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''Can a Computer Make You Cry?''
{{quote|''Can a Computer Make You Cry?''}}


Electronic Arts is the second oldest independent publisher of video games in existence (since the demise of [[Acclaim (Creator)|Acclaim]]). Beginning life in 1982, the company first made its name publishing titles for the home computer market on machines like the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Apple II]] rather than attempting to follow [[Activision]] into the home console market. As a result of this, they largely avoided becoming embroiled in [[The Great Video Game Crash of 1983]] that killed off many of their rivals. In their early days, they justified their name by attempting to treat computer games as art, and the authors as artists in their own right.
'''Electronic Arts''' is the second oldest independent publisher of video games in existence (since the demise of [[Acclaim]]). Beginning life in 1982, the company first made its name publishing titles for the home computer market on machines like the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Apple II]] rather than attempting to follow [[Activision]] into the home console market. As a result of this, they largely avoided becoming embroiled in [[The Great Video Game Crash of 1983]] that killed off many of their rivals. In their early days, they justified their name by attempting to treat computer games as art, and the authors as artists in their own right.


The company's first modern-day big break was the [[Sega Genesis]] release of ''[[Madden NFL (Video Game)|Madden NFL]]'', one of the first football games to represent the game to a reasonably accurate degree that was also fun to play. Their sports games would eventually expand to become their most profitable line after signing licenses with [[Useful Notes/Ice Hockey|the NHL]], [[Useful Notes/Basketball|NBA]], PGA, [[The Beautiful Game|FIFA]] and others.
The company's first modern-day big break was the [[Sega Genesis]] release of ''[[Madden NFL]]'', one of the first football games to represent the game to a reasonably accurate degree that was also fun to play. Their sports games would eventually expand to become their most profitable line after signing licenses with [[Ice Hockey|the NHL]], [[Basketball|NBA]], PGA, [[The Beautiful Game|FIFA]] and others.


Over the years since the Genesis era, the company has grown massively, acquiring many other smaller companies (and their intellectual property) such as Maxis (''[[Sim City]]'', ''[[The Sims]]''), Origin (''[[Strike Commander (Video Game)|Strike Commander]]'', ''[[Ultima]]'', ''[[Wing Commander (Video Game)|Wing Commander]]''), Westwood (''[[Command and Conquer]]'') and Bullfrog (''[[Populous]]'', ''[[Magic Carpet]]'', ''[[Dungeon Keeper]]'', ''[[Syndicate (Video Game)|Syndicate]]'').
Over the years since the Genesis era, the company has grown massively, acquiring many other smaller companies (and their intellectual property) such as Maxis (''[[SimCity]]'', ''[[The Sims]]''), Origin (''[[Strike Commander]]'', ''[[Ultima]]'', ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]''), Westwood (''[[Command & Conquer]]'') and Bullfrog (''[[Populous]]'', ''[[Magic Carpet (video game)|Magic Carpet]]'', ''[[Dungeon Keeper]]'', ''[[Syndicate]]'').


A lesser known element of the company is the division called EA Partners, which handles publishing duties in the west for many games created by Japanese publishers that lack a publishing presence outside Japan, as well as offering publishing and distributing channels for smaller Western developers that wouldn't normally have access to those channels by themselves. The most prominent of those was a short-lived partnership with [[Square Enix|Square Soft]] in the days before their merging with Enix. Today EA Partners is the publisher of a number of titles from smaller developers, including the ''[[Rock Band]]'' series, the ''[[Crysis (Video Game)|Crysis]]'' series, the ''[[Shank (Video Game)|Shank]]'' games and, surprisingly, being the retail distributor of games developed by [[Valve]].
A lesser known element of the company is the division called EA Partners, which handles publishing duties in the west for many games created by Japanese publishers that lack a publishing presence outside Japan, as well as offering publishing and distributing channels for smaller Western developers that wouldn't normally have access to those channels by themselves. The most prominent of those was a short-lived partnership with [[Square Enix|Square Soft]] in the days before their merging with Enix. Today EA Partners is the publisher of a number of titles from smaller developers, including the ''[[Rock Band]]'' series, the ''[[Crysis (series)|Crysis]]'' series, the ''[[Shank (video game)|Shank]]'' games and, surprisingly, being the retail distributor of games developed by [[Valve]].


EA is notable for loving [[Region Coding]]. Many games published by EA for the [[Xbox 360]] are region coded, as are some of their games for the [[Play Station Portable]]. They have even announced their intention to region code the [[Play Station 3|PS3]] release of [[Army of Two]], but fortunately stepped down when numerous angry fans threatened to boycott the game. Unfortunately, online play remains region-segregated, and the [[X Box]] 360 release of the game remains region-locked.
EA is notable for loving [[Region Coding]]. Many games published by EA for the [[Xbox 360]] are region coded, as are some of their games for the [[PlayStation Portable]]. They have even announced their intention to region code the [[Play Station 3|PS3]] release of [[Army of Two]], but fortunately stepped down when numerous angry fans threatened to boycott the game. Unfortunately, online play remains region-segregated, and the [[Xbox]] 360 release of the game remains region-locked.


