>These laments are a bit overblown. Not to mention, a lot of these studios would have ended up bought by someone because, at the end of the day, they are inves

>These laments are a bit overblown. Not to mention, a lot of these studios would have ended up bought by someone because, at the end of the day, they are investments geared and designed for an acquisition. Its not like EA came in there with machine guns and enslaved everyone. The point of these businesses is to make money first and make games second. There is no utopia where they aren't seeking buyers and a big paycheck. Its a rare shop that turns down "fuck you" money. Even indie-cred neckbeard hero Notch sold out to the "evil" MS empire. Enjoy your games, but don't expect everything to last. I kinda like the way the system works in some ways. It means the talented and the risk-takers who do a good job get paid. It also means there's going to be new blood soon in the space the Sims and Sim City lived in. The same way the zombie and world-builder genre, which was just expensive and milquetoast AAA titles, is now the darling of smaller and indie shops with excellent results. I'd love a new company to take on the Sims market. The Sims product is good but the lack of a real co-op or multiplayer is inexcusable. The managerial and creative fuck ups at Maxis are legendary at this point. Its best to put this cow out to pasture. Shame the entire Maxis team didn't fold. This not the Maxis of old and whoever is left over now failed to contemporize long ago.