EA "acquires" Bioware

[Tails_Kitsune]

EA Buys Bioware, Pandemic (http://kotaku.com/gaming/ea-grabs-two-devs/ea-buys-bioware-pandemic-309937.php%5C)

According to EA's Chief Executive Officer, they just "acquired" BioWare and Pandemic Studios. That's vague for "swallowed up."

EA already pumps out enough monotonous games as it is.

"We are truly excited by John Riccitiello's new vision for EA," said Ray Muzyka, Co-founder and CEO of BioWare Corp. "This vision is consistent with BioWare's focus on crafting the highest quality story-driven games in the world. It will enable us to further the careers of the passionate, creative and hard working teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin."

Are we thinking about the same EA here?

[TheSilentAssassin]

Are we thinking about the same EA here?

Depends on which one you are talking about, but probably not

[Tails_Kitsune]

Are we thinking about the same EA here?

Depends on which one you are talking about, but probably not

I guess not. I've always thought EA was shrewd, and rushes their games just to make money. On the other hand, Mr. Muzyka seems to think EA is going to bless them with knowledge, money, and creativity.

To each his own. I wonder if he just said that to be polite. I can't see EA having a vision other than money.

[Rand{CLR}]

This sucks. Bioware is pretty damn good. Or at least, was. :P

-Rand

[ThisElfRocksHard]

This sucks. Bioware is pretty damn good. Or at least, was. :P

-Rand

My thoughts exactly. Who's next? Bethesda?

Doesn't Bioware read the same things we do? Shouldn't they know better?

[Trooper110]

It probably came down to how much money EA was willing to plunk down for it, unfortunately.

[baw]

I stay away from EA published games.

[Rand{CLR}]

It probably came down to how much money EA was willing to plunk down for it, unfortunately.

Which, in scientific terms, was "a hell of a lot." Something on order of 750 million dollars, all told. :shock:

-Rand

[Premonition]

details are sketchy at best on this. EA looks to only got the rights to like 3 games. Could this be a publisher dev deal. Most notable game is the xbox 360 exclusive mass effect. people are wondering if EA will take this game multi platform now.

This doesnt look like EA gobbled them up, more just took a bite out of them. More details should be coming soon though.

[xGoblin013x]

well, things can only go downhill in EA now...
Pandemic is, or was, the bunch of fools who made the crappy Star Wars Battlefront games. Hate to see what games theyll pump out with those corner-cutters....
Course, you say that Bioware was good, so mabye theyll balance out to keep EA goin on the good idea/mediocre job track...

[Rand{CLR}]

Just as a bit of an example, Bioware has made the following games:

1. Baldur's Gate
2. Baldur's Gate 2
3. Neverwinter Nights
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
5. Expansions for the above

The engines for the games led to Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Star Wars KOTR 2, and Planescape Torment.

Basically, they're probably the best developer of RPGs out there, with the possible exception of Bethesda.

-Rand

[Tails_Kitsune]

Course, you say that Bioware was good, so mabye theyll balance out to keep EA goin on the good idea/mediocre job track...

I'm hoping that's true, but from what I've seen from EA, they'll cut content in an attempt to put out a poorly done game, just for the hopes of earning more money.

If I recall correctly, EA pushed DICE a lot during BF2142 (or was it BF2?) and pushed the release date months ahead of what was planned. I can't help but think that EA simply wanted more money, and was willing to release a rather bugged game to get the money faster.

[rusty99]

Why can't EA just understand that buying out quality game companies isn't going to make them better, rather they are screwing them up and destroying legacy titles (Westwood and the C&C series comes to mind). I wish instead of absorbing other companies that they would concentrate on putting out quality products.

[Kenshin Himura]

Why can't EA just understand that buying out quality game companies isn't going to make them better, rather they are screwing them up and destroying legacy titles (Westwood and the C&C series comes to mind).
Since EA doesn't want to waste the time trying to develop better games to compete with the market, they just buy out companies who produce better games than they do so they don't look that bad. :D

Last I heard, EA also has more shares in UbiSoft than the actual board of UbiSoft does... I can't help but think we'll be seeing some changes happening in UbiSoft as well.

What're we going to do with you, EA? :roll:

[th3st1ck]

Why can't EA just understand that buying out quality game companies isn't going to make them better, rather they are screwing them up and destroying legacy titles (Westwood and the C&C series comes to mind).
Since EA doesn't want to waste the time trying to develop better games to compete with the market, they just buy out companies who produce better games than they do so they don't look that bad. :D

Last I heard, EA also has more shares in UbiSoft than the actual board of UbiSoft does... I can't help but think we'll be seeing some changes happening in UbiSoft as well.

What're we going to do with you, EA? :roll:

oh dear

[Unkie]

Im agreed with Tails.. sad union, I personally think Bioware would do better without the merger but..too late. :|

[Tails_Kitsune]

Well, according to BBC News, EA threw down $855 million (422m pounds) for Bioware and Pandemic.

US games giant Electronic Arts (EA) is to buy two video game studios for $855m (?422m) in a deal adding role-playing and action titles to its portfolio.

Link: Electronic Arts in $855m Purchase (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7041229.stm)

I knew EA was big, but didn't believe them to already be the largest publisher. They just keep growing, too...somehow. You think when you get to the point, as a company, where you can easily throw around $855 million, you'd be more concerned about making quality games over more money.

[mapes]

I knew EA was big, but didn't believe them to already be the largest publisher. They just keep growing, too...somehow. You think when you get to the point, as a company, where you can easily throw around $855 million, you'd be more concerned about making quality games over more money.

Nope you see when a company gets that big they practically have to go the route of EA. Otherwise they get sued in a class action lawsuit of shareholders vs company. Because the company didn't rape enuff to give the shareholders a profit....let alone lawyers that swoop up these type of cases like vultures on road kill.. :|

[CrazyFinn]

Just like they did with the whole NFL based games line...Madden was losing the fight so EA just made it so that nobody else could make NFL games for couple years;)

[Premonition]

well 2k all pro football was actually more fun than madden. But lack of franchise mode hurt that game. But it was a solid football game.

[Devilguns]

Wow, 855 million dollars to acquire Bioware.

Still people will argue they use in game ad revenue for R&D because developing the cutting edge game technology they deliver is just getting too expensive. Eventually EA will get so big it will fold in on itself and take over half of the video game industry with it.

[ThisElfRocksHard]

The more I think of it, the more this makes sense to me. I think we all agree that Bioware has made some great, truly fun games, but ultimately, they have never gotten the same paycheck as Bungie has. Bungie started with some excellent series (Marathon, Myth), and then was sold to Microsoft, where I think we know the rest. I don't doubt that the founders of Bioware are millionaires, but now they can get serious promotion for their titles. It might not be the best thing to happen to gamers, but I think Bioware deserves some Halo-like levels of recognition, and this is one way they can accomplish this.