Tag Archives: Electronic Arts

Friday Filler- EA Confidential – In Bob’s Own Words

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

I admit readily that I have not been remotely “normal” over the past couple of weeks.  We are in “Full Jake Immersion” mode, and there is nothing as wonderfully distracting than hanging out with your two-year-old-never-sits-still, grandson. Deb joined me after a week of dealing with her Dad’s hospice, and is the first to admit there is no better way to deal with the end of a life, than immersing oneself in the beginning stages of another.

And I also admit that my storytelling is easily taken off of the rails when writing during patches between laying rails, and running trains, and taking walks, and playing ball, and swimming (feet in a kiddie pool or backyard water slide), or endless snacks….well…you get it.

It occurred to me that most of the obfuscation in my tale, was simply me trying to tell you what “Bob” said, through my own filter.  And the the most efficient, and honest way to tell the rest of the story, is simply to use his own words (to the best of my recollection, through a haze of Lemon Drops consumed over hours of conversation).

So, that is what I am going to do.  Just let “Bob” take it from here...with a tad bit of my questions inserted to keep things on track…which reminds me…I need to find the other switch track so we can build that side spur on Jake’s layout…
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Friday Filler – EA Confidential – Bob Spills The Beans

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

OK…I know a bunch of you think that I am just going to string this along again, because I can. But, I won’t, even though I could.  But, you have all been very patient with my retelling of this tale. Much more patient than “Bob” was, when it came to flinging his displeasure about my constant haranguing of him, for what you are about to read.

And you will read it…if you do. Read it, that is.  So many of you seem to be “reading challenged.” You want your “facts” in 144 character tweets or less. The real world doesn’t work that way. Unless you are in politics…but, I digress.

Let’s recap.  “Bob” isn’t his real name. But we captured “Bob” at Greta’s (not her real name) apartment in San Francisco, with the help of Ali (my daughter) and Ryan (a very large, attractive former college rugby player). And trust me…beans were spilled!

And no…I’m not still talking about the Falafel that he was delivering with his “side hustle,” Door Dash.  I’m talking like an old 1940s movie “copper” who tells the “con” that the “jig is up…so he might as well spill the beans.”   I have no idea why there was dancing and beans in those movies…but the aphorism stuck.

Just like the beans.
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Friday Filler – When In Lull, Make Your Dollars Count!

Thank Grog It’s Firday!!

I have to admit, that being in the epicenter of a lull (I know that sounds like an oxymoron), is no fun at all.  Not only are we in the same boat as all of the players in regards to the “Come on…tell us SOMETHING” vibe, but are also the ones trying to push everyone toward the  “Keep Calm, and Tap!” side of things, when we do get tidbits of info that is encouraging.

I’ll say it again. I don’t believe the game is ending anytime soon. But, we are clearly in a new phase, that at its core, is either something involving some serious changes in the game, or at worst, one of the most “EALPish” stages of the game ever.

In either case, we very much need to make it clear to EA that we aren’t going to reward their “lulliness” with investments of real dollars. This community is a voice that is heard…and we need to send a message!

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EPPP Confidential – The Final Chapter?

Note from Alissa: Remember this is part 5 in a 5 part story. If you’re confused go back and read parts 1-4. You can find part 1 here2 here3 here, and 4 here.  

Well…after weeks of speculation…we finally know.

What we know is mostly what we don’t know, or will never know. But, I am happy to reveal the final chapter of what I DO know…at least as far as I can, without breaking my NDA.

Jeanene got herself into this. We know that. Was she justified in her actions? Nobody likes to be disrespected. And certainly she was.  But, when you go to the lengths for personal revenge, placing the best interests of TSTO and EA in second and third place behind our own emotions…bad things are bound to happen.

But, being penitent and becoming a true “team player,” can have their rewards. 
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EPPP Confidential – IV – The Reckoning


So who could possibly know what Jeanene was up to?  I know that as I wrote this chapter, I continued to be surprised by her unbelievable hubris and lack of common sense.

But, power does that to people.

It’s somewhat similar to the power to “mess with people” that huge gaming companies sometimes do to their player, throwing curves, delays, and giant changes into play, without explanation. But, I digress…kinda…

Again, A Warning… This Chapter is DEFINITELY RATED M for Mature Audiences. PG has been thrown to the wind…
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EPPP Confidential- Part III – Looking Back Before the Before for Explanations

I admit it. Back in 2014, when things started going off the rails with TSTO, and there was some downtime that made people nuts, this series I wrote was initially just for the hardcore followers who knew I was capable of going off the rails myself.  But, reading it now…I have to laugh at just how far the train wandered into the deep speculation of EA corporate life.

