EA Acquires Bioware and Pandemic Studios

[Omega Amen]

Today, Electronic Arts announced their acquisition of the joint game developer group, Bioware and Pandemic Studios. Click here for the news story.

Bioware is famous for its RPGs such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the upcoming Mass Effect. Pandemic is noted for Mercenaries, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Star Wars: Battlefront.

I think this pic is the only way to convey my feelings on EA acquiring these studios:

[HiddenWoodchuck]

Wow, that is very shocking to say the least... I admit I enjoy a few games by EA, but Bioware does such a great job making RPG games, and I just can't see EA putting out really good RPG games, but maybe this is why they bought them... I would think they are gonna let them still make games like they normally do... though I could be wrong... it would be horrible if lots of changes were made... as for Pandemic, I loved Battlefront and Mercenaries was good... FSW was okay, but I would like to see another Battlefront... I already know the new Mercenaries is coming.

I dunno, this is really unexpected, but I guess it shouldn't be anymore...

Oh yeah, and I really wish Bioware would do another Jade Empire!

[Godly Paladin]

I just saw this on Joystiq three seconds before I saw this thread. This sucks like a Hoover. Bioware was one of the few companies that seemed to be incapable of making bad games, and now it's a satellite of EA, the mother of all cash-in atrocities? And taking Pandemic as well is icing on the cake.

[Cognitive Gear]

Someone spare the children.

Seriously, though, this could be an OK situation for Bioware. That is, as long as EA leaves them alone, and just throws cash at them, similar to the Bungie/MS situation. I remember the outcry about that deal, and it turned out to be the greatest thing that ever happened to Bungie.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well EA and Valve are hitting it off fairly well (Unlike freaken Vivendi) so I imagine that if EA plays their cards right, they'll have no problem.

Edit: I misunderstood. The ACQUIRED the rights to the companies, not become their publisher. XD

Yeah, they might be off to their doom. XD

[blkmage]

Looks like I'll have to cross Bioware off of my list of prospective employers >.>