While most people would consider the downturn in economic stability a worrying trend, it would appear not everybody is in the same boat. Speaking during the DICE Summit inLas Vegas, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello essentially said that he believed the recession was a way of taking out the trash.

“Junk is hard to compete with” he said, (maybe or maybe not) thumbing the roll of Benjamins in his Gucci trouser pocket. ”We did get fat in too many places. It seemed like anyone who could draw a guy with a gun with a crayon could get funded. At least for EA, we got a little too fat, and a little too reliant on where things were.”

While it’s arguable whether or not the crayon reference was aimed in Cliffy B’s direction, Riccitiello is basically admitting that EA have had a habit in recent times of funding quantity over quality. But, now that money is much tighter, he feels that that the company are benefiting from turning away would-be developers who make average games.

From a business perspective, this makes perfect sense and is a reasonable strategy to counteract their loss in profits. I’m just not sure it needed spelling out to an industry that was just coming around to EA.

“I’m not pro-recession,” Riccitiello hastily dropped in, “but to quote Rahm Emanuel: never waste a crisis.” How profound.

Oh yeah, Burnout: Paradise DLC to cost lots of money next time. Confirmed.

Source: Videogamer.com