Throw the word "timed" in with exclusive and you have yourself a winner.

Do you know how rabid madden fans would be to have to wait an extra month to get their crack addiction fed on the PS3 or Wii? It wouldn't happen. They'd just buy a 360.

Same goes with most sports games.

I have to say, well done Microsoft. I'm glad your Empirical ways have not diminished throughout the years.

I agree, though when you think about it, MS doesn't need to make everything exclusive. They've already showed that they're willing to shell out money for content/timed exclusives... owning EA allows them to do this at will, for select games. Also, MS doesn't feel threatened by Nintendo, there's no reason they wouldn't continue to make Wii games. What they could do, however, to make EA profitable (it isn't currently), would be any of the following:

From a viewpoint of creating synergy with the Xbox brand:

Guarantee 360 versions always come out prior to PS3 versions, even if it's a relatively small delay.

Guarantee 360 versions are technically superior.

Release all additional DLC on Xbox Live only.

From the viewpoint of EA profitability:

Reduce overheard, eliminating a lot of the porting teams/development staff.

Split off and sell a few development studios.

Also bear in mind that EA has to pay royalties for publishing on each platform. If MS owns EA, the effective cost of publishing titles drops substantially. MS keeps it all inhouse. I think it would take a long time for this specific move to profit Microsoft, but if they want to ensure the PS3 doesn't take 2nd place this generation, and want to ensure 1st place next gen, as well as dominance of the living room... this is the way to do it.

Another thread like this one up already. Would be crazy if it happened though.

Yeah, neither of those links works for me.

Like I've said before.. Madden being exclusive for xbox 360 = wow sales in america.
nothing with EA helps them out with the japan question though.

allow me to take you back in time....To the humble days of PS1...Remember those days?

Oh man, that would be awesome. More power to microsoft!

they are already dominating the PS3 in America, and EA won't help them that much in Europe and of course it won't do anything in Japan.

they should buy Square Enix instead since they've got the money.

If that happened we would have a two console market, XBox vs Nintendo.

And what are your thought on Sony's SquareEnix Share?...8% last I checked...