EA to acquire Bioware: the Sega connection

by Hudson on October 11th, 2007

R.I.P.
(1995-2007)

EA has announced it will be buying developers Pandemic and (more importantly) BioWare. Why should Sega Nerds care? For one, it means one of the most promising developers in the industry is about to be absorbed by the good people who brought us such innovative titles as WWII: Again! and Need for Speed: Rehash!

In a more Sega-centric sense, the acquisition also calls into question the fate of the elusive Sonic RPG being developed by BioWare. As a software company Sega is in direct competition with EA.

Will Sega be willing to let one of its biggest rivals develop and profit from a game starring its most iconic character? Time will tell. Stick with us here at Sega Nerds as we try to get some answers.

For anybody out there experiencing deja vu, another developer working for Sega was recently acquired by a competitor: Bizarre Creations, bought up by rival publisher Activision on September 26, 2007. Bizarre Creations is currently developing The Club, and will finish the game for Sega despite its acquisition by Activision. The Bioware/Sega situation is likely to play out similarly.

[acquisition news via Kotaku]

Tags: Sonic RPG

14 opinions for EA to acquire Bioware: the Sega connection

Alvin
Oct 11, 2007 at 4:38 pm

Yeah, Sega should have bought them first…
Kogen
Oct 11, 2007 at 5:07 pm

They can’t break the contract, so the game will be done. Though I don’t know what they’d have in their contract, but I assume it’d be illegal for EA to say “stop making the game”.
Saphion
Oct 11, 2007 at 5:29 pm

WHAT DEVILRY IS THIS?

EA can burn in hell for all I care. Bastards. I can safely say I’ve never bought a single EA games in all 20 of my years of gaming.
Raidens Huge Laser
Oct 11, 2007 at 11:23 pm

WTF

I live near EAs headquarters in Los Angeles. If the Sonic RPG still exists after all this I will personaly make sure EA doesnt do anything to it. (Aside from putting their dirty name on the box)
shadow1w2
Oct 12, 2007 at 12:28 am

EA must have grouped their slaves for this one.
I swear, its like they just sit and wait for the right oportunity to just jump in and buy it all out.
They did it with the NFL license.
Not to mention they were threatening to take down Ubisoft by trying to buythem out.

EA should relaly start worring about their image I say. Though most poeple dont really notice this part of the gaming scene.

I miss the origonal Road Rash :/

Still, its all legal crap and Bioware will most likely finish their projects before switching to EA.
Though it seems like a rather well timed snatch attempt.
Ya, EA tends to have a nack for playing dirty these days it seems.
udx
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:08 am

A recent Conference call about Bioware joining Electronic Arts reveals that the Sonic RPG is still on.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15833

The paragraph goes like so

Also asked was how IP might lend itself to Nintendo’s DS or Wii, and John Riccitiello revealed that there is Nintendo platform development underway in both companies, with several unannounced titles in addition to the Sonic The Hedgehog RPG for DS already in development by BioWare.
den
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:19 am

cool,didnt know it was for the ds
...
Oct 12, 2007 at 10:37 am

EA’s dev studios are still autonomous.. nothing will change, bioware is still doing the game.
Alvin
Oct 12, 2007 at 11:02 am

I’ll bet Sega would do everything they can to ensure that EA’s logo does not appear on the title screen.
Jon
Oct 12, 2007 at 5:57 pm

And who can blame them. Thats two great developers sega should’ve bought.
Aki-at
Oct 13, 2007 at 5:49 am

For $855 million though Jon? SEGA’s better off starting its own studio then lash out that sort of money, especially as Sammy’s cocking up whatever profits they make.
alimn
Oct 15, 2007 at 5:31 am

Here is the full news:

Electronic Arts acquires two companies, BioWare and Pandemic Studios, for a sum of over $800 million.

OHHHHH GOD NOOOOOOO! EA is rich but they don’t use from their
money to bring gamers more than a few great games(maybe one or two).

One of the main reasons behind DC’s death was EA,
that’s another reason why I don’t love EA.

Regards-Alimn
Kyle
Oct 15, 2007 at 7:52 pm

Um if you read the gamasutra interview

SEGA and Bioware (aka EA Edmonton) will still be developing the Sonic RPG with SEGA still publishing it, thatwas the agreement and one of the conditions BiOWare laid out to EA.

So no fear guys, haha
CaptainUlt
Nov 4, 2007 at 10:09 am

Sigh. BioWare was a great company, and now, it’s probably just going to be stored in EA’s vault. EA never does RPGs.

But on the bright side, NO SONIC RPG!!! WE CAN HAVE A GOOD 2-D SONIC TITLE INSTEAD!