EA merges Mythic and BioWare Comments by Robert Purchese

Wow.

Didn't see that coming.

First Bethesda and ID, now this. What happens tomorrow? Valve and SquareEnix merges?

actually they are not merged according to one of the mythic devs: "We're still Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Studio, as we have been. I've posted this elsewhere, but we're not "merging". We are still a completely separate entity within EA, just as Bioware is, simply now grouped under the same MMO/RPG grouping and reporting to one person, collectively."

Mythic? With BioWare? I usually don't mind acquisitions and mergers at all, but this has me slightly worried. On the one hand, it might mean more resources in creating excellent RPGs, but on the other, Mythic might be a hindrance. Hopefully, not.

Time will show.

If Sony and Microsoft merge, I'll tale it as a sign the apocalypse is coming and live underground.

Lots of merging happening just now, probably to keep the studios strong, but this one feels a bit strange. I'd have thought WAR has enough subscribers to keep it going, and Old Republic is pretty much a sure thing.

It'd be interesting to know if Mark Jacobs jumped or was pushed.

I played WAR for about 9 months, but the game has significant performance and balance issues that Mythic seem unable to resolve. Although it still seems to be pottering along, it's not been the runaway success I'm sure EA had expected. I wonder if they feel a change of leadership will refocus Mythic on fixing the problems.

I think this has been taken out of context. They are both subsidiaries of the same company and therefore it's just restructuring, rather than a merger. It will have little effect on their respective games output, it's probably a business streamlining measure.

The big news here is Jacobs leaving.

Well TBH I should go 'oh noes!' but this is actally VERY good for all - In the case of WAR Mark was leading the game in the wrong drection with item diriven content, it's still laggy, it's very zerg based and the server balances are way off, DAoC just seemed static and UO... have we actally heard anything after the graphica revamp? Mark is still a good dev but I think Mythic needs a better captian to lead the ship.

EA have done a very smart move Bioware is still a MASSIVE big name and as we all know a brilliant jack of all trades in gaming, it'll be very good to see what BW can do with Mythic's games - As the article states is this WAR's or even DAoC's rebirth? or was this the plan all along to get EA's foot in the MMO door and use the two games as a cash milking machine for bigger projects to replace them... Kinda hoping for the first one here WAR isn't that bad and killing an old warhorse like DAoC shouldn't be done.

At least Mark's obession with Vampire Counts for the expantion when the community are screaming for Skaven/Lizardmen battle is kinda over.

And so it continues.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Mark Jacobs will leave the company on the 23rd of June?

/Checks calendar

I think you mean Mark Jacobs left the company on the 23rd of June.

Dr. Ray? Dr. Greg? Since when do you need a PhD to work in the games industry?

What the hell is wrong with the EG news these days? All wrong titles, pulled out of some arse.

@Palmada, if I remember correctly, they are doctors as in hospital staff. Not doctors in RPG design.

Well, these days you can have a PhD on just about anything, so I actually wouldn't be surprised =P

Also, calling people Dr. just because they have the degree, is entirely silly.

Crazy. So, WAR gets to be Bioware's "starter" MMO, eh?

I think the Bioware heads were actual practicing doctors before they founded the company.

the way i see it, it's a pretty good decision in the sense of the MMO universe. as some people may say that mythic's mmo is fail, atleast they have the experience when it comes to the MMO universe which Bioware doesn't have. so the so-called merge is a + for bioware. the game itself will still be fully developed by bioware, they just need someone to help them implement this in a MMO universe setting which Mythic has experience on. i can't believe that i am going to say this, but, good call EA.