EA Buys Pandemic & BioWare

The Benny (Macho) · 10-11-2007, 04:12 PM

From GamesIndustry.biz, "Electronic Arts has announced an agreement with Elevation Partners to acquire VG Holding Corp., the owner of both BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios."

I know EA aren't as bad as they used to be, but it still worries me. I can't get past the idea that EA is where good development studios go to die...

Mr. SunburnMan · 10-11-2007, 04:17 PM

I'm extremely dissapointed in this news.

The Benny (Macho) · 10-11-2007, 04:38 PM

I'm glad it's not just me. It does make me wonder how BioWare will react or indeed how involved they were in any of it, and also if it means EA now owns all the franchises that BioWare have been building up for themselves. The way Maxis has essentially been reduced to the Sims team under EA still bothers me, especially as they aren't even involved in the new Sim City game.

The Benny (Macho) · 10-11-2007, 07:50 PM

More details from EA's point of view here, including:

Quote:

As to what BioWare and Pandemic stand to gain, Jenson referred to EA as the "world's best publishing organisation. We reach places they don't get," he said, making reference to EA's online and mobile business.

Everybody wins.

Mr. SunburnMan · 10-12-2007, 05:46 AM

Everybody always wins.

I hope they treat the purchase like the Criteron one, where the dev seems to keep some free will, and not older ones that got sucked in and destroyed (I can think of Origin or Looking Glass).

The Benny (Macho) · 10-12-2007, 08:36 AM

Bullfrog and Westwood were two of the others that immediately sprang to my mind. General reaction around the web so far (which is admittedly always more vocal when expressing negative opinions):

About 90% "This is horrible, Mass Effect (sometimes Dragon Age) will be BioWare's last decent game, after that I'll have to wait for the reviews before making a purchase."
About 5% "I never buy anything that profits EA so it's boycotts or pre-owned EA/BioWare titles from now on."
And about 5% "This isn't necessarily as bad as it seems, let's give them the benefit of the doubt."

People from BioWare & Pandemic have given a few question-dodging interviews for GameSpot and GameDaily.Biz, though they managed to come out with the same comments all the other developers bought by EA have done in the past: How great it is to be part of the "EA family", they're still independent at heart etc.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Gabriel013 · 10-15-2007, 02:13 AM

I really hope they maintain development independance. I'd hate to see EAs cookie cutter policy drip down to these new takeovers.

10-11-2007, 04:12 PM	#1
The Benny (Macho) Complainer of the year Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: England Posts: 1,139	EA Buys Pandemic & BioWare From GamesIndustry.biz, "Electronic Arts has announced an agreement with Elevation Partners to acquire VG Holding Corp., the owner of both BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios." I know EA aren't as bad as they used to be, but it still worries me. I can't get past the idea that EA is where good development studios go to die... __________________ The poster formerly known as Macho Man!

10-11-2007, 04:17 PM	#2
Mr. SunburnMan I don't own a ps3 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,461	I'm extremely dissapointed in this news. __________________

10-11-2007, 04:38 PM	#3
The Benny (Macho) Complainer of the year Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: England Posts: 1,139	I'm glad it's not just me. It does make me wonder how BioWare will react or indeed how involved they were in any of it, and also if it means EA now owns all the franchises that BioWare have been building up for themselves. The way Maxis has essentially been reduced to the Sims team under EA still bothers me, especially as they aren't even involved in the new Sim City game. __________________ The poster formerly known as Macho Man!

10-12-2007, 05:46 AM	#5
Mr. SunburnMan I don't own a ps3 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,461	Everybody always wins. I hope they treat the purchase like the Criteron one, where the dev seems to keep some free will, and not older ones that got sucked in and destroyed (I can think of Origin or Looking Glass). __________________

10-12-2007, 08:36 AM	#6
The Benny (Macho) Complainer of the year Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: England Posts: 1,139	Bullfrog and Westwood were two of the others that immediately sprang to my mind. General reaction around the web so far (which is admittedly always more vocal when expressing negative opinions): About 90% "This is horrible, Mass Effect (sometimes Dragon Age) will be BioWare's last decent game, after that I'll have to wait for the reviews before making a purchase." About 5% "I never buy anything that profits EA so it's boycotts or pre-owned EA/BioWare titles from now on." And about 5% "This isn't necessarily as bad as it seems, let's give them the benefit of the doubt." People from BioWare & Pandemic have given a few question-dodging interviews for GameSpot and GameDaily.Biz, though they managed to come out with the same comments all the other developers bought by EA have done in the past: How great it is to be part of the "EA family", they're still independent at heart etc. We'll just have to wait and see. __________________ The poster formerly known as Macho Man!

10-15-2007, 02:13 AM	#7
Gabriel013 ArchAngel Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Sheffield, England PS3 Network ID: gabriel013 Xbox Live ID: Gabriel013 Posts: 6,536	I really hope they maintain development independance. I'd hate to see EAs cookie cutter policy drip down to these new takeovers. __________________ \"...and he shall ascend from the fires of Hell...\" "everyone knows second hand squirrel kills." - Svosen 3 forum tokens

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