Analyst: EA could benefit from holiday shift to Xbox 360

Janco Partners' Mike Hickey says Wii momentum could dwindle on supply constraints while Microsoft's system picks up steam.

EA's surprise acquisition of BioWare/Pandemic sent a shock wave through the gaming industry last week. Although some industry watchers were dubious of the hefty $860 million paid out for the superstudios, it was the common consensus that EA now had a significantly better foothold in the action adventure and role-playing game genres. That is partly thanks to the acquisition of licenses such as BioWare's Mass Effect and Jade Empire as well as Pandemic's Mercenaries and Full Spectrum Warrior.

Janco Partners' Mike Hickey believes the acquisition could also put EA in a prime position to capitalize on a possible shift in consumer focus this holiday season. Addressing EA's earnings in a note to investors, Hickey said that "the recent release of killer content (Halo 3, BioShock), lower hardware price points, and limited Wii (hardware/software) supply could shift market focus from Wii casual to 360 hardcore this holiday." Such a shift, along with the rumored $399 PlayStation 3 arriving in November, he continued, "should benefit [EA]."

One thing Hickey wasn't so sure about was BioWare's under-wraps massively multiplayer online game. Hickey noted that BioWare is unproven as an MMOG maker. Also, with the flood of new MMOGs due to the rampant success of Blizzard's World of Warcraft, Hickey speculated as to whether a market will even exist for the game. "A competitive MMO release prior to their [release] or continuation of the WOW subscriber phenomena could capture a large portion of the available market, locking out their economic opportunity," he said.

84 Comments

  • fr33_loader

    Posted Oct 18, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Temmehkan
    oh yea capcom is starting to bring more games to the ps3, Lost Planet has been conformed for ps3 and will have everything the 360 had to pay extra for for the default price of $60 all on one disc
    -----------------------
    Must be really hard to have only PS3. "Lost Planet" , I had a bite of it, chewed it, spitted on it, swallowed it, made gas out of it, pooped it, and if you get excited with it, yes you can finally have it.

  • bigpimppapa

    Posted Oct 18, 2007 4:28 am PT

    Merl57 said it all as Billy Boy and the Micro Slugs rake in cash from a defective console. Save it FAN BOYS mine broke twice in 8 months. At least every other person who owns one had to send it in for repairs.

  • Puckhog04

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 11:39 pm PT

    @Temmehkan:

    Lets check the exclusitivity of the games you listed...Halo 3? Exclusive to the 360. Mass Effect? Exclusive to the 360 (Bioware called MS a long-term partner on the Mass Effect trilogy...in other words, it'll remain exclusive). Bioshock? Was never hailed as an exclusive and never has been. Gears of War? Heh, yep, not exclusive. Does it matter? Nope...because the 360 is the only console that can play it. You can bet your arse that Gears of War 2 will be exclusive though. As for Ninja Gaiden...Ninja Gaiden 2 is a 360 exclusive. You don't like it then tough sh*t. Go sit in a corner and cry about it...stop making up announcements of these games on other platforms just to make yourself feel better. You have no proof of any of your claims so stop making yourself look as bad as you do. LOL, and big whoop if Lost Planet does end up on PS3. You have any idea how long that's been on the 360? Seriously, get some good games already, it's about time.

  • Merl57

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:59 pm PT

    and the quality goes down as profit goes up

  • thekey

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:48 pm PT

    @Temmehkan " then the 360 people shouldn't;t count bioshock, mass effect, halo 3, or gears of war, since those will go to PC, and before you say "its a Microsoft platform!" i don't care, if a game is exclusive it means there is no choice and you can only get that game at one place! a game on 360 that will go to PC is a Choice so its not Exclusive

    so have fun with your games i'll get them cheaper with better stuff on my pc and play exclusive games on my ps3"

    You'll also be waiting till 2015 to be playing all your "exclusive" games on your PS3 also.(Orange Box for the PS3 dec 11, 08/ Strangle Hold for the PS3 still delayed it should have been here 2 months ago, Oblivion GOTY edition came out today. LOL!!!!!!) Just keep them coming sony! LOL!!!!! And haven't your heard that games for Windows are MS platforms? that being the case they still are exclusive.(Just not Xbox exclusive)

  • jmate03

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    demoralizer thats was a noob thing to do, if you really even did that. E.A. wont get the cash made from mass any ways. The buy out takes time. Just cuz they bout them dose not mean thay have it now. It takes a long time to get everything worked out.

