GDC 2011: EA Partners Expands To Mobile, Social As DeMartini Steps Down

As EA Partners' general manager David DeMartini steps down, the label announced that its recently acquired Chillingo and Playfish units will begin offering publishing services to mobile and social developers, respectively. DeMartini has headed EA Partners, Electronic Arts' co-publishing arm for third-party developers, for several years but will now lead the company's e-commerce business. He will be replaced by Brian Neider, who will also continue his role as EA Games' chief operating officer. EA Partners already has plans in place to broaden its scope ater DeMartini's departure, including an expansion of its partnership program to Chillingo and Playfish, which will focus on delivering new games from external studios to Apple's App Store, Google's Android Marketplace, and Facebook. UK-based mobile publisher Chillingo is responsible for putting out popular iOS games such as Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, and Helsing's Fire. Acquired by EA last October, Chillingo will spearhead EA's third-party publishing efforts for mobile platforms, helping shape ideas and bolster promotions for indie studios. Playfish, also headquartered in the UK, was purchased by EA in late 2009 and has gone on to release social games like FIFA Superstars and Monopoly Millionaires. The division will immediately begin partnering with independent studios, offering its experience and expertise for upcoming Facebook releases. Founded in 2003, the EA Partners program has worked with a number of independent developers such as Epic Games and People Can Fly (Bulletstorm), Crytek (Crysis 2), Valve (Portal 2), Grasshopper Manufacture (Shadows of the Damned), Funcom (Secret World), Spicy Horse (Alice: Madness Returns), and many others. "The EA Partners program has proven to be a phenomenally successful model," says Neider. "It is an all around win-win situation. The program allows EA to partner with some of the world's best console, PC and digital developers while providing those independent developers with a global distribution/publishing partner." The new EA Partners boss continues, "We're excited to be able to offer current and future partners the mobile and social expertise of Chillingo and Playfish respectively. Like EA Partners, Chillingo and Playfish work with the best development talent in the mobile and social gaming space."