted 09:51pm 20/5/13

I think it is going to be pretty hard to "kill" Nintendo, but we shall have to see how Microsoft and Sony go in this next-generation. I don't think we'll be seeing sales like this current gen ever again, especially without Nintendo's help.

it's not too hard to kill Nintendo atm :(

they need to find a way to de-list

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carson
Posted 10:16pm 20/5/13

I think Nintendo are playing it like it's still the 90s. They rely on first and second party games so heavily and they all seem to follow the same formula. Like the Mario and Zelda games haven't really changed much since the n64. They are really following the almost exact formula, and while it works, I find it hard to get excited about their games any more. Especially when they appear to have such a long development time.

I'd like Nintendo to stick around because I love the DS/3DS, would be a shame to see them go under. But they really do need to pull their heads out of their arses and not go with these gimmicky peripherals and really push for developer freedom and a decent online service. I don't own a WiiU though, my last experience with them (besides 3ds) was the Wii, and it was fun for a while, but it just had so much shovelware and missed out on all the great mature audience games the PC and consoles had.

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Khel
Posted 10:23pm 20/5/13

Mentioned it before, but EA had gotten frostbite 2 working on tablets and phones, so the underpowered argument is crap.

Frostbite 3 is their next-gen engine though, that everything will be made on from here on out, Frostbite 2 is the old one. It was Frostbite 3 that wasn't going to run on Wii-U.

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