EA Buyout??

[Epidemik]

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Shares of Electronic Arts Inc (ERTS.O) jumped more than 4 percent to $19.36 on Wednesday on unsubstantiated talk that Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) might be interested in buying the video game publisher, traders said.

"There's talk that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It's unsubstantiated chatter, but it's out there," said Frederic Ruffy, options strategist at WhatsTrading.com in New York.

A London-based trader also cited similar talk as making rounds in Europe. Microsoft shares were up 0.9 percent at $26 on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

Does this scare or excite anyone??

[Chrispy]

i would feel scared if i was a playstation owner but i have an xbox

[mfbmike]

Microsoft is trying to create a monopoly. All former-EA titles would end up becoming Microsoft exclusive I would think.

[IamMedellin]

would it go through?...

which studios would get cut? does it affect madden's nfl exclusivity?

[jms493]

probably just bullshit.

I dont think they would stop selling the games to nintendo and sony, that would be dumb.....I think. I mean if they made NCAA and Madden exclusive the Xbox would make everyone go out and buy one? not sure.

[IamMedellin]

oh they would be morons to stop making games for the wii, nintendo is basically printing cash money with that lil box and publishers are making more profit off of that than 360/ps3 games

[Twigg4075]

This would be horrible for gaming.

I saw this rumor over at Pasta Padre and thought "oh no!"

The funny thing is that EA recently released their financial report and in it John Riccitello talked about how glad he was about the PS3 price drop and how happy he was with the way the PS3 game sales were catching up to 360 because EA has always had a great relationship with Sony.

[CrimsonGhost56]

microsoft would be fools to keep madden exclusive. they would be losing out on millions upon millions. despite most of us here being "hardcore" gamers most people arent, and are not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a console just to play madden.

but on the flip side if madden was exclusive, ps3 would get a new football game cause somebody would capitalize on the opportunity, nfl license or not... maybe its not such of a bad idea after all...

[Epidemik]

I think EA would loose its NFL license if it even mentioned any sort of Console Exclusivity

[Sean]

give them Live, just keep Madden for all consoles.

[IamMedellin]

if Madden went exclusive & the nfl rights stayed exclusive to EA/M$; it would go a long way towards killing the Playstation brand....

If EA/M$ could work out a deal with nintendo...then they'd control the hardcore gamer market with 360 and still have a strong foothold in casual market with the Wii...

but then again M$ is working on their own Wii- like peripherals soon huh?

[Maynard]

i think this would be great. Like them or not, microsoft puts out quality products. There is a reason that they are a mega giant software company. Think of all the great things they could do with EA titles

[Derrville]

Microsoft is trying to create a monopoly. All former-EA titles would end up becoming Microsoft exclusive I would think.

You think NFL 2K would return as a PS3 exclusive?

That would be amazing.

[jms493]

This was all bullshit as I thought. MS had NO INTEREST in buy EA.

/close thread

[Twigg4075]

i think this would be great. Like them or not, microsoft puts out quality products. There is a reason that they are a mega giant software company. Think of all the great things they could do with EA titles

You mean like every version of Windows that seems to have a myriad of problems? Or how about the durability of the 360? Yup, nothing but quality.