  • demoralizer

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 3:20 pm PT

    No way EA I already canceld my preorder of mass effect, you not getting my money. And not even EA can take on Blizzard.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 2:27 pm PT

    sweet, now big business can ruin another great developer. If you cant see the problem with this, you are the problem.

  • jmate03

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    Well chrissp7 I hate it when people list games to. But a reliable 360.. I had my 360 from day one. Still works. Now people sya the 360 over heats and there has been alot of people that say that. 30% of the so called over heat is not realy a over heat. Alot of it had to do with the inernet provider. I had this happen and I know that alot of people had the some thing happen. Some times you get the red ring of death with your net is not working right. So just call your net provider and they will fix it. I'm not tryen to down play the over heat prob. Alot of them still over heat.

  • chrissp7

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    uggh I hate all you people who need a list of like 7 AAA titles to be happy and all I want is Ratchet and Clank, LittleBigPlanet, and Warhawk...(and Banjo Kazooie 3, but unless I get a reliable 360 for free that's not happening) Edit: and shut up; about EA ruining games. Whoever says this verbal diarreah(or however you spell it) hasn't picked up an ssx game before or skate

  • wando77

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    @Temmehkan

    1)Prolouge isn't a proper game (its a taster)
    2)UT3 IS 2008 for deffo (do your homework pc only for 2007)
    3)gears and bioshock ARE console exclusive (ps3 has NOTHING to compare to these games both averaging 9.5)
    4) are you telling me if gears online was bundled on another disc with gears single player you would say its two games (laughable).
    5) AND ridge racer.....LMAO........there is an almost identical version already on 360 and it isn't exactly a game I would brag to have over forza2.

  • jmate03

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 12:24 pm PT

    @calebhawkins. It's still exclusives. Why. Cuz they only run on windows.

  • Tenjikuronin

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 12:20 pm PT

    With a name like "Mike Hickey", I doubt anyone is going to take this analyst seriously......

  • calebhawkins

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 12:20 pm PT

    The fact that Bioshock, Gears of War, and Halo 3 are or will come out for the PC doesn' t negate them from being exclusives. All exclusives are "console exclusives," for a number of reasons. First, the PC is not a console. Second, PC game sales generally lag behind console sales. Next, only Kojima said MGS4 would be a PS3 exclusive. Konami's CEO, who pays Kojima, said right after that press conference that the cost of developing next-gen games made it a practical necessity to make all games multi-platform. SE hasn't said the same thing about FF, but considering all the trouble they are have getting their next-gen franchises started up, they probably feel the same way. MGS and FF may be exclusives for a year (much in the same way MGSII or the GTA games were for PS2), but they most likely will appear on the 360.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 12:08 pm PT

    EA is a bunch of crooks. Their games are rehashed crap, and idiots still buy them for some reason..........BOYCOTT EA

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 11:53 am PT

    NG2 exclusive? That's great! I don't mind if MS or Nintendo are in the lead, as long as it isn't that devious not fun gameless ps3 console.

  • jmate03

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:57 am PT

    @Temmehkan Yep ninja gaiden 2 is a exclusive to the 360. Sigma is a remake of the xbox NG.. So yes. NG2 is a exclusive.

  • powerframe8

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:45 am PT

    Oh silly analysts... just cash in the cheque microsoft gave you to say this and let it be over with.

