Undoubtedly you've already heard about EA's unprecedented buyout bid towards Take-Two (and if you haven't, click on this 'ere link), but it's far from the first time the gaming behemoth has thrown its weight in cash about.
From Maxis to BioWare Pandemic, Electronic Arts has spent billions acquiring studios over the last twenty years and, worryingly for Mass Effect fans, it's closed quite a few of them as well.
But it's thankfully looking up where the publisher's studio-swallowing habits are concerned, with CEO John Riccitiello recently admitting that the company "blew it" when it decided to absorb (and later close) stellar PC developers Bullfrog and Westwood.
Fortunately, the boss promises the same fate won't become of recently acquired BioWare and Pandemic, who he says EA is doing its best to preserve the company culture. "It seems to be working," Riccitiello added. "I think we are on a good track."
For your reference (and bedazzlement) here's the full list of EA's past acquisitions, care of our mate Wikipedia:
Studios Opened or Acquired
1998: EA Tiburon in Maitland, Florida
1999: EA Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia
2000: EA Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California
2002: EA Black Box in Vancouver, British Columbia
2004: Criterion Software in Guildford, United Kingdom
2004: Digital Illusions CE in Stockholm, Sweden
2004: EA China in Shanghai, China
2004: EA Montreal in Montreal, Quebec
2005: EA Mobile
2005: EA Redwood Shores in Redwood City, California
2005: EA Singapore
2006: EA Mobile India, Hyderabad, India
2006: EA Mythic in Fairfax, Virginia
2006: EA Phenomic in Ingelheim, Germany
2006: EA Salt Lake in Bountiful, Utah (Formerly Headgate Studios)
2007: EA Casual Entertainment
2007: EIS (European Integration Studio) in Madrid, Spain
2007: BioWare Corp. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Austin, Texas
2007: Pandemic Studios in Los Angeles, California and Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2007: EA UK, relocated to Guildford from Chertsey
2008: EA Korea in Seoul, South Korea
2008: EA Studio in Bucharest, Romania
Studios Closed
1998: Original HQ in San Mateo, California - moved to Redwood City
2000: EA Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland - established in 1996 as part of Origin
2001: Kesmai (known also as GameStorm); acquired in 1999
2001: Bullfrog Productions in Surrey, England - acquired in 1995
2002: EA Seattle in Seattle, Washington - formerly Manley & Associates, acquired in 1996
2003: Westwood Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada - acquired in 1998
2003: EA Pacific (known for a time as Westwood Pacific) in Irvine, California - formerly part of Virgin Interactive, acquired with Westwood in 1998
2004: Origin Systems in Austin, Texas - acquired in 1992
2004: Maxis in Walnut Creek, California - acquired in 1997, moved to Redwood City
2006: DICE Canada in London, Ontario (created Battlefield 2: Special Forces expansion, Battlefield Vietnam, and all BF2 patches). Acquired DICE fully October 2, 2006; closed DICE Canada studio hours later.
2007: EA Japan in Tokyo, Japan - closed due to consolidation; moved under EA Partners model
2007: EA UK in Chertsey, United Kingdom, relocated to Guildford
2007: EA Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Closed due to failure to meet profit targets.
Is this legal?? Probably because no one really benefits from games except gamers the monopolies and mergers commission hasn't looked at this but come on! Seriously dodgy stuff EA!
With GTAIV out in a few months, I think being bought out is the last thing on Take 2's mind. If GTAIV sells as much as I think it will (lots!) Take 2 should be nice and cosy financially for a good long while.
Surely monopolies and mergers should look at this?
Perhaps someone needs to formally bring it to their attention with a petition of names from people who feel EA are not acting in the best interests of the industry or the consumer.
We must boycott this company before it consumes the entire games industry and ruins the future of gaming. their products are unacceptable. this company cares nothing about quality and only about money, and how much money it is going to make. we must show EA whos really in charge of gaming and who really calls the shots - us. the gamers. just remember, without us, these companies wouldnt even exist. im being serious here, STOP BUYING EA GAMES. we must bring this company to its knees.
We must boycott this company before it consumes the entire games industry and ruins the future of gaming. their products are unacceptable. this company cares nothing about quality and only about money, and how much money it is going to make. we must show EA whos really in charge of gaming and who really calls the shots - us. the gamers. just remember, without us, these companies wouldnt even exist. im being serious here, STOP BUYING EA GAMES. we must bring this company to its knees.
We must boycott this company before it consumes the entire games industry and ruins the future of gaming. their products are unacceptable. this company cares nothing about quality and only about money, and how much money it is going to make. we must show EA whos really in charge of gaming and who really calls the shots - us. the gamers. just remember, without us, these companies wouldnt even exist. im being serious here, STOP BUYING EA GAMES. we must bring this company to its knees.
I think you'll find its not normaly gamers buying their stuff. Its the casual & sports markets that are easily led by advertising & licences
EA should f**k off, and Take Two should tell them to f**k off!
