Tidbits From Electronic Arts' Q4 Financial Results

With financial quarters coming to an end, it’s that time again.

Electronic Arts announced its fourth quarter fiscal 2012 results today, and followed that up with a call for investors and analysts.

The biggest headline? Despite making money, Star Wars: The Old Republic subscriptions are down 400,000 users, from 1.7 million to 1.3 million. EA claimed that was in line with expectations.

The market responded by EA’s stock dropping nearly 10%.

After perusing through EA’s financial results and listening to its call (there wasn't much "news") here’s what stood out to me:

• EA spending $80 million on next generation development (it's calling it “Gen4”) over the next year.
• 11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.
• As rumors have suggested (also, logic), there’s another Need For Speed game coming later this year. It should be Criterion's turn.
• Another Dead Space game was mentioned, but no details. I wonder if the snow planet rumors are true?
• The reception to The Old Republic is, in EA’s eyes, in line with “original assumptions.”
• The company will undergo a “restructuring” between now and September 30 that will result in layoffs. It’s unclear how many employees will be impacted, but since it’s going to cost EA about $40 million to “restructure,” that’s not a very good sign.
• A bunch of stuff about EA pushing deeper and deeper into social/casual gaming.
• No PopCap news, which means EA did not announce Peggle 2. Grr.

good night sweet prince.

80 whole dollars?

I can't wait to see how they stretch that 80 bucks.

Didn't Jeff say something about a leaked image of Most Wanted 2 on a recent podcast? That would be kinda cool, especially with Criterion developing it.

Shit, $80 is a hell of a lot of money for R&D

yea im with you, id take another dead space, they got a lot more room they could take that franchise imo

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

When I saw $80 in the title I was kinda worried haha. Good thing it is $80 million!

EA said it only need 500,000 subs for the old republic to be profitable so id say thats okay and most of those subs were cancelled after the free month ran out

lol shouldve put $80 million into the title patrick lol

@cancerdancer: If he was paid as much as $80 maybe he'd do his job better!

I say we give Patrick a raise to $80 per annum

$80 invested in a copy editor

11 million on Origin. Using it for BF3 and Steam for anything not EA exclusive. It's not as good as Steam, but the mentality of its the worst thing in the world is just idiotic.

$80 whole dollars huh? Sorry @patrickklepek but you really need to proof read your articles, I find at least 1 typo in literally every one you post.

Yes, people, he made a typo, it's 80 million, not $80. I know, hella funny.

@cancerdancer said:

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

Man, 80$?! This next gen is going to rip!

I really hope they do a good job with Dead Space 3. I really enjoyed the first two but can easily see them turning them out as fast as possible to make as much profit as possible.

The fact it ends up being "a bunch of stuff" about EA pushing deeper into social gaming has me confused as to whether it's something to worry about. Especially with all these rumours that the next gen will be the end of consoles as we know them and the beginning of something else... something sinister...

Also give me some Dead Space.

Haha I make afunny one. How many Patrick to screw the lightbulb? Only one because hair is so big!! aha. I make laugh.

The $80 typo was the backwards flying dragon glitch of typos, because I laughed my ass off at it. Thanks Patrick!

Also, is it just me or have there been layoffs almost every quarter for EA for, like, years now?

@patrickklepek said:

@cancerdancer said:

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

He's got a point.

8O DOLLARS!!?!!!?!?! WOAH

Of course those 11 million users include anyone who made a EA Account in the last decade.

I wonder how much money Ultimate Team in Fifa 12 made (more than $100 million?). Hella lotta money from one game mode alone and more than they're spending on R&D :/

@patrickklepek said:

@cancerdancer said:

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

Very funny, but really, you need to proof read your articles. I find at least 1 typo in every one you have been putting up in the past few weeks...

@patrickklepek said:

@cancerdancer said:

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

people cool it with the $80 thing

@DorianOtten said:

people cool it with the $80 thing

I think people are trying to find a new meme after Alex basically trolled GB earlier with that Skyrim joke for the AC3 trailer.

No PopCap news, which means EA did not announce Peggle 2. Grr.

FUUUUUUUCKKKK

WHAT THE FUCK MAN, I NEED MY FUCKING FIX

I'm still surprised Origin has been of any use to anyone. Haven't touched mine since ME3, how could people still be buying shit on it?

I wish there were dinosaurs, but that they were my friends.

Mirror's Edge 2? :*((

TOR meeting "original assumptions" is not the bang they were looking for considering the beast accounts for 1/6 of their annual R&D spend. At least they made money for the first time in four years!

The Nexon takeover offer rumors last week were kind of ominous, I would not be surprised to see a suitor come out publicly if the stock price stays low.

