Microsoft has EA in a vice grip over Mass Effect 2
An odd situation has happened that has twisted Microsoft and EA into a strange relationship. EA purchased Bioware for an estimated cool $300 million last year. Bioware is notable for the highly acclaimed Mass Effect game, which was published via Microsoft previously. However, it seems like EA is at the mercy of Microsoft despite spending a fortune on the studio.
When Mass Effect dropped in late 2007, many critics acclaimed the game for its in-depth dialog tree and engrossing story. The game was released on the Xbox 360 and PC. I have to say Mass Effect is one of the best games available on the Xbox 360. I literally spent over 100 hours playing the game. I explored just about every planet available just to find minerals.
Many speculated that once EA spent $300 million to acquire Bioware, that the publisher would bring the series to the PS3 as well. However, according to the official announcement from EA, the PS3 is not listed as one of the platforms. This is odd since EA is known for releasing their games on every platform under the sun.
However, it seems like Microsoft has worked its fingers into Bioware as part of the acquisition process between EA and the studio. There really is no other explanation for this situation. If this is indeed the case, it seems odd that a company would drop that much money on buying up a studio just to be told what can and can not be done.
This a bit like if my neighbor was to come over and tell me what I can and can’t do in my house just because he knew the previous owner. You really have to give credit to Microsoft’s lawyers for making those iron-clad contracts which Sony seems to be incapable of producing.
Related Posts:
33 Responses to “Microsoft has EA in a vice grip over Mass Effect 2”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
March 24th, 2009
Mike:
EA just made a deal nothing new. Mass Effect is so average. They (MGS) need to make games instead of wasting it on garbage. Look at Sony they have only great exclusives all own by them well except for MGS4. If you think about it Sony has more power than you made think over Microsoft. Since is obvious Microsoft can’t make good kick ass exclusives like Sony. Microsoft would never survive without buying timed exclusives. Sony would buried them.
Why would any real PlayStation enthusiastic want to play Mass Effect is not awesome (FACT).
EA is too smart to be played by idiots…
March 24th, 2009
Ivan, what are you rambling about?
Tell your mum to lay off the piss and bong during pregnancy.
Mass Effect is a great game I look forward to number 2.
March 24th, 2009
I’d bet that both Mass effect and Mass effect 2 are both coming to the PS3. ME2 will be a 6 month exclusive but both are coming out for PS3.
The only way MS can keep this is if they own the IP, and I really doubt they do.
March 24th, 2009
More garbage from Ivan. Ivan when do you plan on stepping into reality? That power you talk of is nothing more then a PS3rd. Who has the power now!!
March 24th, 2009
CAD:
Denial much? wow, be afraid… At least I’m realistic. You don’t wanna talk about power trust me the PS3 will eat the Xbox crappy chip.
Xenon is no match for the Cell Broadband Engine. The Cell is future prove and quality prove.
In May 2008, an Opteron- and Cell-BE-based supercomputer, the IBM Roadrunner system, became the world’s first system to achieve one petaFLOPS. The Cell BE-based Roadrunner system is currently the worlds fastest supercomputer as represented by the Top500 list. The world’s three most energy efficient supercomputers, as represented by the Green500 list, are similarly based on the PowerXCell 8i.
In August 2007, Mercury Computer Systems released a Software Development Kit for PLAYSTATION(R)3 for High-Performance Computing
http://mobile.osnews.com/story.php/17570/Inside-The-Machine-Jon-Hannibal-Stokes-Interviewed//page1
March 24th, 2009
Four words: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2… if Tecmo managed to get around that, then I think anything is possible at this point.
While I wasn’t overly impressed with what I saw of the first Mass Effect, I would give it a chance. It seemed too much like the shitacular KOTOR II to me.
March 24th, 2009
That was 3 words and a number….
Anyway, keep dreaming. I’ll let you know what it’s like after I finish it.
March 24th, 2009
Well if you spell out the number… that would be a word.
March 24th, 2009
Harry,
You are supposed to let us know what Bioshock 2 is gonna be like after you finish it first.
But turns out it ain’t gonna be a timed xclusive so I doubt you’re gonna be playing it before us.
Ohh…too bad.
