Topic: Studios acquiring other studios

[ThanksMK]

Hey Guys,

So Just found out today that EA bought out DICE, and Foundation 9 got the Shiny (popular for Earthworm Jim, Enter the Matrix).  These are all cool mergers and purchases, but what does a studio alone offer?  Just the name...I mean look at Rare.  That's a huge name in the video game industry but after being bought out by microsoft, what have they produced.  I guess what I'm saying is that, maybe companies should invest in talent.  Buying the studio alone doesnt grant a great product if all the talent left the studio, which is Rare's case.  Studios should focus on getting the " Jordans, Iversons, Kobe, Shaq"  That's my feel for it.  I'm not saying the talent that DICE have left or the Shiny but that alot of buying and selling is based on the name brand.  Is it to buy the public out?  I don't know...what do you guys think.  Btw heres a link Shiny Get

[ginx619]

I'm so sick of Rare getting knocked.If Kameo had been released on the Gamecube or Wii Nintendo fans would have been going crazy but since it was released on the 360 it's garbage.Kameo was a more than solid adventure game and those that keep talking about how bad it is,either hasn't played it or are blinded by fanboyism.

[Kairon]

Yeah, I agree. Fortunately it's a case by case basis.

I can easily envision a small studio that gets bought up by a big one, and everyone happily continues working, just with more job security!

However, it's probably the uber creative ones who want to protect their creative turf and then leave. EA should thank their lucky stars that Will Wright deigns to work under their logo, if he had wanted to leave, the Maxis deal wouldn't have been as sweet.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[ThanksMK]

Im not trying to pick on Rare, I'm just trying to make a point.  As Kairon pointed out, if EA were to buy Maxis without Will Wright in the package, what kind of deal will that get.  I guess my issue is that getting a studio just for the name is absolutely troubling.  Rare Kameo, is not as great as it could have been,  It's not garbage its not great, its like the little the little bear's porridge, somewhere in between.  

[Kairon]

Actually, I've heard that a lot of the BK team stayed at Rare, so maybe that particular acquisition will turn out good for Microsoft after all?

Either way, yeah ThanksMK, you're sort of echoing sentiments that Nintendo has taken to heart. Look at Nintendo's long and disastrous track history with external development studios tied to their name, second party or otherwise: Left Field(realistic sports games that competed with touchy third parties), countless Japanese Startups (remember NDCube? Marigul?), Factor 5(RSIII fiasco...ugh, first Nintendo published game I wanted to get rid of ever), Rare(low sales, long dev times, bleeding talent, european taxes...j/k on that last one!), Retro (which had to layoff dozens of employees, cancel 4 projects, and then be magically nurtured by Nintendo back to life), and more.

Heck, even HAL is an example of a worrisome external studio situation. HAL's SSBM director leaves, and Nintendo practically lays out a bed of roses, fabricates a brand new development studio, just for him to come back and "guest direct" one project for them.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[ThanksMK]

That's right Kairon!  I see you really keep track on Nintendo Developers.  I guess you do see my point.  Acquiring for the sake of owning a studio with a name doesnt produce to much in the long run.  As you mentioned HAL's SSBM director Nintendo building a team for him to work with is something that a lot of studio should see as strategy.  Get those talents, forget spending 23million on a studio for name sake.  I know there are advantages and reason behind these purchases somewhere...but if it were me.  I'd build a team for a Guest-talented developer thats proven.  

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

RS3 wasn't published by Nintendo.  [Lucas Arts, dur]

[Kairon]

Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666
RS3 wasn't published by Nintendo.  [Lucas Arts, dur]

Ah, you're right. That explains a lot too. I couldn't believe Nintendo could ever publish anything so shabby.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Ceric]

I think the EA deal was a good thing for Will Wright.  He had already established himself and made games that needed larger budgets for research.  Just wanted to put my 2ΒΆ in.

Obtaining developers themselves is good in some cases.  Ideally though a totally strong studio would be a better longterm acquisition but those are rare.