The Big Issue: First Take-Two, next EA's own console?

VideoGamer.com writes: "When I first heard of the astonishing deal it got me to thinking that maybe, just maybe, EA wanted Take-Two not just because it wants to sell more sports games at a high price, but because it believes that now, finally, the time is right to take on the might of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft by releasing its own video game console."

[mighty_douche]

Personally i think they'd be stupid to move into the console market (hardware-wise), EA have a great money making potentail at the moment with their multi-plats, there's no need to push for more, just look how much its cost M$ to break into the market and they're yet to make any real money from it (obviously thats largely their fault).

Still, if it happens, im happy that Sony has so many in house developers.

[gamesblow]

That'll be a real barn burner, lemme tell ya... Atleast we don't have to worry about them ditching the system. I mean, look at their track record. They've used the same Madden engine for over almost 10 years now.

[SUP3R]

HEY!
Where's my in-game XMB you told me would have been released this week?
Sony said it's coming in the summer.
What's up with that I thought you were an insider?

[cLiCK_sLiCK9]

He said to look foward to In-game XMB this week.
He never said it was going to be ready to download.

[Exhaust]

When a company gets as HUGE as EA people starting pondering how they could "really shake things up" kinda like with google and free satellite broadband and cell phones.

Think about it. How many consoles would EA have to get sold to sell as many units of software they currently do on multiplatforms? That would take massive investment and a large loss on hardware for a couple of years. Unlike MS and Sony EA doesn't have other huge business units to support that investment. If they supported all platforms until their platform was established it would take away their platforms biggest advantage.

While it definately would SHAKE things up (wonder if Sony, MS and Nintendo would have to develop their own sports games with no NFL) but I'll be shocked if it happens. We'll probably see Apple take another whack at consoles before EA jumps in.

[jack who]

so were are the anti-truth ppl?

[Monchichi025]

I would NEVER buy it no matter how many games they get. I HATE EA!

[poopsack]

The thing is that if they made a console development would probably be to hard for them.
But really how bad would that be? No mass effect, sports games, burnout, skate and nfs for any other console.

[poopsack]

Of course by sports games I meant theirs
An I also meant that development for their own console would be too hard.

[Meus Renaissance]

That system would flop in the first week.

[Ghoul]

it would never see the day of light = Vaporware

[thedude17655]

i think you mean light of day.

[Bleucrunch]

Nahh EA got money but not that kind of money....they only make videogames unlike sony and M$ who have other businesses that they can take from to support this. Nintendo is special because they have been in this from the begining. EA needs to relax a little and not get ahead of themselves.

[kingme71]

What kind of crazy idea is this? This makes zero sense. EA is not a HW company and we know how well non HW companies make quality systems (ahem MS).

Software is what makes money, not hardware and EA would only be limiting how much software it sells by making it exclusive. You won't have everyone rush out and get an EA system just for the exclusive titles it can play, plus EA doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation with gamers. Why spend billions to ultimately sell less software then before?

Sony/Nintendo/MS have a huge headstart and an established fan base already. If they started developing some competing sports titles then there goes EA's whole advantage.

[THE_JUDGE]

are smart. Games are like political parties, you can't have that many.

[meepmoopmeep]

i hope EA does come out with a console.. and i hope it flops and they lose billions of dollars. :P

[butterfinger]

This would have the potential to be the worst thing that ever happened to video games. EA needs to be looked at for attempting to monopolize the industry if this rumor ever comes to fruition.

[RJ2000]

A console that will be less reliable than a Microsoft product!! No way!

[TheExecutive]

when i think of an EA console I think of cheap plastic.

[Ko_Uraki]

This will never happen.

[SKUD]

I second that. WORST post. EVER.

[sabbath420]

Freaking ea wants absolutely no competition. I despise them and will never buy another madden title no matter how much I love to play football. I have been a madden player since ea started and I got my firs sega. never again. They are repulsive to me now.

[callahan09]

I don't think they'll release a console. I have no reasons for this opinion.

