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Apple Looking to Takeover Electronic Arts?

With a price of $7 billion "only", I wonder why Microsoft doesn't try to get involved here. Buying EA would certainly put a sting into Sony's flesh.
 
This doesn't make as sense to me. However, as long as Apple is sitting on a ton of cash and the economy has the beginning signs of recovery there will be rumor after rumor. Prepare for more.
 
well, the least you can say is that Apple does have a huge advantage during the crisis with its cash reserve. It would be stupid not to pick up a few extra assets now the prices are low, but I think that games for the Mac may not be such a huge priority, seeing as how they are eagerly recruiting chip designers
 
I really can't see this happening... I know there's a lack of games on the Mac, but that's been iterated that it's not really Apples concern...
 
I think if Apple were to have made a move to buy a game company they would have offered to buy Blizzard when they were negotiating with Activision. A more likely target for iPhone games would be Gameloft. Or Apple could just acquire the employees and startup companies that have resulted in Microsoft parting ways with Bungie and Ensemble Studios.
 
I won't care until Valve and Steam is involved. EA games are just not great anyway.
 
It might be good for apple to buy a software compnay, but one might think of Adobe as well. A rumor from a little while ago.

It would make sense. Something that does not make sense is the rumor about apple making an e-book reader.

It will be interesting how this year plays out.
 
Well, although it hasn't really set anything on fire with ZOMG.. it is interesting to say the least.

EA in recent years has become more committed to making more and more of its titles available for the Mac.

Apple does have $25+ Billion afterall, they have to be cooking up something. Surely?
 
Hasn't EA been shopping themselves around for the last couple of years?

Now that Apple has been hiring Graphics chip experts, these stories have a little more traction.

What does EA bring to the table though? A native gaming engine and development environment?
 
No. Stupid junk rumours.

Apple is insanely careful with their 25+ billion in the bank. They tend to spend on solid people that create solid work that set the foundations for the next few decades. (interface designers, chip designers, etc)

7 billion is nearly 30% of their entire cash pile. That's like risking nearly 30% of their future on buying a second-rate games company, when Apple only grudgingly gives space to games, and always tends to see them as a distraction from doing 'real' work.
 
RedTomato said:
7 billion is nearly 30% of their entire cash pile. That's like risking nearly 30% of their future on buying a second-rate games company, when Apple only grudgingly gives space to games, and always tends to see them as a distraction from doing 'real' work.
Click to expand...

I take it you haven't seen the latest iPod Touch commercials then? They're all about games and nothing else.

Apple has traditionally been interested in the creative industries but I doubt it has escaped their notice that their success is solely down to their consumer-oriented products. Games appeal to a wider audience and could be a good way of encouraging Windows users to switch. It'd also be a good way of selling the more expensive Mac Pros.

So it makes sense for them to be interested in gaming, although I highly doubt they will be buying EA.
 
RedTomato said:
No. Stupid junk rumours.

Apple is insanely careful with their 25+ billion in the bank. They tend to spend on solid people that create solid work that set the foundations for the next few decades. (interface designers, chip designers, etc)

7 billion is nearly 30% of their entire cash pile. That's like risking nearly 30% of their future on buying a second-rate games company, when Apple only grudgingly gives space to games, and always tends to see them as a distraction from doing 'real' work.
Click to expand...

EA's net revenue for 2008 was 3.67Billion , 27 titles sold 1 million copies or more.They aren't exactly a "second-rate" game publisher.
 
I don't see many ads. So no I hadn't seen the iTouch ads.

I still don't think Apple will spend 30% of their cash pile on a games company.
 
I don't see a "complete" takeover of EA, but I do see Apple looking to buy a small part of EA specifically for the iPhone/iPod Touch gaming platform. Who knows, Apple may be looking into possibily entering into console gaming in the future (within a few years). Who knows......but I don't think Apple aquiring EA is a "surprise" as previous people have already said.
 
Does the cry for gaming on the Mac warrant such a large purchase? I don't think so. It would be wise of Apple to reduce the price of their hardware instead.
 
asphyxiafeeling said:
hahaha this would be awesome

EA, for all their faults and occasional mediocracy (some EA games... man... depressing), are a nice company. (not to mention the biggest game dev ;))

seems unlikely but if it did happen i'd be excited to see what's next!
Click to expand...

The best would be when Apple-owned EA stops developing for the stupid Windows, just as the other side did when Bungie was bought by MS.

GO APPLE!
 
Apple should have acquired Sun vs Oracle. EA and Twitter nah.

Apple Enterprise is needed to be taken seriously!
 
The only way I see something like this is if they are building an XBox or PS3 competitor and need titles available for launch day.

Even then, it doesn't make much sense, unless they had a common gaming API across all the lines (iPod/iPhone, ATV successor and Mac). This way they could leverage the gaming engine / tools to work for all the platforms.
 
I don't consider this as unlikely as most here. Apple's never had a clue how to make a good gaming platform. Bringing EA on board would solve that and pay for itself in switchers.

However, I don't see Apple publishing console games, meaning large portions of EA's revenue would be annulled. The ex employees would set up their own studio.

It makes more sense for Apple to split up EA and buy the mobile and PC gaming divisions.
 
Saladinos said:
I don't consider this as unlikely as most here. Apple's never had a clue how to make a good gaming platform. Bringing EA on board would solve that and pay for itself in switchers.

However, I don't see Apple publishing console games, meaning large portions of EA's revenue would be annulled. The ex employees would set up their own studio.

It makes more sense for Apple to split up EA and buy the mobile and PC gaming divisions.
Click to expand...

This could be true but I honestly think that Open GL has begun to lag so far behind Direct3D in computer games. Open GL isn't used nearly as much as it used to be. Apple also does not offer any system targeted towards gamers. The Mac pro doesn't count as there are faster graphics cards out there and an 800 dollar system witha good graphics card will game better than a base level mac pro. I could see buying EA, but i doubt they would go mac only.
 
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