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EA Founder Predicts MS Purchase of Nintendo

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-quite-an-eight-ball dept.

New site Xbox2News.com (via Evil Avatar) has up an interview with Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts and recent AIAS inductee. During the course of the interview, he is asked what he sees as the future course for Nintendo. His answer? "My magic eight ball says they will be acquired by Microsoft within five years." Tycho has commentary on the man's forcasting abilities in today's post.

4 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. 3DO by Grond · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Tripp Hawkins was also the CEO of 3DO, and we all know how well that worked out. I'd say his credibility in terms of prediction was pretty much shot since he thought the 3DO would take over the world. As opposed to, you know, being a wildly overpriced system with a handful of lame, FMV-laden titles.

  2. Nintendo is not for Sale by Aggrazel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If Nintendo were unprofitable, I would think they could be for sale.

    But they are not. They are VERY profitable. They have the BIGGEST franchizes in games. They have no reason to sell to Microsoft unless Microsoft offers ludicrous money.

    Also, Nintendo isn't just video games. Pokemon anyone?

    Anyway, I don't see Nintendo ever selling to anyone.

  3. MSFT & Acquisitions by afabbro · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Just as a general point of info...Microsoft has never done an acquisition of this size. Not even close.

    Given their management's emphasis on employee culture, deciding to merge with an organization as large as Nintendo would be a real surprise.

    --
    Advice: on VPS providers
  4. Re:Magic 8 Ball... by Psychochild · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Haha! Exactly. I'm a 3DO survivor and know exactly how well ol' Trip's Magic 8 Ball works.

    (Side note, why not mention him as founder of 3DO instead of EA? It's more recent, and oh, yeah, out of business! :P)

    Seriously, this is the man that for years said online gaming wasn't ready for prime time, that it wasn't profitable, etc, despite the obvious successes of online games. It sucked for me, because my team working on Meridian 59 got almost no resources since online games couldn't be profitable, according to Trip's Magic 8 Ball. So, it's not a surprise that it faded into oblivion only to be resurrected by a much smaller company that cares. And has made the game profitable with few resources.

    Ah, well. Hopefully one day I'll have a fluke success so people will listen to me no matter how irrelevant I become.

    Have fun,

    --
    Brian "Psychochild" Green
    MMO developer's blog