EA: BioWare, Pandemic purchase 'mutually beneficial,' studios to remain distinct
Says EA CEO John Riccitiello, "We bring a lot to the table ... we simplify the process of courting publishers, basically taking it to zero." He adds that EA, being the publishing giant that it is, can "reach places where [BioWare and Pandemic] don't get to so we can build their properties bigger." As for what EA itself gets out of the deal, the exec noted matter of factly that EA is "not in the open world action-adventure business. These guys are the leaders ... this strengthens us where we need to be stronger."
Added EA CFO Warren Jenson, "We are getting a very well cost managed developer into the organization."
Of course, much of the worry over the purchase resides in the feeling that these two specialized devs would suffer by being absorbed into some kind of homogeneous blob; however, according to EA, the reality will be "quite the opposite."
"Both of these are strong studios with rich cultures," said Riccitiello. "Inside our label structure they will maintain their autonomy ... and will reap the benefits of EA's scale and structure." He clarified that EA will also be able to "better monetize" titles from both studios, while allowing them to be "treated separately."
Finally, in looking to the future, EA notes that it plans to release 10 titles from the studios "fairly evenly" over the next 4 years, with BioWare's highly secretive MMO project getting a release "more towards the back end" of this schedule, most likely in 2011.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rom @ Oct 11th 2007 6:09PM
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
FrankTheCrank @ Oct 11th 2007 6:26PM
Keep buying your Madden year after year!
EA is gross. Shovelware.
Azerael @ Oct 12th 2007 2:10AM
They're going to destroy Bioware just like they did Westwood and Looking Glass.
Fuck EA.
Angel of D4rkness @ Oct 12th 2007 12:49PM
"In other news, newly freed Bungie announces that it has been acquired by EA...
'It was fun while it lasted, but after shelling out all the cash to buy back our stock, we didn't have any money left for our weekly Red Bull and Domino's bills. And now that EA owns BioWare too, they can finally announce the secret Halo RPG they've been working on...oops, I wasn't supposed to say that?' - BungiEA spokesborg FrankiEA
--
AoD
Fox318 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:11PM
This could be one of the worst things to ever happen in gaming history.
I'm really sad now. I just can't see anything good coming out of this for the consumer.
ChekhovsGun @ Oct 11th 2007 6:11PM
That's ten titles over four years. How many games has Bioware released in the last four? Not ten, and I'm not sure Pandemic can add much to it either.
Grey Acumen @ Oct 11th 2007 6:13PM
If this means that we get to see a BG2 remade for teh wii, I'm all for it.
Jose @ Oct 11th 2007 6:15PM
Damn, and here I was, actually happy that BioWare got a sugardaddy, I must be wrong. That "NOOOOOO!" comment was just too insightful and convincing for me to believe I'm anything but wrong.
Shikatsu @ Oct 12th 2007 2:36AM
Yes, I'm sure it will be okay, all mutually beneficial and everything.
EA's great, just ask Origin, Bullfrog, Maxis, and Westwood. Oh wait, half of that list is dead, and the other half have been viciously lobotomized, not capable of much beyond drooling and crapping.
But I'm sure they'd reassure you if they could.
Oreo @ Oct 11th 2007 6:16PM
FUCK YOU EA!!!!!
*Still never forgave them for "buying" Maxis.*
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 11th 2007 6:28PM
Neither do I, Seriously EA keeps milking the sims like there was no effing tomorrow look at all those shitty expansions they keep releasing and the stuff packs Good Lord the Stuff packs when are they going to stop with those seriously by now I should be playing The Sims 3 not the Sims 2:Holydays or Sims2:Wallet Rape.
MV @ Oct 11th 2007 6:19PM
Hopefully this means we can look forward to finally getting that Madden RPG we've all been waiting for!
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:56PM
Thats not a bad idea.
Think rebirth of NFL Street.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 11th 2007 6:24PM
10 games huh
Neverwinter nights 3
Neverwinter nights 3:1st expansion
Neverwinter nights 3:2nd expansion
Neverwinter nights 3: In vacation
Neverwinter nights 3: Stuff
Neverwinter nights 3: Holydays
Neverwinter nights 3: Golden edition
Neverwinter nights 3: Pets
Neverwinter nights 3: Moar S*it Yo
Neverwinter nights 3: Diamond Edition
The beauty of Bioware games is that they took their sweet time to release each of them and every single one was very well crafted in fact you could play the original Neverwinter nights for years creating your own stuff now with EA behind all that I’m not even sure if the Level editor would included.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 11th 2007 6:30PM
"would be"
I could swear I proof read that comment huh.
JuAn CaRlos @ Oct 11th 2007 6:25PM
My PC is weeping.
flameofdoom666 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:26PM
EA is buying the competition and ruining them so their is no competition!
flameofdoom666 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:26PM
i bet there will be KOTAR 3 and Jade Empire 2, all half assed though.
citan666 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:28PM
EA sports its in the....damn wait I can't find my d10's.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 11th 2007 6:29PM
ok ok. Maybe it won't be as bad as we're all thinking it will. I mean having the EA label will mean that Bioware's and Pandemic's game get much more publicity, thus gaining more sales. I'll wait until the first game comes out before I judge.
Viridium @ Oct 11th 2007 6:51PM
I can't wait for some thumpin' EA Trax in Mass Effect!
ill trooper @ Oct 11th 2007 7:07PM
"Hey everyalien, this is Striker... Here's a new track from Smashmouth. Don't forget to go down to the Burger King and put your ear to the grill to find out more about your next mission! ...and I'm out!"
Ozborne @ Oct 11th 2007 7:05PM
I just died a little inside.
