The man's a gamer. Maybe not one of us - we don't run Electronic Arts after all - but this week's profile of EA boss John Riccitiello portrayed a man who thinks earnestly about games, in ways we gamers do.
It was not his gaming bonafides that started a robust discussion of Riccitiello's place as one of the most powerful figures in the games industry. Thoughts on what games should cost, coming from a man who sells plenty of them, and whose company moves the industry, were of utmost concern. And Online Pass or Project $10, the single-use codes seen in sports titles or Mass Effect 2 are one step along the way to the company changing its relationship with gamers, into one of paying for a service and not just a product.
"The point I'm making is the fact that the business model needs to evolve and recognize a little bit that there's a big service component," Riccitiello said. "The model is going to keep evolving in ways that I'm hopeful most gamers are going to find it positive."
Many readers have yet to embrace that.
"EA's model is all about taking value away from the consumer," wrote Shinta. "In nearly every single way, it's really the exact opposite of what he's claiming. They take a chunk out for project $10, then they take another huge chunk out for DLC, then they take another chunk out and don't test everything - instead calling it continued customer support instead of a post-release patch, now he's talking subscriptions and not even owning your game after 1 year."
Others seemed to acknowledge that Riccitiello runs a games company, not a public radio station.
"It also sounds like he's speculating on the future of gaming, not the present," replied Resonance462. "Game companies should be allowed to make money off of used game sales. If you wait a couple months, you can typically buy a game for less than it costs used, anyway. And if you don't like this model, you can buy a Wii. There's not a lot of patching/DLC going on there. I'm not complaining."
The week in Kotaku's original reporting and coverage:
- Kotaku's E3 2010 Coverage
- Kotaku Talk Radio
- Top Stories
The Unexpected Gamer Who Runs EA
We Talk Video Games With Jimmy Fallon, Who Knows The Score
Their Orders Are To 'Make A Better Donkey Kong Country'
How Xbox 360's Live Gold Family Plan Could Be Free For You
Let's Improve The 3DS! - Columns
Well Played: Confessions of A Failed Gaming Parent
Lisa Foiles: Let's Rate the Booth Babes!
Stick Jockey: A Quiet E3 Foreshadows Sports Gaming's Biggest Rivalry - Reviews, Previews, Hands-On and Impressions
Transformers: War For Cybertron Review: Now Light Our Darkest Hour
Kanex XD Review: More Gaming On Your iMac
NCAA Football 11 Demo Impressions: Warming Up the Pre-Game
Magic: The Gathering - Duels Of The Planeswalkers PC Review: I'd Tap That
Sleepmaker Micro-Review: The App That Saved E3 - News
Make Money Winning Video Games, With The Help Of A Billionaire
Do it Yourself Counter Strike Squirt
Are You As Good At Gaming As This Person?
Kingdom Hearts Designer Talks Picking and Choosing
This Game Is iPhone 4 Only (For Now)l
Don't Use The Word 'Shmup' Around The Creators Of Ikaruga And Sin & Punishment
PlayStation Network Gaming Gets Freemium Title
Transformice Is Pure Mayhem, Everyone Should Play It
Fable III Really Signals A Larger Microsoft Push For PC Gaming This Time - Numbers
iTunes Chart Topper: Pay As You Go Takeover - Sports
Regardless of World Cup, EA Sports Predicts an American Triumph
The World Cup's Winning Eleven
Calming World Cup Nerves With Video Games - Reactions
Speak-Up On Kotaku: F-Zero, Argentina Woes, Mushroom Art, And The Good Old 60GB
A Week In Comments - Republished Features
Let's Get Physical
- Images
One Killer Father's Day Present
Prince Of Persia Figure Has Plastic Face, Jakey Chest
We Like Our Metal Gear Sunny Side Up, Thanks
These Fallout Drugs Pre-Date The Apocalypse
Don't You EVER Shave That Moustache, Mario
Plants Vs. Zombies Vs. Cake - Kotaku ‘Shop Contest
Kotaku 'Shop Contest: Up the Wall Edition
Kotaku 'Shop Contest: Is This the 3DS? Edition Winners