LA Times Predicts "Disney will buy EA, maybe more"

I wonder what that could mean for the Rock Band? Of course, the RB franchise is not owned by EA so wouldn't be part of the deal. But what if Disney where to take over the distribution rights? Would they do a better job of promoting the game in Europe than EA are currently doing (or is that the job of the publisher; MTV)?

Cal wrote:
The Advent Penguin wrote:Have I slipped into a parallel universe where Dead Space 2 wasn't announced?

No, and I was well aware of DS2's development when I wrote my comments above, but with a few of the key players involved in the original game's creation (notably Glen Schofield) now no longer with the remnants of the original Redwood Shores development team I remain to be convinced that the sequel will adhere to the first game's standards. I hope so. Will EA extend similar amounts of time and money to DS2's development? I hope so. Will gamers take any more notice second time around?

That's the biggie.

I don't even know why EA are making it to be honest, it's gonna bomb at retail.

I thought the original Dead Space did ok, and it was just Extraction that tanked. Am I wrong there?

I wondered whether Disney would actually be able to afford EA, but having looked into it, Disney are massive. :shock:

I had no idea they owned so many companies and licences.

Thongings wrote:I thought the original Dead Space did ok, and it was just Extraction that tanked. Am I wrong there?

Considering how Dead Space was a new IP, was released during the busiest time slot of last year, and the economy wasn't doing so hot during its launch, I can see why the game only sold 1.4 million copies.

That number was given by Glen Schofield, now of Visceral fame, during a Q&A session with GameSpot. He says he's actually quite happy with Dead Space's sales, all factors considered.

"Do I wish it sold more? Absolutely. But the critical acclaim and the number of awards -- we're at 75 and counting now -- have made [Dead Space] bigger than just the number of sales," Schofield said.

As one of the best horror games in recent years and easily one of my personal favorites from 2008, it's a shame more people didn't get to play the tight, atmospheric package that is Dead Space.

http://www.destructoid.com/dead-space-s ... 1022.phtml

Cal wrote:
Thongings wrote:I thought the original Dead Space did ok, and it was just Extraction that tanked. Am I wrong there?

Considering how Dead Space was a new IP, was released during the busiest time slot of last year, and the economy wasn't doing so hot during its launch, I can see why the game only sold 1.4 million copies.

That number was given by Glen Schofield, now of Visceral fame, during a Q&A session with GameSpot. He says he's actually quite happy with Dead Space's sales, all factors considered.

"Do I wish it sold more? Absolutely. But the critical acclaim and the number of awards -- we're at 75 and counting now -- have made [Dead Space] bigger than just the number of sales," Schofield said.

As one of the best horror games in recent years and easily one of my personal favorites from 2008, it's a shame more people didn't get to play the tight, atmospheric package that is Dead Space.

http://www.destructoid.com/dead-space-s ... 1022.phtml

Ah, that's a shame. I was under the impression it did better than that. I guess it was released at a rather daft time for a completely new IP.

Mirror's Edge suffered a similar fate. Shame for EA last year really, it published some cracking new titles. Still I hope that having these critically acclaimed games raises their stock as a publisher, which leads to greater sale for their games across the board.

I'd go so far as to say that EA are now one of the best publishers around. With Split/Second, Mass Effect 2 and Bad Company 2 inbound, it's a great start to 2010 for them.

Buffalo wrote:I'd go so far as to say that EA are now one of the best publishers around. With Split/Second, Mass Effect 2 and Bad Company 2 inbound, it's a great start to 2010 for them.

Oh, yeah, without question. Much as Riccitello looks like EVIL INCARNATE he seems to have overseen a dramatic rise in the quality of their output in the past few years. Similar story for ole Petey Moore with their sports division.

Depressingly, as their quality has risen, their profits have gone the opposite way.

My concern, which I think has been pointed out, is the profits sliding so bad that one of their talented studios had to go. I mean, can you imagine if someone like Criterion, DICE, Harmonix or Double Fine got their doors closed?!
All we can do is just keep on buying their games, if anyone buys them out or not. The good will out, hopefully.

Thongings wrote:Depressingly, as their quality has risen, their profits have gone the opposite way.

That's the crux of it.

If this buyout goes ahead, perhaps EA can afford to keep making the good games, and, as much as we might not like it, keep going with the dross (FIFA Street, NFS, etc) to keep the money coming in. They need it, the industry needs it, but we want them to keep innovating with the likes of Mirror's Edge and such.

Buffalo wrote:My concern, which I think has been pointed out, is the profits sliding so bad that one of their talented studios had to go. I mean, can you imagine if someone like Criterion, DICE, Harmonix or Double Fine got their doors closed?!
All we can do is just keep on buying their games, if anyone buys them out or not. The good will out, hopefully.

Yeah, it was enough of a shame to see Pandemic closed down, even though they've been on a bit of a losing streak (I like The Saboteur though!) Would be a disaster if any of those you've mentioned get shafted.

Buffalo wrote:I'd go so far as to say that EA are now one of the best publishers around. With Split/Second, Mass Effect 2 and Bad Company 2 inbound, it's a great start to 2010 for them.

Split/Second is Disney :shifty:

Anyway, EA are great but they don't make the money they used to, when they were gooseberry fool.

What is attractive to people looking at EA is that they are now associated with quality and have a huge catalogue of IP and have a great publishing arm.

suzzopher wrote:What is attractive to people looking at EA is that they are now associated with quality and have a huge catalogue of IP and have a great publishing arm.

But do EA's shareholders agree?

Cal wrote:
suzzopher wrote:What is attractive to people looking at EA is that they are now associated with quality and have a huge catalogue of IP and have a great publishing arm.

But do EA's shareholders agree?

I think the shareholders would be happy if Disney knocked on the door with a rather large cheque for the company. Rather than another year of losses. This gen has seen so many great games but the cost of making games on 360/PS3 is just too high for today's economy.

LA Times Predicts "Disney will buy EA, maybe more"

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