Rumor of the day: Microsoft to buy EA, someone to buy THQ

[Isildur´s Heir]

Since the economic crisis begun, we have seen companies close, mergers and buyouts left and right.
Square-Enix bought Eidos; Tecmo merged with Koei; Warner bought Midway (half of it anyway), Namco Bandai bought D3 publishers, Zenimax bought Id.

Now, the rumors are that Microsoft is pondering to buy Electronic Arts, and a major media company to buy THQ (Viacom and Warner are the potential suitors).
If it´s true or not, we will know in time, but the thing is, the stock prices of both companies went up.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

That'd be crazy. I don't think it'll happen but that'd be crazy

 

[Blindfighter]

If EA became exclusive to Microsoft they would lose money by not selling to the ps3 and wii their is no reason for it. So many people would be pissed if it happened.

 

[Electro UK]

I will kill myself.

If this would/could ever happen, I would slide a shotgun into my mouth, load both barrels, and pull the trigger.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I don´t believe it´s true.
Not only would EA lose money, they are too big of a company to be exclusive to someone.
As for THQ, that i do believe.
In fact, i predict that many "smaller" publisher will be bought until there is only 3 (EA, Activision and Ubisoft).
Next one i see being bought is Atari and Codemasters.

But one thing is for sure, Microsoft needs to start creating a bigger 1st party.....but to buy a publisher is not, imo, the best way to do it.

 

[Spider-Vader]

Oh man, that'd suck for you Madden fans with PS3s/Wiis. I don't think they'd do it unless Microsoft offers them a huge amount of money.

I have a feeling Nintendo might buy Sega or just Sonic soon though. They're having Sonic in alot of their cross-over games now.

 

[Spider-Jay]

MS have denied they're buying EA: http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/699438/Microsoft-Were-Not-Taking-Over-EA.html

Personally don't see it happening. EA can make so much more money remaining independent.

I do however, believe MS could acquire THQ.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I will kill myself.

If this would/could ever happen, I would slide a shotgun into my mouth, load both barrels, and pull the trigger.

Or, you could do something less foolish and just buy an Xbox.


But im assuming your post was just you, sarcastically, acting in the manner that a dumbass Sony fanboy would be sure to act.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Oh man, that'd suck for you Madden fans with PS3s/Wiis.

Actually, the deal with the NFL states the games produced using their license must appear on multiple consoles, so even if MS wanted to make Madden exclusive, they couldnt.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Why would want to limit Madden sales to only the 360? We all know MS loves money and there's more money in them releasing Madden for all 3 systems than just the 360.

 

[Joker]

The MS is going to buy EA rumor surfaces at least once a year, and is never true.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I don´t believe it´s true.
Not only would EA lose money, they are too big of a company to be exclusive to someone.
As for THQ, that i do believe.
In fact, i predict that many "smaller" publisher will be bought until there is only 3 (EA, Activision and Ubisoft).
Next one i see being bought is Atari and Codemasters.

But one thing is for sure, Microsoft needs to start creating a bigger 1st party.....but to buy a publisher is not, imo, the best way to do it.

There will be more than 3 publishers.

The Japanese publishers: Namco-Bandai, Square-Enix, Koei-Tecmo, and Sega will still remain. And personally I think we'll end up seeing Konami-Capcom someday.

As for the Western publishers: Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, UbiSoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Disney Interactive Studios will probably be the majors with Take-Two, THQ, Atari, and Codemasters getting gobbled up.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Why would want to limit Madden sales to only the 360? We all know MS loves money and there's more money in them releasing Madden for all 3 systems than just the 360.

Exactly. Doesn't make much sense. But then again, isn't that true of all exclusives. They'd make more money if they weren't exclusive?

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Exactly. Doesn't make much sense. But then again, isn't that true of all exclusives. They'd make more money if they weren't exclusive?

It makes sense for new IPs but to make one of the biggest video game franchises that has been multi-platform for years into an exclusive would be a disaster.

The Japanese publishers: Namco-Bandai, Square-Enix, Koei-Tecmo, and Sega will still remain. And personally I think we'll end up seeing Konami-Capcom someday.

Snake in Marvel vs Capcom.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

But then again, isn't that true of all exclusives. They'd make more money if they weren't exclusive?

Not necessarily.
Halo 3 and Gears of War are among the biggest sellers this generation, and they bought are exclusives.
Halo 3: ODST made 2 millions in just 24 hours.
GTA: San Andreas made 18 millions on the PS2.

In fact, the biggest sellers in video game history are exclusives.

