EA merges Bioware, Mythic into single RPG gamehaus
Taps Bioware chief as leader
Electronic Arts is combining its top RPG maker, Bioware, with its top MMO maker, Mythic, to make one massive roleplaying studio group.
While it's not apparent why EA is squeezing the video game houses together, the publisher is keeping Bioware's reins in the same hands.
The newly-formed RPG/MMO group will be helmed by Ray Muzyka, co-founder and general manager of Bioware. The developer's other co-founder, Greg Zeschuk, will become the studio group's new creative officer. Mythic co-founder Rob Denton will become the general manager of the group's Mythic side of things, reporting directly to Muzyka.
The odd man out is Mark Jacobs, co-founder of Mythic and the studio's current general manager. He'll depart EA on June 23, 2009. Mythic said in an announcement that Bioware's studios will remain unchanged and continue to report to Muzyka.
Bioware is best known for RPGs like the Star Wars romp, Knights of the Old Republic, and its popular original IP, Mass Effect. Mythic currently runs the MMOs Warhammer Online and Dark Age of Camelot.
With Bioware currently developing the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, the deal does make strategic sense. Bioware has a great track record with single-player RPGs, but lacks experience with managing a massive multiplayer environment unlike Mythic. Getting the best of both worlds makes for a solid business plan, assuming the two developers can mesh well. ®
COMMENTS
Just think of all those popular MMORPGs that EA produce
like...
nope, that's Blizzard, or how about...
nope, Linden Labs*. Ok, what about...
nope that one's CCP. Maybe...
nope, Origin...
*Ok, so that one's not really a MMORPG, but it is nevertheless quite popular...
re: Mass Effect as an MMO?
"Crikey.
Yes Please."
Crikey. HELL NO!
Take what's good about a decent RPG (such as KotOR 1 and ME), which would be the storylines, the backstory and personality of your team and your ability to choose a definite ending to the game, strip those out, replace with gormless "real" people ("L2 LFG" "pwnd noob" and whatever other dross you get when on the interwebs), an infinite trudge to nowhere and The Grind, oh gods, the grind, and you get an MMO.
Bioware should be concentrating on making Mass Effect 2 and 3 the best damn single player RPGs they can be, not pissing their time away introducing The Grind to Star Wars (which has already had it in SWG and the KotOR series needs a pick-me-up after 2 anyway).
I'd pay good money to continue my adventures with Commander Shepard and my team. I'm not interested in playing if there's no story, no real goals, and a monthly fee.
@Lionel Baden
Ah... Worms... excellent game and if you're from Yorkshire you know the meaning of some of the stuff in the game...
Mike's Carpet Bombs.... Shops called Mike's Carpets selling, you guessed it, carpets :)
Now where did I put that Concrete Donkey...
Uh-oh?
Mythic's track record is 1 for 2 re. MMOs.
DAOC - ground breaking.
WAR ~1.2 mill 'box' sales left with barely six figures in live subs mostly due to shoddy engine incapable of delivering the massive scale RvR battles that were to be its USP. Oops.
Hundreds of thousands SW fans around the world are now wondering what side of the coin will show headsup for the new MMO. Ex-mythic and their 50% success rate holds sway, and all the midichlorians in the galaxy can do nought about it. Hopefully they've learned their lessons from WAR.
Saw this coming
When Marc Jacobs sold his soul to EA, you could see this coming as the death of Mythic. As a long term player of Dark Ages of Camelot (and an ex Minstrel TL) even though I stopped playing a few years ago, I have a soft spot for DAOC and Mythic. The company really went downhill when EA took over and they got rid of Sanya!
