One Explanation Behind EA 'Destroying' Bullfrog
Over the past two decades, Electronic Arts has developed a reputation for buying and "killing" independent video game studios.
EA Server Hacked To Run A Scam (That's Now Been Shut Down)
According to a report from internet security firm Netcraft, an Electronic Arts server was recently hacked, and until it was shut down was being used to run a phishing scam that targeted Apple customers
EA Is Again A Contender For 'Worst Company In America'
Can EA take the title three years in a row? The Consumerist's Worst Company In America bracket is live once again, and again the video game publisher Electronic Arts is a contender.
EA: Battlefield 4 Is 'An Exceedingly Successful Product'
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--U-AwTgNg--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19fdw8syhub61jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--I4Vg-CVX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19fdw8syhub61jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Du5R8FM9--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19fdw8syhub61jpg.jpg, (large)])
Two of EA's biggest games had rough launches last year, and although SimCity seems to be in a stable place right now, the Battlefield 4 issues (and patches) continue—to the point where EA won't work on downloadable content for their shooter until everything is fixed.
No Army Can Stop The Battlefield 4 Train
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--p2cS9xPr--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19fcytc1w6zczgif.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8v-dzj9X--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19fcytc1w6zczgif.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--aQtcuzPY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19fcytc1w6zczgif.jpg, (large)])
Trains are just unstoppable these days. Just think about Grand Theft Auto V, or in this case, Golmud Railway in Battlefield 4. You can line up anything in front of them, they won't do anything but break the laws of physics.
'A Cancer That's Eroding The Market': Reactions To EA's Dungeon Keeper
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---y74vBca--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19ekntboixcy0jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zg5ZNNcZ--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19ekntboixcy0jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--uI44VLB2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19ekntboixcy0jpg.jpg, (large)])
EA's new mobile Dungeon Keeper is free-to-play in the worst possible way, offering up a twisted cartoonish world in which you can progress through the game either by waiting or paying, and people aren't too pleased about it.
EA Sports and the NFL "still have a number of years left on our agreements" to exclusively develop and publish video games, EA CEO Andrew Wilson told investors. "We have a number of games in development with the NFL" license, he added. Reports had suggested EA's license to make NFL games would expire this year.
Judge Throws Out $11 Million Award to Madden's Original Programmer
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vJ76qheO--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18m0zuk6i8i4jjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--y57NDQL8--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18m0zuk6i8i4jjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KQVHts2l--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18m0zuk6i8i4jjpg.jpg, (large)])
A federal judge threw out a jury's award of $11 million to the programmer of the original John Madden Football, saying there was no evidence Electronic Arts copied his work for use in future editions of the game without paying royalties to which he would be entitled.
NBA 2K14 Mod Replaces Everyone With Superheroes
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--iFJtJ5oV--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19dfqsj68x256png.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Aq62n5_H--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19dfqsj68x256png.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--a3ZfqvH4--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19dfqsj68x256png.png, (large)])
Marvel and DC superheroes in a modded NBA 2k14... just what basketball needed! A modder named MGX has done just that with the PC version of the game, adding 25 well-known heroes to the roster.
Smart Alternative Against Battlefield 4 Helicopters
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--3GlU9bW7--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19d4n5dj4470ygif.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jgGJ_7Nx--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19d4n5dj4470ygif.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Jy5-cKMJ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19d4n5dj4470ygif.jpg, (large)])
Stun_gravy and his friends prove stingers don't need to be in Battlefield 4. The only things you need are a buggy, some C4 planted on its bottom, the mindset of John McClane and patience until an attack helicopter and the perfect moment turn up.
EA Says It Took Over Six Months To Make SimCity Work Offline
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--O1xaB-Y3--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19cjdwid62ir9jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--w-25eTKm--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19cjdwid62ir9jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lB1NOkyp--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19cjdwid62ir9jpg.jpg, (large)])
In the wake of yesterday's news that SimCity will be getting an offline version, EA has come out with a blog post explaining just how they made it happen—and how much effort that took.
