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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: Les Thomas on February 25, 2008, 04:08:33 AM

Title: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Les Thomas on February 25, 2008, 04:08:33 AM
Electronic Arts pushes buy-out offer on Take-Two Interactive.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15401

 For weeks, there have been rumors speculating that Take-Two Interactive would be subject to an acquisition bid.  Many thought Viacom would seek to buy them out at a one-time price of $1.5 billion.  It turns out Electronic Arts wants Take-Two shareholders to part at $25 a share, roughly a $2 billion dollar deal.  Take-Two swiftly rebuffed the idea, so EA offered them a $1 more a share, warned them about their financial future, and went public with the entire negotiation, contrary to their original pledge not to.    


EA corresponded with commands, while Take-Two remained cordial and steadfast.  Clear in all of EA's communications is that this deal needs to happen before Grand Theft Auto IV ships.  Take-Two responded on time with a dismissal.  EA retorted with the $26 a share, your future is doomed, so cave in before you ship GTA IV deal.  Everyone's expectations of GTA IV are high, so it's no surprise that Take-Two agreed only to talk after the game ships.    


EA highlighted their main talking points to Take-Two:    


   


Take-Two felt that Electronic Arts was "undervaluing" their company, being opportunistic in their timing, and thoroughly irresponsible to engage until after their prize title ships.    


  The entire contents of the companies' correspondence are available at businesswire.com.

Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 01:05:13 PM
So this is the "great console industry" everyone talks about.  They already own Park Place and now they're trying for Boardwalk.   (starting conspiracy theory time) It almost makes me think these guys are setting up the steps to an eventual EA branded console.  That thing would have a lot of major exclusives out of the starting gate if they did something like that. (ending conspiracy theory time)

Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Plugabugz on February 25, 2008, 01:32:35 PM
If EA buy Take Two then the industry will become a whole lot more boring.

Imagine Rockstar WITHOUT the controversy. Stone dead boring!
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: DAaaMan64 on February 25, 2008, 01:50:13 PM
Quote from: Plugabugz on February 25, 2008, 01:32:35 PM
If EA buy Take Two then the industry will become a whole lot more boring.

Imagine Rockstar WITHOUT the controversy. Stone dead boring!

I think Rockstar has a certain arrogance, so I'd love to see them removed from their high chair. They are probably actually a bunch little winers anway.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Smash_Brother on February 25, 2008, 02:18:25 PM
Quote from: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 01:05:13 PM
(starting conspiracy theory time) It almost makes me think these guys are setting up the steps to an eventual EA branded console.  That thing would have a lot of major exclusives out of the starting gate if they did something like that. (ending conspiracy theory time)

The only console to have:
-Madden
-Tiger Woods
-Many other sports franchises I can't be arsed to look up
-GTA
-Bioware RPGs
-Rockband

...Would be a pretty formidable console.

I don't think your theory is far-fetched at all, and the thought of it scares the hell out of me.

EA is a bit like "The Blob": you have this massive entity with smaller entities floating around inside of it. Whenever a game is released, you have no idea which entity inside is responsible for it, and it makes it impossible to guess the quality of the game based upon the track record of the developer.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: DAaaMan64 on February 25, 2008, 02:24:00 PM
Quote from: Smash_Brother on February 25, 2008, 02:18:25 PM
Quote from: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 01:05:13 PM
(starting conspiracy theory time) It almost makes me think these guys are setting up the steps to an eventual EA branded console.  That thing would have a lot of major exclusives out of the starting gate if they did something like that. (ending conspiracy theory time)

The only console to have:
-Madden
-Tiger Woods
-Many other sports franchises I can't be arsed to look up
-GTA
-Bioware RPGs
-Rockband

...Would be a pretty formidable console.

I don't think your theory is far-fetched at all.

I wouldn't buy it.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on February 25, 2008, 02:53:05 PM
Quote from: Smash_Brother on February 25, 2008, 02:18:25 PM
Quote from: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 01:05:13 PM
(starting conspiracy theory time) It almost makes me think these guys are setting up the steps to an eventual EA branded console.  That thing would have a lot of major exclusives out of the starting gate if they did something like that. (ending conspiracy theory time)

The only console to have:
-Madden
-Tiger Woods
-Many other sports franchises I can't be arsed to look up
-GTA
-Bioware RPGs
-Rockband

...Would be a pretty formidable console.

I don't think your theory is far-fetched at all, and the thought of it scares the hell out of me.

EA is a bit like "The Blob": you have this massive entity with smaller entities floating around inside of it. Whenever a game is released, you have no idea which entity inside is responsible for it, and it makes it impossible to guess the quality of the game based upon the track record of the developer.

That list doesn't look any worse than the franchises Nintendo has. What makes Nintendo the "better company" than EA? Personally I don't care, maybe if EA bought Take-Two they could actually put some talent on the Rockstar team.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Smash_Brother on February 25, 2008, 03:06:53 PM
A lot of people would buy such a console for Madden alone and with the newfound casual appeal of games like Rockband, EA could probably put out a console which the American audience would completely devour.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: ShyGuy on February 25, 2008, 03:26:23 PM
Would this mean GTA is coming to the Wii?
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Dirk Temporo on February 25, 2008, 03:32:39 PM
I'm glad Take Two told them to shove it. EA needs to piss off.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Uncle Bob on February 25, 2008, 03:32:43 PM
Let's pretend EA did buy out TakeTwo and made their own system -with all their titles being exclsusive.