  • wando77

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:38 am PT

    @temmehkan

    Ninja gaiden is 360 exclusive, heavenly sword sucks, warhawk is only 'ok' UT3 is 2008, motorstorm is great(for 30mins), killzone wasn't great so why will part 2 be?, listing metal gear 4 TWO times (to bulk it out I presume), listing a rumoured game, listing GT5 twice (whoopee prolouge)..........................AND........you don't even know if the other games you have listed are going to be good or not (say they WILL be all you like but you don't know that FOR SURE).
    All sounds a bit desperate to me like you're trying to justify your purchase. Wii owners are having fun 'NOW' and so are 360 owners on 'tried and tested GREAT games'. It's utter madness that anybody buys a console on the back of 'games in the future may be good'.
    There is nothing on ps3 (that isn't already on 360) to compare to gears, bioshock, crackdown, forza2 or halo3...............You're all possibly nutt Jobs

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:36 am PT

    also calebhawkins I am excited for all the games Temmehkan listed. Looking at the 360 lineup I am more excited for the ps3. Some people might not be. Plus MGS4 will not go multi plat. It has been officially stated hundreds of times. these bogus statements get more and more boring stop saying all this rubbish. Like I said before some people like the 360 lineup bretter and some the ps3 lineup.

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:36 am PT

    EA makes great Xbox 360 games, in my opinion.

    The fact is, the Xbox 360 versions of all those EA Sports games offer the best performance.

    For example:

    John Madden NFL Football 2008 runs at 60 frames per second at up to 1080p resoluton on the Xbox 360, and includes Online Chat while playing the game.

    However:

    The Playstation 3 version of Madden NFL 2008 runs at only 30 frames per second (and often lower than 30, since it is a choppy framerate) at only 720p resolution. And the PS3 version does not allow you to talk online while you play that game.

    So, I can definitely understand why some people might say EA doesn't make good games if the only things they have been exposed to are the PS3 or Wii versions of the games.

    But, the fact is the Xbox 360 versions of the sports games from EA and 2K Sports are always rated higher and always offer a higher level of performance with better graphics and better online features.

    I think EA makes great games...besides sports, too.

    Consider the Real-Time Strategy genre:

    Command & Conquer 3 is awesome on the Xbox 360 and PC.

    Lord of the Rings: Battle for Midearth 2 is awesome on Xbox 360 and PC.

    I think EA is the biggest and best third party developer for a reason...because they do make great games.

    Let's just hope they don't try to make an "annual" sort of yearly event out of games like Mass Effect. Microsoft Game Studios is the Publisher for the first Mass Effect, and other websites have said Microsoft Game Studios will remain the Publisher for all three of the Mass Effect games in the trilogy. I hope that is correct.

    Mass Effect truly is the next big thing...it was rated a 9.75 out of 10 from Game Informer, and it is awesome...I can't wait to play it.

  • sacatash

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:28 am PT

    Most parents are budget conscious. If they cannot find a Wii(cheapest current gen console) for their kids, then they would buy a portable(DS or PSP) or if they want the cheapest alternative: a PS2. The rest of the money will be used for numerous gifts and expenses for the holiday season. Not all families are rich.

  • Autokiller

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:27 am PT

    i hate that Ea is expanding, they always make bad games.

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:27 am PT

    Temmehkan, NICE, Well I thought before that I might be playing my 360 most but with all those games coming out this year I will be using my ps3 most. Honestly those who say there arn't many games coming out for the ps3 are WRONG. I actually like that lineup more than the 360's! Especially GT5, SOCOM and R&C.

    anyway who cares who wins? Foe=r me the ps3 is best because it has all the games I want and has better graphical capability. and is flexible to change. Other bought the 360 becaue it was the first one out, and for halo 3 and other games. Popel bought the wii because it looked like a bit of fun (which it is) and was a change from just sitting there playing games instead of moving around.

    I dont mind who wins, PS3 could be first or last I would not care. But I thnk it will come second.

  • ashuncc2

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:22 am PT

    I hope EA doesn't mess with Bioware, so the staff can continue to make great games.

  • console-deity

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:17 am PT

    Temmehkan your game list is laughable, the 360 has a way better line up. When I bought my Xbox 1 I researched it and found the PS2 was a waste of money. It didn't have anything all that special and the controllers stink harshly. The GC was similar, but at least it had Zelda, so a few years after getting my Xbox I got a GC. When the 360 came out I again researched it and again the games where just better. Again I bought a Nintendo machine (Wii and DS) well after buying my 360 but I have three games for my Wii, the DS has a lot more good games, but I still find more good games on 360. The thing that's good about the DS is it has a lot of turn-based strategies, the Wii is cheap enough to buy for the few good games it has, and the 360 pays for itself over and over again with a great line up of titles. So basically buy a 360, then later buy a DS or Wii as a side distraction for summer when game releases run a little thin.

