Electronic Arts buys Jamdat

  • By Curt Feldman, GameSpot
  • Posted Dec 8, 2005 2:44 pm PT

World's biggest publisher jump-starts its mobile business by acquiring wireless game maker for $680 million.

It's never been called Lasky's folly, but it could have been. In 2000, Jamdat Mobile founder Mitch Lasky ditched a cush job in Activision's executive suite for the unknown waters of mobile gaming. He started a company called Jamdat, which came out of the gate with a massive hit, the relatively archaic Snake.

Five year's later, after developing and publishing scores of mobile games, going public, and making a number of significant acquisitions to boot, Lasky and Jamdat's investors have scored big.

The company today announced it has been acquired by Electronic Arts, itself a player in the mobile space, but one that never seemed to get a mobile business model in high gear. After today, not only is EA in high gear, but it owns most of the significant turf it was unable to exploit on its own.

The merger agreement calls for EA to pay $27 cash per share and also assume outstanding stock options for a total of about $680 million, according to EA.

Industry analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities said the deal made sense for both parties. "The only company that makes sense to buy Jamdat is EA, because of scale."

According to Pachter, the move quickly makes EA a player in the space. "They don't have to reinvent wireless, and they bought Jamdat for a fair price if they intend to get big."

Jamdat also comes out having accelerated its own strategy. "Jamdat is starved for content, paying too much to others, so it's complimentary that the guy with content buys the guy with know-how," Pachter said.

In a statement, EA CEO Larry Probst said of the merger: "This is an important strategic acquisition for Electronic Arts. Together we intend to build a leading global position in the rapidly growing business of providing games on mobile phones. We look forward to the Jamdat team joining EA."

The acquisition is expected to close in EA's fiscal fourth quarter, with Jamdat founder Lasky taking the reins of the new, suddenly bolstered mobile business for Electronic Arts.

Just yesterday, a Screen Digest report outlined the tremendous growth of mobile gaming in the last year. It cited Jamdat as a dominant player in the North American market and referenced the general failure of traditional gaming publishers to establish themselves in the mobile sector.

EA closed down 84 cents to $55.75 on the Nasdaq today. In after-hours trading following the news, EA shares fell further to to $55. Jamdat shares were higher on the news, rising $1.57, or 6.9 percent, in after-hours trading.

66 Comments

  • sohailstyle

    Posted Jan 27, 2006 11:12 pm PT

    Shtinky
    *The imperial march theme from star wars plays*

    Haha..yeah this is sort of sad..

  • Irvine78

    Posted Dec 14, 2005 6:04 pm PT

    Why don't they just buy the moon? Then we would have to see a giant EA logo every night. And if the clouds got in the way, they would buy them and have them destroyed. Soon we will have to pay EA to take our children home from EA hospitals, because our EA health insurance companies won't pay the $5,000 EABucks fee to bring them to our EA homes. Oh well, at least I can still drink my EA-Coca-Cola and have a nice slice of EA and cheese pizza. Thank EA!

  • Shtinky

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 6:17 pm PT

    *The imperial march theme from star wars plays*

  • Comedyco

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 12:04 pm PT

    Meh, EA, u got some okay games, and u have a few really good games. Unfortunatley, u have games that blow the big one. Dam rich companies. GO UBISOFT

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 10:16 am PT

    uggg..... teh EA strikes again.

  • insane956dv

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 9:27 am PT

    Big surprise, whats next Sprint

  • owenharris99

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 9:07 am PT

    Whats next for EA. World Domination? Could be!!!!!!

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 8:34 am PT

    EA buys something else. Now the question is will they put houses or hotels on it? Hmm...

  • faster90

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 8:22 am PT

    Instead of wasting money buying other game companies, EA should pay their employees higher, that way they might put more effort in creating better games.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 8:14 am PT

    Wow, EA is becoming quite the monopoly... erm I mean player in the gaming market... now if they could only make good games...

  • aka_hal

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 8:11 am PT

    Night_Frost, Don't worry EA can't get Bungie. It's owned by Microsoft.

