Originally posted by Senomar

so long good RPG games from bioware! no seriously EA has THE worst track record ever about ruining good games with too many expansions and sh*******ty customer support. I loved almost every game Bioware came out with. Now i have no intention of buying anymore.

Torrential

why does EA make me cry to slepe every night?

SoE is considerably worse to their customers than EA, but EA treats their programmers like crap, so they never get any of the good ones.

Originally posted by Czzarre

 

Originally posted by Senomar

so long good RPG games from bioware! no seriously EA has THE worst track record ever about ruining good games with too many expansions and sh*******ty customer support. I loved almost every game Bioware came out with. Now i have no intention of buying anymore.

I thought that distinction belonged to SOE

 

Torrential

touche! yeah SOE totally ruined SWG but EA is still not worth licking the dirt off my shoes .... oh wait thats dog sh*t..... well they are worth that.

Originally posted by seabass2003

Didn't see this posted but just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this?

Far as my thoughts, I'm sticking with Bioware for right now. The first product that comes out resulting from EAs input will help me decide to stay or go. Right now, all the Bioware titles out are pre-EA input. So, can't really make any decision right now.

Originally posted by Korusus

We should be hearing something more about the deal sometime this month.  As far as I can tell it hasn't actually gone through yet considering 1) we haven't heard anything (unless I'm missing something) and 2) Bioware's site doesn't have a giant EA logo at the bottom yet.

I think they said it was supposed to close sometime in January.

Maybe after that they'll finally open up about Dragon Age.  I'm tired of all this cloak and dagger stuff.

Electronic Arts has announced that it has completed its purchase of VG Holding Corp, making final the company's acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic Studios under the EA Games label, with which the company gains ten new franchises based on six wholly-owned IP.

EA Games president Frank Gibeau will oversee both studios within his organization, and BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have each been named as vice presidents of EA and co-general managers of BioWare. Similarly, Pandemic's Andrew Goldman and Josh Resnick have each been named vice presidents of EA and co-general managers of Pandemic, while Greg Borrud has been named vice president of EA and chief production officer of Pandemic Studios.

EA has said it aims to broaden its portfolio through the acquisition of the two labels, hoping to attain a competitive position in the RPG, action and adventure genres. EA agreed to pay up to $620 million in cash to the stockholders of the studios' parent, VG Holding Corp, and also said it would issue up to an additional $155 million in equity to certain vested or high-performing employees of VG Holding Corp.

EA also assumed outstanding VG Holding Corp. stock options, and agreed to lend VG Holding Corp. up to $35 million through the closing of the acquisition.

Said Gibeau, “BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios are two world-class studios and bring strong, highly compatible cultures of creative excellence to the EA Games Label. Their strengths in the RPG, action and adventure genres further broadens EA’s portfolio, and reinforces our commitment to creating the world’s greatest interactive entertainment.”

And this was what I had found yesterday.

Chertsey, UK., January 7, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of VG Holding Corp. and has officially welcomed BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios to the EA Games Label. The addition of these studios vaults EA into a competitive position in the RPG, action and adventure genres. The two studios have been recognized for creating some of the highest-quality games in the industry and will bring ten new franchises to EA, based on six wholly-owned IP.

Frank Gibeau, president of the EA Games Label, will oversee the studios within his organization. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk of BioWare Corp. have each been named as Vice Presidents of EA and Co-General Managers of BioWare Corp. Pandemic Studios’ Andrew Goldman and Josh Resnick have each been named Vice Presidents of EA and Co-General Managers of Pandemic Studios, while Greg Borrud has been named Vice President of EA and Chief Production Officer of Pandemic Studios.

“BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios are two world-class studios and bring strong, highly compatible cultures of creative excellence to the EA Games Label,” said Mr. Gibeau. “Their strengths in the RPG, action and adventure genres further broadens EA’s portfolio, and reinforces our commitment to creating the world’s greatest interactive entertainment.”

