EA wants to sell itself, Apple, Disney and Amazon are in consideration, nearly merged with NBCUniversal

[Celebrate Nite]

Disney buys EA and they recast John Madden as a gay fat black woman.

They only do that if the white person in question is a redhead/ginger

See: Ariel from the Little Mermaid

 

[ZMOT]

I would still argue the frostbite mandate had an effect as it happened just as the output came to a halt.
About 2012-2013 was when something seriously wrong happened internally

nah, it was the devs. I mean you got bioware devs on record saying it took them months to implement a third person camera - something that was already in bf3, which came out in 2011. it's also stupid when the fifa team can turn that engine into a fucking sportsball game without much issue. and as I mentioned in the battlefield thread, fucking ubisoft can handle FOUR engines at once, there is zero excuse that EA couldn't handle ONE (two if you count sims, but that's not used by other studios anyway). shit management, shit devs, shit games.

people also forget that bioware was always shit. mass effect 1 was a hackjob with plenty of issues when it came out - and that was unreal engine. and andromeda was literally made by a renamed B-team, no engine would've saved that game (only difference being they could copy shit from stackoverflow and nag epic directly, meanwhile for frostbite they had to ask the swecucks at dice for help, they never had a chance really).

 

[The Demon Pimp of Razgriz]

nah, it was the devs. I mean you got bioware devs on record saying it took them months to implement a third person camera - something that was already in bf3, which came out in 2011. it's also stupid when the fifa team can turn that engine into a fucking sportsball game without much issue. and as I mentioned in the battlefield thread, fucking ubisoft can handle FOUR engines at once, there is zero excuse that EA couldn't handle ONE (two if you count sims, but that's not used by other studios anyway). shit management, shit devs, shit games.

people also forget that bioware was always shit. mass effect 1 was a hackjob with plenty of issues when it came out - and that was unreal engine. and andromeda was literally made by a renamed B-team, no engine would've saved that game (only difference being they could copy shit from stackoverflow and nag epic directly, meanwhile for frostbite they had to ask the swecucks at dice for help, they never had a chance really).

Frostbite was/is a definite issue. Frostbite was never made for a game like Andromeda, for example, a large RPG with multiple procedurally generated planets. The mandate to use Frostbite didn't help their game development as it was tailor made for FPS's, like Battlefield. Doesn't help that the engine isn't resource light.

As for the topic at hand, Bounding into Comics has a free to read article on the subject, for anyone who wants a source not behind a paywall. Meanwhile Clownfish TV has a video on the subject:

As for my opinion on the subject; I can't see why Disney would want EA. They formerly had their own video game publisher, Disney Interactive, which they practically liquidated because they had no idea how to operate in the video game sphere. So they closed all of their developers (except Avalanche Studios, which they sold to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), and now all of their IPs lie dormant. And their studios mostly made good games like Split Second.

As for Apple and Amazon, there has been rumors for years that those two have wanted to get into video games and buy out a major publisher. Well, technically Amazon is already in video games, since they own Amazon Games, but the head of that just stepped down, and Amazon Games hasn't done anything too major since its creation. Its only notable games are Crucible (which was cancelled), Lost Ark, and New World, all MMOs. They have, otherwise, made no major strides in video games. Despite constant speculation to the contrary, Apple has not touched video games at all in recent years. Hard to see them getting into it this late in the game.

The most interesting one listed is NBCUniversal, since its apparently the deal that came the closest to actually succeeding. Its interesting in that the deal, as described, would have basically separated NBCUniversal from Comcast entirely. Maybe a way to get around the fact that as long as Comcast and NBCUniversal remain tied up, the U.S. government would oppose any further expansion of the company, like they opposed their attempted buyout of Time Warner Cable?

