What if Electronic Arts made a console?

They already did in the early 90's (a large partner) in developing the the 3DO. That system fizzled out but it stands as an example to show that EA has done more than publish software and might retry in the future. So let's assume for the sake of argument that EA does release a console in the Fall of 2010 or 2011. I would infer that EA titles would be exclusive to the console and would not be multiplatform as they are today.

What do you think the impact would be? Think of the franchises that EA owns. The genres they own. They own more licenses than any other 3rd party. It's very impressive. How would it do against competition like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo?

if EA created a console all hell would break loose, the only NFL simulator exclusive to that console? that secures the US market, fifa as an exclusive? is a strong point for the European market. The Sims, Bioware and Westwood? it would lure PC gamers in. The take two bought including the GTA franchise as an exclusive? More support from NA, Europe, and even a little from Japan their 25% shares on Ubisoft? that would ensure a strong third party support from ubisoft.

EA has nothing on Japan, but if they wanted they could take Europe and US by storm

it would be full of casual games, killing their sports game sales and would have no 3rd party support because who would want to develop for a 3rd party developer?

one could imagine it would be cheap and have great physics/graphics, but it would destroy gaming

because who would want to develop for a 3rd party developer?

Mr_Apple_Soup

right because sega, nintendo, sony and microsoft were never third party :roll:

it would be full of casual games

Mr_Apple_Soup

you do know thats what made them rich in the first place? :|

their sports games

Mr_Apple_Soup

this is their trump card (well that and Sims)

If that happens, when will it end. Until every gaming franchise is bought. Pretty soon you'll hear bungie was bought by EA. EA is an evil corporation and must be stopped.

R.I.P. 2K Sports, you would have made it.

[QUOTE="Mr_Apple_Soup"]

because who would want to develop for a 3rd party developer?

st1ka

right because sega, nintendo, sony and microsoft were never third party :roll:

it would be full of casual games

Mr_Apple_Soup

you do know thats what made them rich in the first place? :|

their sports games

Mr_Apple_Soup

this is their trump card (well that and Sims)

when was nintendo a third party dev? and a system full of games without challenge is insulting...

this age of online gaming is upon us full force though, so something like this is invevitable

The console would do beastly, since EA is pretty much the largest third-party powerhouse in the industry.

Consequently, Microsoft and Sony would be taking huge hits. Nintendo....not so much.

when was nintendo a third party dev?

Mr_Apple_Soup

and a system full of games without challenge is insulting... Mr_Apple_Soup

care to explain to me the sucess of Wii sports, or the sims then? casuals are the future of gaming you know

[QUOTE="Mr_Apple_Soup"]

when was nintendo a third party dev?

st1ka

and a system full of games without challenge is insulting... Mr_Apple_Soup

care to explain to me the sucess of Wii sports, or the sims then? casuals are the future of gaming you know

yeah meanwhile the casuals (aka as the future) will be fed up with shovelware and 'blues clues' easy games, while the hardcores (aka as the present) can go to hell, thank you nintendo

[QUOTE="Mr_Apple_Soup"]

when was nintendo a third party dev?

st1ka

and a system full of games without challenge is insulting... Mr_Apple_Soup

care to explain to me the sucess of Wii sports, or the sims then? casuals are the future of gaming you know

thats why things are nice the way they are, all the systems have a good balance of games appealing to both markets....if EA made a system it would tear the industry apart

[QUOTE="st1ka"][QUOTE="Mr_Apple_Soup"]

when was nintendo a third party dev?

Kirlok

and a system full of games without challenge is insulting... Mr_Apple_Soup

care to explain to me the sucess of Wii sports, or the sims then? casuals are the future of gaming you know

yeah meanwhile the casuals (aka as the future) will be fed up with shovelware and 'blues clues' easy games, while the hardcores (aka as the present) can go to hell, thank you nintendo

who knows? i have a theory of my own, that if the casual market grows too much we may see a videogame crash in 10 or 20 years or so since companys will obviously try to profit from this, but thats just my theory

They would rock!

BioWare, Westwood and a ton of other things! They need full USB/Mouse compatbility so they can have all their PC games on it, it would kill the gaming industry in one fell swoop and turn it into the EA industry!

How awesome would that be? We'd no longer have System Wars but EA Wars argueing over different studios.

And life, life would be simple.

the difference with nintendo moving from third party dev to console manufacturer is that even while they were a third party developer they made hardware of some type. They made those game and watches, and I believe they made arcade machines (not sure on that last bit). Asking EA to make a console would be like asking capcom to do it. Plus, it would mean that they would lose all those sports licenses since the only reason they have so much support from pro sports leagues is because they are supposed to release the games cross platform. GunSmith1_basic

If they released their own platform, it would be sucessful and I'm sure the pro-sports leagues would support them.

the difference with nintendo moving from third party dev to console manufacturer is that even while they were a third party developer they made hardware of some type. They made those game and watches, and I believe they made arcade machines (not sure on that last bit). Asking EA to make a console would be like asking capcom to do it. Plus, it would mean that they would lose all those sports licenses since the only reason they have so much support from pro sports leagues is because they are supposed to release the games cross platform. GunSmith1_basic

just because nintendo created those game and watches doesnt mean they werent third party devs, capcom also made arcade games, but they always were a third party dev

they would probably lose money in the long run, as most of their games sell on all consoles.