- Image by Aminimanda via Flickr
So if you haven’t heard the buzz around the interwebz about this news, check out this link about the Mythic/Bioware group merge on Warhammer Alliance.
For those not in the know, both Mythic and Bioware exist under the EA umbrella these days, so in a bold move of re-organization and utilization of their resources, they’ve united them under a single group.
There’s the usual Chicken Littles who are predicting bad things for this little unification of sorts. Of course, I can’t get on that bandwagon – otherwise I’d be betraying the whole purpose of this blog!
The opportunities this merge creates are huge, addressing perceived weaknesses in both studios. While WAR has done decently, it has suffered in sub numbers and has gone through considerable reputation hits over the past six months. Bioware’s obvious developer equity will help fix that as well as bring some new, fresh management into the picture. Meanwhile, Bioware, while in good with the MMO community, has never done an MMO before. Mythic has a proven track record and ability to deal with the MMO community from an experience perspective, and it is no secret one of its greatest strengths is its ability to connect with its players. Bioware will benefit from this in spades.
EA, meanwhile, makes a bold move towards competition with the other juggernaut in the MMO business, Activision/Blizzard. With a single MMO group and single direction, they are poised to create entries in both the fantasy and sci-fi genres. If WAR stays steady and SW:TOR has a smooth release, it’ll be a force to reckon with in the coming years.
Mythic and Bioware are now a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They now bring a certain flavor to the table and the unification may bring with it incredible agility within the group to create great games. Will they also be “two great tastes that taste great together”? Time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – for people who follow both WAR and SW:TOR, like me, can’t help but be excited and surprised at this new opportunity on the horizon.
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I like peanut butter. I like jelly. Not together.
It really cracks me up when people think this will bring great things for WAR when there’s the obviously huge elephant called SW:TOR sitting in the same room as Mythic and BioWare. Honestly, I think EA went Abe Lincoln on Mark’s ass (Now you fucked up! Now you fucked up!) and talked with BioWare about “merging.” People aren’t saying it’s a merge, but I don’t believe a word of it. I won’t be surprised if WAR dies out and BioWare leeches Mythic for MMO info to release SW:TOR. At the same time, I’m really disappointed with BioWare in joining Mythic. I really don’t see anything positive coming out of it.
And seriously, everyone is trying to make some stellar MMO to beat WoW, but the truth is that WoW isn’t going to die until Blizz pulls the plug on it. And that’s only going to be when they release their next MMO.
@ Helvetica
YOU FUCKED UP NOW! (man i love whitest kids)
other than having rhyming acronyms, WAR and TOR have little in common. They are IP’s that appeal to different crowds (for the most part), and they will be nothing alike in gameplay. An upper management change can be a good thing for Mythic. The eventual trickle down of new direction can have an impact, but I don’t that that effect will show up in WAR anytime soon. If anything, Bioware will be using this opportunity to see where Mythic faulted in order to make TOR a better game.
I’m still in shock that Helvetica doesn’t like peanut butter and jelly!
lol….maybe she likes Nutella….or Marmite
I LOVE Nutella! =D
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