It’s no surprise that the highly successful independent developer behind a game that’s now sold more than three million copies has to fend off offers left and right. Venture capitalists want to give them money (“we basically don’t need it” said Persson during the full interview), and the CEOs of large game companies come calling, as EA’s head honcho did earlier this year.
Well, EA came to see us. I think they had plans, but the picked up the vibe. Nothing has been said since — it’s all very high politics.
According to Develop, Riccitiello made a special trip to Stockholm just to visit the house of Minecraft. I contacted EA for confirmation, and was told that while EA doesn’t comment on their mergers and acquisitions activity, “John’s trips to Sweden are more likely related to marveling at the progress DICE has made on Battlefield 3.”
Notch also confirmed the DICE visit with me. “He was visiting DICE primarily, but spent a long lunch with us,” he said. “Nobody ever mentioned anything about any M&A during that lunch, but there has been definite hints earlier from other people at EA.”
That having been said, Riccitiello doesn’t seem like the sort of fellow that just stops by a ridiculously successful indie developer’s office for a sandwich. Perhaps Notch was right, and he didn’t find the taste to his liking. Mmmm, Mojang vibe.
Akra
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 8:34 AMI think Notch wanted EA to make the offer, so that he could say no. That’s the vibe I’m getting from he interview quotes, that way he could have been “sticking to the man in the name of indie games”
Shepard
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 8:50 AMWhat Akra said. with this and his opinions on recent events.
think sucess is going to his head abit, rovio went the same way mr. notch
Braaains
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 8:52 AMMaybe the poor standard of sandwiches on offer put Riccitiello off. Cut the crusts off next time.
riavan
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 11:14 AMI concur, this dude is getting pretty full of himself. Grats on restarting a genre, dosn’t mean your game is going to stay top on top for very long. New games of the genre, like Terraria offer a much richer experience.
Esspytood
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 4:46 PMTerraria?
are you kidding?
Canipa09
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 11:55 AMIt’s good that Notch has decided to stay independent and he really doesn’t do the “No Comment” thing to the media. And I’m not surprised EA has come for a visit. If one of those publishers get Mojang, they get a big hold of the gaming community.
Lucid
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 12:44 PMLook at how many people buy the game a day. Then look at the price. He makes over $100 000 EVERY DAY. He does not need any money or to be bought out, he makes so much already.
There is also a massive spike in numbers whenever he releases an update, so he has a huge incentive to keep making them. I don’t think EA would like the “free updates forever” that alpha players get.
Allan
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 3:49 PMDon’t know much about “Notch”, but I know that I can’t stand EA at all, bunch of greedy bastards, almost as bad as Capcom.
Franz
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 5:50 PMAnd just what the hell did John think he was doing? EA are the video game company equivalent of Mel Gibson.
Don Danbury
Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 6:26 PMThe only reason I can imagine Mojang would be worth buying is for the inevitable ‘Minecraft 2′. I’m sure notch and the fellas there are very talented but at the end of the day he had a good idea and it was received well. I can’t imagine the studio would offer that much else other than the minecraft Ip.
Peter
Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 12:09 AMWell he did say it was a long lunch. Its not like he rubbed his ass in the guys face.
Notch does alot of stuff, its funny watching his tweets that read along the lines of ” is comming out, no updates for a few weeks, I’m playing it”
he makes his own schedule and is getting paid for his idea. paid well. why wouldn’t you be proud of that? beats suddenly having to stress out to meet someone elses agenda.
Lolwut
Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 6:48 AMKudos to notch
Anything that EA touches turned sour and closed if not producing enough money in the first year
Here’s to the loving memory of Origin, Bullfrog, Westwood, etc
PureFlame
Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 12:26 PMRest in peace, Pandemic.
TSH
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 1:35 PMDamn you, I’ve not thought of Bullfrog for ages!
I’m not fussed with acquisition and ownership in and of itself – it’s consequences that matter. And historically, EA acquiring something somehow ends whatever magic was once there.
Scott
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 4:10 PMWestwood…. my beloved…. :’(
Franz
Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 8:58 PMThats why everything after Red Alert 2 sucked lol