RUMOR - Apple looking to takeover EA?

[Non Sequor]

mike_intellivision said:

WiiStation360 said:

Micheal Pachter chimes in on the Apple/EA rumor.  He agrees that it does not make much sense.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is highly skeptical of such talk, however. "Sounds retarded to me," he tells Gamasutra.

"Apple could buy Warner Music for around $3 billion, and control 20 percent of all recorded music," he says. "That makes more sense to their current business model than buying EA for more than twice that, doesn't it?"

"I don't want to start a rumor, but want to point out that Apple doesn't own any entertainment content," adds the analyst, "so I don't know why they would feel compelled to enter a new business unrelated to their current product slate."

 

 

While I certainly do not think Pacther's word choice describing this rumored transaction is in any way shape or form approrprirate, the sentiment is essentially correct.

Apple distributes the content of others over networks using propriatory software and hardware.

EA distributes essentially the same software (games) over a variety of hardware platforms.

This not only does not mesh well from business perspective, but there is a potential clash of corporate cultures.

 

Mike from Morgantown

 

 

I think the clash of corporate cultures is what sinks this rumor. Apple's resurgence over the past 10 years has been the result of their ability to reinvent themselves as a lifestyle brand. EA is pretty much the exact opposite of a lifestyle brand.

If you try to merge the two, Odd Couple hilarity ensues.