EA Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs & Buys Playfish

It's been a rough year for us all. It's not getting any easier at Electronic Arts. They plan on cutting 1,500 jobs and downsizing their product lineup. Which lines are going have no been announced. It's safe to say "Madden" and "The Sims" games won't be going anywhere.

The second piece of news is the purchase of Playfish. Facebook users may be familiar with their work. Playfish developed "Restaurant City," "Country Story," and "Pet Society." These are free online games.

EA will make their money through Playfish by selling points used to buy virtual goods. Not a scene that is new to EA. They have opened stores with virtual goods for both "The Sims 2" and "The Sims 3." Plus, add-on packs have been released for the iPod/iPhone version of "The Sims 3." It's a smart move for EA to shift towards microtransactions. Small purchases add up fast. "Restaurant City's" strong following makes it the perfect place to start.

• Electronic Arts Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs - NY Times
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• "The Sims 3" Series