RUMOR - Apple looking to takeover EA?

[Non Sequor]

heruamon said:

famousringo said:

heruamon said:
I'm not sure as to what ends...maybe to get more games for the Mac computers? This would be a strange move, as apple has no compentcy or focus in this area. This would be like M$ taking over a movie studio.

 

I don't think it's quite that outlandish. Apple makes all kinds of hardware which needs software, and just about any kind of software except games. It makes sense if they're looking for something to broaden their software portfolio so they can sell more hardware. And EA's software could be used to help sell desktops, laptops, iPhones and iPod Touches. Perhaps even a followup device to the Apple TV which downloads entertainment software from the app store...

I'm no financial wiz, but even if they're undervalued and hemorrhaging money, EA doesn't seem like a particularly easy takeover target to my mind.

What I mean by this is how a company makes money...EA is all about multi-platform support and development, whereas Apple has been given a pass on being sole source.  There are far better way to gain more entertianment support for your platform, then trying to buy one of the largest game publishers on the market.  Maybe, it's possible, but this would be the biggest leap from Apple traditional tightly focus approach to it's efforts.  Regardless, any attempt to buy EA would serious spike the price for the stock of EA, and probably double the asking price.

 

More than that, I think Apple could possibly lose more than they gain by moving toward first party development. The App Store has been a success due to low barriers to entry. Having to compete with a first party juggernaut might scare away some of the third party developers.

This rumor is ridiculous to begin with. Apple's developed a strategy of building product lines that complement eachother. Your comment that it would be like Microsoft buying a movie studio was dead on the money. There's no way that EA could be assimilated into Apple and the result would be a mess of corporate infighting. It would weaken both companies.