EA Console out by 2012?

[rdelizo35]

5/15/08

EA Console Announced by 2012

Posted by TanookiTravis

Do you think a fourth gaming console could enter the market and have all four survive? Many were surprised with the fact that three could survive after the last generation ended. All were profitable last generation and even now, with the start of a new generation, all three companies are making (or starting to make) profits in their gaming divisions. But how would a fourth entry in the gaming industry compete?

If the fourth console was backed by Electronic Arts (EA), that's how.

At first thought it would be easy to think that a fourth console would fail in an already crowded market. Microsoft and Sony are dueling with blades it seems, each trying to one-up the other, while Nintendo is trying to create a new audience. Thrown in the mix of things are third-party companies trying to figure out which of their games will succeed on which systems. EA is one of the only third-party companies large enough to structure an entirely new strategy.

Electronic Arts, the largest third-party developer in the industry, is about to take things into their own hands. No longer will they be forced to decide which existing console to put their games on. No longer will the decisions of their future be made by other companies. In the very near future, EA will have successfully purchased a company by the name of Take-Two (the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series).

In the last few years EA has purchased multiple developers (listed below) putting them in a prime position to call the shots. All they need now is Take-Two.

• Bioware
• Pandemic Studios
• Black Box Games
• Studio 33
• Mythic
• Criterion
• Maybe Ubisoft

There are some smaller game development and networking companies not in the list above but it's plain to see that just in the last few years alone EA has managed to gather up a hefty sized list of developers. Dare I say EA has enough development power to sustain an entire system on it's own. Just imagine the sheer mess it would make for Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo if EA decided to stop producing games for their systems.

If you are curious, here is a quick list of games (or series) that would soon be exclusive to the EA PSWiiBox (name copyrighted).

1. Madden Football
2. Grand Theft Auto
3. FIFA Soccer
4. All other sports titles
5. Bioshock
6. Sims (all versions)
7. Spore
8. Rock Band
9. Burnout
10. Battlefield
11. Medal of Honor
12. Skate!
13. SSX
14. Black
15. Need for Speed
16. Command & Conquer
17. BOOM BLOX (I had to throw that one in there)

Link: http://gamegym.blogspot.com/2008/05/...e-by-2012.html


Let the speculation begin.

[PVarck31]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

If EA did this and made all the ea titles exclusive to their system I think it would work. Although I don't know how easy it would be for them to get third party support.

[Jet Sufferer]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

Funny how perceptions change, I used to think EA is going to make _____ product? Oh yeah, baby I can't wait.

Now I think EA is going to make ______ product? Oh no.

[rdelizo35]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

If EA did this and made all the ea titles exclusive to their system I think it would work. Although I don't know how easy it would be for them to get third party support.

PJV31,

Not sure on how well EA would garner third party support. However, if all their EA titles (Madden, NBA Live, etc.) were exclusives to their console, that would probably mean that for those guys wanting to play EA games, especially the sports franchises, they might need to migrate to EA's console platform to do so.

IMO, a key element of EA's future success lies in third party support. If they were to acquire Take-Two and Ubisoft, that would definitely help them in that regard.

You know that if they (EA) developed a new console, the Big 2 (Sony, Microsoft) would not be happy campers. I don't think that it would affect the Nintendo Wii very much because I don't think many Wii owners play sports games much on that console.

[Knight165]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

Sure...if EA wants to really alienate anyone on the fence about them and their company philosophy.....which is gorge themselves on anyone and anything and then force feed the orphans they are in charge of.
I don't see what the need is for this.
Does EA have trouble developing titles it wants on the market?
Are they really so twisted up about not getting the MLB license?
If I was an EA stockholder(and I was.....I bailed out a while ago)...I'd be very worried about the decision making in this company if this is true.
This company has a recently bit off more than it can chew(ie...the NFL license....STILL in the red every year thanks to this deal..although they had no choice...they couldn't lose this license...they went a bit overboard).....it's looking to do so again(the TT deal)...
..and if this is true...they want to add ANOTHER sure money LOSER...a console.
In an effort to be the only kid on the block...EA is willing to hemorrhage MORE money.
Ooof.....sell before it's too late kiddies.

M.K.
Knight165

[bkfount]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

I'd like to know if they would be allowed to do this under their licensing agreements with the various leagues. Also, no matter how you do it, going from multiplatform releases to console exclusive will cut sales of a franchise. Add into that the costs they would eat up front even putting the console out.

This is always an interesting topic, but I just think EA sees the cash in being a large 3rd party company that develops and publishes games for numerous consoles. They will always have the kind of leverage on the consoles that being a top 3rd party company brings. MS killed off their own in house sports developer to get EA to come over to the first xbox and on Live.

[Brandwin]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

Damn... I guess I wouldn't be able to play sports games anymore.

[devilsjaw]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

Damn... I guess I wouldn't be able to play sports games anymore.

I would still be able to play The Show, PES, 2k basketball (maybe). I think a move like this would force Microsoft to bring back it's sports division, and they could contend financially with EA for all the sports licenses. The sports video game business would get even dirtier than it's been the past few years.

[Heelfan71]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

probably be real buggy and not even work right.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

There's not even real talk of this happening, just people speculating. EA is not going into the console business, plain and simple.

And to believe a story written by "TanookiTravis" LOL

[CaptainZombie]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

Funny thing is that I have thought about this several times with EA and I wouldn't put it past them. I bet they could pull it off too with such a huge sports library that would be exclusive and Madden alone would sell systems. Plus, look at all the franchises that they have............shoot, they would be like a Nintendo where first party content would rule the console. If they opened this console up to smaller studios for 3rd party support, why should they care if larger 3rd party companies want to publish/develop games for the EA system.

With them cooking something up with Take Two now...........imagine GTA V being exclusive to this system too.

[DTX3]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

EA cant even make games without patching them, what makes them think they can make a console that works?

[ehh]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

With the first party stuff wouldn't this mean that MVP Baseball would be back?

[PVarck31]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

And to believe a story written by "TanookiTravis" LOL

Maybe he wears his Tanooki suit when he writes his articles.

[Altimus]

Re: EA Console out by 2012?

I don't see this happening.

Three big boys in the market already with established support. Hardware/software/applications.

How do you get customers? Exclusives. Make all/most EA games exclusives. But how do you make money on games that have a customer base of 0 for the console?

Not to mention they would lose exclusive contracts like NFL, NCAA, and whatever else they own if those games went exclusive.

The risk is way too high for EA to enter this kind of thing and there really is no reason to. If one of the three were to drop out than maybe, but none of those three will drop out.