Companies & Studios

Electronic Arts

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Trip Hawkins founded Electronic Arts with a revolutionary idea: treat game developers like artists and put their names on the box.

C64AmigaNES publisherspioneers 1982–

Overview

Electronic Arts began as a rebellion against how publishers treated developers. Founder Trip Hawkins, an Apple veteran, believed game creators deserved credit, royalties, and respect—like musicians or authors. EA’s early packaging featured developer photos and credits. The idealism faded as EA grew into gaming’s largest publisher, but they helped establish that developers mattered.

Fast facts

  • Founded: May 1982 by Trip Hawkins in San Mateo, California.
  • Philosophy: developers as artists, deserving credit and royalties.
  • Early packaging: album-style, with developer photos and bios.
  • Major early titles: Pinball Construction Set, Archon, M.U.L.E.
  • Rob Hubbard: joined EA in late 80s, composed for numerous titles.
  • Modern form: sports games (FIFA, Madden), acquisitions, massive scale.

The early vision

Hawkins’ mission statement differed from competitors:

  • Developer credit: names on boxes, in advertising, in the public eye.
  • Royalty structure: profit sharing with creators.
  • Quality focus: fewer games, higher standards.
  • Album packaging: games presented like music, creators like artists.

The early EA was genuinely different.

The Amiga years

EA embraced the Commodore Amiga:

  • Deluxe Paint: the defining Amiga creative tool, published by EA.
  • Quality ports: serious investment in Amiga versions.
  • Music investment: hired composers like Rob Hubbard.
  • Technical ambition: pushed hardware capabilities.

Growth and change

Success changed EA:

  • Sports dominance: Madden, FIFA, NHL became annual franchises.
  • Acquisitions: absorbed studios (Origin, Westwood, BioWare, many others).
  • Scale: grew into gaming’s largest third-party publisher.
  • Reputation shift: early artist-friendly image gave way to corporate behemoth.

The C64 library

EA published notable C64 titles:

  • Archon: chess meets combat.
  • M.U.L.E.: multiplayer economic strategy.
  • Bard’s Tale series: influential RPGs.
  • Rob Hubbard scores: EA invested in audio quality.

Legacy

EA proved game publishing could be big business. Their early developer-friendly approach helped legitimise the medium. That idealism didn’t survive corporate growth, but the industry they helped build remains. When developers fight for credit and royalties today, they’re continuing arguments EA once championed.

See also