EA are the frikkin' videogame Borg. In a year we'll all be saying, "Hey, I'm gonna go play some EA."
"EA? What are you gonna be playing EA on? Your WiiEA?"
"Nah. Maybe some PSThreEA. Or the Xbox-three-sixteEA. Or I'll just pound a bunch of nails into my dick."
ill trooper @ Oct 11th 2007 7:07PM
"open world action-adventure business"
I smell a new acronym brewing! "Oh, wow... OWAAB!"
zwarrior @ Oct 11th 2007 7:12PM
EA is definetly getting the better half of the deal.
Only way this may be "beneficial" to Bioware and Pandemic is making money. But this stunts the growth of both companies. Hell, with EA, they'll probably downgrade in quality
Thierry @ Oct 11th 2007 7:50PM
Another 2 bite the dust.
Korova @ Oct 12th 2007 6:14AM
It sounds like EA is the afterlife for developers - heaven or hell, i dont know, but they are dead.
Durandel @ Oct 11th 2007 7:54PM
"Inside our label structure they will maintain their autonomy ... and will reap the benefits of EA's scale and structure."
Try: "Inside our label structure they will [maybe] maintain their autonomy [but it isn't likely] ... and [we] will reap the benefits of [their higher-quality-than-we-could-ever-imagine-publishing games, while claiming that they benefit from] EA's scale and structure. [At least until we turn their games into piles of crap, then we'll just buy someone else.]"
perfectchaos @ Oct 11th 2007 8:23PM
i know everyone gives EA shit for sequelitis, buying the NFL license and ensuring tons of madden for the rest of all time (this year's version was actually pretty damn good, though), and supposedly smiting all innovation, but you have to remember that they publish games like System Shock II, the Command and Conquer series, Battlefield, Desert Strike, SSX, Skate or Die, The Sims, and a bunch of other beloved titles. So it's not the end of the world.
dsub @ Oct 11th 2007 10:58PM
Goodbye Bioware/Pandemic. You'll each make one title for EA, and shortly after your respective studios will be closed down so that EA can then whore out your IP's and develop yearly sequels internally.
Armajiro @ Oct 12th 2007 5:22AM
I second the "NOOOOOOOOO!". Bioware has been my favorite game developer for many years now, never once disappointing me with a poorly designed game or a flat storyline (though NWN was a bit poor in that aspect). I get the feeling a lot of that depth will go out of their games now, it's not like EA would let them actually put any soul into their products. Guess I'll sit back and wait for "D&D Sports Arena" (football with orcs and dragons, w00t)...
Matt barnes @ Oct 12th 2007 6:56AM
EA are ruining the games industry. No real gamer likes you EA, you just consume a great company and then churn out poor games based on the former host.
You are the zerg or the flood of the games industry!
And you are destroying quality products with your profit orientated attitude.
Gangsta Smurf @ Oct 12th 2007 9:00AM
They paid over 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karsten @ Oct 12th 2007 12:01PM
Just to clear something up:
Neverwinter Nights is D&D franchise and the license for D&D has been given to Atari by Hasbro who owns the D&D license. KOTOR license is owned by Lucasarts.
I, too, feel this was the worst thing that could happen.
However, the Bioware devs. at the Bioware forums insist that there is no more :shock: to this. The only logical thing I can think of would be if Microsoft made it clear to Ray&Greg that they won't be paying for the development of Mass Effect 2 or 3. Or that Ray&Greg made it clear to Microsoft that Mass Effect and Dragon Age? were to come to PC, too. And Microsoft said NO to this. Noth options seem logical, not at least seen in last weeks' light when MS set Bungie (Halo 3) free. Maybe MS want to return to wjat they do best: making operating systems?
If this is the case, then yes, this move makes sense since EA publishes for the wii, for nintendo ds, pc, ps3, xbox 360 etc.
/Karsten
calthaer @ Oct 12th 2007 7:56PM
I will now buy only indie games with 16-bit graphics.
Chris Susie @ Oct 17th 2007 8:30PM
I think Ray and Greg should prove to the whole world that they aren't selling out but rather improving Bioware by giving me all the proceeds they receive from the sale of Bioware to EA. I'd be a true believer then. I suspect maybe it won't be so bad.
Worst case scenario: every1 quits Bioware and goes to join Obsidian. Then Obsidian releases polished games from the get-go rather than after a zillion patches and an expansion.
But really, the main point is that Ray and Greg should give me their money!!!!
ianp711 @ Oct 26th 2007 5:17AM
BIG SIGH...
EA is well known for pushing unfinished games to market, to make their stockholders happy.
What makes me really sad, is that I know this is going to be the end of Bioware. You wan't proof, look at Origin. Origin was well known for creating new IP's and that were cutting edge technologically. Origin tried to remain independent but they were forced to release unfinished titles... which in turn got bad reviews, ect, ect... Origin closed down.
Anwyays, screw EA, their games suck also.
Long Timer @ Dec 18th 2007 6:00PM
Okay lets run a little math... $620 million... EA requiring 10 titles in 4 years. They can't expect to get a return on investment in just 4 years (expected profit would have to be $15.5 million per title in 4 years). Maybe in 10 years a positive return on investment? Naw, most companies in gaming don't last 5 years do they? So I would imagine they forecast recovering their investment in 4 years or a little more. Multi-platform release of each of the 10 titles, and of course some platforms will be poor cousins as they will appear to be just that rip-offs on another platform of a good title on it's original intended title. If I were at the 2 newly acquired companies, I would know that quality will suffer as the new EA mantra will be to get it out the door and screw the gamers and screw Quality Assurance. Five titles in four years for each new subsidiary of EA, right. Many good titles are taking 2 years to produce! This does not bode well for quality...