EA Montreal Re-Focusing On "HD-Quality" Products
EA Montreal General Manager Alain Tascan has told us that EA Montreal — as part of the EA Games label — is to refocus the studio on "action titles and HD-quality products" compared to its recent history of Wii titles such as Boogie Superstar and Skate It.
It's more evidence of the restructuring plan EA announced with its recent decision to make 1500 layoffs and purchase of Playfish.
"The Wii market is a little bit unpredictable these days," said Tascan, "We’re going to see how Christmas is going to do and while with the Wii we have had very successful titles, we are going to focus on big, blockbuster-type titles. It doesn't mean that we are going to abandon the Wii, but as a studio we want to be ready for new challenges."
Army of Two — an Xbox 360 and PS3 title developed at EA Montreal which is to be joined by sequel The 40th Day in January — is reportedly one of the driving factors for this change, as "the most successful original IP EA has had in the last few years" according to Tascan, arguing that EA as a whole isn't turning away from big-budget titles but "adjusting their direction."
"This studio — our mobile division as well — is going to be very nimble and able to adapt to the market; I feel right now our label wants to focus on fewer and bigger things, and the market is going through this soft transition where people want these very high value productions on one side, which is our specialty within the games label, but also this casual, but high quality, product that they can play quickly, of which mobile is one part and Playfish is another. We’re just trying to adapt to the reality of today. I think the market is showing that if you don’t adapt fast enough then you’ll be in trouble."
Tascan was unwilling to discuss if EA Montreal had been directly affected by the publisher's cuts, but stated "we have several positions open here at EA Montreal and we are planning on continuing investment. That doesn't mean there might not be more readjustments, but there are many different factors that come into a decision about how to grow and where to grow. We feel good about where we are and the local talent; the games that we've shipped and the games we are going to ship. In our division I think we play a major role in the future."
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