    I wish EA would stop buying things. They need to put more effort into improving the quality of their own games before they worry about another market.

  • Night_Frost

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 8:08 am PT

    If EA goes after Bungie and Ubisoft, there's gonna be a lot of ass kicking being handed out and its not the Government, EA is practically buying every company who has the best franchise, I mean, they killed the James Bond license, they killed Madden, it'll be a matter of time before they killed Halo or Killzone or Ghost Recon or DOA or Rainbow Six, even Half Life, it won't be long before our beloved franchises turn into crap, here's an idea my fellow gamers: DO NOT BUY ANY EA GAMES!!!!!! it'll definetly kill the juggernaut called Electronic Arts

  • Dahok

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:58 am PT

    the corporate juggernaut that is E.A. is just chugging along eventually to a lot of companies that want good money are gonna give in to those dollars signs. Get ready for a gaming monopoly down the road.

  • Poltergeist13

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:52 am PT

    EA may aquire you next. Watch out.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:48 am PT

    I hope Jamdat doesn't become mediocre or crappy because of their new association with EA.

  • alleduaf

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:30 am PT

    oh not again..... its wal-mart!!!! AHHHHH! well, lets be optimistic, EA could be bought out by (insert little guy company name) and then they will take over the title of worlds worst game-makers. darn, no matter where you look at it we're doomed.

  • jj4

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:04 am PT

    EA STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPP!! U CAN MAKE YOUR OWN GAMES!! DAMMITT LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE!!

    All GAMERS of the World unite against this evil and stop EA from buying anymore companies or franchises such as football!!! This is not delivering a better experience for any gamer every time EA buys out another company. STOP Right Guys?

  • jj4

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 7:04 am PT

    EA STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPP!! U CAN MAKE YOUR OWN GAMES!! DAMMITT LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE!!

    All GAMERS of the World unite against this evil and stop EA from buying anymore companies or franchises such as football!!! This is not delivering a better experience for any gamer every time EA buys out another company. STOP Right Guys?

  • owenharris99

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 6:30 am PT

    I really doubt they have limits. I reckon in the future theyll start taking over even companies that aren't related to games in any way. For example ford cars lol

  • ZakmanZak

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 6:11 am PT

    Sheesh they are such monopolistic morons...I swear they have to have limits...

  • owenharris99

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 6:06 am PT

    EA F.U.C.K.I.N.G. C.U.N.T.S.

  • owenharris99

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 6:04 am PT

    Nicolantia. What a loada crap. What EA do is just by out every other developer and publisher then ruin the franchise. EA are a bunch of wankers who couldn't actually care what the game is like, but instead just make a **** game and try and release it before christmas and be number one. What will f........ EA do next?.............Take over Rockstar. Wouldn't be surprised. There should be less EA type companies (i.e. VU) and be more dedicated developers (Team Ninja) and publishers (Take Two). F... EA and what it stands for. They never bring out a good game. I mean what f......... EA game, that has actually been developed by EA themselves (not criterion and the burnout series), has got a score of 9.0 or above on gamespot. Answer: None. Whys that? They just bring out a loada mediocre games, like i said near christmas and all year round, and try to capitilise on the fact that people will see that it says EA on the box and buy it.

  • Nicolantia

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 5:26 am PT

    Do you all actually think EA is stupid enough to allow themselves to get in trouble for having a monopoly? They know what they're doing a lot better than any of you know what you're talking about.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 4:58 am PT

    EA & MicroSoft will control everything within the next 12 years. Please, someone stop this crap B4 the government gets involved.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 4:58 am PT

    EA & MicroSoft will control everything within the next 12 years. Please, someone stop this crap B4 the government gets involved.

  • changwoua

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 4:12 am PT

    EA will one day buy the whole world!

  • tidyspidey

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 3:02 am PT

    Oh No! Another company concerned with making money!? What HAS the world come to!!?? Leave EA alone I say - yes, they make some crap, but then, they make some great games too. I hope EA buy me next......

