Speaking to UK trade publication MCV, LucasArts boss Jim Ward has today commented on how game publishers need to change their strategies and improve their project management skills.

Citing Electronic Arts' recent move to delay Superman Returns: The Videogame, which was originally planned for a release to coincide with the movie later this month, Ward said:

"When you have EA failing to bring Superman out with the movie, that's inexcusable. Moving games like Medal of Honor and Godfather out of the fourth quarter - that's the old way of thinking and you can't do that any more."

Reinforcing the policy at LucasArts, Ward commented, We've adopted new philosophies at LucasArts which, frankly, the whole industry should adopt. We make kick-ass games, but on time and on budget. Failure on any one of those three points is failure for the project."

So is this the start of a publishing slanging match? Electronic Arts is yet to state their thoughts on Ward's comment; we'll have more soon...