Ea + 38

EA Signs Publishing Deal with 38 Studios

Interesting news. I had thought (and hoped) that 38 Studios would be doing their own publishing.

Think it's the first step to them getting sucked up by the 800 pound gorilla? These sorts of things can't be allowed to occur without at least a little rampant speculation and conspiracy theorizing.

Maybe we're seeing another Varant / SoE type thing starting.

Bite your tongue....make it bleed!!!

Lots of my friends lost jobs at Mythic and EA and are still out of work. Some have found jobs. I still have friends from the Sigil/Soe mess out of jobs.

I understand that publishing is a horse of a different color, but we were told that SoE would ONLY be doing publishing of Vanguard. We see how far that went, so this is a bit disconcerting, but....hoping they keep tighter reigns on things. EA has their own issues.

I think it's important to remember that the big tip off that something was going wrong at Vanguard wasn't the fact that SoE became the publisher, it was that Microsoft dropped them.

This is a first partnering, no one is dropping them. I do feel EA is a great publisher and they have some good games under that banner.

As long as EA is not making design decisions, I don't see any reason to be concerned with this.

Originally Posted by Fahn

As long as EA is not making design decisions, I don't see any reason to be concerned with this.

I totally agree...but that statement just looks too darned familiar to pass up the obvious comment...

Famous last words.

Firstly i think its only about the single rpg game that ea will publish (maybe im wrong) . Secondly there is no way the games wont make profit and i think the founders of 38 know that. So the case is not EA taking over 38 . Its a partnership . I think that the statement was clear . That the publishing of project mercury (single player rpg) will be made by EA . The strategic planning and the oversee is still on 38's behalf .
Vanguard was sold to SOE because it failed. You cannot sell something to someone without knowing its potential . Even if 38 is running low on cash they will consider other means of finding it than throwing in the garbage their sweat for 30 pieces of silver . If that was the mentality ,which it isnt , thay would say from day one , ''we re building an idea ,a product and we want to sell it to someone'' .This automatically means that you will be paid once and for all and not constantly thus the capital you invested will not be even close to cover its cost or even make profit. So both in terms of ambition and sheer economic calculations i think that it will not be the case.

Secondly there is no way the games wont make profit and i think the founders of 38 know that.

It's a calculated risk! Say a game is $10m to build. That's 200k games at $50 each to break even. Too much? Ok, so $3m to build. That's still 60k boxes to break even and then you have to add in upkeep and continued work. So it's a gamble, regardless. 38 has some super things in their favor, tho, like a banner team that automatically takes it up a few notches!!

I still appreciate their closed-lip attitude about what's going on. As frustrating for some as it may be, it's SO much better! I can't wait for some real sauce, but...all things in their time!