LUCASARTS PREFERS SPEED OVER QUALITY

In an interview with UK site MCV, LucasArts president Jim Ward stated that the current industry practice of taking time to make sure a game is done right rather than just released on time is damaging the industry.

“There’s an attitude in this industry that says in order to make a great game, it takes whatever time it takes and it takes whatever money it takes, and that that’s okay. Well it’s not okay – it’s wrong. It’s not okay in other entertainment businesses. In other businesses it’s big trouble.” -Jim Ward

Yeah, ok… let’s not forget this is the guy who oversees the release of horrid, rushed Star Wars game after Star Wars game because, at least in his case, he has an audience that will buy his product regardless of whether it’s good or not. The rest of the industry doesn’t quite have that luxury.

Ward went on to single out Electronic Arts as a prime perpetrator of these delaying tactics and irresponsible business practices;

“When you have EA failing to bring Superman out with the movie, that’s inexcusable. Moving games like Medal of Honor and Godfather out of the fourth quarter -– that’s the old way of thinking and you can’t do that any more.” -Jim Ward

So what he’s saying here is that he’d rather have a game that sucks, but is on time and under budget than one that gamers love… and then he wonders why LucasArts has lost both the respect and buying dollars of non Star Wars addicted gamers over the years.

Next time you’re in a store and are trying to decide what game to spend your hard earned money on, when you see a LucasArts title, just tell yourself this … “it may suck, but at least it came out on time – and within budget. I’m sure that will give me some measure of satisfaction as it sits on my shelf never being played.” – I’m sure you’ll do the right thing… for the sake of the industry. (What about the children?!)

Seriously, what is with the executives in the gaming industry lately? Do they just not think before opening their mouths anymore? The full text of the interview can be read in the June 15th edition of MCV and you can check out the snippet from the article online here.