Sims 2 Full Download

Electronic Arts Plays a New Game

&Nbsp;   ) recent actions indicate that this company intends to remain a major player.

The industry today
According to EA's CEO, John Riccitiello, changes in the video game industry indicate that we've seen the end of the four-to-five-year console cycle, which allowed developers time to adapt to each wave of new technology. The industry has seen the rise of the iPad, Google 's (     ) Android, and the free-to-play business model. Digital sales now represent the fastest-growing revenue streams on every video game platform.

EA's playbook
The old guards of the gaming industry have all reacted differently to these changing circumstances.

Nintendo plans to increase its digital sales, but insists that mobile and social gaming on other platforms won't cut into its own business. The Mario maker may have a point. It's possible that gamers ignored Nintendo's 3DS simply because they're just not that interested in 3-D gaming. Take-Two Interactive (     ) acquired Quick Hit -- a developer of free-to-play sports titles -- in an effort to beef up its social gaming division.

Meanwhile, EA has embraced the new platforms. It already has a handful of games on Facebook that attract more than 29 million monthly users. However, I expect the company's recent acquisition of PopCap Games, and its launch of Sims plan, which charges subscribers $25 a year for the chance to download temporary preview copies of EA's sports titles three days before the games hit the shelves. If they want to keep playing after that three-day window, though, players will have to buy a retail copy at full price. Subscribers will also get discounts on all downloadable content, and access free online content such as FIFA 11 , but with Wookies. The company recently began taking preorders, and based on the initial response, it thinks the game will be a success.

Foolish takeaway
Although I'm excited about EA's approach to the changing video game industry, I'm not ready to bite just yet. I would like to actually play a couple of its social and mobile games before I make a call. Social and mobile gaming markets are actually more competitive than their traditional counterparts, and EA now faces both its usual big-name rivals and countless hordes of small developers.

To gain any ground in this tough market, EA has to make great games. It they're not fun, it doesn't matter how many titles the company publishes. Gamers will ignore them all.