EA Says Pandemic Closed Because It Was Too Expensive, Not Bad Games

Did you play Lord of the Rings: Conquest? How about Mercenaries 2: World In Flames?

Neither game was particularly well-received critically or commercially, so when Electronic Arts announced Pandemic Studios as a studio was being axed, the news was unfortunate but not necessarily surprising. EA CEO John Riccitiello said Pandemic's closing had nothing to do with the quality or sales of either game, however, despite Kotaku poking him in that direction.

Riccitiello placed much of the blame on the state California fault, calling the state "bloody expensive" to keep employees in. Compounding matters was having the larger EA LA studio just 10 miles down the road, explained the executive. Key ex-Pandemic staff are now located there.

At no point did the quality of Pandemic's games become a reason for the decision to shutter the developer. Instead, Riccitiello focused on the number crunching and Pandemic's future.

Pandemic remains a brand within EA LA. The next Mercenaries game, Mercs Inc., will be labeled Pandemic. Riccitiello is also hopeful gamers will want a sequel to The Saboteur.

Still, like I said: did you play Lord of the Rings: Conquest?

Source: Kotaku