#EA's View of Amiga
7 messages in this thread
I had an interesting exchange with the spokesman for Electronic Arts on
GamePub the other night. Following someone's suggestion, I left a message
indicating my interest that an Amiga version of Earl Weaver Baseball be
released. I lamented the fact that EA seemed to have abandoned the Amiga after
it had been one of its pioneer developers. I conceded, however, that the
company must have decided to go elsewhere in look for better profits.
I quote part of the response I received: "Bill — Well, it's actually a
lot of things. The explosion of MS-DOS in the home market is probably the
biggest factor. However, since the Amiga is making a comeback of sorts, thngs
have been encouraging. . . ."
I found the EA perception that "the Amiga is making a comeback of sorts,"
rather interesting. I suppose they think the machine was fading and that,
somehow, it is now re-entering the computer competition. Could this be because
of the recent announcement by CBM's new management?
Any comments?
Bill
A number of publishers are interested in seeing what the "new" management at
CBM can do. The next few months should see some new and exciting action from
the Amiga boys. How effective they will be remains to be seen. The past
several months have been bad ones for most computer platforms – and certainly
for the Amiga, but it isn't time to give up the ship. Perhaps EA and other
publishers will realign their development and bring more new titles to the
Amiga. Stay tuned.
Bill
EA comment is interesting, but they have always been producing or
distributing Amiga Game Software? Earl Weaver baseball on the Amiga has been
out for over a year now – they even have an extra stat disk now.
EA's desision to produce and market MS-Dos titles only reflects the
increased demand on that format for more games. MSDoser's have been demanding
more because of the new video cards. That format is becoming quite the game
machine. Figures from last years (and even the previous year) xmas sales prove
that. EA is only trying to make money and I don't hold anything against them
for that.
I also don't see anything wrong with there efforts in the Amiga marketing
and releasing of new games. They have a long list of new products coming out
practically every month. Whats to complain about?
This of course IMHO!
The Wyoming Ghost Roy
As for the disks that have come out for Earl Weavers Baseball, I have both, and
I have to say that I was disappointed in the Stats disk. I have been trying on
my own to recreate a season of National League Baseball, and my largest problem
is the stadiums. First the stat books that I have been able to get my hands on
dont have the power allys so I have been getting them over the course of the
REAL season by watching the games and writing the power ally measurments so I
was real exited about the new disk. It said on the packaging that all the major
league parks were there with the proper wind and measurements. That part was
almost true. My biggest complaint is that the bleachers numbers were all set at
0. Now I have been to Vets stadium since it opened and the right field line has
never been 335 as the stat disk said and it is one of the new generic statiums
and has seats all the way around on two decks. I have to say that EA did a good
job with the foul territory. Another complaint that i have is that they used
the old Dodger stadium measurements which is 400 down the right field line and
the old Astrodome measurements are the ones before they moved the fences in,
something that they did two years ago! Now maybe I am nit-picking, but a game
that is as detailed in play as EWB is, and I feel that it is the best computer
simulation that I have ever played, should have looked at these obvious
mistakes. And guys the bleachers should be right for those that dont know what
all the ML parks look like. I can say that I dont know what all the AL parks
look like, at least not off the top of my head. Sorry so long winded. But after
paying close to $100 buck for the game and both expansion disks, and with plans
of buying any other aids that they come up with I guess I just want to see the
best baseball game on the market become better. I would love to see a newer
version for the Amiga. It was there first machine they should show us a little
loyalty, No?
Greg
Roy:
EA was one of the original developers when the Amiga first hit the
streets. I can recall that they produced some of the only software available,
Two, Artic Fox, Marble Madness). As a matter of fact, I recall seeing a demo
with screens of future releases by EA at the local Computerland Store when the
A-1000 was first released (Return to Atlantis, EWB, Ferrari Formula I,etc.)
EWB, FFI and RTA were slow in coming and the opinion of some, with the
exception of EWB, rather disappointing. released an upgrade for EWB for MS-DOS
and I believe Mac, which changes the perspective of the batter, making it
easier to judge if pitches are high or low. They have not indicated any
intention of making this upgrade available in the Amiga format. In fact, the
reason for my initial message to EA was to indicate an interest in this
upgrade. The EA response did not indicate this was in the works.
However, I agree with you that a company is entitled to market products
that in its opinion will generate the greatest return on investment, and if
Amiga is not that target, the so be it. And according to EA's response, the
company does have some product it says it will be releasing soon for the Amiga.
But its efforts in this area are no where near the level they were until
about a year ago, and hardly commensurate with EA's public stance until
recently that it was totally committed to the Amiga.
I brought up the subject because was only the second clear example of a
<continued>
What's one of the biggest mysteries is that two of the all-time best games ever
designed, DUNGEON MASTER and POPULOUS, aren't even *available* on the IBM, and
chances are good they may never be — evidence that the sophistication of the
Amiga is virtually impossible to emulate on an IBM no matter how much hardware
you throw at the problem. And the two above-mentioned games are going to be
surpassed in the next year by a whole *slew* of things, to boot, if what I've
seen in the announcements is any indication!
— sw
<continuation>
major publisher indicating clearly it had become less than enthusiastic about
the Amiga (the other being Word Perfect), and that has cut back substantially
it support of the machine.
I most specifically was interested in the perception that the Amiga had
been on a decline (I had seen it as a painfully slow ascent), and that it was
making something of a comeback. I must admit I was somewhat disappointed that
companies like MicroProse that were big C-64 supporters have been so slow in
coming over to the Amiga.
Again, I understand the business reasoning behind these situations, and
judging from the comments I have followed on the Amiga boards, a good part of
the blame must be placed at CBM's feet.
Bill