EA forms Wii-centric studio

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Nov 30, 2006 3:54 pm PT

Monolithic publisher transforming PC Tiger Woods developer Headgate into internal shop focused on Nintendo's new console.

In a recent interview with Newsweek, Electronic Arts CEO Larry Probst talked about his company's increasing support for the Wii. Besides mentioning the Wii-specific Sims title, the executive also said that the publisher has "some things in the pipeline" that will be exclusive to the platform.

Today, EA threw more of its considerable weight behind Nintendo's new console. The company announced that it has bought Headgate Studios, the developer of the last six PC installments in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise and Madden NFL 07. Now the shop, redubbed EA Salt Lake, will "focus on development for the Nintendo Wii."

As is often the case when it buys independent developers, EA did not disclose the financial terms of the Headgate acquisition. As its new name implies, EA Salt Lake will remain in its Bountiful, Utah, locale, coordinating its efforts with EA's California development teams and the Madden makers at EA Tiburon in Florida. Headgate founder and CEO Vance Cook will continue to oversee EA Salt Lake as executive producer, reporting to Nick Earl, the general manager of EA Redwood Shores and Sims studio Maxis.

No specific titles were mentioned in the EA Salt Lake announcement. Given its resume, though, the shop is presumably working on the Wii edition of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, due out next March. The only EA Wii game currently on the market, Madden NFL 07 was developed by a Wii-dedicated division of EA Canada's Burnaby, British Columbia, studio. EA is also bringing Need for Speed Carbon, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, SSX, The Godfather, and the aforementioned Sims to the platform.

156 Comments

  • Jebril

    Posted Jul 28, 2007 5:30 pm PT

    EA it isn't the console that's going to get you money it's your games......Tecmo makes money on any console it launches a game on, whether it be Ninja Gaiden Sigma for PS3, Dead or Alive 4 for 360, or Super Pangya Golf for Wii. It's all in the games......make good games and people will buy them.

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 7:13 am PT

    Brilliant news for Nintendo

  • Iggywade

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 7:53 pm PT

    This is what Nintendo has been lacking for too long. Even if your not a fan, EA has atleast 1 or 2 titles that appeal to everyone which is going to add to the longevity of the Wii!Revolution!!

  • jazilla

    Posted Dec 4, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    nice to see a company that has the resources to dedicate to such an innovative and fun to play console like the wii. I hope to see good things out of this accquisition.

  • Uchiha_madara

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 10:33 pm PT

    maybe this will get their money back

  • wikkedclown17

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    i think this is gonna start happening a lot more if you ask me. studios will want to have branched off divisions just for the wii

  • jonzilla_basic

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 8:45 am PT

    cant wait to see hockey on the wii

  • WiiendWarrior

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 8:35 am PT

    About time the Wii and Nintendo gets "top billing". For so many years it seemed like MS aqnd PS has gotten the brunt of attention...."Change is Here".

  • kornbeaner415

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 1:51 am PT

    If this is the first of many, PS3 and 360 better watchout. Nintendo could very well be this gens comeback kid.

  • Superion74

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 12:59 am PT

    This is a great news. By forming that Wii-centric division, I hope that EA will be able to produce more games for Wii, including all its signature sports games. The key to Wii's long-term success will be third-party support, and more games is always better than less, even if not all of them are good.

  • MoldOnHold

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 5:46 pm PT

    meh I'm not that much of an EA fan anyway, perhaps need for speed and medal of honor, but that's it.

  • Jerian

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 4:42 pm PT

    I agree with pikadeth. Makes you wonder what playing DefJam is like with the Wiimote...could be fun party game

  • pikadeth

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    I don't care much for EA, but having the world's largest 3rd party publisher giving your console exclusive games is a good thing.

  • CidStormwind

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:06 pm PT

    There's nothing wrong with EA nowadays, they used to not care much about anything else than money, but they're getting better and better.

  • Mirren

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    I can't really see how this'd be "bad". Games like those mentioned generally sell very well with the casual market, and more sports games could do a lot of good for the Wii. And, honestly, I have more faith in EA now after their impressive showing with Madden Wii. SSX should hopefully be a fine exclusive, as well. I just hope they don't make the same mistake Ubisoft did and push out all of these titles in a rush and all at once, because that'll probably just result in another plague of mediocre games.

  • frankpaladin

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    beat that SONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  • metalclay128

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 1:45 pm PT

    zomg! tiger woods wii! this might be the first time i buy a golf game :O

    also waiting for a fight night!

  • malikmmm

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 12:55 pm PT

    die EA

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 12:44 pm PT

    I sure hope that the WII will live long and prosper for real though, I do wanna get one and hope that it kicks ass as I think it will

  • NextGenAdam

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 11:57 am PT

    yey Third party support. The thing whose lack thereof killed 'cube.

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