I have bought an EA game in years and I never will, if they publish any half decent game I MAY buy it second hand, that why they get f**k all money from me.
Let them die, stop buying the sims and all their other crapp games, you know who you are!
EA should f**k off, and Take Two should tell them to f**k off!
I have bought an EA game in years and I never will, if they publish any half decent game I MAY buy it second hand, that why they get f**k all money from me.
Let them die, stop buying the sims and all their other crapp games, you know who you are!
Boycott EA? They publish and distribute loads of games that have nothing to do with their development arm. If you do that, you threaten the smaller studios who depend on the likes of EA to provide them with worldwide distribution.
On top of that, if they want to buy Take2, they will buy Take2. It's just a question of time and money. (Granted it seems a kneejerk reaction to Activision Blizzard's formation, as the EA boss was convinced that all the big mergers were done with just days before the news about Activision's Vivendis purchase came out.)
it's not totally accurate that they purchase and then ruin the dev... Most of the time they just get amalgamated into other areas... look at maxis... sims etc massive profits but they basically needed to keep the dev under control so took them into redwood shores head office. They aren't looking to create "art" at any cost where as a develper may well want to go on forever spending the money.... sorry but this is big business and big money. EA are good and also bad but very well organsied and have produced a professional company that raised the bar to other publishers. If you don't like the games don't buy them... that's the only way to get them to notice if something isn't right. Most of their games are pretty average stuff... competently made rather than spectactular... so don't buy if you don't want to. Trouble is most do and that is I guess that.
I havent brought an EA game since Burnout 3. At that point I could see that EA had raped Burnout just like they rape every other series they own.
After they stopped making Mega Drive games and moved to Playstation it all started to go downhill then. What withh all the poor Sega Saturn FIFA ports.
Money first - Game later. This moto is in the EA HQ building as you walk in!
I havent brought an EA game since Burnout 3. At that point I could see that EA had raped Burnout just like they rape every other series they own.
After they stopped making Mega Drive games and moved to Playstation it all started to go downhill then. What withh all the poor Sega Saturn FIFA ports.
Money first - Game later. This moto is in the EA HQ building as you walk in!
Think of FIFA 64. Now THAT was a bad port.
Good avatar by the way, Garbage Pail Kids - now that brings back memories!
After they stopped making Mega Drive games and moved to Playstation it all started to go downhill then. What withh all the poor Sega Saturn FIFA ports.
They were great in the MegaDrive games. Road Rash Desert Strike General Chaos
fantastic games!! where are they now?
Also they published one of my favourite games every back in 1996, Spacek Hulk:VOTBA on PC I guess we wont ever see that again, f**king w****rs!
After they stopped making Mega Drive games and moved to Playstation it all started to go downhill then. What withh all the poor Sega Saturn FIFA ports.
They were great in the MegaDrive games. Road Rash Desert Strike General Chaos
fantastic games!! where are they now?
Also they published one of my favourite games every back in 1996, Spacek Hulk:VOTBA on PC I guess we wont ever see that again, f**king w****rs!
You forgot Battle Squadron a decent (albeit bloody rock hard) scrolling shooter for its time. Also The Immortal deserves a mention too.
Maybe because some of the other "EA" studios that were closed started off as another company until EA got hold of them and closed them down soon after.
You buy a successful company with a lot of good games under its belt, then you wait for them to release a big game.
Then close the company and keep all the profits from the new game and residuals from the older games. Since programmers, designers and playtesters don't retain copyright and can't keep reaping any returns, they can't lose.
They've done a load of crappy decisions in the past, but they are realising it now. Sure, their sports games do suck, but mostly they just publish games developed by others. I still find it sad that they pulled the plug off Westwood, but they didn't do a bad job on CNC3 (well, aliens.. but gameplay-wise). And you cannot ignore the fact they're doing a good job with Mythic. More financing and time to finish Warhammer Online to make it the orgasm delivery system it's destined to be.. Ahh, I can't wait to get to play it.
Rather than people crying saying they won't ever buy an EA game, how about being more careful with your purchases and wait to see if a game's good or not.
I hate EA as well but if they release a quality game, I'll buy it to show my support to the people who put the effort into making the game.
The real issue is the muppets that are buying games based on brand name, licenses etc. These are the people that have made EA who they are today and as long as they are making a profit on these games, they will continue to pump them out without caring about the quality of their product.
tbh when i see EA attached to a game..i usually avoid it like the plague. EA games are usually rushed..mass produced rubbish. lets face it..they still think those monkey like animations in FIFA are still amazing..ROFL WHO RUNS LIKE THAT??MOTION CAPTURE MY bottom! LOOKS LIKE YOU MOTION CAPTURED A RETARD CLIMBING A TREE..
