EA's BioWare/Pandemic buy could pay off big (News)

GamePro staff, GamePro (online)

16/10/2007 09:21:00

Will Mass Effect be tampered with? Will EA run two successful studios into the ground? Will there be a Baldur's Gate: Madden Edition?

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who is no stranger to predictions about the video games industry, is cautiously optimistic about such questions.

"I think it's likely that the deal will pay off, but there is some risk. In order to succeed, they will have to continue to generate great games. There's nothing to suggest that they won't," Pachter told U.K.-based GameIndustry.biz.

Success could arrive if EA can refresh aging titles like Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate; and fill the hole left by its Star Wars titles, Pachter said.

"The first two franchises are somewhat tired and are PC-centered, while the last one will likely not be licensed by EA going forward," Pachter said. "It's possible that either Neverwinter Nights or Baldur's Gate can be turned into MMOs, and both would likely do quite well, but neither Pandemic nor Bioware has had success in that area in the past -- few have."