ATVI vs. EA: Does Trash Talking Embarrass the Videogame Biz?

I don’t know about you, but I’m thoroughly entertained by the executive trash talking between Activision and Electronic Arts. Veteran game journalist Chris Morris — former CNN.com editor and current Gamasutra editor-at-large — feels that it’s bad for the gaming business, recently posting an article called “Opinion: Why Activision & EA’s Feud Embarrasses The Game Industry“. Really?!?

Apple and Google have been exchanging barbs for the last year or so. Did that embarrass the tech industry? Former Nokia exec Anssi Vanjoki equated handset makers using Google Android to a kid peeing in his pants to get temporary relief from frigid weather (I love the Finnish sense of humor, btw). Did that embarrass the mobile phone business? In both cases, I don’t think any rational person would think less of either industry and the trash talking got some attention from people that normally don’t care about either field. I believe the children are our future that EA Jeff Brown blasting ATVI Bobby Kotick had the same effect.

That’s just my opinion. What’s yours? Do you think executive trash talking is bad for the business? Do you think it’s good for it? Or are the words just meaningless?

[Confession: I was originally going to call this article “Opinion: Chris Morris is a Pussy”. That would have been way funnier, but some people would have interpreted it as disrespect. I honestly respect Morris’ opinion. I just disagree with his recent editorial. Besides, this is really about ATVI vs. EA.]

Author: RPadTV

https://rpad.tv

16 thoughts on “ATVI vs. EA: Does Trash Talking Embarrass the Videogame Biz?”

  1. Where are parts two and three of your confessions?

    I think it is entertaining to read about. One of the reasons I can understand some people being angry about things of this nature (negative press on the video game industry) is that the video game industry is still relatively young in comparison to other media and is not often taken as seriously. At least that's how I feel it goes, I'm sure there are plenty of others who would agree. Because hardcore game care a lot about the industry we sometimes don't want video games to be seen as something that we clearly know they are not. I.e. the art debate from a couple months back with Roger Ebert, constant defense of violent video games, etc. We can see these things from the inside, and we want to make sure the video games in general are not tarnished because of a little bad press. As I'm sure anyone here can attest to- sometimes people make decisions like that based on some off the wall stuff. The littlest stupidest thing can from a persons solid and unchanging opinion, despite what evidence you can provide showing an opposing view.

    From that perspective I can see where he is coming from, but in this case I would agree it should be no more damaging than any other instance you mentioned up above. I still think it is funny.

  2. I've got to say, I have less of an issue with someone responding to comments than with someone who starts it out of the blue. I mean, Take the example of Bobby Kotick's myriad of comments yesterday. While I vehemently disagree with his assertion that Brutal Legend wasn't a good game, Tim Schafer did call the guy a prick. And while it may be true, he's got a right to respond to that. By comparison, he kinda went after EA for no reason other than he could, and I rather enjoyed the return volley from EA.

  3. You should have gone with your alternate headline grabber, Mr. Padilla.

    Jeff Brown and Bobby Kocklick trading verbal barbs does not reflect poorly on the video game industry, but rather reflects poorly on Jeff Brown and Bobby Kocklick as individuals.

    If you wanted me to be honest, I would have to say that some of EA's and Activision's business practices are more damaging to the future of the video game industry than two ass-clowns calling each other names.

    -M

  4. @Nightshade386 There was absolutely a reason he went after EA. It wasn't out of the blue. He was comparing Activision's approach to EA's. Activision lets the developers keep their names and (supposedly) their cultures. EA rebrands them as EA Vancouver, EA LA, EA Tiburon, etc.

  5. @Ray: That's hardly the only thing he's saying if you read the full quote offered up by Edge. He's also asserted that the Madden team was the only good development team that EA has.

  6. No, I do not think it is embarrassing for the game industry. There are politicians and CEOs in other industries who do stuff that can be considered embarrassing compared to those two nitpicking each other's non gamer friendly companies.

  7. @Ray: It's the interviewer's job to try and stir up quotes. It's the interviewees job to know when to shut up and not dig a hole.

  8. @Nightshade386 Again, the context was comparing his company's approach to EA's. You said, "he kinda went after EA for no reason other than he could". That's not the case at all.

  9. @Ray: There's a larger context here though. This quote doesn't happen in a vacuum. There's a body of work here when it comes to the ridiculous things that come out of Bobby Kotick's mouth. With his public persona already highly damaged goods with the gaming public, there's no reason to make inflammatory comments of this nature. It only reflects poorly on him, and he's had enough bad press for the entire gaming industry as it is. Just because you find it humorous, doesn't make it smart on his part. He'll do more to further the goals of his own company by shutting up and making more games that we actually want to play instead of another crappy Tony Hawk game, another mediocre Spider-Man game, or whatever else he's got up his sleeves at this time.

  10. @Nightshade386 That's a completely different issue. Look at what you said again. You implied that the quote did happen in a vacuum. Whether Kotick's words were effective or foolish is another matter entirely.

    Kotick gets bad press from enthusiast outlets. Some of it is deserved. Some of it isn't. I haven't seen any evidence of it lowering ATVI stock. With that in mind, I don't think Kotick cares too much about his "reputation".

  11. @Ray: At no point did I imply that any of his comments happen in a vacuum. There's always context. I implied that I was more inclined to give him a pass on the Tim Schafer bit because Schafer went after him first. His comments towards EA were inflammatory for the sake of being inflammatory. Even if the interviewer set him up, he has the option to pass on it.

  12. This is great I how they keeps going at it. It would also be nice to see some easter eggs taking jabs at the other company.

  13. @Ray: No, not all. He had no reason other than he was given an opportunity to be inflammatory (ie, because he could).

  14. @Nightshade386 The reason was because he was asked about EA. What was he supposed to talk about? Atari? You have a problem with how he answered the question, not why the comments were made.

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