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Former EA exec joins Microsoft as VP of Live
Like Superman and Batman trading capes, or Aquaman borrowing Wonder Woman's uh ... invisible plane, EA and Microsoft have been awfully chummy lately. First, Xbox exec Peter Moore leaves Microsoft to be closer to his family in San Francisco ... and take a lucrative position at EA Sports. Of course, he was replaced with former EA exec Don Mattrick, ensuring the carefully balanced game of corporate Jenga wouldn't come crashing down.Today, Microsoft announced that EA executive vice president John Schappert has joined the company in the newly created position of "corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services." The one-time founder of Madden-dev Tiburon will oversee Xbox Live as well as Games for Windows Live, XNA and Microsoft Casual Games, which includes Xbox Live Arcade. He'll be reporting directly to his old EA compatriot – you guessed it – Don Mattrick. We imagine their meetings will involve reminiscing about that time they did that thing at that one group team building exercise in '99 and various ways they could spell Microsoft with a consecutive 'e' and an 'a.' Good times, good times.Now, to complete the circle, Xbox will need to sacrifice one of their own to EA! Let the ritual commence ...
MS creates new position for former EA exec
Microsoft announced today that it has hired John Schappert, former executive vice president of Electronic Arts, as the corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services, a newly created position. In this new role, Schappert will oversee Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows LIVE, XNA, and Microsoft Casual Games. Schappert will report directly to the new senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division, Don Mattrick (also formerly of EA). Mattrick is reportedly "thrilled" to have Schappert aboard, and notes that Schappert will help Microsoft "focus on expanding and enriching our market leadership with LIVE in areas like online services while broadening our audience." What exactly Schappert's role entails, we're not quite sure, but we imagine we'll be hearing more from him soon. In the meantime, we have to wonder how many more executives Microsoft will be plucking from the ranks of Electronic Arts.
