Electronics Arts has apologised for the shambolic launch of the latest version of town-planning title SimCity.

BBC: EA apologises over 'dumb' SimCity launch

As compensation, all those who bought SimCity will be offered a free Electronics Arts PC game this month.

BBC: EA apologises over 'dumb' SimCity launch

Numbers one and two, Electronics Arts and Activision (nasdaq: ATVI - news - people ), saw flat sales.

FORBES: Gaming the System

Last year, for instance, John Schappert, executive vice president of Electronics Arts, was named corporate vice president of Xbox Live, Microsoft's interactive entertainment division.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Numbers one and two, Electronics Arts and Activision, saw flat sales.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Mobile games, in particular, are locked in a fierce battle for customers and are constantly being eclipsed by new offerings from behemoths like Electronics Arts Inc.

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In a blogpost, Lucy Bradshaw, general manager for SimCity, said the way Electronics Arts (EA) and Maxis, the studio that created the game, had set up the servers had contributed to the problems.

BBC: EA apologises over 'dumb' SimCity launch