The point about being multiplatform, from a business prespective, is that is much more reliable, because, if it´s misses, it makes more than if it was on a platform alone.

There will be more than 3 publishers.

You´re right, my bad.
By 3 publishers, i wanted to address the western market alone, not the Japanese.
But, you´re right also, Warner and Disney...that makes it 5 publishers.


If (big if) the rumors is true, we will have a bigger problem on our hands, because i see publisher starting the become exclusives to someone (MS buys EA, Nintendo buys Sega, Sony buys Konami...and so forth), and that would be crazy.

 

[BlackLantern]

if MS does buy EA....if I had my way...first order of business would be **** YOU SONY....or make them pay an exorbitant fee if they want an EA game for the PS3....

but it is business....or is it??

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Why would want to limit Madden sales to only the 360? We all know MS loves money and there's more money in them releasing Madden for all 3 systems than just the 360.

Exactly. Too mnay people assuming that an acquisition like this would mean exclusivity.

 

[Speedball]

So... Disney buys Marvel, WB finishes buying DC, Microsoft buys EA... what next, Sony buys Japan?!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Exactly. Too mnay people assuming that an acquisition like this would mean exclusivity.

Yea, and like i stated, even if MS did buy EA and wanted to make Madden exclusive, they wouldn't be allowed to. The NFL wont allow it.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Not necessarily.
Halo 3 and Gears of War are among the biggest sellers this generation, and they bought are exclusives.
Halo 3: ODST made 2 millions in just 24 hours.
GTA: San Andreas made 18 millions on the PS2.

In fact, the biggest sellers in video game history are exclusives.

Right, im not saying exclusives dont sell well, but Halo, Gears, GTA, would of all sold more units had they of been on all the consoles. Thats all i was saying. I mean i know its a 'duh' statement. I was just saying, wouldnt these games produce more money if they were not exclusive? Its pretty simple, more units sold, more money. But thats really simplifying everything. I understand why we have exclusives.

 

[BlackLantern]

its also a production issue....it costs money to produce for different consoles....

 

[Electro UK]

Or, you could do something less foolish and just buy an Xbox.


But im assuming your post was just you, sarcastically, acting in the manner that a dumbass Sony fanboy would be sure to act.

Yes... I would not kill myself. Your sarcasm detector is at an all time high PP!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Yes... I would not kill myself. Your sarcasm detector is at an all time high PP!

LOL

Just making sure man. Wasnt sure if my detector was on the fritz or not.

 

[hippie_hunter]

You´re right, my bad.
By 3 publishers, i wanted to address the western market alone, not the Japanese.
But, you´re right also, Warner and Disney...that makes it 5 publishers.

I definitely see Warner Bros. and Disney becoming major players in the video game market.

If (big if) the rumors is true, we will have a bigger problem on our hands, because i see publisher starting the become exclusives to someone (MS buys EA, Nintendo buys Sega, Sony buys Konami...and so forth), and that would be crazy.

Why would Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft buy publishers. It makes no sense. They tend to buy developers or internally create new teams, not buy publishers and have to deal with IPs, studios, and employees that they do not want. And would give them bad press because they will close down and lay off said employees.

Along with sitting on unwanted IPs. With Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, do you think Sony and Microsoft want Need for Speed and Burnout? With Sony making sports games that don't suck (MLB: The Show and NBA: The Inside) do you think that they want Madden NFL, FIFA, NHL, Tiger Woods PGA Tour or NBA Live, especially when EA's deal with the NFL expires, they can just make their own football game? Do you think that Sony or Microsoft want licensed properties like the Simpsons and Hasbro? Or properties that are meant to be PC exclusive like the Maxis games?

There's just too much to deal with when you can just buy developers that you have a working relationship with (like Media Molecule with LittleBigPlanet, Insomniac Games with Ratchet & Clank and Resistance, and Ruffian Games with Crackdown 2) or create your own team from the ground up.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Along with sitting on unwanted IPs. With Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, do you think Sony and Microsoft want Need for Speed and Burnout? With Sony making sports games that don't suck (MLB: The Show and NBA: The Inside) do you think that they want Madden NFL, FIFA, NHL, Tiger Woods PGA Tour or NBA Live, especially when EA's deal with the NFL expires, they can just make their own football game? Do you think that Sony or Microsoft want licensed properties like the Simpsons and Hasbro? Or properties that are meant to be PC exclusive like the Maxis games? .

NBA: The Inside is a pretty crappy game, and why would a company not want titles like Fifa, Madden, NHL, Tiger Woods or NBA Live? Sony would love for those titles to appear only on the Playstation.