Ioric: Please read the post before jabbering on. I didn't insinuate your opinion on the games. I said that according to this thread, anything EA touches turns to shit. It doesn't really matter what you think but the vehemence you demonstrate trying to attack their perfectly legitimate tactics belies some suspicions. Really, why are you going out of your way to prove that the games I like weren't made by EA and could probably be shit?
Anyway, if we look at it from your point of view, since you basically admitted, "anything EA touches does not really turn to shit" and since you admitted that such a huge number of their games weren't in fact, made by them personally. Since you're so willing to admit that "it's MAXIS that creates the Sims and not EA", I can basically do the same for every single one of their other games. e.g: "it's EA SPORTS that creates their sports games". Currently, they are both subsidiaries. So, pray tell, what is the problem?
To summarize:
1. According to your analogies, EA doesn't do anything.
2. This was demonstrated by you concerning how it outsources everything.
3. By this logic, how would EA screw up a game if it doesn't make it?
4. Then, what is the bloody problem?
This is of course, in the understanding that you are arguing for the anti-EA camp. If you aren't, I would recommend revisiting and making your argument coherent. Also, here's a non-hostile, friendly tip (I'm serious): if you're in a debate and someone goads you into responding to every single one of his examples, it's a sign that he's trying to get you to play by his cards. I hope we can conclude this soon before Toady shuts down this thread.