But in all of this, I wonder why EA is seeking a buyout now? EA, despite my, and probably everybody else's here, vehement hatred of them, a hatred felt by millions of gamers the world over, is still making hand-over-fist money. Like, beaucoup money. They aren't really hurting economically. Sports games still bring in tons of cash, especially Madden. Apex is still a money winner. And they were willing to blow over a billion dollars to acquire Codemasters recently just so Take-Two wouldn't get them. I find it hard to fathom what would motivate a sell off at this point. I mean, Activision Blizzard is easy to understand, given the current controversy surrounding that company. EA makes little sense to me.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

rostbite was never made for a game like Andromeda, for example, a large RPG with multiple procedurally generated planets.

Neither was Unreal, or idTech[x], CryEngine or any other engine. No engine is made for your game unless you make it yourself. You use it for other reasons, rip some out and keep other things.

Please do not forget that the Bioware cunts complained about, among other things, Frostbite not having a built-in inventory system and that made making an RPG hard!

 

[Xarpho]

EA wasn't looking for a buyout, its NBCUniversal that was going to be the bride in the shotgun marriage. FWIW, this doesn't really make sense to me. "Content" means streaming content and none of the streaming services have actually managed to do a good job of adding vidya in before now. Enjoy your streaming games, everyone. Because everyone just loves streaming games...

Hell, one of the companies that is out-competing NBC-Uni is WB, which actively wanted to sell its game unit.

I was under the impression that Comcast was during well with NBCUniversal. They've had it over a decade.

Diversification was hot back in the 1960s but with the exception of Amazon, it now seems like the megacorps don't play anything well but their own related company.

AT&T went all in on TimeWarner and by the time they sold it to Discovery they had sold off a chunks (TMZ, Crunchyroll). ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global since February) took out the CBS Interactive and Simon & Schuster units soon after the merger. Verizon bought AOL from Time Warner and most of Yahoo! from what was later known as Altaba, but they struggled with it and ended up dumping what was left of it.

Most likely seems that EA will get bought out by some Chinese spyware company.

 

[TVB]

As for Apple and Amazon, there has been rumors for years that those two have wanted to get into video games and buy out a major publisher. Well, technically Amazon is already in video games, since they own Amazon Games, but the head of that just stepped down, and Amazon Games hasn't done anything too major since its creation. Its only notable games are Crucible (which was cancelled), Lost Ark, and New World, all MMOs. They have, otherwise, made no major strides in video games. Despite constant speculation to the contrary, Apple has not touched video games at all in recent years. Hard to see them getting into it this late in the game.

The most interesting one listed is NBCUniversal, since its apparently the deal that came the closest to actually succeeding. Its interesting in that the deal, as described, would have basically separated NBCUniversal from Comcast entirely. Maybe a way to get around the fact that as long as Comcast and NBCUniversal remain tied up, the U.S. government would oppose any further expansion of the company, like they opposed their attempted buyout of Time Warner Cable?

Apple has surprisingly been in the gaming business for a few decades. It's just that they're very niche when compared to Sony or Microsoft. Their Pippin console (co-made by Bandai) was deemed a failure, but they still made games just for the Mac computers. Stuff from the likes of Pangea (known for Bugdom, Nanosaur and Enigmo) come to mind. Also, Apple joined in with their Apple Arcade thing. Still, Apple buying EA is never gonna happen.

As for Amazon, the company is currently buying MGM, and said studio is best known for the James Bond movies which had games made by EA. However, Amazon buy EA (especially in addition to buying MGM) may seem unlikely. Besides, I'm not too sure if Amazon's gaming business might last long.

But yeah, I'm surprised about the NBCUniversal one. Last I check, Comcast was doing okay business with NBCU (even though, and let's be fair, Comcast is still objectively one of the shittiest companies ever). Though I could sorta see what was going on with Warner Bros. being merged to Discovery Channel as well as ViacomCBS being renamed to Paramount Global.

 

[The Demon Pimp of Razgriz]

Neither was Unreal, or idTech[x], CryEngine or any other engine. No engine is made for your game unless you make it yourself. You use it for other reasons, rip some out and keep other things.

Please do not forget that the Bioware cunts complained about, among other things, Frostbite not having a built-in inventory system and that made making an RPG hard!

