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View Full Version : EA buys Bioware/Pandemic for $860m


filch
10-12-2007, 02:25 AM
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180818.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0

This includes all original IP's of Bioware/Pandemic (yes, that means mass effect too) Is any developer safe from the behemoth that is EA? What does this mean for the company and it's future? Is this the sign of the apocalypse?

*shakes magic 8-ball

"Maybe"



Here's a snippet.... well actually, it's more than a snippet, more like a snipple


In a conference call with analysts after the announcement, EA executives shed some light on the motivation behind the deal. Besides the impeccable pedigree of both studios, Riccitiello said that the "acquisition fills out a gap in [EA's] genre lineup," specifically the role-playing and action adventure markets. The executive also cited BioWare's forthcoming MMORPG as a huge opportunity for "further expansion into the MMO space."

Although the implication is that the BioWare MMORPG is an original IP, Riccitiello and his associates steered clear of saying so specifically. He did say that the deal will make EA the owner of the Mass Effect, Jade Empire, Mercenaries, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Saboteur properties. The executive also said that EA "expect[s] to bring 10 franchises to market in the next few years; six of which are wholly owned." [UPDATE 2] No mention was made of Dragon Age but BioWare reps confirmed with GameSpot that the little-seen title is moving forward in development, and is already in playable form.

tokenuser
10-12-2007, 02:31 AM
Madden 2010 is going to kick serious butt :)

magunwarrior
10-12-2007, 02:45 AM
Knights of the Mass Produced Madden Republic.

filch
10-12-2007, 02:52 AM
Knights of the Mass Produced Madden Republic.

HAHAhahah... most excellent my friend.

bobafettjm
10-13-2007, 03:20 AM
I'm not getting a great feeling about this, not at all.

filch
10-13-2007, 04:27 AM
Penny Arcade commented that MS may be pissed off now that the first Mass Effect will most likely be the only 360 exclusive title of that soon-to-be-a-hit franchise. Hopefully EA will let the studio work without too much control.

bobafettjm
10-13-2007, 06:23 AM
I really feel like a game like Mass Effect is best made concentrating on one platform, I don't like the idea of any system getting ports of a game like this.

satori
10-13-2007, 05:00 PM
there goes the fucking neighbourhood!

filch
10-13-2007, 11:21 PM
Yah, out of all the studios that I thought could make it on their own, Bioware was the one. The deal must've been too good for them. I can't see why else they'd sell, they don't need EA.

johnyc252
10-13-2007, 11:55 PM
Damnit, Bioware is one of my favorite video game companies :( I have a bad feeling that EA is going to ruin everything good about it. Freaking EA.

filch
10-14-2007, 12:53 AM
I'm reading more and it has to be that Bioware couldn't pass up the offer based on the previous acquisitions EA made.


He noted that BioWare and Pandemic fetched as much as RedOctane ($150 million), Criterion ($68 million), Mythic ($76 million), Bizarre (he estimates $40 million), Havok ($110 million), GLU Mobile ($210 million), and Harmonix ($150 million) combined.