“Our new EA partnership is already proving to be both positive and productive,” said Mr. Resnick. “Pandemic Studios prides itself upon its creative independence while being the best place for top industry talent to work. These values continue to be upheld by all levels of EA and we couldn’t be more excited about the future of our studio and our games.”

Mr. Muzyka added, “EA has shown great respect for the creative integrity of our studios and BioWare’s core values of quality in our workplace, quality in our products, and entrepreneurship. Operating as a city-state within the larger EA studio family, our talented teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin are empowered to continue delivering powerful emotional experiences through our story-driven games.”

In connection with the acquisition, EA will issue equity awards without stockholder approval pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rules 4350(i)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv). These equity awards, which EA had agreed to grant at the time it announced the acquisition of VG Holding Corp., will consist of promissory notes payable in shares and restricted stock units, or “RSUs,” with respect to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares of EA’s common stock and will be granted as retention incentives to five employee founders of BioWare and Pandemic. Approximately 2.1 million of the 2.8 million shares underlying the promissory notes and RSUs will vest over time, provided that, among other things, the respective recipient continues to be an employee or service provider to EA (or one of its subsidiaries) through each applicable vesting date. Approximately 700,000 of the remaining RSUs vest based upon the achievement of enumerated performance objectives tied to the release of new products, provided that, among other things, the respective recipient continues to be an employee or service provider to EA (or one of its subsidiaries). EA also assumed outstanding VGH stock options to acquire, on an as-converted basis, approximately 1.2 million shares of EA stock, which are widely-held by employees of VG Holding Corp., BioWare and Pandemic.

Sorry for the long post.

Looks like a lot of people are misinformed about Electronic Arts. EA is a publishing company that publishes video games and the like but they have many divisions. They don't even make their own games but instead do the distribution and marketing so how the hell would it be that they need programmers? If you hate EA that much not to play anything that they have associations with then I guess you won't be playing Warhammer online since it's gonna be published by EA and developed by EA Mythic.

Tons of theories but i guess we will just have to wait and see, the fusion might be good, or not. Only time will tell.

Originally posted by seabass2003

 

Originally posted by Korusus

We should be hearing something more about the deal sometime this month.  As far as I can tell it hasn't actually gone through yet considering 1) we haven't heard anything (unless I'm missing something) and 2) Bioware's site doesn't have a giant EA logo at the bottom yet.

I think they said it was supposed to close sometime in January.

Maybe after that they'll finally open up about Dragon Age.  I'm tired of all this cloak and dagger stuff.

Well, this is what I found I guess thats why I posted. It has gone through and is finalized.

 

 

Electronic Arts has announced that it has completed its purchase of VG Holding Corp, making final the company's acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic Studios under the EA Games label, with which the company gains ten new franchises based on six wholly-owned IP.

There's a few surprises in this press release though.  That Ray and Greg are now Vice Presidents of EA was unexpected.  I'd imagine this is a compromise to give Bioware greater autonomy.  Either that, or the V.P. title is little more than a ceremonial designation.  They're also co-general managers of Bioware which means they're still in charge at least nominally. 

All in all, it could be worse I suppose.  They could have fired Ray and Greg outright and taken over the day to day operations of Bioware.  It looks like their buddy-buddy relationship with EA's CEO has payed off.

Originally posted by liddokun

Looks like a lot of people are misinformed about Electronic Arts. EA is a publishing company that publishes video games and the like but they have many divisions. They don't even make their own games but instead do the distribution and marketing so how the hell would it be that they need programmers? If you hate EA that much not to play anything that they have associations with then I guess you won't be playing Warhammer online since it's gonna be published by EA and developed by EA Mythic.

Actually EA is a developer & a publisher (i think  they're learning to be better publishers ) & has direct in house game divisions (companies they closed fully and mergered into their alien podded corporate division buildings) and its those direct employees programmers and artists a like that EAspouse was speaking for.   Personally I wouldn't work directly under EA even if promised a million dollars since it means signing away your very soul.   Mythic, Bioware, and Pandamic are atleast strong companies on their own...so their employees as long as they remain strong and they dont fubar themselves like Origins did (according to its own people mind you)...will be safe from the terror. 