[DarkSniper]

If EA made their own console. Dark Sniper would honestly be torn into actually delving in to the purchase. He generally despises most of EA's titles and business antics, but Madden alone can convince Dark Sniper to play on this particular console. Especially with it being no NFL competition. Stating the obvious, Madden has not made any kind of vast improvements in a while, 2008 being the exception on 360 although still very broken.

If this does happen, Dark Sniper expects that some kind of lift must be made by the NFL because this would officially be a monopoly for the American football gaming genre. It's just completely unfair for Madden to be the only NFL game on what would be an unproven console. Dark Sniper truly believes that the EA has total fear of the year 1997 repeating itself when the vastly superior NFL Gameday '98 completely owned Madden in every aspect, especially being the first 3D football game ever made. Deja vu happened in 1999 when NFL 2K(what would be a Take 2 franchise if NFL exclusive rights didnt exist) was first released for the Dreamcast, Madden was creamed by this title.

Fear awaits all gamers worldwide as EA embarks on this monopoly of the gaming industry. As gamers, all we can do is continue to boycott their products.

$niper

[Bill Gates]

EVERYONE STOP SUPPORTING EA DAMN IT!!

M$ next console will be in collaboration with EA, and it wont have the name Xbox on it. Screw M$, and screw EA.

If this happens, companies like Nintendo will be nothing but a memory in the US. Nintendo and Sony have been expecting this to happen, and are taking the necessary precautions to maintain strong in the industry. Nintendo released the Wii with the idea of releasing a new console along side with whatever these two juggernauts(EA & M$)are planning.

Sony on the other hand opted to go the long route with the PS3 and it's longevity. Smarter decision IMO.

But with BABOONS supporting M$, and EA all they way, all we REAL gamers can do is STOP supporting these two companies and brace for the rocky road ahead. I said it from day one, after the news of Peter Moore going to EA.

Everyone thank the BABOONS for ruining the future of the gaming industry.

THANK YOU BABOONS.

ps. I have Fight Night Round 3 because a friend left it at my house and told me to just keep it. I didn't buy it. 2K is making a Boxing sim so I'll be good with that. I like boxing games. Any time I play them i pretend I'm punching a BABOON or M$ in the face, and it makes me feel super good....AHAHHAHAHHAHA

[Montrealien]

Is it me or are most people to young to remember it? EA tried this years ago, they pledged full support behind a console that was headed by one of the founders of EA, Trip Hawkins. It failed, they lost alot of money and i`m pretty sure learned by their mistakes.

EA is where they are now because of the software business, and they know this. They would never be stupid enough to put all there eggs in one basquet.

So forget about it, aint going to happen.

I would like to remind people of the experience Sony had coming into the business....none! EA, if they where stupid enough to do it, have alot more right to attempt jumping into the console market as Sony did when they decided to do it. But it aint going to happen, forget about it and quit drinking the Oliver Stone Kool-aid.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

OK before I go any further with this comment let me just say...I agree with you. I find it HIGHLY unlikely that EA would go into the console business. I like you agree that their bread and butter is on the software side clearly. And yes, I too recall the failed attempts with the 3DO. This just seems like a very, very unlikely scenario.

Now, let me play Devils Advocate for a moment.

Sure the 3DO failed. It was a solid machine with software support that just wasnt there and a price tag that also wasn't at the right target line given the time they were trying to make entry into the market.

Fast forward to today...EA is the LARGEST software developer in the world. They have a ton of IP's in their basket to pull from. This is a VERY different picture from what we saw with the 3DO.

Now imagine, EA enters into an agreement with MS (we have seen the swapping of execs recently so we know they do share some inner love for each other..). EA will take over all the production costs of the new Xbox with an agreement to use MS as it proprietary OS system and allow MS to continue to be the backbone of the machine. MS will get its royalty cuts just as they do on the PC side with Dell, HP, etc...