  • The_Rick_14

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:16 am PT

    Hooray...another misleading title involving the 360 and EA.

  • calebhawkins

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:07 am PT

    Temmekhan:

    Except for Drake's Fortune, Gran Turismo, and Ratchet and Clank, most of those games you listed are really going to boost interest in the PS3.

    An no, I'm not including MGS4 or the FF brand, because whatever Sony says now, those games will most likely land up on the 360 as well (Konami's CEO more or less said MG4 would at E3).

  • d4rkod posted Oct 17, 2007 9:57 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    d4rkod

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:57 am PT (hide)

    From my opinion, the wii is a junk pile with boring games.. i never really liked repetitive nintendo games. On the other hand, im seeing some very attractive games on the x360... mass effect ;p. If microsoft get rid of that bulky powerbar and the numerous hardware problems, maybe i'll give out 10$ to get one. Well, see ya guys, im gonna play with my PC and my PS3, these are the real stuff. By the way, the wii is really old hardware :S, waste of cash to me...

  • NYCraziestplaya

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:55 am PT

    hmm nice prediction *rubs chin*

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:52 am PT

    The analysts actually just make suggestions if they say it enough they think it will come true. There are people stupid enough to believe what these guys say as Gospel, I hold gaming sites such as Gamespot,IGN, Gamepro responsible for printing that garbage in the first place. Sales low?....Just hire an analyst to start making great claims about your console...........THEY do it ALL THE TIME, and it's wrong!

  • thekey

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:39 am PT

    I don't care any analyst says the 360 is going to win no matter how many 360's break and get replaced no matter how many PS3's and Wiis they put out there. The 360 is going to win, like it or not, they have more support, they have great games.(Greater then those on PS3 and the Wii) it's games that make consoles! Who cares if it has Blu-ray, or motion sensor, if you have no great games to play on the system you just have a system. The same thing most likely next year is going to happen because as more games and consoles are sold, the more support a console is going to get, (Ask PS2) Those things were breaking left and right when those things first launched, but look at now, it is all forgotten, why? Because of great games. Thats what WE want great games.

  • metaljeff

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:33 am PT

    EA are going to ruin the entire gaming industry

  • Prinze

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:32 am PT

    An analyst said it, so it must be true.

  • Nikalai_88

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:23 am PT

    I would not be suprised if the MMO from Bioware does not turn out to be good for other than the Baldur's Gate series I always found the actual combat gameplay in their games to be lacking.

  • doctorteeth

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:20 am PT

    So, what now? Start developing more 360 games to put out by Christmas?

  • 4105462786

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 7:19 am PT

    I don't understand why Nintendo is keeping the Wiis in such high demand. They would probably make a larger profit off of them if they would just increase production, which shouldn't be that hard to do, especially since the Wii us mostly run off of old technology. It took me a few weeks to finally find a Wii when I had decided to buy it and if they become difficult to aquire during this holiday season, parents may decide to buy a 360 for their kids as the next cheapest next-gen console. Some parents feel the need to buy at least one expensive gift for their kids and if their child doesn't make a special request, they would choose the Wii first since it's the cheapest, but if they can't get their hands on a Wii, they will most likely go to the next cheapest, which is the Xbox 360. If the 360 is much easier to find, that's what these types of parents are going to get for their kids as opposed to the Wii that they would have gotten, but weren't able to find.

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 6:42 am PT

    I agree, the 360 is going to do awesome this Christmas season, I cant wait to watch it outsell PS3 10 to 1! I am getting another one myself, I want one with HDMI, those 2 great games and the new 65nm CPU! I am trading in my old one! WHOOT!

  • distant2nd

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 5:45 am PT

    Amen, CrushedGroove, Amen.

  • KamalR

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 3:56 am PT

    the 360 will have a surge this holiday season they will have a bigger one(maybe even beating Wii) if they have another price drop

  • Tripwolf

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 3:42 am PT

    Makes sense. I know quite a few people who have waited for Mass Effect to buy a 360. The holidays should be quite kind to all the systems but I imagine the 360 will have quite the surge.

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