I think this is actually a great change. The guys from Bioware will hopefully have powerful influence on the Mythic projects moving forward. I think this move is a stroke of brilliance seeing how Mark Jacobs has mishandled WAR and DAOC (particularly TOA). Although he has had some strokes of genius in the end I think we will only see better products coming out of EA/Mythic's doors because of this.
Probably nothing they seem to have their team for that and they are well on their way. This seems to be more about management then any thing the devlopment houses still seem to be two separate groups just managed my the same guys now.
I think this is bad. Bioware has a great team, but every time it is further merged, the talent becomes more diluted. But I suppose that's always been the EA approach - buy unique companies with brilliant people, then blend it all together until you can no longer taste the good stuff. It will not be long before the original idea men behind our favorite games wither under this bureaucratic monstrosity and leave to start something else (like so many did before them.) It will probably have an original, dynamic name like "EA Everything-except-Sims-and-Sports"
well mythics insight into the MMO market could prove invaluable for bioware. If nothing else they should be able to help streamline the project. Also this allows them to reallocate staff between the divisions so they don't have to do big hirings and firings when they start and finish game developments.