14 DAY TRIAL // The leader of video games publisher Electronic Arts has suggested that the gold superstar Tiger Woods, which has been affected by an infidelity scandal earlier in the year, needs to quickly get back to his gold winning ways in order to remain the public face of the golf franchise EA is creating.
Speaking at the Reuters Global Media Summit in New York, John Riccitiello, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Arts, has stated, “We're with him because he has the promise of being the world's best golfer. We have no plans to move away from him, but it's a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game and he's the best golfer.”
He added, “Both of those things need to be true in the long run for the partnership to make sense,” suggesting that if Tiger Woods does not begin winning a lot more than he did during the current season, he might be dropped by the video game publisher.
Of course the company is not quick to drop Woods, because he “sort of stuck with us for a very long time and we made great business together and we're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.”
The fact that gold is not inherently linked to Tiger Woods when it comes to gold came when Electronic Arts announced that the sport was getting a game version for Facebook called PGA Tour Golf Challenge.
The game will focus on creating a social golfing experience and will not rely on the star power of Woods for promotion but on users with strong social links.
The PGA Tour Golf for Facebook joins the online and free to play titles Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online, which Electronic Arts says has been successful and offers gold enthusiasts a chance to tailor a video game experience to their needs.