“Except in China, Plants vs Zombies 2 has only launched on iOS, and there is a very good reason for it: Apple reportedly paid for it,” Patrick Klepek reports for Giant Bomb. “This detail was revealed during an internal town hall meeting held earlier today for publisher Electronic Arts. ‘Apple gave us a truckload of money to delay the Android version [of Plants vs Zombies 2],’ said Frank Gibeau, head of EA Labels.”
“Apple is denying the substance of the comments made by Gibeau,” Klepek reports. “A company spokesperson described Giant Bomb’s story as ‘not true’ and said no money was exchanged.”
Klepek reports, “When these deals are made in the games industry, it’s often a co-marketing deal, not a briefcase full of cash. It’s possible Gibeau meant this but chose his words poorly. When asked whether Apple and EA had brokered an agreement regarding iOS exclusivity, the company would not disclose any details on its relationships.”
Read more in the full article here.
i guess i could believe this.
If Apple would use P&Z2 in its advertisements, hinting that if buyers would choose iOS devices, then they would have great games as this, this would be more believable. But Apple did not, so I am not sure at all.
Yeah, what’s the point of an exclusivity deal if you don’t advertise it?
Also, is Plants vs. Zombies 2 really a big enough deal to spend money on exclusivity?
——RM
So what?
Exactly. Exclusivity deals are common in TV, Movies, Game consoles, car manufacturers, etc. etc. etc. SO what if this happened? Big whup, stop crying Android fans, your running a ripped off copy of iOS and you have no rights to anything at all.
I find this hard to believe.
This, my friends, is called “a career limiting move”. One thing for sure, if true, there will not be a second truck load of money.
I just wonder how big the truck was? Was it like a hummer, or like a hot wheels truck?
If Steve were alive (okay, I hate saying it), but EA would be dead to Apple. All EA products would be pulled from the App Store. Or, more likely, he’d make it make it was his mission to see EA in an ash heap even if he had buy it and close the doors.
I hear Tim can bite of a person’s head too
He can bite it OFF too, just ask Scott Forstall. (The beauty of iOS 7 suggests Scott’s services were NEVER required.). I’ll bet someday when Scott writes his memoirs and he is contractually free to speak he will say he warned Tim Cook not to release Maps as it wasn’t ready or if he does call it a Beta. Just to save face of course.
Steve’s dead. Several years now. I think that even the janitor can find the kill switch in Cupertino. This could be great entertainment for a few days. I don’t think this guy has much of a future with Electronic Arts. Or Apple. I’ll bet his asshole is puckered up like it just swallowed a green persimmon. Just saying.
I see the han of bozo (amzn) in this. Their friends at justice will now oblige
So true.
If Apple really did this, then that would be very low of them to do. Almost sounds like the shenanigans Microsoft did to run out OS/2 and other smaller operating systems back in the late 90s/early 2000s. However, if this is a lie, then shame on EA. Just more FUD to spread around at the absolute best time for Apple.
Disregard my post above. It apparently is a common thing to do in the games industry. I just remembered Sega’s agreement to release games only on Nintendo consoles, so it would make sense for Apple to do this. If they want an exclusivity deal with EA, then they have every right to do this.
True. If this guy had said Apple paid EA for a 1 year exclusive rights to the title, that would have made more sense and certainly would have conveyed a more positive, professional move than the words he used. Instead EA comes off as whore, and Apple comes off a spiteful player. I am more curious to see how this out now. Really a low brow comment totally inappropriate for management of any corporation.
If Apple paid money for that result, it was highly unnecessary. Apple could get a delayed release of any Android app for free by virtue of the fact that #1 there is no money in developing Android apps and #2 Android is much more difficult to develop for.
M$ did the same thing with Adobe. Exclusive deals are just that.
To any Android users lurking about on this site, you aren’t missing out. It isn’t that great of a game really. I find it overrated. Now, Sonic Dash on the other hand…
Look what freaking MS did with Bungee. Embarrassed Steve after his big keynote speech promoting those backstabbers.
Right on, Jubei! M$ and their stupid HEXBox killed off the Sega Dreamcast! Hopefully, Apple takes games seriously because of this, and maybe, just maybe, Apple might buy off Sega. Sega iGame, anyone?
To the whore software company with the name EA who took the money (if this is true), say goodbye to any money from me forever either way.
Are you jealous that you can’t play EA games on your Fragmandroid? Ha! Guess you will hate the company I work for, because my company’s iDea Book Pad is only compatible with iDevices…not your stupid robot garbage. Better get an iDevice to fit in with the “cool” crowd, loser.
You obviously haven’t been here long. I’m fairly anti-Assmung/Android/Google and that’s putting it lightly.
You’re right. I recently discovered this site actually. Sorry for snapping at you. It’s just that love iPhone. Kill the Xbox, and M$! New
reason why they call it the motherfucking 360, you look at it
makes you turn around—makes you do a 360° and walk away.
Very appropriately called is a damn 120°, 130° whatever, whatever the half of 360° is.
Yeah ‘cuz a 360 puts you right back. lol
Also, I’m not against exclusivity deals, but they should probably involve execs not crying like little bitches about them after they do it.
I don’t see what is wrong with exclusivity deals. I tried to get an exclusivity deal with Sony so the games that the company I work for can only release games on the PS3/4, I gave this idea out to my boss, just so I could spite M$ for making me suffer Windblows at my job. I thankfully do my graphic work on a Mac.
Apple will reign in the smartphone wars. No matter who
argues. Fuck the AndyBot/Widoze fanatics. Fuck them all to hell. Shot to hell. Damn them all.
Should have paid FlipBoard too.
The more likely scenario is that EA got more zombies than they bargained for in the Android fragmentation fest. They got their brains eaten and they ended up in a vegetative state. Or this article could also be a plant by SameSong.
I will be surprised if Apple has become that desperate even when they are on top and are making the best mobile handset. If they are doing it, I have just one question WHY?
Why, exactly, is this news? Isn’t this a common occurrence in the game industry? This is like complaining that Nintendo won’t release Mario Kart to the Xbox.
Yeah Plants vs Zombies 2 will make me with phones..
I don’t play this game
Doubt it. It’s highly likely that there’d be an understanding to keep this a secret. EA wouldn’t risk pissing Apple off and having App Store submissions delayed or denied. Some people will believe everything.
I’m beginning to understand why people hate EA. They have turned Plants vs. Zombies into nickle-n-dime you to death cash grab. I would much rather have paid $9.99 for PvsZ 2 that was like the first game, instead of this “free” crap.
I’ve also become rather disenchanted with Rovio’s similar money sucking tendencies with the past few versions of Angry Birds. I guess their merchandizing, etc., must not be paying off as well it should.
Exclusives – happens all the time in the industry.
In any case, I can’t see Apple giving a rat’s about EA in the future. Poorly played EA. Utter FAIL job. Time for someone’s head to roll. Add that head to Plants vs Zombies 3!