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Thread: EA to acquire BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios (joystiq.com)

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    Bell (Level 8) 7th lutz's Avatar
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    Default EA to acquire BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios (joystiq.com)

    http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/11/ea...demic-studios/

    Monolithic publisher EA has today announced an agreement with Elevation Partners to purchase VG Holding Corp -- a move which sees EA becoming the owner of both BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios. A shocking move to be certain, but one that should make complete sense to a publisher looking to strengthen its lineup of role-playing games and action titles. BioWare, currently finishing development on November's Microsoft-published Mass Effect, has proven itself to be one of the leading developers in the genre, and Pandemic Studios' Mercenaries franchise has shown an alarming propensity for blowing things up.

    The purchase will cost EA up to $620 million in cash payment to the stockholders of VG Holding Corp., with another $155 million in equity going to "certain employees" of VG Holding Corp., "subject to time-based or performance-based vesting criteria." Ray Muzyka, Co-founder and CEO of BioWare Corp, thinks it's money well spent. "This vision is consistent with BioWare's focus on crafting the highest quality story-driven games in the world," he says. "It will enable us to further the careers of the passionate, creative and hard working teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin."

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    Pac-Man (Level 10) FantasiaWHT's Avatar
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    Man... dizzying heights followed by horrific lows... is this October 28, 1929? (Black Monday stock market crash)

    SONIC'S IN SSBB!!!!!!!!!

    ssbb isn't coming out until February....

    The EA pimps buy out a ring of high-class courtesans and shove them on the streets to peddle STDs and drugs.

    God damn could the day get any lower?

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    oh man, that sucks. i have a feeling Bioware will go the way of Interplay/Black Isle now...

    call it whatever, but im so tired of seeing the fecal matter that is EA in my games.

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    Wow. A buddy of mine works for Pandemic. I should call him up and get the DL on this.....hope he didn't get laid off!

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    Great Puma (Level 12) heybtbm's Avatar
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    Booooo!

    The thought of EA in control of the Mercenaries franchise makes me sick.
    "One of the ways I gauge a DS game is by recharges. "...Tycho (Penny Arcade)

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    Just chatted with my friend. He said that it's not "a take over" and left it at that. He could not divulge the details of the deal, but he's hoping it doesn't affect his compensation bonus next year. He thinks EA is a "shady company". lol

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    Peach (Level 3) Hawksmoor's Avatar
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    This is a real shame. Given EA's track record with studios they've acquired, there's little reason to think that BioWare and Pandemic won't be buried, dissolved, or relegated to churning out the typical EA schlock.
    Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. - Thomas Paine

    America can always be counted on to do the right thing after they have exhausted all other possibilities. - Winston Churchill


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    Apple (Level 5) zemmix's Avatar
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    I guess this means they will never do another KOTOR game. And what will happen to that Sonic RPG game I wonder.
    Last edited by zemmix; 10-11-2007 at 08:12 PM.

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    I can see it now... Madden: the RPG



    Someone shoot me

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    What the heck is Ray Muzyka thinking. EA usually buyout company with great franchise and then screw it up. I used to like EA. Now they are like Microsoft of videogame.

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    Cherry (Level 1)
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    so who ISN'T owned by EA now?

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    Thank god electronic arts hasnt bought out the japan market , bastards.
    U GAIZ JUST DONT LIKE CHANGE , (builds a artificial foundation here)

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    Quote Originally Posted by zemmix View Post
    I guess this means they will never do another KOTOR game.

    No not like the originals, but I wouldnt be surprised to see a bastardized generic action game with the KOTOR brand "fingers crossed". Plus it would have a great hip-hop soundtrack!

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    Next up from Pandemic, Destroy All Humans! 2008 (followed by Destroy All Humans! 2009, ad infinitum).

    Hasn't EA done enough to the gaming community already...
    If I failed to leave feedback for you on a deal, please contact me.
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    Cherry (Level 1) insinion's Avatar
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    Atleast Atari still has the rights on Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Dungeons & Dragons and Neverwinter Nights..

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    Quote Originally Posted by gum_drops View Post
    No not like the originals, but I wouldnt be surprised to see a bastardized generic action game with the KOTOR brand "fingers crossed". Plus it would have a great hip-hop soundtrack!
    And somehow be FILLED with ads for the latest cars and energy drinks.

    Bioware, Pandemic, nice knowing you. See you on the other side, I guess.

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    Some douche Richter Belmount's Avatar
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    I can imagine the soundtrack being like that in mecenaries 2 , hmm maybe we can expect a urban turn based role playing game soon.
    U GAIZ JUST DONT LIKE CHANGE , (builds a artificial foundation here)

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    Cherry (Level 1) Nick's Avatar
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    (OO) It's all lining up....EA buys BioWare...Walmart buys EA...Starbucks and Walmart merge..NOooOoooo!! The locusts are everywhere! Get off me!
    Last edited by Nick; 10-13-2007 at 03:20 AM.

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    ServBot (Level 11) Rob2600's Avatar
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    Isn't EA the company that charges $50 for roster updates?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rob2600 View Post
    Isn't EA the company that charges $50 for roster updates?
    Not only do they charge for it, they successfully collect it each and every year.

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