Whether it's on a console, a PC, a smartphone or tablet, hundreds of millions of people play video games every day. Yet most mainstream media covers the industry the same way it treats adult dodge ball leagues and cat fashion shows (both noble ventures, but neither of them multi-billion dollar industries). And the only time you hear legislators discuss video games is when some politician decries them as the death knell for all things righteous in the world (hint: they're not). Now, after years of being ignored and relegated to steerage, game-players have voted to send a message to Electronic Arts and the gaming business as a whole: Stop treating your loyal customers like crap.

After more than 250,000 votes, Consumerist readers ultimately decided that the type of greed exhibited by EA, which is supposed to be making the world a more fun place, is worse than Bank of America's avarice, which some would argue is the entire point of operating a bank.

To those who might sneer at something as "non-essential" as a video game company winning the Worst Company In America vote: It's that exact kind of attitude that allows people to ignore the complaints as companies like EA to nickel and dime consumers to death.

For years, while movies and music became more affordable and publishers piled on bonus content — or multiple modes of delivery — as added value to entice customers to buy, video games have continued to be priced like premium goods.

There have even been numerous accusations that EA and its ilk deliberately hold back game content with the sole intent of charging a fee for it at a later date. It's one thing to support a game with new content that is worth the price. It's another to put out an inferior — and occasionally broken — product with the mindset of "ah, we'll fix it later and make some money for doing so."

New, independent game companies do pop up all the time, but the cost of entering the market has historically been too expensive, making these indie innovators prime targets for acquisition by mega-publishers like EA. Our hope is that the growth of app-based gaming and downloadable games will continue to make it easier for developers to get their products out without the backing of companies that don't care a lick about the people who fork over their cash.

Oh well, Worst Company In America 2012 is officially in the books. All that's left to do is send off the Golden Poo to EA.

Traditionally, the Poo has been delivered on its little red pillow. But this year, we'll give EA three different color options for its pillow, though in the end it's still the same old Poo.

Thanks again to everyone who voted. See you all again in about 49 weeks!

(c)

lol ! EA win against BoA, omg, nicely done

Pfff dunno why everyone singles out EA, everyone in the game industry is in on it.

Hmmm.... sometimes corporations 'just' turn evil 

It's fairly common the money runs over everything with its greedy feet, probably encouraged by top/mid management.

Small is beautiful and so on... 

...wait! It's not 

Congratulations EA!! You deserve it!
But..wait..If Ea deserves the Golden Poop, what award deserves Activision??

Internet polls, those reliable beacons of truth.

I`m agree about EA. Too many negative news about EA, their games (or games published by EA) for the last 2 years.

EA wrose than BoA. I disagree. BoA first, EA second.

May I ask why ?
I mean, it's true they consolize and arcadize every single game they get their hands on but their support is pretty good (they've got a good site, with quite a lot of patches and a chat-line too) and the games they release are original and innovative as well, they release games at low price with EA Classics and hire/launch many indie Developers (and this is the most important thing, let's not forget it) in the Gaming Industry.

I wouldn't judge the quality of the games ''published'' by them, as they've got absolutely nothing to do with them, though it might be possible they sometimes push for a nearer release date against quality in inner development teams.
It's a business company, they provide a few patches and a lot of DLCs, standard procedure.

The only thing I didn't like about them is Origin.
Why the heck do I have to download a demo from that stupid program of theirs ?

Ubisoft and Capcom are better, Activision is worse and so on.. but don't ever think any of them is gamer-side, they're business companies and do their job quite well.

All in all i consider this poll some kind of joke, I would never even think of comparing it to BoA.. ever in my life.

Long story short: they dont care about customers.

Who does ?

Indie developers. They dont have enough money, enough resources, but they care about their current and potential consumers.

they don't care about customers, they care about their money.

False, they listen to their fans and customers as it might increase their potential market. yes, its about the money than, BUT they do it by listening to their fans.

Which means ANY other company like Electronic Arts doesn't care about customers and is considered worse than Bank of America, just like Electronic Arts.