14 DAY TRIAL // Despite a number of previous comments made by a leading executive during the Cloud Gaming USA conference, publisher Electronic Arts says that it is still interested in single player only game experiences as long as they have a way of connecting players to one another.
Frank Gibeau, who leads the EA Labels division, has told Kotaku that, “You can have a very deep single-player game but it has to have an ongoing content plan for keeping customers engaged beyond what’s on the initial disc. I’m not saying deathmatch must come to Mirror’s Edge.”
Previously, the executive stated that he did not give the green light to one game that was just a single- player experience.
Gibeau believes that the social aspect of gaming is important for any future experience and that players should get simple and clear mechanics that allow them to interact and help each other.
He added, “What I’m saying is if you’re going do it, do it with an open-world game that’s a connected experience where you can actually see other players, you can co-operate, you can compete and it can be social. Everything that we do, we see the telemetry coming in telling us that’s the best way to build our business and that’s the best way to build these experiences and be differentiated from others.”
Electronic Arts has very high profile titles like Mass Effect, FIFA, The Sims and Sim City that can be enjoyed as single player only, with gamers able to opt out of the various modes and features that have a social element.
Gibeau also believes that EA is ready to give resources to any project that can deliver a solid story because players are still looking for quality narrative and it has the ability to make the difference between a good and a spectacular title.