Disney may be in talks to buy EA.

[DisneyparkFreak]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere so i apolgize if this is old news, but there is an article in the WSJ that suggests that Disney may be in talks with EA (Electronic Arts) to aquire them. Disney apparently is trying to bolster their video-game presence and this would be the way to do it. EA is truly a leader in gaming and with ESPN could prove to be a very good franchise for the company. Iger is all about Franchises and Brands. Would be very interesting especially since the Dreamworks distribution deal is all but in the bag. This deal could generate years worth of value and give the parks more things to draw from in regards to attractions.

 

[jeffk410]

hmm

Where did you find this info? It would be extremly cool ,but i dont know anything about it.

 

[Goofy Tourist]

Wow, Disney is making some serious power plays right now. It has been interesting the last few days. Makes me wonder if they aren't taking full advantage of the tough economic times and buying up some major franchises for less, or maybe they are really working to cover all areas of entertainment.:shrug:

 

[DisneyparkFreak]

Where did you find this info? It would be extremly cool ,but i dont know anything about it.

December 11th issue of the WSJ. Its kinda vague, the article isnt very big. Just sort of a heads up article, not a headliner... YET.

The motley fool also has some info about it.

 

[phenom1307]

i seriously hope this is true!!
my favorite game used to be this racing game with chip and dale and then some random characters that they made up, but you got to race around different attractions, it was a lot of fun

 

[Enigma]

EA was terrible for the longest time but they have started to turn things around with more original properties like Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, and Burnout Paradise. They actually recently acquired Pandemic and Bioware the makers of some really RPG and action properties.

 

[JimboJones123]

Why can't they just make a Nintendo/Disney deal?

 

[unkadug]

Not a very good time, economically speaking, for mergers and acquisitions.


Just doesn't seem like a very good idea right now. Disney should conserve their cash for needed upkeep instead of all these cutbacks.

 

[MousDad]

Not a very good time, economically speaking, for mergers and acquisitions.


Just doesn't seem like a very good idea right now. Disney should conserve their cash for needed upkeep instead of all these cutbacks.

I agree with you that I would rather see them using their capital (or at least some of it) for maintaining their core brands. But isn't it a good time for the strong to gobble up the weak (when the weak are worth practically nothing)? Isn't that why there are only about 2 or 3 Wall Street firms left now, and a handful of big banks left? :lol:

My concern with all this acquisition is that Disney is becoming primarily a holding company for other people's creativity, rather than a creative producer themselves. Prime example: WDFA & Pixar.

Oh well, like Bugs Bunny used to say, if you can't beat them, acquire them.

 

[WDW Monorail]

Not a very good time, economically speaking, for mergers and acquisitions.


Just doesn't seem like a very good idea right now. Disney should conserve their cash for needed upkeep instead of all these cutbacks.

From en economic stand point, Disney's stock would drop further if theses acquisitions were to occur. However, since many companies have lower stock prices, Disney may be able to acquire EA and Dreamworks at a much reduced cost.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Does anyone know how long 2K sports exclusivity agreement is with Major League Baseball? I really miss the MVP baseball/Triple Play Baseball series, however MLB Front Office Manager is a decent substitute that was just released by 2K, it just doesn't have actual game play, just the GM/Manager stuff.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

I would applaud this move if it came to pass. Disney stock fluctuates with their quarterly earnings and if some of their films turn into blockbusters. EA is a huge player in the video game world, if not THE player due to the fact they bought out most of the best independent developers. EA stock also fluctuates when one of their games gets big.

I have over a thousand shares of Disney stock, I say the short term loss if the acquisition is made is nothing compared to the long term investment. This is a no lose situation for myself personally.

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

EA was terrible for the longest time but they have started to turn things around with more original properties like Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, and Burnout Paradise. They actually recently acquired Pandemic and Bioware the makers of some really RPG and action properties.

I used to hear horror stories of how they treat their employees as well. Hopefully they stopped that as well....

 

[jeffk410]

i seriously hope this is true!!
my favorite game used to be this racing game with chip and dale and then some random characters that they made up, but you got to race around different attractions, it was a lot of fun

Oh my i remember it! On regular Play Station. It was amazing.

 

[SirGoofy]

Oh yes, let's make the company even more bloated. Sounds like a great idea. Especially by acquiring a game company that makes some of the worst stuff on the shelves.

 

[epcotWSC]

Oh yes, let's make the company even more bloated. Sounds like a great idea. Especially by acquiring a game company that makes some of the worst stuff on the shelves.

What you say is the worst, most would say are some of the most popular games on the market.

The Battlefield Series
Madden NFL,NHL,MLB,NBA,FIFA & other sports games. They pretty much have the most popular sports game in almost every sport.
The Sims Series & other "Sim" games
Command & Conquer Series
Medal of Honor series
Need for Speed series
Lord of the Rings series of games

among others.

 

[SirGoofy]

Oh, I realize that they have popular franchises, but EA produces the same crap every year. As an avid gamer I'm sick of the deterioration of the creativity in games.

Madden NFL,NHL,MLB,NBA,FIFA & other sports games. They pretty much have the most popular sports game in almost every sport.

Which are pretty much the same game every year. Madden hasn't impressed me in years, but it's the only NFL game, so EA can get away with making it the same crap every year.

The Sims Series & other "Sim" games

Again, the SIMS games are the same in each iteration, with a tiny gimmick to get people to buy the new version.

Command & Conquer Series

Not nearly the franchise it was 10 years ago.

Medal of Honor series

A very mediocre first person shooter that is easily overshadowed by Call of Duty, Resistance, and Halo.

Need for Speed series

Again, every game in this series is a rehash with a different gimmick.

Lord of the Rings series of games

I've yet to play a decent LOTR game, which is really a shame.

 

[Roxas]

Oh yes, let's make the company even more bloated. Sounds like a great idea. Especially by acquiring a game company that makes some of the worst stuff on the shelves.

Although not all of EA's games are of top notch quality they do produce some very good games as well.

Regarding LOTR games I suggest you look up LOTR:TRROTK for PS2 as a good example.

It is also irrelevant what you believe to make up good games as it is the markets opinion rather than yours that counts.

Last I checked EA's sports branded games were some of the best selling games in the charts.

This acquisition (if it occurs) can only bode well for Disney.

 

[SirGoofy]

It is also irrelevant what you believe to make up good games as it is the markets opinion rather than yours that counts.

Oh I realize that my opinion alone doesn't affect a big company, but there is a large amount of anti-EA sentiment in the gaming community. Especially after their acquisition of a number of smaller, quality game producers.

 

[Kamikaze]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere so i apolgize if this is old news, but there is an article in the WSJ that suggests that Disney may be in talks with EA (Electronic Arts) to aquire them. Disney apparently is trying to bolster their video-game presence and this would be the way to do it. EA is truly a leader in gaming and with ESPN could prove to be a very good franchise for the company. Iger is all about Franchises and Brands. Would be very interesting especially since the Dreamworks distribution deal is all but in the bag. This deal could generate years worth of value and give the parks more things to draw from in regards to attractions.

I don't know, EA is a huge company.
They also suck majorly, as do most of their games. They are a leader because of their size, not because they have good games.
They have gone around buying out other game companies for the last 5 years or so.

I can't see this happening.

Oh I realize that my opinion alone doesn't affect a big company, but there is a large amount of anti-EA sentiment in the gaming community. Especially after their acquisition of a number of smaller, quality game producers.

Exactly right. While some of their IPs may sell well, they are pretty much universally hated by anyone into gaming.
Note: Playing video games and being into gaming are not the same thing.