Not sure what you mean by that. Yes, you have to use an engine to make a game, it doesn't just shit out a game for you; nobody stated otherwise. But that has nothing to do with how easy an engine is to work with or use, the tool set it gives you to work with, or what that engine is ultimately capable of. Engines have have hard limits and limited tool sets. This isn't some controversial or foreign idea.

I was under the impression that Comcast was during well with NBCUniversal. They've had it over a decade.

But yeah, I'm surprised about the NBCUniversal one. Last I check, Comcast was doing okay business with NBCU (even though, and let's be fair, Comcast is still objectively one of the shittiest companies ever). Though I could sorta see what was going on with Warner Bros. being merged to Discovery Channel as well as ViacomCBS being renamed to Paramount Global.

The bigger issue for Comcast is probably the scrutiny the acquisition of NBCUniversal put them under, which will make any other major deal they attempt also fall under ever more scrutiny, and more likely to be rejected. Hence why they want to separate the two companies. See their attempted buyout of Time Warner Cable, which fell apart due to the heavy scrutiny both by the public and the U.S. government, which threatened to kill the deal outright.

Most likely seems that EA will get bought out by some Chinese spyware company.

Not gonna happen. Any major deal with a Chinese company would be scrutinized to hell and back by the United States government, especially with the information of millions of users on the line and potentially open to the Chinese government. It would never go through in this current climate.

As for Amazon, the company is currently buying MGM,

That deal has already gone through. MGM Holdings has been a subsidiary of Amazon for a while now.

Apple has surprisingly been in the gaming business for a few decades. It's just that they're very niche when compared to Sony or Microsoft. Their Pippin console (co-made by Bandai) was deemed a failure, but they still made games just for the Mac computers. Stuff from the likes of Pangea (known for Bugdom, Nanosaur and Enigmo) come to mind. Also, Apple joined in with their Apple Arcade thing.

While Apple may have produced a few games, its nothing major or to write home about. No more than Amazon certainly.

 

[TVB]

The bigger issue for Comcast is probably the scrutiny the acquisition of NBCUniversal put them under, which will make any other major deal they attempt also fall under ever more scrutiny, and more likely to be rejected. Hence why they want to separate the two companies. See their attempted buyout of Time Warner Cable, which fell apart due to the heavy scrutiny both by the public and the U.S. government, which threatened to kill the deal outright.

Now I want to know what company will buy NBCUniversal from Comcast.

That deal has already gone through. MGM Holdings has been a subsidiary of Amazon for a while now.

Oh word? Huh, so maybe Amazon might buy EA just for more James Bond video games? But again, I doubt it.

While Apple may have produced a few games, its nothing major or to write home about. No more than Amazon certainly.

That's because, and once again here, Apple is more niche in the gaming world, and just as a game dev company either.

 

[The Demon Pimp of Razgriz]

Now I want to know what company will buy NBCUniversal from Comcast.

Probably a small list. NBCUniversal's owners still want to maintain some kind of control over the company. Rumor went around that they wanted to merge NBCUniversal with Warner Media, with them splitting ownership of the company with AT&T (of course with Comcast having the slight majority control), but AT&T sold the company to Discovery instead. Conversely, for this deal with EA that supposedly fell through, the plan was apparently for the family of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts to control the new spunoff entity that would merge with EA. Roberts wants to maintain at least some measure of control over whatever new company is created from NBCUniversal, so that will limit potential suitors.

 

[whatever I feel like]

I was under the impression that Comcast was during well with NBCUniversal. They've had it over a decade.

Diversification was hot back in the 1960s but with the exception of Amazon, it now seems like the megacorps don't play anything well but their own related company.

AT&T went all in on TimeWarner and by the time they sold it to Discovery they had sold off a chunks (TMZ, Crunchyroll). ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global since February) took out the CBS Interactive and Simon & Schuster units soon after the merger. Verizon bought AOL from Time Warner and most of Yahoo! from what was later known as Altaba, but they struggled with it and ended up dumping what was left of it.

Most likely seems that EA will get bought out by some Chinese spyware company.