----
=== Early Electronic Arts games: ===
=== Early Electronic Arts games: ===
* [[Archon (Video Game)|Archon]]
* [[Archon]]
* [[The Bards Tale Trilogy]]
* [[The Bard's Tale Trilogy]]
* [[Desert Strike]]
* [[Desert Strike]]
* [[MULE]]
* [[MULE]]
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* [[Strike Series]]
* [[Strike Series]]
* One on One: [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny|Dr. J versus Larry Bird]]
* One on One: [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny|Dr. J versus Larry Bird]]
* [[Road Rash (Video Game)|Road Rash]]
* [[Road Rash]]


=== Properties acquired through buyouts: ===
=== Properties acquired through buyouts: ===
* [[Battlefield (Video Game)|Battlefield]]
* [[Battlefield (series)|Battlefield]]
* [[Bejeweled]]
* [[Bejeweled]]
* [[Burnout]]
* [[Burnout]]
* [[Command and Conquer]]
* [[Command & Conquer]]
* [[Pet Society]]
* [[Pet Society]]
* [[Populous]]
* [[Populous]]
* [[Sim City]]
* [[SimCity]]
* [[Strike Commander (Video Game)|Strike Commander]]
* [[Strike Commander]]
* [[Syndicate (Video Game)|Syndicate]]
* [[Syndicate]]
* [[Theme Park (Video Game)|Theme Park]]
* [[Theme Park (video game)|Theme Park]]
* [[Ultima]]
* [[Ultima]]
* [[Wing Commander (Video Game)|Wing Commander]]
* [[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]


=== Major sports properties: ===
=== Major sports properties: ===
* [[Madden NFL (Video Game)|Madden NFL]]
* [[Madden NFL]]
* [[Useful Notes/National Hockey League|NHL Hockey]]
* [[National Hockey League|NHL Hockey]]
* Tiger Woods Golf
* Tiger Woods Golf
* [[FIFA Soccer]]
* [[FIFA Soccer]]
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* [[Basketball|NBA Live]]
* [[Basketball|NBA Live]]
* [[EA Sports Street]]
* [[EA Sports Street]]
* [[SSX (Video Game)|SSX]]
* [[SSX]]


=== Modern era properties: ===
=== Modern era properties: ===
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* [[The Sims]]
* [[The Sims]]
* [[Spore]]
* [[Spore]]
* Official games based on the [[Peter Jackson]] [[The Lord of the Rings (Film)|The Lord of the Rings]] movies.
* Official games based on the [[Peter Jackson]] [[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]] movies.
* [[Harry Potter (Video Game)|Official games]] based on the [[Harry Potter (Film)|Harry Potter]] movies.
* [[Harry Potter (video game)|Official games]] based on the [[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]] movies.
* [[Mirrors Edge]]
* [[Mirror's Edge]]
* [[Dragon Age]]
* [[Dragon Age]]
* [[Brutal Legend]] (published only)
* [[Brutal Legend]] (published only)
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* [[NFL Blitz]]
* [[NFL Blitz]]
* [[Ty the Tasmanian Tiger]]
* [[Ty the Tasmanian Tiger]]
* [[Henry Hatsworth in The Puzzling Adventure]]
* [[Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure]]
* [[Mass Effect]]
* [[Mass Effect]]
* [[Dead Space (Franchise)|Dead Space]]
* [[Dead Space (series)|Dead Space]]


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[[Category:Simulation Game]]
[[Category:Video Game Companies]]
[[Category:Video Game Companies]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
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[[Category:Software Houses]]

Latest revision as of 19:05, 14 April 2024

/wiki/Electronic Artscreator

Can a Computer Make You Cry?

Electronic Arts is the second oldest independent publisher of video games in existence (since the demise of Acclaim). Beginning life in 1982, the company first made its name publishing titles for the home computer market on machines like the Commodore 64 and Apple II rather than attempting to follow Activision into the home console market. As a result of this, they largely avoided becoming embroiled in The Great Video Game Crash of 1983 that killed off many of their rivals. In their early days, they justified their name by attempting to treat computer games as art, and the authors as artists in their own right.

The company's first modern-day big break was the Sega Genesis release of Madden NFL, one of the first football games to represent the game to a reasonably accurate degree that was also fun to play. Their sports games would eventually expand to become their most profitable line after signing licenses with the NHL, NBA, PGA, FIFA and others.

Over the years since the Genesis era, the company has grown massively, acquiring many other smaller companies (and their intellectual property) such as Maxis (SimCity, The Sims), Origin (Strike Commander, Ultima, Wing Commander), Westwood (Command & Conquer) and Bullfrog (Populous, Magic Carpet, Dungeon Keeper, Syndicate).

A lesser known element of the company is the division called EA Partners, which handles publishing duties in the west for many games created by Japanese publishers that lack a publishing presence outside Japan, as well as offering publishing and distributing channels for smaller Western developers that wouldn't normally have access to those channels by themselves. The most prominent of those was a short-lived partnership with Square Soft in the days before their merging with Enix. Today EA Partners is the publisher of a number of titles from smaller developers, including the Rock Band series, the Crysis series, the Shank games and, surprisingly, being the retail distributor of games developed by Valve.

EA is notable for loving Region Coding. Many games published by EA for the Xbox 360 are region coded, as are some of their games for the PlayStation Portable. They have even announced their intention to region code the PS3 release of Army of Two, but fortunately stepped down when numerous angry fans threatened to boycott the game. Unfortunately, online play remains region-segregated, and the Xbox 360 release of the game remains region-locked.

Early Electronic Arts games:

Properties acquired through buyouts:

Major sports properties:

Modern era properties:

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