Meier wouldn't mind acquisition by EA

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 March, 2008

He likes them and he likes Take Two.

Civilization development superhero Sid Meier says he has a lot of time for both Take Two and Electronic Arts, with Take Two being "very good about giving [Firaxis] creative freedom" and EA having "a commitment to great games".

Bit of a difficult one for Meier to answer, given that his company, Firaxis, is part of Take Two, but EA is busily trying to buy Take Two and Take Two has admitted it would be happy to discuss the idea once Grand Theft Auto IV is released.

Speaking to Newsweek's Level Up, Meier said: "We worked with Electronic Arts ten years ago. We respect them highly as a company. They're a great company. We enjoy working with Take-Two. We'll let them sort that out [laughs]."

Firaxis' "priority" is to "make the best games that we can", he said, so he won't be upset whatever the outcome. Unless everyone explodes, presumably.

Meier's next game, Civilization Revolution for PS3, 360 and DS, is due out in the US on 6th June, and we'll be taking a look at it shortly. In the meantime, check out the gamepage for videos and screenshots.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (18) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • riz23 #1 4 years ago

    Come on Sid and EA get cosy again and I can have Alpha Centauri 2. Do it!!

  • penhalion #2 4 years ago

    I so wish EA buys Sid and trashes his company. I simply can't see him making these comments for any other reason than that he loves money and simply wants more.

  • hiddenranbir #3 4 years ago

    Ah, nice to see someone thought it already.

    Firaxis with EA again certainly does open up AC again. Come on!

  • That_Happy_Cat #4 4 years ago

    I thought it ages ago and everyone ignored me ;)

  • Moz #5 4 years ago

    how much of a backhander did EA give him for that?

  • TheDifficult3rdAlbum #6 4 years ago

    >I so wish EA buys Sid and trashes his company. I simply can't see him making these comments for any other reason than that he loves money and simply wants more.

    Harsh much?

    /slow claps

  • rudedudejude #7 4 years ago

    He likes them as they have to do less work, they only have to half finish all their games then release them under EA, and the markting is so exteme their sales still rocket.

  • the_dudefather #8 4 years ago

    positive opinion on EA = Eurogamer RAAAAAAGGGEEEEE

    "I hear they have nice coffee at EA"
    "YEAH RIGHT ITS PROBABLY LACED WITH POISON AND THE TEARS OF BULLFROG"

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #9 4 years ago

    SMAC 2 FTW!

    so to speak. Civ 3 and 4 never did automation as nicely as Alpha Centauri did, nor was there any of that mix-and-match your own units from the available weapon, shield and chassis tech thing.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #10 4 years ago

    Tears of Bullfrog... ;-D

  • UncleLou #11 4 years ago

    I so wish EA buys Sid and trashes his company. I simply can't see him making these comments for any other reason than that he loves money and simply wants more.


    Christ, what do you expect him to say when asked such a rather silly question? Of course he doesn't wan to get involved into the politics of T2 and EA, so he politely said nothing at all.

  • L42yB #12 4 years ago

    They need to release revolutions on PC! Please!

  • Bumhug360 #13 4 years ago

    Well he does like to release the same games over and over again so perfect match if you ask me

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #14 4 years ago

    Of course he'd be happy with the 'new EA', anybody would..

    With Mythic and Bioware being perfect examples of this 'new EA', they've turned from a scrooge out to take all your ideas and milk them for all their worth to the rich uncle type who gives you gifts each time he turns up, EA are now throwing money at both Mythic and Bioware to make some actal quality games for once instead of eating them.. It's not surpising that everyone wants in
    Edited by 1 at 03/03/08 @ 15:02

  • NthSimulachum #15 4 years ago

    I am not a fan of consolidation. If a single publisher becomes too dominant, the market itself will stagnate, and crush innovation.
    Now, I may be in the minority here, but I LIKE innovation in games. Games trying new approaches in terms of narrative use, or gameplay are one of the reasons I still follow gaming.

    Someone has said above that Bioware will do well out of this takeover by EA. True, they will have more money, but if most of the other developers of RPG's are swallowed up by a single publishing company, then the developers will no longer be in direct competition, and the drive to perform, and to innovate will diminish.

    No game exists in a vacuum of course, but developers competing against each other, and publishers competing as well, rather than consolidating, is better for the industry, and ultimately, for the consumer.


    Geez, that sounded really objectivist. Maybe I've been listening to Andrew Ryan a bit too much...

  • Skurmedel #16 4 years ago

    EA has been doing some really neat games lately, but I'm still suspicious of them, and I don't like monopolies, so I'd rather have Take Two on their own feet. Else I fear Civilization and GTA sequels ad infinitum.

  • mallocks #17 4 years ago

    Only reason I'm concerned over this acquisition talks is that it's likely to prevent any more Take2 stuff appearing on Steam, given that EA have their own downloading thing.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #18 4 years ago

    I fear Civilization and GTA sequels ad infinitum

    As opposed to what's happening now?

    GTA3, GTAVC, GTASA, GTALCS, GTAVCS, GTA4...

    and

    Civ4, Civ4 Warlords, Civ4 Beyond The Sword, CivCity: Rome, Civ Revolution...

    all from Take 2.