Whay doesn't Microsoft buy more companies?

[scottie]

waron said:

scottie said:

ultraslick said:

This comes up every now and again.

 

EA CANNOT BE A FIRST PARTY DEVELOPER!

 

The majority of EA's licensed games (all their sports games for example) are licensed to them with the term that they must publish them on "all viable platforms" If MS bought EA, they would either have to give up all their IP, or continue to make games for the PS3, Wii, DS, Iphone, PSP. Hardly ideal for a purchase.

no, they would just need to make them timed exclusive for xbox platforms and PCs which would kill other consoles. 4-6 month exclusivity for all EA games would kill sales of sonys and nintendos home consoles since MS would pretty much own North America and Others market.

At a guess, although I don't have the exact terms and conditions, the team of incredibly highly paid lawyers representing the major sporting affiliations have thought of this already and put in terms to stop it. I do not think EA can do this without being in breech of contract. 

 

A madden game made by activision would sell exactly as much as one made by EA

A brandless football game by EA would sell a small fraction of a Madden game by EA

 

That should tell you who has the power in this bargain