Bullfrog Productions, game featured: Populous, acquired by EA in 1995

Maxis, game featured: Sim City 2000, acquired by EA in 1997

Westwood Studios, game featured: Command and Conquer - Red Alert, acquired by EA in 1998

DreamWorks Interactive LLC, game featured: Medal of Honor, acquired by EA in 2000

Honorable mention to Mythic Entertainment/Bioware, acquired by EA in 2006

Song referenced: Runaway Train - Soul Asylum

    • halyk.the.red
      link
      fedilink
      62 months ago

      I fell for the lies every time. I felt like a teenage girl dating a cheating ex, telling myself he really changed this time, it would be different.

      Well maybe we needed a dog control button, Peter!

      Maybe I’m still not over it. I’ll see myself out.

    • @xcutie@linux.community
      link
      fedilink
      English
      6
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      Awesome game, full of bugs and exploits. I loved it.

      If you are looking for a remake, Satellite Reign is a pretty good choice.

  • @TisI@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    122 months ago

    Bullfrog made Theme Park and Theme Hospital. Two amazing games! They’re both on Gog now too which is great!

  • Tony Bark
    link
    fedilink
    English
    122 months ago

    I dunno. Maxis is a bit of a mix bag. Had EA not brought them, they might have gone bankrupt.

    • @idegenszavak@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      10
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      Yes, SimCity 3000 and 4 was very-very good. Sims 1 and 2 were also under EA, and they weren’t a cash grab like 3. Spore was also fun. The last SimCity, in 2012 was shit.

      • @OutForARip@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        7
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        Spore would have been an amazing game if it was like the early demos and not transformed into some weird kid thing.

        • @ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one
          link
          fedilink
          English
          22 months ago

          Spore was fun until you get the last stage then it became tedious.

          “Wait….my species has achieved space flight. Why I’m constantly fixing all these issues? I just want to explore and stuff.”

      • Tony Bark
        link
        fedilink
        English
        22 months ago

        Oh, yeah… Completely agree. Shell of their former self that’s now left to make DLC for god knows how long.

  • CodexArcanum
    link
    fedilink
    English
    112 months ago

    These are fine examples, but all over 20 years old now! (Also I’m still salty about Origin Systems in 1992!)

    But hey, EA has never stopped sucking! We can also lament recent purchases like legendary UK studio Codemasters (2021) or Respawn (2017). Respawn is especially funny since it was made by ex-Infinity Ward founders, who got bought again! I wonder what their next future-EA-acquisition project will be?

    • (Also I’m still salty about Origin Systems in 1992!)

      They are finally getting re-discovered by younger generations a bit more, but they are often missing from memes like this. Considering how groundbreaking their projects like Wing Commander and of course Ultima were, it is a true shame. They truly fell from the very top and slowly died thanks to EA. (And, admittedly, also in part mismanagement and not being able to overcome the prohibitive cost of physical media i.e. floppy disks and CDs properly)

  • macniel
    link
    fedilink
    92 months ago

    RIP all those beautiful studios. (I dont have any memories of Dreamworks Interactive though)

    • MrScottyTay
      link
      fedilink
      English
      72 months ago

      DreamWorks was more of a case they wanted in on games, made medal of honor. Then it either didn’t do as good as they wanted it to or they had a bad experience with publishing it, so they just sold the studio and it’s rights to EA.

  • @meme_historian@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    62 months ago

    Damn I sunk sooo much time into SimCity 2000, when I was like 10 years old and hadn’t the faintest clue what the fuck was going on.

    When the city inevitably went to shit, I just called in the UFOs 😅

    • @SaladKing@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      22 months ago

      Man, I sunk a ton of hours into B&W. Never figured out how to pass one level (final one I think) but it was hella fun.