But, another warning…this episode takes a very weird (even weirder?) twist, that even I didn’t see coming, until it was there on the page.  I try to remember if I had a flip phone that showed up on my own desk…but, realize that I didn’t need someone telling me what to write, when I had my own, addled, imagination running freely during downtime.

Kinda like some of our current readers when they start speculating about the future of the game.

Again…this chapter is for Mature Audiences only (as in those mature enough to understand it is pure fiction…and not a statement on current society).
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Friday Filler – Making the Most Out of Meh…

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

So… this was it? rEAlly EA?  Way to alleviate the speculation about the game winding down and going away.  Not!

All this silly retread did was increase the speculation that you are “outta gas” in the idea department, and are too timid to just be honest enough about where you are leading us.

We haven’t heard “peep one,” out of our so-called Game Engagement Liason (you know who you are, John).  We see him hovering on the forum, and in the “secret chat rooms” where all of the TSTO Illuminati hang.  But, no emails. No returned messages…just complete “radio silence.”

So, we wait around for weeks…after a couple of relatively lame mini-updates, for this? Come on. This COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT!  The episode on which it is based is beloved. It was even entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame!

This update will get no such accolades. Trust me on that.

But, there were a couple of minor perks that made at least the first couple of days endurable. Let’s take a look at what you could do to turn “Meh,” into “S’allright.”
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EPPP Confidential – Part II – Jeanene’s Revenge

OK.  So…there are a couple of reasons we are posting this.  First…as a reminder that long breaks between updates used to be far more the “norm” than the exception. And secondly, to remind people just how far a lull can push someone into doing something he may or may mot regret… like writing this very odd series about the inner workings at EA.

This was written back in April of 2014, (a the old graphic of CrankyOldGuy implies) and was meant entirely for the entertainment of readers who were starved for content from EA and TSTO. It was written around the time that the game saw HUGE upheaval, from a couple of really bone-headed moves by EA and pricing, as well as the introduction of the Family Guy game from Tiny Co.

WARNING… this gets a bit saucy, and would certainly be rated at LEAST PG-13, if not M for mature. So…be forewarned. Jeanene uses all of her talents to get her way in this chapter.
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Friday Filler – When to Go and How

Thank Grog It’s Firday! 

It has been an interesting week. And by “interesting,” I mean the kind of “interesting” that one says when asked how a crappy week went, without wanting to “bum out” the person who asked.

But, I’m not going to lie. “Interesting” doesn’t really cut it…

Life is full of inevitable avoidance with inevitable consequences.  There is no doubt about it. The “cycle of life” has a conclusion, and the fact is, it is rarely when, or how we expect it to happen.

We have been speculating all week about the “death of TSTO.”  Speculation runs wide and wild, from “This is it…the game has been put on life support and is sliding into a coma,” to, “They will never let this die! It’s too important to too many people…and it is still vital!”

The fact is, I’m really not sure what to expect, or how I feel about it. Because, after spending the last couple of days looking back at countless posts from the past, there is little doubt that TSTO will never see the “glory days,” again.  We have slid into the same weird predictability as a modern day Rolling Stones concert tour.  The kind of thing that leaves you saying, “Man…I saw them when they were great…for a whole lot less money. Keith looks like the Crypt Keeper, and Mick is gonna break a hip trying to prance around…he’s too old!” (And had heart sugary this week).

OK. That was kinda mean.  But, the fact is…TSTO hit its peak for all practical purposes a couple of years ago.  Now, just like hearing “Honky Tonk Woman” played by a high school marching band, you get the sense that “Yes…that’s the song…I recognize it…it’s kinda the same…but, it isn’t as good as the original.”  The game (when there IS a game to be played) has been reduced to 4-hour chunks of grinding, and a plethora of items and characters that definitely feel like they belong on the clearance table at a “Ross Dress for Less” store.  “Brand Names…at Clearance Prices!” Out of date, and presented without much flair.

The question needs to be asked, “It is time to let TSTO go, before all sense of dignity is lost forever?”
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Is it the game that will never end? Will it go on and on my friends?

Some people started singing it not knowing what it was….

Ok… that might have been a little mean but sometimes I can’t help myself.  Hello fellow Addicts.  Wookiee here and still at my mad antics like usual.  So, hot off an epic time at Springfield in Florida, I had to take the time to share a realization I had while enjoying the heck out of my life.

Wookiee Light Bulb Moment
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