14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts is a video game developer and publisher that has created a not so honoring name for exploiting its franchises with annual installments, which don't really bring a lot of new things to the core mechanics of it.
Nowhere is this more apparent than with its Sports label, which launches every year new installments of blockbuster franchises like Madden or FIFA. Now, with the company announcing a brand new MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) series to appear next year, a lot of people have begun to wonder what will happen to the current fighting franchise from the company, Fight Night, which, as opposed to other series, hasn't seen yearly installments.
Luckily, the President of EA Sports, Peter Moore, talked with Kotaku and revealed that the company would alternate years between the fighting franchises in order to cater to the tastes of much more gamers around the world, who don't necessarily like one discipline or the other.
“It gives us a rhythm of a fighting game every year,” Moore said. “That's the plan. If you think of 2010, we're bringing MMA. In 2011, Fight Night Round 5.” But don't think that is certain and a confirmation for other titles, “That's not an announcement,” he immediately completed his statement.
He then approached a very sensitive point, as he talked about one of the most popular brands in the MMA circuit, UFC, and how THQ had the rights to it, managing to make from its franchise a very successful one. But such a thing didn't make Moore worried, as he declared that there was always room for a contender.
“This is a long-term play for us. I have nothing but the greatest respect for UFC and what THQ has done with that franchise. UFC boss Dana White has done unbelievable with the sport itself. I'm a big fan. But I think there's room for a contender. Clearly, we're a contender in the first year. Our job is to make the sport even more interesting by bringing EA Sports authenticity to it. And we're in this for the long haul.”
Hopefully, EA Sports will manage to create a great experience with its new MMA series and we will get to see some good competition for THQ's UFC Undisputed franchise.