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Originally posted by liddokun
Looks like a lot of people are misinformed about Electronic Arts. EA is a publishing company that publishes video games and the like but they have many divisions. They don't even make their own games but instead do the distribution and marketing so how the hell would it be that they need programmers? If you hate EA that much not to play anything that they have associations with then I guess you won't be playing Warhammer online since it's gonna be published by EA and developed by EA Mythic.

---

You are the one misinformed about EA. They not only have many divisions that are EA creations(making them EA right) who create many of their titles, but own/ oversee or partner with the many studios that fit into the umbrella. Studios like Mythic, Dice, Flagship and such. That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure you can find many more.

Hell, I'm willing to bet if you type into google :EA creates/developes, publishes, and distributes you will find many hits because that's exactly what they do. Not just one or the other. That's like saying Microsoft doesn't make games...they own studios that do. Well, they also have a division that creates their own games in house. Another publisher that does the same thing...Lucas Arts. They have published I think Like 99% of their games. Created a certain percentage of those on their own while the others were with the help of outside studios like Bioware.

Added, If I recall correctly, the last few Bond games were made inhouse by EA and not some partnering studio or one they bought. I could be wrong though. Maybe I should wiki it or actually research it.

Originally posted by Senomar

Originally posted by Czzarre

 

Originally posted by Senomar

so long good RPG games from bioware! no seriously EA has THE worst track record ever about ruining good games with too many expansions and sh*******ty customer support. I loved almost every game Bioware came out with. Now i have no intention of buying anymore.

I thought that distinction belonged to SOE

 

Torrential

touche! yeah SOE totally ruined SWG but EA is still not worth licking the dirt off my shoes .... oh wait thats dog sh*t..... well they are worth that.

hahahah :)

The problem with both Sony and EA is neither of them listen to what the people want.  They just make games they want to make and hope people will buy them.  Now companies like Valve, Blizzard and a few other listen to what the people say and attempt to make games that we want.  A good company always listens to its customers because the customer is always right.  Plus neither company does anything revolutionary.  The whole idea of game developing is to better yourself with every game, as processors and video cards get better and not just in looks.  Valve made Half-Life and also made a game thats modded even now, then they made Half-life 2 and they didn't just bring it out, they waited until it was ready.  They could have brought it out earlier but they did the right thing and they made sure it was a good game.  I just hope Valve keeps doing this.  Blizzard they made Warcraft and Starcraft which were great games, and then they made WOW which is a good game and a great success for them, hopefully the next MMO they make will be just as good. 

I heard on G4 someone said that game developers should let the people make the mods which will make the games better.  Which is true, if the developers won't make the games we want, then make mod kits and let the people make the games. 

Originally posted by Guintu

 

 

hahahah :)

The problem with both Sony and EA is neither of them listen to what the people want.  They just make games they want to make and hope people will buy them.  Now companies like Valve, Blizzard and a few other listen to what the people say and attempt to make games that we want.  A good company always listens to its customers because the customer is always right.  Plus neither company does anything revolutionary.  The whole idea of game developing is to better yourself with every game, as processors and video cards get better and not just in looks.  Valve made Half-Life and also made a game thats modded even now, then they made Half-life 2 and they didn't just bring it out, they waited until it was ready.  They could have brought it out earlier but they did the right thing and they made sure it was a good game.  I just hope Valve keeps doing this.  Blizzard they made Warcraft and Starcraft which were great games, and then they made WOW which is a good game and a great success for them, hopefully the next MMO they make will be just as good. 

I heard on G4 someone said that game developers should let the people make the mods which will make the games better.  Which is true, if the developers won't make the games we want, then make mod kits and let the people make the games. 

Ah man yea...blizzard and valve original and making things their customers want.  Good one there.  Warcraft and Starcraft are not original at all.  Half-life 2 was not revolutionary either.  All of these companies could give a damn about you or I.  They only want your money.