EA: New platforms must have tailored experiences
VP of Casual believes that simply porting games across doesn't work well
Electronic Arts VP and general manager of Casual, Harvey Elliott, has told GamesIndustry.biz that he's not a fan of porting a game as-is to other platforms, but believes instead that time should be taken to "build great games for that platform".
Speaking at a recent EA Play event in Paris, Elliott was answering a question about how the label approaches the potential of new platforms such as the iPhone.
"From a product standpoint I've long given up on the idea that you just port what you've got to that platform," he replied. "I think a lot of platforms have come in with a lot of things which just naturally fit our customers - they're either people that are buying that platform for a reason, or they've got technology that works in a certain way (such as the Wii with motion controls).
"There are things that those platforms allow us to do, and for me it's about building an experience that's tailored to that platform. There's nothing worse than having a third-grade port from a franchise when you can have something that's custom-built for that platform.
"You have to build great games for that platform, rather than taking a game and porting," he added.
EA Play will release The Sims 3 next week, and the full interview with Elliott and the label's VP of marketing, Russell Arons, is available now.