16 replies to this topic

[phordicus]

http://www.eurogamer...uying-ea-report

Nexon, the South Korean publisher behind MMO behemoth Maple Story, has reportedly contacted EA about making a takeover bid.

A Bloomberg video report carried the story, which apparently originated in a South Korean newspaper.

I haven't had anything good to say about either EA or Bioware in a long time, but this possibility is unexplainably disturbing.

[William Imm]

?!

*head explodes* I'm fine I'm ok I'm fine.

EDIT: For some reason I feel like if this goes through, there should be a Mirror's Edge MMO - or maybe I'm getting slowly insane - pick your choice.

Edited by William Imm, 26 April 2012 - 06:39 PM.

[Tempest]

On the one hand, EA would deserve to get bought out and bent over. On the other hand... I'm not sure if this would be an improvement.

[Archmage Silver]

If this goes through, BioWare won't be better off - I predict that they will be subject to more limitations and outside control on what they can develop and how.

[phordicus]

If this goes through, BioWare won't be better off - I predict that they will be subject to more limitations and outside control on what they can develop and how.

Looking at ME3 and DA2, this would be a good thing.

[Archmage Silver]

If this goes through, BioWare won't be better off - I predict that they will be subject to more limitations and outside control on what they can develop and how.

Looking at ME3 and DA2, this would be a good thing.

Even more mainstream is good now? Let some more suits have their word, that'll go well. That is assuming that BioWare would even be allowed to continue developing these series as anything else than MMOs.

[phordicus]

Even more mainstream is good now?

The docs chose to hand over that control long ago. Bioware's been in steep decline for years now, even before the buyout. Both ME & DAO showed a glimpse of recovery but neither continued the promise. Don't act like Bioware doesn't want to be mainstream.

[Archmage Silver]

Don't act like you know that they want to be mainstream. You don't have any proof about how much EA has been influencing everything after Origins and ME1 to increase sales figures.

[Daulmakan]

Don't act like you know that they want to be mainstream. You don't have any proof about how much EA has been influencing everything after Origins and ME1 to increase sales figures.

“We have data that shows there are a lot of people that enjoy playing RPGs although they won’t necessarily call them RPGs. They’ll play Fallout, Assassin’s Creed and even Call Of Duty, which have these progression elements – you’re putting points into things – but they don’t necessarily associate that as an RPG. So we think that if we expand that out we’ll attract a much bigger audience.”
http://www.nowgamer....s_audience.html

The mainstream turn seems pretty evident to me, and when you look at how terrible their last games have been (not to mention the marketing campaign, ugh), it shows.

On topic, I feel like Tempest. BiowarEA deserve this and more, but I'm not sure if it'd be for the better, actually.

[William Imm]

The mainstream turn seems pretty evident to me, and when you look at how terrible their last games have been (not to mention the marketing campaign, ugh), it shows.

I personally think that the downturn started around when they released..... mmm... *long pause* Sonic Chronicles? A failed attempt a mainstreaming to a really, really divided fanbase, and also failed at bringing them together. Don't forget that this is for a speedy platformer game series... *ugh*

Back on topic, I think this will just force Bio to make MMOs for eternity, but, still, I want to see a *true* revival to the Baldur's Gate and KOTOR series of games.

(and someone should make another Mirror's Edge game, but that's just me)

[Almateria]

Sonic Chronicles was pretty good, though. For a Sonic spinoff.


(my 100th post is a bad opinion)

Edited by Almateria, 30 April 2012 - 11:44 AM.

[William Imm]

(my 100th post is a bad opinion)

It happens.

[Vicen]

I feel some of you are far too harsh critics of Bioware...What other companies could of done better with DA2 or ME3 then Bioware? Care to elaborate?

Edited by Vicen, 30 April 2012 - 01:11 PM.

[phordicus]

Daulmakan already did some work for you. Just in case Google/Bing/etc still isn't working over there, here's another:

According to Laidlaw, this shift has opened the Dragon Age franchise up to a much wider audience while still allowing the developer to maintain some of the core RPG attributes that they love.

Edited by phordicus, 30 April 2012 - 09:05 PM.

[Kwiat_W]

Why do most of you think this would be for worse? If they would buy EA it would be to enter the market of "western" type games, to produce different kind of product, aimed at different audience than what they already do. This seems obvious to me.

[Archmage Silver]

Why do most of you think this would be for worse? If they would buy EA it would be to enter the market of "western" type games, to produce different kind of product, aimed at different audience than what they already do. This seems obvious to me.

It's not really a new market for them - there's already Nexon America. Personally I'm very skeptical of them because of their heavy MMO background - the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises are prime candidates for some MMO treatment, and as much as some people like that genre, I don't.

[phordicus]

Distribution of FIFA in Asia. Move along.