Former EA exec joins Microsoft as VP of Live
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 8th 2007 at 5:45PM }
Like Superman and Batman trading capes, or Aquaman borrowing Wonder Woman's uh ... invisible plane, EA and Microsoft have been awfully chummy lately. First, Xbox exec Peter Moore leaves Microsoft to be closer to his family in San Francisco ... and take a lucrative position at EA Sports. Of course, he was replaced with former EA exec Don Mattrick, ensuring the carefully balanced game of corporate Jenga wouldn't come crashing down.Today, Microsoft announced that EA executive vice president John Schappert has joined the company in the newly created position of "corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services." The one-time founder of Madden-dev Tiburon will oversee Xbox Live as well as Games for Windows Live, XNA and Microsoft Casual Games, which includes Xbox Live Arcade. He'll be reporting directly to his old EA compatriot – you guessed it – Don Mattrick. We imagine their meetings will involve reminiscing about that time they did that thing at that one group team building exercise in '99 and various ways they could spell Microsoft with a consecutive 'e' and an 'a.' Good times, good times.
Now, to complete the circle, Xbox will need to sacrifice one of their own to EA! Let the ritual commence ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
phattie @ Aug 8th 2007 5:50PM
Maybe MS is planning on a takeover of EA?
Shagittarius @ Aug 8th 2007 5:52PM
Looks like Frankenstein has had some work done. Looks good.
The Truth @ Aug 8th 2007 6:05PM
Somehow I have a hard time picturing this man as the new face of xbox. Peter Moore was more hip and trendy.
Shawn @ Aug 8th 2007 6:38PM
Forget about Live on PC, has anyone checked out the new STEAM community beta? It's great, and free. It's now evident that MS Live doesn't stand a chance. MS is better off accepting failure, and just stick to loosing billions of dollars in it's console expenditure.
Grindstone @ Aug 8th 2007 7:15PM
I thee label, a troll. Did you loose your home after the bridge collapsed in Minnesota?
So is this is Moore's replacement? My sentiments refect that of The Truth.
jorojoserojas @ Aug 8th 2007 7:25PM
"We imagine their meetings will involve reminiscing about that time they did that thing at that one group team building exercise in '99..."
Flight of the Concords reference?
GenoBoost @ Aug 9th 2007 4:10AM
I caught the reference too! I'm assuming it's a reference of course.
Shawn @ Aug 8th 2007 7:51PM
Grindstone, you are one heartless bastard to make a comment like that. We're talking about stupid video games you fucktard, not making references to people dying horrible deaths in real life. What an asshole....
EternalGameNation @ Aug 10th 2007 10:27PM
http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/703/703727/madden-nfl-07-20060428053721719.jpg
Stole the picture from IGN and cut off the bottom, that's not very nice.
Flak Beard @ Aug 8th 2007 8:02PM
Just what we need, a former EA exec influencing the XBL Marketplace. Let's all kiss our free demos and 400 point XBLA games goodbye.
Chris @ Aug 8th 2007 8:02PM
EA...uh...
expect higher prices, XBL to cost more, be cancelled when the next xbox live service is up and running.
wako @ Aug 8th 2007 9:39PM
What the hell is going on here?
EA gets Peter Moore, and now Microsoft get their VP?