Company News New rumor: Microsoft finally bought Bioware

[Rosh]

(Snip about Linux client and tools.)

Did anyone really expect those inept Winhacks to do anything that was competent? Converting NWN over to other OS' was an amusing concept, but the bumblefucks needs to prove they are able to work in Windows itself first. Or, do like most FPS games, and program in a platform neutral way.

However, we all know that BioWare is DirectX's bitch, now likely even moreso.

 

[Seven]

I see no one remembers the FO Fantasy theasco, did we learn nothing from that? Rumors are the bread and butter of gaming.

 

[Rosh]

I see no one remembers the FO Fantasy theasco, did we learn nothing from that? Rumors are the bread and butter of gaming.

And there's truth to most of it, especially if the information was mixed up between the titles of Lionheart and FOS.

 

[Spazmo]

Let's assume this is true--good! Microsoft is an actual decent publisher, Xbox shenanigans aside. I'd wouldn't mind buying games from MS who, despite much "LOL M$ SUX" propaganda, aren't all that bad. Compared to Atari, anyhow.

 

[Seven]

I see no one remembers the FO Fantasy theasco, did we learn nothing from that? Rumors are the bread and butter of gaming.

And there's truth to most of it, especially if the information was mixed up between the titles of Lionheart and FOS.

That was kind of my point. Plus rumors just don't spring out of thin air (not usually).

 

[Vault Dweller]

Considering how fucked up gaming industry is, all we have, between carefully worded full of hype and shit press-releases, are rumors. Jefferson / VB combo was technically a rumor, Black Isle demise was a rumor, Atari's getting the BG license was a rumor, etc.

A friend of mine is an IT recruiter, who at some point tried really hard to get Bio account. I don't know if he succeeded, but being a persistent fuck, he got to know some people there very well. According to him, and the people he spoke with, the negotiation with MS had been going for a long time and is in final stages. That seems to be consistent with what everyone else is reporting, so...

 

[Major_Blackhart]

A rumor is not a rumor that doesn't die.

 

[Flarnet]

Bioware is one of the most successful and fastest growing companies in Canada. It is privately owned. The only reason for the doctors to sell is if they suddenly got tired of making crap in exchange for huge amounts of money. Sure, they would be set up for good, but my impression from those two is not that of "ehrm, I feel like moving to Boca Raton soon".

 

[Vault Dweller]

Bio's first goal was and is to make money vs make good games.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

However, we all know that BioWare is DirectX's bitch, now likely even moreso.

NWN was OpenGL, though. Assuming they coded it with porting in mind, there's really no reason it should have taken so long to make the linux client.

 

[Vault Dweller]

HomeLan reports:

Some web sites have been reporting through unnamed sources that Microsoft plans to announce at E3 the purchase of the famed Canadian developer BioWare. HomeLAN contacted BioWare for comment and its PR rep sent this somewhat cryptic response:

BioWare's upcoming Xbox action-RPG, Jade Empire, is based on an entirely new BioWare intellectual property and slated for a Holiday 2004 release. Microsoft is the publisher for Jade Empire. Microsoft is a certainly a valued business partner with whom BioWare enjoys a very positive and cooperative relationship.

Sounds evasive and doesn't really answer the question.

 

[Seven]

Aghhhhhhhh... guess again, it's not ONE of the most successful, nor is it even one of the most fastest growing. Off the top of my head I name at least 30 companies that are both more sucessful and faster growing.

It's a development house not a publisher. Lets say that it has a staff of what? 100, 120 people tops, shit all of the businesses in downtown Toronto (old Toronto) have that times 10 at least. Not only that they make a shit load more of money, so nope, guess again.

EDIT: I wanted to quote Flarnet but it didn't work.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Guess again what? I've never said anything about Bio being one of the most successfull or fastest growing companies. Did you get the right quote?

 

[Seven]

Did you have to replay to such an obvious error... bastard, now my shame will never die.

PS, why's that white power shit still up?

 

[Vault Dweller]

GameSpot just posted this:

Officially, it is BioWare's policy not to comment on rumors. But the online chatter had the Northern developer willing to provide a tad more than the usual boilerplate response. "To us, it's really thin air," a BioWare staffer told GameSpot today, "we value Microsoft as a publishing partner." However, the representative would not straight-out deny the reports of its purchase, either, allowing some speculation about the alleged deal to linger.

For its part, Microsoft refused to comment on the matter. However, the company is no stranger to developer buyouts. Aided by its massive cash reserves--over $50 billion at last count--the company has purchased many premiere studios in the past, including Accolade, FASA, and Halo-maker Bungie. In 2002, it spent more than $300 million to buy Rare. The addition of BioWare to its stable of studios would make even more sense: Besides the all-but-announced sequel to KOTOR, the Edmonton-based developer is currently working on the anticipated Xbox-only kung-fu action role-playing game, Jade Empire.

 

[Seven]

I liked the part of Microsoft's stable of studios; it makes them sound very pimpish. If they have sold to Microsoft how much do you think they got: 80-90 million, more, less: I mean how does one place a dollar value on a studio?