Nintendo would survive. They survived without any real EA/T2 support with the N64, GameCube, GBA and DS - and to some level, on the Wii.  Would Sony and MicroSoft fare as well?
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on February 25, 2008, 03:56:17 PM
Honestly I would not mind if EA got into the console battle, it would be nice to see another game centric developer take on Nintendo instead of companies like Sony and MS who see gaming as just one of their many divisions.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on February 25, 2008, 05:04:32 PM
I want Brawl before it ships.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Caliban on February 25, 2008, 05:55:39 PM
What does this news have to do with Nintendo? It's not like we're getting GTA4, Bioshock, or...whatever else Take2 has planned for the HD consoles.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 25, 2008, 06:17:05 PM
If this would mean EA would have the MLB license back and could make MVP Baseball again I'm all for it.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Enner on February 25, 2008, 06:39:56 PM
Caliban: Take Two has Bully for Wii lined up, if I recall correctly. Even without that, maybe the EA side of things makes it a relation since EA has some games for the Wii.

As for an EA console, I'd probably get one since I can't go without new Burnout to play. At least not yet...
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 25, 2008, 06:52:46 PM
It wouldn't make sense for EA to make their own console. Microsoft has lost tons of money in their Xbox program and are only starting to turn a profit now, years later, and the same would happen to EA. Also, EA would make more money from the games they publish if they publish for everyone instead of just their own console.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on February 25, 2008, 06:59:21 PM
Would EA's games improve if they were only made for one system?
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Caliban on February 25, 2008, 07:07:53 PM
Pro666 makes a good point. No competition for EA would probably mean they could slack even more.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on February 25, 2008, 07:10:18 PM
Quote from: Caliban on February 25, 2008, 07:07:53 PM
Pro666 makes a good point. No competition for EA would probably mean they could slack even more.

Not really, they would still have competition with Nintendo, MS and Sony. Don't forget Sega, after they got out of the console business their quality plummeted. Personally I think it gives you MORE incentive to create a better product.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Caliban on February 25, 2008, 07:16:06 PM
That's why I used the word "probably". It wasn't a definitive statement.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: nickmitch on February 25, 2008, 07:49:03 PM
First Yahoo rejects MS, now T2 rejects EA? Does no one love a good corporate take over any more?
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 09:28:54 PM
"Pro666 makes a good point. No competition for EA would probably mean they could slack even more."
Not if they want their name dragged through the mud even more than it is now.

I didn't say it would happen immediately, it probably wouldn't happen for another year and a half to two if it were.  No matter what though, I can see this whole deal being really nasty for sports fans who liked the 2k series of games, especially football and basketball fans.  They're probably more willing to acquire Take Two for 2k games' Bioshock and stuff than anything else.  Would they incorporate 2k ideas into Madden and Live?  A couple maybe, but don't expect too much.

If EA did make a console though, I'm quite sure that their whole NFL license deal would have to be completely dropped.  Now this actually doesn't sound all that bad until you consider this, who else besides EA and 2K made sports games worth a damn?  Sony has MLB, but what else?  Microsoft's games didn't stand up to them either.  Nintendo doesn't even have a realistic sports lineup.  No other consoles would have the Sims, Burnout series, Need For Speed series, Skate series, Rockband series, Black, Metal of Honor, Command and Conquer, the list goes on and that's without considering the Take Two stuff if they acquire them or any new franchise they make to attempt to broaden their game library.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: KDR_11k on February 26, 2008, 02:47:34 AM
I don't think EA will make their own console, it'd increase the barrier of entry for their games and would put all of the hardware expenses on them. That's just a hassle and not profitable.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Termin8Anakin on February 26, 2008, 04:28:54 AM
EA Hardware? They made the 3DO....well....Trip Hawkins did anyway.

But if they were to get into it again...it'd probably be called 'Patriot by EA - The All-American Video Games Platform' - and you must say it in full each time.

I'm pleased T2 flat out refused EA. Can you imagine a YEARLY installment of GTA? And imagine the cross-over mayhem...
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: that Baby guy on February 26, 2008, 04:50:09 AM
We practically get a yearly installment of GTA with the PSP versions of the game included, but yes, this is likely better for everyone.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: KDR_11k on February 26, 2008, 05:52:57 AM
EA will turn GTA into an urban gangsta-style game with hiphop, pimping your car and illegal stuff. Oh, wait, GTA already is like that.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Shift Key on February 26, 2008, 06:50:21 AM
Quote from: KDR_11k on February 26, 2008, 05:52:57 AM
EA will turn GTA into an urban gangsta-style game with hiphop, pimping your car and illegal stuff. Oh, wait, GTA already is like that.

Waiting on GTA Cribs, the game where you pose for the camera in front of furniture and score points based on how "wack" you are.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Caliban on February 26, 2008, 02:31:30 PM
Quote from: darknight06 on February 25, 2008, 09:28:54 PM
"Pro666 makes a good point. No competition for EA would probably mean they could slack even more."
Not if they want their name dragged through the mud even more than it is now.

They seem to like it sometimes.
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: Plugabugz on February 26, 2008, 06:51:53 PM
I'm curious. If yahoo and microsoft = Microhoo! then what does T2 and EA make?
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on February 26, 2008, 06:56:20 PM
TEA for 2
Title: Re: EA Wants Take-Two Before GTA IV Ships
Post by: KDR_11k on February 27, 2008, 07:53:57 AM
Quote from: Plugabugz on February 26, 2008, 06:51:53 PM
I'm curious. If yahoo and microsoft = Microhoo! then what does T2 and EA make?
EA