I won’t consider Mass Effect 2 to be a 360 exclusive because its being released on the PC as well and since I have a Pc, I’ll just play it there. We don’t need a 360 to play “360 exclusives”.
March 24th, 2009
Uh, Ivan, Mass Effect, IS awesome. Fact.
-Arvis
March 24th, 2009
Ivan.
Fuck up.
March 24th, 2009
To the rest of you guys. If you own a ps3rd I recommend you just get this for the PC. It’s what true games are about. Hundreds of hours. Brilliant story.
March 24th, 2009
Barnabee, but you didn’t. heh
furburger, your point being?
I agree with Con, get this game any way you can. If you have a gaming pc, get it on there. If you don’t have one, weigh up the costs between building one and getting a 360 and get either one. This game is going to be tits.
March 24th, 2009
“Uh, Ivan, Mass Effect, IS awesome. Fact.”
Ill never understand why people like that game. Never ever. One of my budies for exmaple, got the game and pulled an all nighter to complete it on his first play thru (I am guessing just the story component or something). But I got my hands on and it, and I just got really bored.
Guess that just means that we’re all different
March 24th, 2009
WOW – Sony has just announced that they’ve stopped shipping PS3s to Korea (I am assuming South)…..
March 24th, 2009
old story harry… it had something to do with reverse importing… not interesting enough for a response…
March 24th, 2009
Old? It was posted today at Kotaku.
So Sony are trying to save a buck by denying South Koreans the PS3? Or is this the beginning of the ‘winding up’ process?
March 24th, 2009
I think stopping an entire country from a getting a console is definitely interesting enough for a response btw.
March 24th, 2009
maybe kotaku au… whatever… I dont even care anymore… Sony does whatever it wants to do…
March 24th, 2009
its more than 24 hours old… so its old… I had to scroll through 3-4 pages to get to that news… its to stop South Koreans from exporting their PS3 back to Japan…
again… whatever.. I dont care…
March 25th, 2009
Wasn’t this due to backwards importing? A matter of the strong Yen vs. the Won. It’s hardly the start of the “winding up processâ€.
March 25th, 2009
harry – i saw that too. this won’t end well. then again, it’s hard to make the ps3 sink faster than it’s already doing.
March 25th, 2009
SW,
A Star Trek-inspired, sci-fi action/RPG chock-full of great voice acting, a gripping story, and an entire galaxy to explore… Are you SURE you don’t understand why people like this game? Maybe all the running around bored you or you thought the planets were nondescript, but you at least have to be able to see why this game gives so many people nerdgasms.
-Arvis
March 25th, 2009
“It’s hardly the start of the “winding up processâ€.”
Not if you’re a fucking retarded fanboy.
March 25th, 2009
“A Star Trek-inspired, sci-fi action/RPG chock-full of great voice acting, a gripping story, and an entire galaxy to explore… ”
I dunno, sounds like alot of Star Trek games, and we all know how good those are…
March 25th, 2009
*laughs*
You got me there, SW. I meant more inspired by the Star Trek universe…
-Arvis
March 25th, 2009
So they’re denying an entire country the PS3rd because of people doing some dodgy export/import thing?
Sounds to me that Sony have given up in Korea. I wonder what country is going to be next?
March 25th, 2009
“Not if you’re a fucking retarded fanboy.” Says the guy with a RRoD avatar….
March 26th, 2009
From what I understand… they were saving about $100. By the time you factor in shipping, it would work out to be even less. I agree that it seems a little over the top to stop shipping all together, but I’m not sure how wide scale of an issue this actually was. I would hope it was more than just a handful of people. The end result is they might raise the price in that region. Similar to what Nintendo did in Europe.
March 26th, 2009
360 was outsold by the ps2 this week in Japan. They also sell the 360 there at a big loss to try and get it popular. At least they’re not losing too much money in that respect
.
PS3 outsold the wii for four weeks in a row in Japan.
Anyone know when FF13 is supposed to drop there?
March 26th, 2009
BOL @ Japan.
March 26th, 2009
but….but….but…. JAPAN! We’re winning in JAPAN! Take THAT Microsoft!
USA? what’s a USA?
March 27th, 2009
Nice Haze Avatar. When you think of Haze, you need to remember that Free Radical made that game and they are a great developer….right?
Then think about Alan Wake and Remedy Entertainment.