Weekly Poll 2/24/08 - EA eyes Take-Two

[Tan]

So Electronic Arts has tried to buyout Take-Two for a hefty $2 billion. Take-Two of course has declined the offer, but I have a feeling it'll happen sooner or later if EA wants it bad enough. Just for the record, here's a few of the games/companies/series which make Take-Two so enticing:

2K Games
Firaxis Games
2K Boston/2K Australia
2K Czech (formerly Illusion Softworks)
Take-Two Licensing (formerly known as TDK Mediactive)
Venom Games, Ltd.
2K Sports
2K Play
Global Star Software
Jack of All Games
Rockstar Games, Ltd.
       

Notable series/games:
Civilization
Sid Meier's Pirates!
BioShock / System Shock
Tribes: Vengeance
Mafia / Mafia 2
NBA 2K
College Hoops 2K
Major League Baseball 2K
NHL 2K
Top Spin
Grand Theft Auto
Manhunt
Bully
Midnight Club

So what do you think? Will they eventually buy them out? Can Take-Two fight them off? Or do you think this will be a good thing?

[Tondog]

I really don't care...

[Hydrobond]

For the record:  I voted "don't care", but I don't think that Take-Two sucks.

[BadEnoughDude]

I don't really care about this, outside of the fact that it seems like the NBA2K series would be liquidated. I always liked them MUCH more than the NBA Live games.

Do we think that there will be a lot of changes to the other series?

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

FUCK OFF EIDOS, YOU'LL KILL MAFIA 2

[Tan]

There's a good article at Kotaku about some of the possible changes should this buyout go through at some point. EA has a vastly different online policy and multiplatform policy than Take-Two, and even their new "hands-off" approach won't change that.

Besides the near total monopoly on all sports games they would have, they would dissuade free download content for new games and no doubt port to many more platforms. Also count on EA keeping a lid on any game that may be controversial. So Rockstar would be a much more behaved developer.

Personally, the only series of concern to me is the NHL 2k. It's very much superior to EA's and many can attest to that.

Take-Two is still among the largest, it would be like Toyota (#1 in the world) buying Ford (#3). The implications would be larger than the changing of hands or reshuffling.

FUCK OFF EIDOS, YOU'LL KILL MAFIA 2

Eidos has nothing to do with either the development nor the publishing of that game.

[Cobra]

Oh EA, what company don't you want to buy? 

[phoenix1967]

This would suck for the industry if EA succeeds at getting Take Two.

Not only would the sports franchises be monopolies, but everything else that Take Two publishes would get the EA stamp of "suckage" on it.

[Tynstar]

This would suck bad. So much for playing a good sports game at all. Whatever EA touches turns to shit.

[OatBob]

true that, competition between the NHL 0X and NHL 2K series is the only thing that keeps driving hockey games to evolve.

[BadEnoughDude]

true that, competition between the NHL 0X and NHL 2K series is the only thing that keeps driving hockey games to evolve.

Same with their respective NBA franchises. The 2K series wipes up the Live series. I'm scared to see what will happen.

[Cobra]

To find out what would happen look no further than Nascar.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

There's a good article at Kotaku about some of the possible changes should this buyout go through at some point. EA has a vastly different online policy and multiplatform policy than Take-Two, and even their new "hands-off" approach won't change that.

Besides the near total monopoly on all sports games they would have, they would dissuade free download content for new games and no doubt port to many more platforms. Also count on EA keeping a lid on any game that may be controversial. So Rockstar would be a much more behaved developer.

Personally, the only series of concern to me is the NHL 2k. It's very much superior to EA's and many can attest to that.

Take-Two is still among the largest, it would be like Toyota (#1 in the world) buying Ford (#3). The implications would be larger than the changing of hands or reshuffling.

FUCK OFF EIDOS, YOU'LL KILL MAFIA 2

Eidos has nothing to do with either the development nor the publishing of that game.

Take Two does, and if Eidos gets their grubby little paws on TT you know they'll ruin it somehow.

Although maybe it could be a good thing. When Mafia 2 doesn't live up to our expectations we can blame eidos. WOO SCAPEGOAT

[Tan]

There's a good article at Kotaku about some of the possible changes should this buyout go through at some point. EA has a vastly different online policy and multiplatform policy than Take-Two, and even their new "hands-off" approach won't change that.

Besides the near total monopoly on all sports games they would have, they would dissuade free download content for new games and no doubt port to many more platforms. Also count on EA keeping a lid on any game that may be controversial. So Rockstar would be a much more behaved developer.

Personally, the only series of concern to me is the NHL 2k. It's very much superior to EA's and many can attest to that.

Take-Two is still among the largest, it would be like Toyota (#1 in the world) buying Ford (#3). The implications would be larger than the changing of hands or reshuffling.

FUCK OFF EIDOS, YOU'LL KILL MAFIA 2

Eidos has nothing to do with either the development nor the publishing of that game.

Take Two does, and if Eidos gets their grubby little paws on TT you know they'll ruin it somehow.

Although maybe it could be a good thing. When Mafia 2 doesn't live up to our expectations we can blame eidos. WOO SCAPEGOAT

Eidos is owned by SCI are they not? SCi has just finished downsizing and said they are willing to consider offers for buyouts themselves. They recently scrapped 14 projects they had on the go to save their asses, leaving Tomb Raider, Hitman ,Deus Ex and Championship manager as the only 4 franchises they are developing.

I think it's safe to say that Eidos' parent company is in no position to buy anyone, but may in fact be a morsel for someone else.

[Cobra]

I think it's safe to say that Eidos' parent company is in no position to buy anyone, but may in fact be a morsel for someone else.

Then along came EA