NOW imagine next E3, EA announces that that the 2010 versions of ALL of their titles will be exclusive to their new console. We are talking some HEAVY hitters for the most part: Madden2010 , FIFA 2010, NBALive 2010, Battlefield:Bad Company 2, Burnout, C&C, Skate, Need for Speed, Fight Night, Mecenaries, Mass Effect, KOTOR, Jade Empire, NHL 2010, The Orange Box 2, NFL Tour 2010, FIFA Street 2010, The Simpsons, Army of 2 (2), Dead Space, Def Jam, Battlefield MC:3, Nascar 2010, Medal of Honor: Korea(?), NCAA 2010, NCAA March Madness 2010. Couple that with the talk of talking over Take Two...and suddenly you could throw in Bioshock and GTA into the mix....

I don't know about the rest of you, but if their was a console out that had all these titles as exclusives....I am pretty dang sure I would be snapping one up on launch day.

So....while its a little far fetched to think that EA would jump into the console market.... they honestly are the most primmed software company out their to be able to pull it off. And I think if they did do it... man I think they could bury the competition.

[TheExecutive]

I do remember the 3DO but I wouldnt discount another console so quickly. EA is in a different place now. If I had to guess there is a better chance of some kind of exclusivity deal between MS and EA. They may even joint venture in a console. Who really knows though, everything as it stands now is rumor and a pretty far out one at that.

@Dlacy I agree that there would be tons of potential for a console if EA put one out. However, making games and producing hardware are too different ballgames. R&D, manufacturing, and marketing is very different and really tricky. Anyway, there is potential there but just because there is potential doesnt mean we should think its going to happen.

I think its quite natural to start asking "what the he!! is EA doing snatching up all of these studios?". I think there are a couple of answers:
1.) Domination of the software industry
2.) A long-term goal of dominating the software industry and getting their foot in the door in the hardware industry.

[callahan09]

Yeah, but Trip Hawkins left EA and founded 3DO. 3DO had nothing to do with EA because Trip Hawkins had nothing to do with EA at the time. Trip Hawkins still has nothing to do with EA. So it would be a totally independent choice if EA decided to go the console route. I don't think they will either, but 3DO and Trip Hawkins don't really apply to the situation, I don't think.

[THE_JUDGE]

but Sony WAS MAKING GAMES on the Genesis before they made the PS1. Geez, do some freaking research. Sony made them under the name Sony Imagesoft. They made quite a few games for the Genesis too including, Bram Stroker's Dracula on SNES. Here's a list, http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... read up and realize you don't know as much as you think you do.

[Montrealien]

yeah, I was not counting Imagesoft...sorry? I actually own Bran Stocker`s Dracula on sega CD, Mr Reeves in digital goodness. If you count Imagesoft as experience that is your call, but I would hardly compare it to EA`s track record, even at the time when imagesoft where releasing their gems.

Don`t get all high and mighty cause you know wikipedia, the main argument when Sony was going into the gaming market was that they did not have much experience in the gaming business, and I stand behind that fact.

@Dlacy13g

I hear you man, these are different times and your Devil`s advocate statement is almost convincing. Trip is wishing he would of waited a few more years for his power move, lol

[THE_JUDGE]

is an electronic machine and Sony has tons of experience with that. They had plenty of experience making games in the past and had a close relationship with Nintendo prior to putting out the PS1. They obviously knew what they were doing or the PS1 and PS2 wouldn't have turned out as well as they did. You have little faith in the company that has done very well in everything they've tried (minus an MP3 player and Betamax).

[Montrealien]

I was just pointing out that many people had little faith in Sony when they wanted to start making consoles hence don`t be so negative and sceptical if EA decides to make one, wich I don`t believe they will. Don`t turn this into fanboy thing, I was not doing that.

Don`t be so defensive of a gaming machine, not good for your health ;D

[THE_JUDGE]

not the machine. Besides I can see why people who have such little faith in a Sony built console but they sure showed them wrong. I agree that EA prolly won't go as far as making a console.

[whoelse]

They're a software company. Yes, so it Microsoft but they also make hardware items like keyboards, mice etc.

[Salvadore]

The thing we have to remember is the fact that EA is a multiplatform publisher and I have difficulties seen them entering the hardware market because it would take a lot of investments and there are currently 3 consoles already.

[tony]

and if EA end up having all the spots exclusives in its own console its going to be hard for me not to buy that console, even if i don't like EA that much.