Will Apple jump into console gaming or make graphics chips
The recent buzz on the web and amongst the financial analysts states that Apple is planning to acquire Electronics Arts. David Tong of TheStreet.com said CNBC Fast Money contributor Guy Adami, mentioned that Apple is eyeing EA as a takeover target.
In case any of you’ll have forgotten related news from the past, take a dip into history and check out more about the
Apple designed Apple Bandai Pippen gaming console.
Apple’s iPhone is an emerging gaming platform, wherein big game publishers like EA are offering games through Apple’s App Store. EA also has been offering many games for the Mac Gaming platform.
EA is currently aggressive on PC gaming with 32 PC releases and 26 Xbox 360 games in fiscal 2009. John Riccitiello, EA CEO, reported that PC is becoming the largest gaming platform in the world, just not in a packaged-good product. EA recently reported a net loss of $42 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31.
This takeover scoop comes from Apple’s latest recruit, Richard Teversham, who previously worked with Microsoft’s Xbox wing. Teversham was the senior director of business, strategy and insights for Xbox (Europe). Prior to that in April, Apple had recruited two high-ranking ATI executives on senior positions in the company. Bob Drebin, ex-CTO of ATI, has joined Apple as senior director for an unnamed group and this change is visible in his LinkedIn profile.
Raja Kodouri, ATI’s graphics and GPGPU (General Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units) specialist and also CTO of graphics product group, joined Apple as a senior director for an unnamed group too. Many are following The Wall Street Journal’s scoop that Apple would be making its own chips and hiring two key ATI executives adds more to the substance.
Considering the chatter on the web, if Apple buys EA, there are three obvious outcomes from the same. Firstly, Apple would look forward to promote Mac as a gaming platform by rolling out big EA titles for it. Secondly, if we look back in time, Apple had designed the Apple Bandai Pippen console and might be looking forward to work on a totally new one soon. Apple might roll out a handheld tablet like gaming device loaded with mobile Safari for browsing, iTunes and App Store connectivity.
However, one possibility is being ignored here is that Apple might be working on better graphics chips for its Mac product lineup. Though Apple dumped Intel for Nvidia and continued using ATI graphics, the display issues with the new Mac products still exist.
However, this is all part of procrastination over the chatter in the industry which might not be true. We’ll have to play the same old wait-and-watch game, again.
