Honestly I think Microsoft stands to benefit only a bit from buying Harmonix. Sure they are great at what they do "Music Games" but what else do they bring to the table? Nothing. They only own a few IP's and RockBand their biggest IP is on its way out. Dance Central while valueble probubly won't last longer then a generation or two.
What does Microsoft gain, a few "AA" franchises. Now remember when MS bought Rare for over 200-mill. They gained like a dozen IP's and a few of them were AAA titles. But after purchasing them their IP's went downhill and today they can't make the same AAA games they were known for. Bungie Microsoft purchased them and guess what they lost the founders and lots of the developers left. Finally Bungie went independant again.
Unless Microsoft has some games in mind that they think only Harmonix could do they aren't going to buy. I mean Microsoft is downsizing their first party studios. Ensemble is a great example of a highly profitable studio with several IP's and Microsoft closed them.
What makes Harmonix better then Ensemble or Bungie? What does Harmonix offer that none of Microsoft internal studios couldn't do? What potential do Harmonix IP's have for Microsoft?
My bet is Activision will pick them up to get rid of competition in a rapidly shrinking music marketplace. Or EA will buy them to offset Activisions lead in the industry. I don't think any of the big three will be to interested in investing 90 million, which is what they want.
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
