As part of the EA deal, I'll give you my two cents.
You know what bothers me MOST about the deal? That nobody fucking CARES that we're (Pandemic) are even involved in the deal. Nothing crushes morale when you're part of a $800+ million dollar deal (the biggest in industry history) and you are less than a footnote in the great shitstorm of internet reprisal.
Regardless, all of you going, oooh woe betide my beloved Mass Effect that isn't even out. What are you upset about? Seriously, what is terrorizing you so much? That EA will somehow befoul it? How? They bought the company(s) because they are doing well by themselves. EA is in it to make money, and this particular regime of EA rule knows that you leave well enough alone, especially when it's generating revenue. The only time they'll step in is when we, the game developer, fail to deliver.
In essence, we get more money, more backing, probably the biggest Marketing powerhouse in the industry and alot more press.
And for those of you horrified by sequelitis... seriously, why the fuck do you care?
Three years in the industry have no made me loathe everyone who ISN'T in the industry. It's a hell of a thing.