 

[Psilon]

Did anyone really expect those inept Winhacks to do anything that was competent? Converting NWN over to other OS' was an amusing concept, but the bumblefucks needs to prove they are able to work in Windows itself first. Or, do like most FPS games, and program in a platform neutral way.

Actually, the funniest part of the whole fiasco was the attitude they took towards the porting. Rather than use known cross-platform libraries, they just plowed through with the Windows stuff, trusting implicitly in their libraries' eventual porting. If they had used Qt or wxWindows when building the toolset instead of Borland C++ Builder, this wouldn't have been an issue.

That said, they've pretty much done the right thing by opening up all their file formats. If doing the work themselves is impossible, at least more dedicated programmers aren't completely screwed. If I still played NWN, I'd probably be helping with the editor projects. Instead, I'll probably end up fixing bugs in the Blades of Avernum editor.

 

[Astromarine]

nwn is not the only modern rpg in linux. JA2 is there

 

[DemonKing]

I really hate it when people build a successful business from the ground up, and then sell-out to the Big Boys...because the Big Boys never understand the fans that made a business successful in the first place.

Look at what happened when WOTC sold out to Hasbro - completely ruined D&D to the extent that we are now expected to pay for new rule books which are virtually identical to those released a few years ago.

I hate it, but I guess if someone flashed big bucks under my nose I could understand why people sell (out).

 

[Calis]

Look at what happened when WOTC sold out to Hasbro - completely ruined D&D to the extent that we are now expected to pay for new rule books which are virtually identical to those released a few years ago.

Point taken, but bad example. They were churning out useless supplements at a ridiculous rate well before WotC even bought TSR, though some had hopes that WotC would turn things around for good, with 3E and the more focused campaign setting supplements it brought us. This 3.5E thing is just another example in a long line of p&p RPG publishers complete and utter devotion to selling as many piles of paper as possible.

 

[suibhne]

Look at what happened when WOTC sold out to Hasbro - completely ruined D&D to the extent that we are now expected to pay for new rule books which are virtually identical to those released a few years ago.

A bit OT, maybe, but this is a misapprehension that I'm tired of seeing inanely repeated. I sympathize with your frustration about WotC churning out useless supplements, but the complaint about 3.5E is groundless; none of the PnPers I know have bothered to buy 3.5E books, but many of them have switched to 3.5E by using the online SRD. You're not EXPECTED to pay for new rulebooks, DK. ALL of the new rules are available online, for FREE. And you certainly shouldn't expect WotC to continue printing 3E rulebooks now that 3.5E is out.

Frankly, I like a lot of the 3.5E changes, I think they're easy to adapt to after 3E, and I'm darn glad they're all available for free. I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Sounds evasive and doesn't really answer the question.

Usually, if something like this ISN'T true, there's a flat out denial on the subject of it. If there are no talks about this, there's no logical reason not to deny them because there aren't any. If there are, then ducking the question is one good way of replying while details are being sorted out to buy more time or to delay an official release on the subject.

 

[taks]

companies usually sell for 5 years of expected sales, with some lattitude thrown in for growth/decline. so what was bio's bottom line each year recently? (uh, gross, not net).

taks

 

[triCritical]

companies usually sell for 5 years of expected sales, with some lattitude thrown in for growth/decline. so what was bio's bottom line each year recently? (uh, gross, not net).

taks

Looks like someone might be getting bought out... Ya know, these aren't the sort of things EE's know.

Been there, done that.

 

[Vault Dweller]

This is funny

Yesterday, we informed you that there was a possibility that Microsoft was going to buyout BioWare, the developers of Star Wars: KOTOR, the Dark Alliance games, and the upcoming Jade Empire. While it seems the transaction already may have been done, rumors speculate nothing will have been heard until this years E3. Well, the Edmonton, Alberta based developer has spoke out today on these rumors. A unanimous BioWare employee stated, "To us, it's really thin air," meaning that these rumors are pretty much false, yet there is still a slight possibility that it can be true.

While BioWare does love developing on the Xbox platform, it looks like they will not be bought out. However, do not doubt Microsoft, they were able to bring in high quality developers, such as Bungie and Rare. Which also could leave us with a controversy. Before Rare was bought by Microsoft, they were an active developer on Nintendo's platforms [especially the N64]. But since the buyout, we have seen nothing but one mediocre game come out of the studio. While they do have big plans for the Xbox, when we will see them? We hope for at least one more game before the end of 2004. While Bungie has also only released one game for the Xbox, they do have some exceptions. For one, their staff is much smaller than what it is at Rare, and at least Bungie's only Xbox game was a damn fine game, Rare's Grabbed by the Ghoulies would only appeal to those who are below the age of 15.

But to get back to the subject at hand, the final verdict about this whole Microsoft-BioWare thing is that we will have to wait until E3. Stay tuned for more.

A Bio employee said something, so the rumors are false. Although they could be true. Bio wouldn't be bought out. Unless of course Microsoft will buy them. But you never know. That's why you have to visit our site. We'll help you figure it out. Or not. Either way.