Monopoly is one of the most popular tables games, right! coincidence, I don't thinks so, people grow up thinking that is the better and faster way to get rich, that is the ultimated way of business, killing any other business that it turns to be on there way, that most of the time is the majority (small and medium business), any way we people that are aware should and most boycott every actions like this, or it will not stop and we will be playing s**ting games like the one the EA get use to, we have blog, forums etc.... if we all get organize against things like this they have to give up, remember that we are the one whom pay there bills at the end, so let organize a small campaign against this kind of thing where every body can start doing any thing that have hands on.
Ahh... bullfrog & westwood, possibly two of gamings best studios, forever lost in the all devouring leviathan of EA
im sure all this buying out of companies and liquidating them etc. makes good business sense but why do they get rid of (or seem to get rid of) people who made the original games so great??
So you'll all be boycotting all of EA's games then? Sweet! This means I'll actually be able to get a drum kit, guitar and mic kit with my copy of Rock Band!
Hooray! Of course, EA has to release it here first...
Quite similar, EA take over talented companies f**k em up and disband them. Quite similar to Ford they aquired Jaguar and f**k it up. Anything British should always remain independent, we work better without outside influence. But i will give EA credit, they do make sure there games are pretty much Bug Free majority of the time, its there attitude.
I forgot about The Immortal, that was a good game too and very gory for it's time.
Every time I see a new C&C game come out now, I just cry
I'd love it if RA3 was being done by WW and I would buy it, but since EA are on it I wont touch it with a s**tty stick, or Tiberiam or Kanes Wrath or anything else they come out with. C&C is dead to me now, at least I still have the best C&C, and possibly the best game, ever made, and that is Red Alert 1!
Constantly looking to reduce costs at the expense of quality or inovation.
Shareholders are more important than the punters paying their wages. Problem is they are sat on lots of cash as Idiots still buy FIFA and Sims and so on.
Stop giving them your money, I did 5-10 years ago.
They will continue to strangle the industry otherwise.
I have to agree with some previous posters... Maxis, Bullfrog - these were the names that brought us hours of pure happyness. Ehhh. DK series? Loved it!
I haven't bought any of EA games for years now. I used to play C&C, but not the latest one. Something has changed.
EA doesn't do any good to the industry (closing great studios, stopped doing good games). AND NOW THEY ARE EVEN MORE MONEY HUNGRY
well you know what to do guys. get the message out. boycott ea. its the only way. tell everyone any way you can. the future of quality gaming is at dire risk and its our job to set a bear trap in the path of this murderous beast. spread the word!
I'd like to add another corpse to the pile; Blue Lava Wireless. It was purchased in '05 by JAMDAT, who was bought by EA in '06 who closed the studio in '07. Blue Lava had the rights to publish Tetris on cell phones in the US.
EA Games Label EA (all non-sports titles) EA Mythic (MMORPG titles) EA Sports Label EA Sports (realistic sports simulations) EA Sports BIG (sub-brand/extreme sports titles) EA Casual Entertainment Label (simple games for PC's, consoles, mobiles, and handhelds) EA Casual Entertainment (Harry Potter, EA Playground, Boogie, etc.) EA Mobile (mobile phone and iPod games, previously JAMDAT) Pogo.com (online games site, with numerous EA brand tie-ins) "The Sims" Label Life simulation titles — Produces games with the "Sims" title (such as SimCity and The Sims) EA also operates the games channel on AOL. Electronic Arts Square K.K. was created during the joint venture of companies Square Co. and Electronic Arts. Just as Square Electronic Arts published for Square in the U.S., Electronic Arts Square published for Electronic Arts in Japan, releasing key EA titles in Japan. The company was 70% owned by EA and 30% owned by Square. However, EA Square did not enjoy the success its U.S. cousin was enjoying at the time. Most of the games were sports titles that were passed for similar games from other companies (Konami, even Square). Some other games were not as well received as they were in the U.S. Upon the merger of Square and Enix, EA bought Square's ownership in the company and absorbed it into its fold.
STudios Currently owned by EAare
EA Mobile India, Hyderabad,India Criterion Software in Guildford, United Kingdom Digital Illusions CE in Stockholm, Sweden EA Black Box in Vancouver, British Columbia EA Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia EA China in Shanghai, China EA Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California EA Mobile EA Montreal in Montreal, Quebec EA Casual Entertainment EA Mythic in Fairfax, Virginia EA Korea in Seoul, South Korea EA Byrnest in Mount Sinai, New York EA Redwood Shores in Redwood City, California EA Singapore EA UK Guildford, Surrey Maxis in Emeryville, California EA Phenomic in Ingelheim, Germany EA Tiburon in Maitland, Florida EA Salt Lake in Bountiful, Utah (Formerly Headgate Studios) EIS (European Integration Studio) in Madrid, Spain EA Mobile in Bucharest, Romania EA Studio in Bucharest, Romania, from 2008 BioWare Corp. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Austin, Texas, as of January 2008 Pandemic Studios in Los Angeles, California and Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, as of January 2008
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