You Can Use a Giant Whip as a Weapon in Battlefield 4, Apparently
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Z89BK-BR--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19ciy0fck8l2ggif.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--M_EOm_1G--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19ciy0fck8l2ggif.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--I6K_xzlZ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19ciy0fck8l2ggif.jpg, (large)])
This Battlefield 4 levolution stunt, performed by YouTuber ponylion, must be one of the sneakiest and most difficult yet—detonating C4 on one of the cables holding the tower in place, which whips upwards, blowing up the enemy aircraft. Creative!
SimCity is Finally Getting Offline Play
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--wbf8eeaW--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19cf310t08l1epng.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--t2FEn792--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19cf310t08l1epng.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--E8moTlxh--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19cf310t08l1epng.png, (large)])
After insisting a year ago that such a mode was nearly impossible, offline play is coming to SimCity, Maxis has announced. It will be delivered in Update 10 for the game. A timeframe for that update was not included in the announcement.
After a "first draft" that put the brakes on most anything interesting, SimCity has published its policy on mods. It means they'll allow some building re-skinning and creation, like this rail station. No changes to gameplay. As for an offline mode? "We are still exploring" that, which is what they said in October, too.
Battlefield 4 'Illegal' in China, But It Wasn't For Sale There Anyway
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--3mqFH4Jv--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19assnjkp73g9jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dvdV2qeh--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19assnjkp73g9jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--GiK0r-9w--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19assnjkp73g9jpg.jpg, (large)])
To the surprise of no one, China's Ministry of Culture has formally banned Battlefield 4—though "condemned" may be a more accurate term considering the game never was formally for sale there. Anyway, the game is henceforth "illegal," according to reports from the country.
Dead MMO's World Could Live On as an Explorable Relic, says Developer
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--D1IGN5KV--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/19aaopb5qihqfjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4Rr7DvKx--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/19aaopb5qihqfjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--U9eYdcY2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/19aaopb5qihqfjpg.jpg, (large)])
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning closed down on Wednesday when the licensing agreement Electronic Arts had with Games Workshop ended. A developer who worked on the game says there is a way to preserve its world in a kind of museum-exhibit way, should EA choose to release it.
Garden Warfare Looks Like Battlefield with a Plants vs. Zombies Mod
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vAv7fWjO--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/199ovru11o4qnjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--adcVOvhk--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/199ovru11o4qnjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XaW9Pm50--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/199ovru11o4qnjpg.jpg, (large)])
Here's a look at about 6 minutes of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare's "Gardens & Graveyards" multiplayer, which PopCap calls "a remix of Rush and Conquest gameplay modes from Battlefield but with a PvZ spin."
"Kill trading" in Battlefield 4's PC version is among the glitches fixed in the latest patch DICE rolled out earlier today. A sound-loop bug that had been bothering a lot of people also should be cleared up, too. Many more details are here.
Battlefield 4 Stunts Are Becoming More And More Hardcore
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Ch10dA24--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/199al6oshzyxcgif.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kgDPwA6Z--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/199al6oshzyxcgif.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DLMIxoqE--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/199al6oshzyxcgif.jpg, (large)])
Locate target. Eject. Deploy package. Return to your vehicle. Sounds easy, but if your vehicle is a moving jet, and the target is a chopper high above you, things get hard. Even if it's in Battlefield 4. Here's YouTuber ponylion pulling off this pretty cool maneuver like it's the easiest thing out there.
Battlefield 4 Problems Have Shareholder Law Firm Thinking Lawsuit
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DKKDnc3V--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/196o6lvbzkjj6jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vNwWP5RU--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/196o6lvbzkjj6jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AV1rBXka--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/196o6lvbzkjj6jpg.jpg, (large)])
A law firm that appears to specialize in suing publicly traded companies suffering publicly embarassing problems has turned its attention to Electronic Arts, specifically over Battlefield 4.