EA Sports’ Jeff Ecker has revealed that the EA MMA franchise will continue despite the relatively poor performance of the first game. It made its debut at number 23 in the U.K. charts then sank quickly, and only managed first month sales of 45,000 in the U.S.
The title has a respectable average of 79 on Metacritic though, and EA say it’s a matter of ‘when rather than if’ the franchise returns.
Source: Figure Four Daily
jikomanzoku
It’ll have to be a quantum leap over the first offering which was a big disapointment for me. The combat system was far too shallow and arcadey (though beautifully animated in the clinch and ground games) and the whole package just lacked the usual EA spit and polish.
The only thing for me that was an improvement over the UFC games was the footwork, which (though skatey) made it far easier to be a counterstriker.
I used the CAF mode to put the likes of Emelianenko, Couture and Jacare in to UFC 2010 with the result being fighters with far more similar movesets to their real life counterparts than EA MMA managed.
Must try harder EA.
The Mysterious Phantom Bear
Surprised judging by the sales that a sequel is going to be made.
I was having an argument on another forum saying that this game wouldn’t sell because to the casual consumer MMA = UFC.
Funny to see EA producing a game without having access to the major license in the sport.
jikomanzoku
Yeah I’m willing to bet that the recent MMA awards for 2010 will be dominated by UFC purely based on the equation you use and not an accurate reflection of the wider sport.
Think EA refused it (the licence) at some point in the past when approached by UFC, though it’d be worth checking that. Now, given the lucrative nature of the licence I think the only way they’ll get it off THQ would be if they prized it from their cold dead hands.
jikomanzoku
To be entirely honest, based on current form, I’d sincerely hope EA don’t get the UFC licence – after EA MMA they simply don’t deserve it.
KeRaSh
What does MMA even stand for?
jikomanzoku
My mouth, aghast – Mardy maniacs attack or Mixed Martial Arts
GranTurismo-Disciple
Its EA’s fault, the president of the UFC dana white aproached EA and asked if they could help him make a game and they turned him down so they went to THQ. UFC is the big name for MMA today why the hell did EA turn that down? Strikeforce are all a bunch of has beens. Its their own fault.
jikomanzoku
I’d be inclined to agree, the organisations other than the UFC tend to act, in my opinion at least, as proving grounds and retirement homes these days. Always gonna be worth watching though due to the proving ground aspect, always nice to spot new talent early.
I’d dearly love to see Cain Velasquez v Fedor Emelianenko too, what a stylistic match up that would make :)