EA CEO claims iPad is fastest growing platform

In yet another victory for Apple in the mobile arena, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello claims that Apple's iPad is the fastest growing platform for EA development.

The report from gaming industry Web site IndustryGamers interviews Riccitello concerning the role of consoles in today's gaming climate. Riccitello holds that while the standard operating procedure for console makers was to release new hardware every few years, nearly in unison, that model no longer fits.

"Consoles used to be 80 percent of the industry as recently as 2000. Consoles today are 40 percent of the game industry, so what do we really have?" Riccitello said.

What we have is the iPad. Riccitello says that EA is putting out software every 90 days for Apple's tablet. "Our fastest growing platform is the iPad right now and that didn't exist 18 months ago."

"I would argue that there's more to be provided in terms of value for the consumer in micro-transactions and social experiences and driving those better in cross-platform gameplay between a console and a PC and a handheld device and a social network than there is supercharging graphics," he said.

Surely the iPad has made its mark on consumer electronics and is fast becoming one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world. Though Nintendo has announced the Wii U console, no other major manufacturers have a console scheduled to come out.

Is the domination of the gaming console coming to a close? Will iOS gaming win out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!