Rumors About EA/THQ Takeover May Be Right On

Steve_OS · 09-23-2009, 06:58 AM

Could EA takeover THQ? Saw this over at PastaPadre.

Quote:


	"As a THQ shareholder, I'm obviously biased in favor of a deal. But just take an objective look at the video-game industry landscape, and you'll see that the rumor-mongers just might be on the money, with EA playing the part of buyer. EA's flagship sports game business is clearly in trouble. Despite stellar reviews, Madden NFL 2009 failed to excite consumers and thus suffered a unit sales decline from last year's edition. And if a critically-acclaimed Madden game can't move units, how well can NHL 10 and FIFA Soccer 10 possibly do in a holiday season chock-full of megahits like Activision's (ATVI) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Microsoft's (MSFT) Halo 3: ODST? EA clearly needs a new sports hit, and THQ's hugely successful Ultimate Fighting Championship franchise would fit that role to a T. 2010's competing EA Sports MMA game will face an uphill battle in generating big sales numbers, simply because it doesn't have a well-known brand like UFC to attach to it. EA could fix that problem by using some of its cash hoard on buying THQ."

sb24 · 09-23-2009, 09:53 AM

Not good IMO.

DaReapa · 09-23-2009, 10:37 AM

That may be all fine and dandy for EA from a business standpoint, but it would be a loss for the consumer. Complacency with having no competition would be inevitable for EA just as we have witnessed it happen with Madden. That's the reason why a lot of consumers, myself included, were happy that the EA/Take Two deal never fell through. What EA needs to do is let the drop off in unit sales drive them to become more creative in putting out a quality product instead of constantly trying buyout the competition to compensate for their lack of innovation.

bigjake62505 · 09-23-2009, 11:46 AM

If you can't beat them, buy them!

TreyIM2 · 09-23-2009, 12:18 PM

It's all about UFC, if you ask me. Like it was said in the article, EA's MMA title will be of a lesser name and the competition between THQ's title would be tough for EA, just like one of the possible biggest reason's for EA wanting Take Two, before, was NBA 2K. They are really looking like a company that wants to COMPLETELY snuff out the competition and I'm actually starting to believe, now, that EA initiated the NFL license take over instead of the opposite being reported.

DaReapa - I agree with you to a degree. I never completely thought competition stimulates better games and I think, contrary to belief and you can check all the different features Madden has tried over the year, that Madden has tried to be VERY innovative. It's just that Madden's problem has been that they would try to do these things that they thought were innovative instead of fixing the core gameplay. This year's Madden, they did try, but I think the problem with some of their legacy issues in the game still being apparent is inherent with their sports engine. I still see legacy issues in the Live 10 demo, as well, and I think all their sports games use the same engine which is the foundation that they can't just tear out because the building would completely collapse, dig? Hopefully, they have a new engine that's been in development and they can whip it out sooner or later because I'm sure it takes years of devving and getting the kinks out, as much as possible, for it to work right.

JerseySuave4 · 09-23-2009, 12:22 PM

EA is trying to take over everything

bkfount · 09-23-2009, 12:58 PM

It's somewhat disappointing to see this turn into another hate EA thing, when the first paragraph of the link even mentions many companies being interested in THQ, including time warner, viacom, and news corp. These companies are ahead of EA in ability and desire to buy THQ. The Wall Street Journal even mentions how these companies may pay a premium for THQ.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...22-712777.html

DubTrey1 · 09-23-2009, 01:29 PM

I suppose this was only inevitable. EA recognizes good IP's and makes sense to move in on them and utilize them if possible. I only hope they flourish under EA's hand rather than the assumed "lack of comp" that most think will happen and the games fall off.

Grydnt Vektr211 · 09-23-2009, 02:32 PM

here we go again

Mr.Wednesday · 09-23-2009, 03:57 PM

What about a Microsoft takeover of EA?

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10602...cm_ven=GOOGLEN

09-23-2009, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
sb24 MVP OVR: 20 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,044	Re: Rumors About EA/THQ Takeover May Be Right On Not good IMO.

09-23-2009, 12:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
bkfount All Star OVR: 21 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 7,136	Re: Rumors About EA/THQ Takeover May Be Right On It's somewhat disappointing to see this turn into another hate EA thing, when the first paragraph of the link even mentions many companies being interested in THQ, including time warner, viacom, and news corp. These companies are ahead of EA in ability and desire to buy THQ. The Wall Street Journal even mentions how these companies may pay a premium for THQ. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...22-712777.html

09-23-2009, 02:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Grydnt Vektr211 Mercy Extended. John 3:16 OVR: 37 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 1,217	Re: Rumors About EA/THQ Takeover May Be Right On here we go again __________________ *HOCKEY'S MY FAV SPORT!* *LETSGOHARDNOW* RAMS *JUICE* LG JAGUARS 6-3 EAGLES PHILLIES DEVILS CELTICS

09-23-2009, 03:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mr.Wednesday Let us begin... OVR: 18 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pomona, CA Posts: 1,443	Re: Rumors About EA/THQ Takeover May Be Right On What about a Microsoft takeover of EA? http://www.thestreet.com/story/10602...cm_ven=GOOGLEN __________________ I bleed Dodger Blue, and love the Lakeshow! PSN: PhiNuPi XBL: Sgt J Smitty

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09-23-2009, 10:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
DaReapa Rookie OVR: 2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 12	That may be all fine and dandy for EA from a business standpoint, but it would be a loss for the consumer. Complacency with having no competition would be inevitable for EA just as we have witnessed it happen with Madden. That's the reason why a lot of consumers, myself included, were happy that the EA/Take Two deal never fell through. What EA needs to do is let the drop off in unit sales drive them to become more creative in putting out a quality product instead of constantly trying buyout the competition to compensate for their lack of innovation.

09-23-2009, 11:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
bigjake62505 Pro OVR: 18 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 742	If you can't beat them, buy them!

09-23-2009, 12:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
TreyIM2 Rookie OVR: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 346	It's all about UFC, if you ask me. Like it was said in the article, EA's MMA title will be of a lesser name and the competition between THQ's title would be tough for EA, just like one of the possible biggest reason's for EA wanting Take Two, before, was NBA 2K. They are really looking like a company that wants to COMPLETELY snuff out the competition and I'm actually starting to believe, now, that EA initiated the NFL license take over instead of the opposite being reported. DaReapa - I agree with you to a degree. I never completely thought competition stimulates better games and I think, contrary to belief and you can check all the different features Madden has tried over the year, that Madden has tried to be VERY innovative. It's just that Madden's problem has been that they would try to do these things that they thought were innovative instead of fixing the core gameplay. This year's Madden, they did try, but I think the problem with some of their legacy issues in the game still being apparent is inherent with their sports engine. I still see legacy issues in the Live 10 demo, as well, and I think all their sports games use the same engine which is the foundation that they can't just tear out because the building would completely collapse, dig? Hopefully, they have a new engine that's been in development and they can whip it out sooner or later because I'm sure it takes years of devving and getting the kinks out, as much as possible, for it to work right.

09-23-2009, 12:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
JerseySuave4 MVP OVR: 14 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,388	EA is trying to take over everything

09-23-2009, 01:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
DubTrey1 Pro OVR: 30 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 746	I suppose this was only inevitable. EA recognizes good IP's and makes sense to move in on them and utilize them if possible. I only hope they flourish under EA's hand rather than the assumed "lack of comp" that most think will happen and the games fall off.