EA Acquires Online Game Developer Mythic
- June 26, 2006 17:29 PM PST
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Game publisher EA acquires entertainment software developer Mythic Entertainment in a bid to bolster EA's flagging online presence.
EA covets Mythic Entertainment
According to online news site MarketWatch.com, EA has agreed to acquire Mythic Entertainment to bolster EA's massive multiplayer online presence. Mythic Entertainment (who previously created the successful Dark Age of Camelot massive multiplayer online role-playing game) is currently developing Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, a MMORPG title based on the hit tabletop strategy game Warhammer, under the license of Games Workshop.
Michael Pachter, business analyst with Wedbush Morgan, stated, "The move gives EA's development team much-needed expertise in creating online games for the PC."
In fourth quarter 2006, EA's internet service division recorded a 5% drop from the previous year's revenue of 11% of the company's total earnings. EA has seen growth online in the past with their Ultima Online franchise which as since faded due to the overwhelming popularity of MMORPG's like Blizzard's World of Warcraft games, the most successful online game to date.
"The real thing is to position its (EA's) expansion into Asia."
-- Michael Pachter
"The real thing is to position its (EA's) expansion into Asia," explains Pachter. Many publishers have been slow to market console games in Asia due to rampant piracy concerns, however; online role-playing games have risen to become the dominate genre and have helped online game developers NetEase.com Inc., Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd., and Webzen Inc. become power players in the online gaming industry.
Well, it's about time. EA has never been strong in online gaming, and this might give them an edge. On the other hand, I can think of several much better buys for the company -- nothing against Mythic, but I don't think of them as a leading MMO developer.
Then again, EA could definitely change all of that. Time will tell...
