Rumour: Apple to takeover EA?
Could Apple be looking to takeover Electronic Arts? It seems doubtful, but that doesn't mean it is impossible.
By 'some', we actually mean CNBC's Guy Adami who has heard rumours that the Steve Jobs and Co. are eyeing the games developer and publisher as a possible acquisition, probably with some incredibly fashionable telescope.
Writing on TheStreet, Adami mentions that he's heard chatter of the possibly buy lately, though he doesn't offer any solid predictions or lend any credibility to the rumour. As Kotaku points out too, Adami's reputation is a little sketchy too and the news shouldn't be believed just because Adami works on CNBC's popular financial show, Fast Money.
In fact, we'll say that we think the news is incredibly unlikely and that while EA is probably the right publisher for Apple to target if it's looking to get into game development thanks to EA's mass-market appeal, there are other companies that the iPod giant could look at first if it wanted a foothold in software development.
Electronic Arts has had a turbulent history as of late too and while the portfolio of the company has been nicely rounded out by the acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic Studios, recent experiments with new franchises have met with disappointing sales despite positive press.
Whether or not the rumour is true though, it's certainly interesting. What's your opinion on the rumour? Could Apple really be looking to get into game development? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums Replythis would be the end of everything
The idea of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age being on Macs only makes me cry.... nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! j/k
but you got a good point tejas, and I cannot imagine having to buy a mac to play games... ewwww
No, Games for WIndows Live are primarily made by Microsoft Game Studios, not EA.
Personally, i don't see it happening, but if it does, then, ah bugger
Sam
Apple will bribe them all with limited edition, EA badged, gem studded 200GB SSD Iphones from the future with all the fart apps pre-loaded.
Maybe Vipers but no chance of a pig flying a Raptor at least not solo....
This whole story sounds like complete fiction and tbh guys I'm not sure why your even giving it web space not worth the 20kb used to store it.
I can't even imagine a corporation that would be more mercenary than this fusion...
And Apple have wanted gaming on the Mac, however, it appears that they lack the commitment to work with developers. There is a quote from Gabe Newell somewhere about Apple having ambitious intentions for gaming, but never being able to pull through. Given this, taking a game developer on board and the wealth of experience that would bring makes quite a lot of sense. Sure, starting with someone smaller would probably be more realistic, but stranger things have happened.
I highly doubt it'd happen, but at the same time I sincerely hope it doesn't..
Yeah, and I'm the emperor of the universe.
I think someone has got "could" mixed up with "are interested in", and I would say it's Guy Adami..
How about a pilot with H1N1
QFT.
They ruin any franchise they get their hands on
Did you think that nothing could be worse than EA?
Do stay awake at night wondering how or if EA can make gaming worse?
WELL THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!1111111111
Coming to a depressing reality near you! It is Apple Electronic Arts! Do the cost of games have you down well uplift your spirits with higher prices! Is captain bland's monotonous adventures not exciting enough, well how about if we add RAINBOWS! Are free mods actually making your game half way worth buying well now you can buy these mods for a price greater than free at only $.99! Who needs to enjoy playing the game when you could have fun opening the box and looking at a marvel of corporate packaging! The disc is even reflective so you can use it as a mirror to look at the packaging from cool angles and even locate expired coupons that you only dream of using!
*Apple games will only work on approved apple products and are guarantied to be 100% unoffensive. Games bought over igames can only be played on 3 computers or you will need to rebuy the game. If your game is not working it is recommended that you buy it again via igames. If your HDD gets corrupted you can not download the game again without rebuying it. It is therefore recommended that you backup all of your games, for such a need apple makes the apple backup server for $10,000 sold separately. Apple backup server backups 10 games and additional backup space can be unlocked from the device for only $.99 per GB! As an added bonus the apple backup server can **** rainbows! If these devices or your lost money does not make you feel good you likely suffer from depression and are therefore qualified for apple anti depressants made from real rainbows. Check you local drugstore for details.
you win an ecookie
they should just rename the company grabbag.. hire a bunch of swindlers and poker players to run it.. next big title crysis:mac special edition
...unless Apple thinks that they can market and move their own console. That would be interesting, but very likely to be full of epic fail. I see the applications that Mac has written for the PC vs. their Mac counterparts and I am pretty sure that Apple hasn't a clue in making decent Windows-based software, let alone games (You could argue that EA would be making the software, but you know Apple would have to throw its UI hat into the ring - fine when you control every part of the OS underneath it).
As far as affording it, aren't they sitting on 14-15 billion in cash? I know that isn't enough alone, but that's without any other outside involvement.
on a related note, gaming on Mac sucks. Apple needs to stop selling those awful mighty mouse and start market more on those Razor gaming mouse for Mac (aka, white edition)
Why would a great VIDEO gaming company, give their name to a company that has Hardly ANY experience with video gaming?
not because Apple owned it, because Apple would make the dumbest game possible. Pin the tail on the Donkey 3D, or Dust That Surface, or Wash My Car Interactive Online Multi Player....
I hope you mean 'great' as in 'great big', or we're just gonna have a big falling out.
EA = one of the most hated gaming companies about
Apple = expensive + proprietry and anti-consumer attitude but nice products.
If the two did merge i really can't see what would end up happening...
would Apple make EA worse or maybe vice versa, or perhaps they'd counter each other out a bit and make both companies better... :?
I'm so confused!
Or the 2 evils could combine and form the Antichrist?