With EA making more and more moves and slowly acquiring everything it can get its grasp on, would the idea of an EA console be out of the question? Would EA ever go down the road of a manufacturer and try their hand at a system during the next generation of consoles?
Sega once was a player in the console war, so was Atari and now they are both reduced to be solely video game software developers. Does this limit them in what they can bring to the table? I say yes. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo all make games that cater specifically for their system and make a lot of money because of this luxury. EA could benefit greatly if they decide to try their hand at a console and make games specifically that cater to their system, such as making Madden and the sports franchises only for their console.
EA has the reach and power to think about something like this. Their recent acquisition of Bioware/Pandemic paves the way for them to penetrate different markets. EA is always looking to broaden their portfolio and make their name and presence that much bigger in the gaming industry. Why stop at just developing and distributing video game software?
Would gamers embrace another console after just getting used to the big three in the game? I think gamers would eventually accept an EA console and even embrace it if push came to shove. As long as the games that are developed and released are solid titles, no one would object. I think gamers would invite the chance to have a fourth home console in their entertainment center barring they had the room for it.
If EA has not thought of this yet, I would not be surprised to see them in a few years before the next generation of consoles are announced begin to develop a studio for a console. EA has studios that focus on mobile games, sports games even iPhone games now. For them to look at a console is a very feasible and intriguing idea.
What do you think?
10 Comments
Write a Comment»No it’s not, it’d be idiotic and suicide on their part.
They have no hardware experience, and the start up cost would be enormous. While it may seem like a good idea because of their exclusive licenses, those license holders will jump ship the second they learn their games won’t hit the widest market.
They make a **** ton of money selling their games to as many people as possible and already hold command over the existing hardware companies. They are the King makers. (The failure of the Dreamcast is held to be largely due to lack of EA license games on the platform)
That would translate to EA Kamikaze. Why?
First, they have no hardware experience. They will need to build their R&D inhouse or outsource which all translates to $$$. If they outsource they will not have 100% control and outsourcing to a foreign country (ie India or China), will eventually lead to IP issues.
Secondly, EA is not a household name, its a video gamer brand. Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft are all household names, they are brands which the average consumer recognizes. They will neeed to build up their brand. For example, the average Joe Smith may know GTA IV but doesnt know the software company that developed it. They will need to invest in marketing as well.
Thridly, why would they? Most companies introduce a razor to get the blade business, they already have the blade business so why would they want to go backwards, they would capture a minimum % of the market. I dont think it will be a positive ROI on EA’s part.
Although most companies benefit from being a total solution provider, there are many more companies profiting from their niche specialty.
EA should stick to know what they know best…
Havign experiences in consoels isnt important, look at MS, they drudged through it and had no experience witht he original Xbox.
EA is a household name, it is the largest game developer with the most studios working on a ton of projects. Count off the number of games they have had this year alone and everyoen is very familiar with their name. If you think about it Nintendo is not a household name, only people who play video games would recognise it, MS and Sony make other products, Nintendo only makes games.
They would not be forfitting slaes of games instead the idea would be to lock business in. Make games like Madden and GTA theirs alone, they have the largest third party lineup out there rightnow and if they decided to switch that to a first party lineup it would be pretty impressive to have that many games right off the bat.
Making their lineup and exclusive one could hurt the other three as well, as Craig said above not having EA could be the downfall of the Dreamcast, just htink about how many games the PS3 and Wii would lose and how hollow that lineup would become.
Plus even if the venture does fail it would even further sollidify their name int he gaming industry.
I beg to differ.
gg thanxs for the EA lesson but Im very familiar with EA.
Outside the gaming industry, I would not say they are a household name. Ask gamers and nongamers who EA is vs who Nintendo is and you will get your answer. Everyone knows Nintendo, not everyone knows EA unless your a gamer and even than the casual gamer doesnt always know who makes their games. Do you know all your favorite artist record label? I think NOT.
You do make a good point with Microsoft so I’ll give credit where credit is due. And yes there would be tons of games PS3 & wii will lose.
Exclusivity is a dangerous thing and by minimizing sales distribution channels, at the end of da day can come back n bite ya in ur a$$
Food for thought: solidify their name in the gaming industry. Why? I thought they were a household name and had a strong brand…ROFL LMAO
EA could always acquire Sega (which has console/hardware experience up the wazoo) and get into the console biz. They don’t necessarily need to make the EA game exclusives. Timed exclusives have proved that you can sway sales to one console or another.
I think EA could enter the console biz, but only if they get outside help. A collaboration with Sega could be just the ticket, as long as they make it perfectly clear that EA is in charge. Also, leave the advertising to EA, that is what killed Sega IMO.
Then again, is there really enough room for one more console? MS, Sony and Nintendo pushed Sega out of the console Biz. Sega, Nintendo and a few others had previously pushed Atari out. I think the console biz only has room for 2 or 3 consoles. Otherwise, they get left out in the cold.
My nephew play games sometimes and before that he knew who EA was because of their goddamn commercials, “EA SPORTS, ITS IN THE GAME” lawl. Shit gets annoying from time to time.
LOL, “EA Sports, we’re ok.”
I guess why not….company learn fron their mistakes just like people do!
Hopefully their learning experience will not a coprporate disatster like other market leaders such as Enron or Bear Stearns or in simple gaming terminology Acclaim Entertainment.
lol, acclaim and atari.
One thing to keep in mind, don’t you think EA would have better games, and cheaper ones at that, if they had to produce them for one console. One which they would control, know the inside and out, which they could go to their personal developers and say what works for you and what doesn’t. Cheaper because they wouldn’t be spending $$$ to develop games for PC, Xbox, PS, DS, Nintendo, Psp, Cell phones, and everything else i might have missed? They have some talented development teams such as DICE, and Pandemic, and Crytek. I think this would be good for gamers in the long run. I personally hate corporations like microsoft that honestly doesn’t seem to know jack about gaming
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