EA opens up operations in Russia

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Link

Dedicated Team to Serve Russian Retailers and Consumers, With Focus on Expanding the Market for Interactive Entertainment

MOSCOW & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) the world?s leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced the creation of a new EA entity in Russia. The new office, established to directly serve Russian consumers and retailers, is another step in the company?s growth strategy in Central and Eastern Europe and adds to EA?s global presence in over 40 markets outside of North America.

EA intends to contribute to the rapidly growing market for interactive entertainment in Russia. The Moscow-based team will focus on bringing more localized game offerings to Russian players, more direct engagement with the gaming community and greater collaboration with retail partners.

At an event planned later today in Moscow, EA will host members of the government, industry and media to outline plans for bringing the best and latest innovations in interactive entertainment to Russia. Later this year, two of EA?s most popular franchises among Russian consumers, Need for Speed? and FIFA Football, will launch in fully localized Russian versions for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360? video game and entertainment system, adding to the company?s existing portfolio of games localized in Russian for the PC.

?Russia represents a significant opportunity for the games industry,? said Peter Laughton, EA Vice President and General Manager of Central and Eastern Europe. ?This is a very dynamic marketplace, with a world class retail environment and consumers who have the intellect and appetite for interactive entertainment. We?re looking forward to bringing tailored offerings to Russian consumers that incorporate local language, music, and celebrities into some of our most popular titles?.

The Russian video game market is estimated at $250 million today, and is expected to more than double in the next three to five years. An increasing number of gaming consoles, PCs and game-enabled mobile phones will encourage the trend, along with compelling games content and a vibrant retail environment.

?EA is dedicated to bringing our unique brand of interactive entertainment to global consumers,? said Jens Uwe Intat, Senior Vice President of European Sales and Distribution for EA. ?Our increased focus on Russia is a testament to the vitality of its consumer market, as well as the growing position of video games in the overall entertainment mix. Our goal is to ensure that Russian consumers get the best gaming experiences and an increasingly large selection of interactive entertainment choices?.

I guess that is an incentive to keep the programmers working long hours. Threaten to move them to Russia. ;)
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
31,109
29,369
146
I guess that is an incentive to keep the programmers working long hours. Threaten to move them to Russia.
They could use the incentive to start making games that aren't bug filled beta garbage, never mind the work conditions.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I guess that is an incentive to keep the programmers working long hours. Threaten to move them to Russia.
They could use the incentive to start making games that aren't bug filled beta garbage, never mind the work conditions.

sounds like a plan to me
 

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I guess that is an incentive to keep the programmers working long hours. Threaten to move them to Russia.
They could use the incentive to start making games that aren't bug filled beta garbage, never mind the work conditions.

Tom, we found 14 bugs in your work again this week. I'm afraid we are going to have to transfer you to Siberia. You leave tomorrow.