EA said it only need 500,000 subs for the old republic to be profitable so id say thats okay and most of those subs were cancelled after the free month ran out

11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.

Why, why are people using Origin, what reason is there other than Battlefield 3 for PC?

AS OF APRIL 24TH, BIOWARE SAID THAT SWTOR NEVER LOST ANY SUBS, JUST THAT LESS PEOPLE ARE LOGGING IN

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/mmorpg/star-wars-the-old-republic-mmorpg/no-change/

AS OF APRIL 24TH, BIOWARE SAID THAT SWTOR NEVER LOST ANY SUBS, JUST THAT LESS PEOPLE ARE LOGGING IN

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/mmorpg/star-wars-the-old-republic-mmorpg/no-change/

AS OF APRIL 24TH, BIOWARE SAID THAT SWTOR NEVER LOST ANY SUBS, JUST THAT LESS PEOPLE ARE LOGGING IN

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/mmorpg/star-wars-the-old-republic-mmorpg/no-change/

Bioware/EA confirmed colossal liars who were caught lying.

BRING ON DEAD SPACE 3. I WANT IT INSIDE ME NOW.

Origin redirects you based on the country you are in, needless to say in my country Origin has shitty support and things look wrong and buggy most the time. I honestly can't stand the service for those reasons. I can imagine the amount of people who did sign up but never used the service, so that 11 million could very well be trivial.

11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.

Why, why are people using Origin, what reason is there other than Battlefield 3 for PC?

Haha I make afunny one. How many Patrick to screw the lightbulb? Only one because hair is so big!! aha. I make laugh.

@BestUsernameEver said:

11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.

Why, why are people using Origin, what reason is there other than Battlefield 3 for PC?

Probably Mass Effect and SWTOR. In fact, EA even stated:

Q4 full-game downloads were up 76 percent* year-over-year, contributing $60 million* in

the quarter, driven in part by Mass Effect 3 and STAR WARS®: The Old Republic™

If TOR cost $200,000,000

We know at least 1.7 million bought the game for $60 = 1.7(m)*60= 102,000,000

Another 1.3 million paid $15 so 1.3(m)*15=195,000,000

Seems like within a month it will be very profitable or is there something wrong with my math.

@Yummylee said:

@patrickklepek said:

@cancerdancer said:

Patrick, fucking proof read your shit dude. You get PAID to do this kind of crap.

Also, Dead Space 3 should take the perspective of a different character, possibly Ellie instead of Isaac. This time, she could have a prosthetic eye (in place of the one she lost in DS2) that includes some gameplay functions, and not just gimmicky seeing through walls either. If it takes place on a snowy planet, I'll bet that it's near a base or industrial site of some sort. Unfortunately, this would (probably) mean cutting out the anti-gravity sections, but I could live without them. Unless the game has you visit a heap of space junk for some reason at some point.

OK, I'll stop now and let the developers do their jobs.

@BestUsernameEver said:

11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.

Why, why are people using Origin, what reason is there other than Battlefield 3 for PC?

Origin really adds nothing to the equation. That 11 million can be easily summed up by people using it to buy Sims titles, Mass Effect games, Dragon Age, and Battlefield, since that's now the only place you can buy (and must redeem) new titles.

It's like saying "11 million users are currently supporting SecuROM." It's a meaningless quote.

@BestUsernameEver said:

11 million users are currently using Origin, and the service generated $150 million in 10 months.

Why, why are people using Origin, what reason is there other than Battlefield 3 for PC?

That number is the bigest fucking lie in the industry.Every EA game for the past 4-5 years has forced you to sign up for an EA account to validate DLC content and get your email address so they can spam you.Also 150 million in revenue for 10 months may sound like alot but that includes SWG BF3 ME3 and all the other crap.I hope dead space 3 is the last in the series so i can right EA off for dead.

What's with all the Patrick hate? The guy brings a new perspective to the table which is awesome but god forbid he make a typo. I love the GB community but you all are making it tough.

Yay for Dead Space!

Oh, the fiscal year that just closed, that explains why EA were bringing out hookers and blow to anybody getting online for a free weekend or short free-subscription in SWTOR, and then counting trials towards that, and

@Mr_Skeleton said:

If TOR cost $200,000,000

We know at least 1.7 million bought the game for $60 = 1.7(m)*60= 102,000,000

Another 1.3 million paid $15 so 1.3(m)*15=195,000,000

Seems like within a month it will be very profitable or is there something wrong with my math.

Do you not see what's wrong with your math?

1.7x60=102, but 1.3x15=195.

Explain.