Neither side is doing bad business currently, Comcast just wants to divest so that their internet stuff is not lumped in with the tv/film stuff. This isn't because one is better than the other, but because they have different growth trajectories and thus appeal to different types of stock buyers. The people in charge want to split the company, and the stock, and probably unload whichever half they don't want (the tv half, they don't want the tv half.)

Meanwhile, EA isn't being eaten here, its the one that would be in charge of the new company. It would be like when Disney "brought" Pixar but kept the Pixar management team while all the Disney people retired. And if the deal doesn't occur, well its not like EA was actively trying to sell itself so for them things would just keep going on as they are now.

 

[ZMOT]

Not sure what you mean by that. Yes, you have to use an engine to make a game, it doesn't just shit out a game for you; nobody stated otherwise. But that has nothing to do with how easy an engine is to work with or use, the tool set it gives you to work with, or what that engine is ultimately capable of. Engines have have hard limits and limited tool sets. This isn't some controversial or foreign idea.

he means the same devs that take months to offset a camera viewpoint obviously have an issue implementing an inventory system (never mind they did). "hard limits" and "limited tool sets" is no-dev speak for "I don't know the differences, I just drop some logical buzzwords" because everything has a fucking limit and not everything's the same. never mind that dragon age runs on frostbite - there's your RPG - and "procedural generation" (another buzzword) is mainly done in code so means fuck all for "engine limits", unless you want to imply that frostbite doesn't have a way to make use of random numbers.
the argument "well, if they'd used unreal andromeda would've been a 10/10 game" is simply dumb, especially when we're talking about "my face is tired" devs. working with a new engine of course is a change, but a) only affects a part of the team and b) good luck telling your boss you can't do your job because implementing the required changes "is complicated" and "hard" (must be an accident that the lineage 2 devs managed just that and more in a "FPS engine" like unreal). this also ignores that frostbite was almost 10 years old at that point and again better devs could make fucking fifa run on it too. shit devs produce shit code, and only a shit dev (like a shit contractor) blames his tools. and who is in charge of hiring and managing said devs?

Not gonna happen. Any major deal with a Chinese company would be scrutinized to hell and back by the United States government, especially with the information of millions of users on the line and potentially open to the Chinese government. It would never go through in this current climate.

china has it's arm firmly lodged up the us president's ass and half the uniparty, they gonna say shit. besides the point anyway since china has no interest in owning EA's assets and IPs (as if they give care about those), their MO is get a piece of a successful company and skim profits on top (exceptions to the rule like riot notwithstanding).

 

[The Demon Pimp of Razgriz]

china has it's arm firmly lodged up the us president's ass and half the uniparty, they gonna say shit.

Not with the way things have been going recently. Politicians aren't bought, they are rented, and with the current optics, nobody in Washington is going to bat for China. Keep in mind, the U.S. government just tightened its reporting rules for companies trading on the stock market, under the Biden administration. And that was specifically targeted at Chinese companies. Despite Biden running to reverse course on almost anything Trump did, he hasn't in anyway reembraced China. In fact, relations remain cold, businesses are still moving out due to the volatile trade situation (only exacerbated recently by China's failed "zero COVID" policy) and with China itself clamping down on its own domestic corporations, and domestic capital, to keep it from leaving the country, no Chinese company is making any big deals any time soon.

besides the point anyway since china has no interest in owning EA's assets and IPs (as if they give care about those), their MO is get a piece of a successful company and skim profits on top (exceptions to the rule like riot notwithstanding).

Chinese companies, Tencent in particular, have shown great interest in expanding their overseas development and reach. But the Chinese government's recent clamp down will probably damper any overseas expansion.

because everything has a fucking limit and not everything's the same.

Exactly. And those limits apply to Frostbite, which was made specifically with Battlefield in mind and nothing else.

never mind that dragon age runs on frostbite

Considering the sorry state of Dragon Age as of now, not exactly a strong argument.

could make fucking fifa run on it too.

Was that the shitty FIFA that looked worse than a PS2 game, and had no new content, but EA tried to pass off as a $60 game?