  • ewjim

    Posted Dec 9, 2005 2:10 am PT

    Less independed company's - less good games... Almost all make EA - is clones or remakes of they own games - it's a SHAME!!!

  • Sonicplys

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 9:52 pm PT

    EA sucks!!

  • darkheart73

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 7:22 pm PT

    Just when you thought the underdogs stood a chance...

  • owner211

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 6:26 pm PT

    EA is planning there world domination as we speak!!!!!

  • Opstinger

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 6:24 pm PT

    Jamdat...? Oh yeah... Snake...

    Sometimes I think EA is just buying out companies for the mere sake of buying out companies.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 6:17 pm PT

    Oracle will buy M$ long before EA gets a chance. It will be the Redwood City rumble!

  • _Glitch_

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 6:05 pm PT

    Another three years and the headlines will read, "EA buys Microsoft." That will be the sign that the world is truly coming to an end.

  • IQ138

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 6:05 pm PT

    soon EA will pwn our soul, and you will like it!!!!!!!

  • CyphenX

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 5:56 pm PT

    Really, game making should be more independant. Every company bought by EA is going to have to comply to the buisness model. When the primary goal becomes about making money instead of making art, we will suffer. If all the money is controlled by the EA hivemind, it gives them too much power over the creative process, to process done best by an independant group. It's fairly obvious by all of the buisness moves (exclusive NFL deal, buying numerous devopling companies, now this aquisition) that EA is all about making money. An independant designer can make a game based on an artistic vision, try to find a publisher, have a few money-making tweaks proposed by that publisher, and then release something that is made to entertain. If a designer is controlled by a company like EA, there will be little to no artistic vision, just a vision for making money; the company will controll the creative process, and base it on money, not entertainment. Thus, the entire industry and the consumers will suffer. I really hope that the entire industry become more individual and personalized once again, it will really be better for everyone.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 5:55 pm PT

    Not Unexpected....

  • wiafs02

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 5:16 pm PT

    MS,SONY &Nintendo will be under EA very soon

  • tyko0n

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:56 pm PT

    wow like EA's crappy games arent enough on home consoles. . .now its about to be on mobile phones

  • LukeAF24

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:52 pm PT

    I'm with EA. Great way for them to break into the Mobile world.

  • EastsideMafia

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:47 pm PT

    It'll be a dark day in history when we have to play Tom Clancy's Need For Speed Virtua Football Fighter Takedown: The Anniversary Collection Vol 3. Until people stop buying EA's "updated" games that they try to pass off as new, they'll keep trying to take successful franchises and put their stamp on them (translation: ruin). Wait a minute: I think they just bought my dog! He's now Fido 2007 with the revolutionary poop stick and tapeworm update!

  • DarknessWild

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:46 pm PT

    yeah, a step on ruling the game world..

  • Sturm08

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:43 pm PT

    Have you ever thought that EA might be trying to improve their games by purchasing talented studios? Criterion, DICE, Jamdat...all good developers. They aren't threatened by them.

  • P1zzaman

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:27 pm PT

    Let's see EA buy out Microsoft... i just want to see.

  • P1zzaman

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:26 pm PT

    (Your company) was bought out by EA. To me, that's an embarrassing announcement if anything you own got bought out by EA.

  • swedishc

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:21 pm PT

    mo·nop·o·ly - A company or group having exclusive control over a commercial activity. Hmmm well as long as there are still hundreds of other developers/publishers it is not a monopoly.

  • tbonetrav18

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:17 pm PT

    EA can buy companies because people pay $50 a year for the NEW Madden game. with only a few changes and an updated roster. WOW, People are stupid. Oh, and as far as becomming a Monoply, I am still waiting for the court cases. My guess, only about 4 or 5 more years.

  • Maxer9

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:14 pm PT

    I don't see the big deal. Just because the publisher changes doesn't mean much.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 4:08 pm PT

    They just won't stop.

  • Greendonut

    Posted Dec 8, 2005 3:57 pm PT

    Why don't they just buy America?

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