Conference hydra::amiga_v1

106.0. "Electronic Arts Interview" by JOKE::ACCIARDI () Wed Sep 17 1986 10:32

    On Tuesday, 9/16/86, the Amiga section of PLINK held an online
    interview with Jeff Johanigiam, Technical Director for Electronic
    Arts.  About 50 Amiga users were present, from all over the country.
    Jeff fielded a variety of questions, but some highlites were:
    
    * Apple ][GS:
    
    EA will support the new Apple Amiga, but claimed that the staff
    was not very excited about the machine.  He claimed that it only
    allowed 16 colors in lo-res, and had no blitter (no high-speed
    animation capabilities), and cannot page-flip in hi-res mode. He
    seemed to feel that it was technically inferior to the Amiga in
    almost every respect, but it would sell nonetheless.  
    
    
    * Atari ST
    
    Electronic Arts has marginal committments to the ST's.  He claimed
    that the Amiga software was outselling ST software by 2 to 1 margin.
    (Not just EA stuff, but industry-wide)  This data came from some
    industry software newsletter.  How, he was asked, can one explain
    the proliferation of STs if noone buys software?  Jeff hedged his
    answer, but the consensus was that ST piracy was rampant. (rustling
    for my flak jacket)
    
    * Future Committment to the Amiga:
    
    Jeff hinted at some juicy tidbits coming Real Soon Now.  Like a
    Flight Simulator, Sports simulations, and upgrades to Deluxe Paint
    and Deluxe Video.  All future releases will allow use of fast
    (external) memory expanders, and upgrades will cost around $20.00
    Deluxe Music is slated for October release, and Atlantis also.
    
    
    * Summary:
    
    Electronic Arts remains fully committed to the Amiga inspite of
    any market dilution that the new Apple is bound to cause.  President
    Trip Hawkins is still as committed as ever, and Amiga software sales
    were very close to their expectations.  Unless C-A screws up royally,
    (like by not dropping prices a coupla-hundred bux) the Amiga has
    reached the point where it's survival is assured. 

     
    I'm not sutprised that EA is committed to the Amiga. What they have
    here is the possibility of attaining the same status in the Amiga
    community that Microsoft has in the Mac area. After all, they are
    already the leader in the categories in which the Amiga excells-
    graphics, sound, and video. (Not to mention games!!) I think that
    they are smart to reinforce their commitment. They could become
    VERY big because of the Amiga.
    
    Roy
    
    

    EA might also be somewhat biased against the ST.  Industry-wide
    figures that say Amiga software is outselling ST software 2 to 1
    really depends on what companies are in their definition of
    "the industry".
                   
    -dave
    

    I agree that numbers don't mean much...As far as anti-ST'ism on
    EA's part, Jeff said that they just don't think it's such a hot
    machine, even at the low(?) price, but that their money is just
    as good as ours...I have a transcript of the interview somewhere,
    and I'll try to quote his sources.