EA is Trying to Buy Take-Two

[Tommy Lawson]

EA is trying to buy Take-Two at the moment. It's a bit strange for big takeover business news to appear on a Sunday, but you can read some of the letters exchanged at Kotaku: the ones EA sent to Take-Two (http://kotaku.com/360123/ea-makes-offer-to-buy-take-2) and their response (http://kotaku.com/360147/the-take+two-letters-ea-rejected).

[Beat]

EA won't stop until they own all software and the only thing being released are yearly updates of games released prior, if this is any indication. This sort of homogenization is bad for an industry that more than ever, needs to sell and resell itself based on gameplay ingenuity rather than graphical prowess, as those leaps seem to be going less and less far with every generational gap.

[Dark Fact]

Maybe the good folks at Take Two should be arming themselves with shotguns to fend off the EA zombies.

[ShadowGUN]

Apparently the reason EA wanted Take-Two is because of their sports titles (http://kotaku.com/360452/pachter-ea-wants-take+two-for-sports-gtaiv-is-gravy). If they bought Take-Two they would have eliminated the competition and reign supreme in video games sports arena. Sound to me like monopoly. For shame EA.

[Dark Fact]

So the real head honcho of EA is...

http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/fictional/2006/06.jpg

Say it ain't so, uncle! :crying:

[BlackCat]

And of course, they're going to take this straight to the shareholders to try to strongarm Take-Two into a hostile takeover. I don't think Take-Two is completely against the offer, but more like they wanted to drive up the price. 2K Sports and Rockstar is a pretty nice bundle for EA, so they're not just going to accept immediately, if at all. Here's a sample (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17597) of what EA CEO John Riccitiello has been saying.

[Mandouga]

And of course, they're going to take this straight to the shareholders to try to strongarm Take-Two into a hostile takeover.

QFT...

Needless to say, Take-Two needs to resist this offer. I understand EA even tried to buy Ubisoft.

In any case, this would be a monopoly, and although my knowledge about this sort of thing is minimal, isn't that against the law or something?

[SNS]

Of course it is, Nintendo once got accused of having a monopoly in the 80's & was even sued for it (fortunetely Nintendo won the case).

[Wounded_Dragon]

QFT...

Needless to say, Take-Two needs to resist this offer. I understand EA even tried to buy Ubisoft.

In any case, this would be a monopoly, and although my knowledge about this sort of thing is minimal, isn't that against the law or something?

Not these days. Or more accurately, the definition of monopoly has become so strict that it becomes difficult to call anything a monopoly these days.

[Icer]

Say goodbye to sports game innovation, ugh updates rosters every year and nothing else if this goes through.

[Robin2099]

QFT...

Needless to say, Take-Two needs to resist this offer. I understand EA even tried to buy Ubisoft.

In any case, this would be a monopoly, and although my knowledge about this sort of thing is minimal, isn't that against the law or something?

That wouldn't actually be considered a monopoly if they bought Take Two. Unless EA bought the rights to every sport with a license and every game publisher around. Then they would have a monopoly.

[HG Revolution]

So, other than first parties, Ubisoft, and EA, are there any game developers left?

[Sonic_Eclipse]

EA, the Disney of the gaming industry.

[Anyone00]

EA also might be planning to take over Ubisoft. (http://www.gamecyte.com/?p=12)

[Daxdiv]

So, other than first parties, Ubisoft, and EA, are there any game developers left?

I thought that the new Activision-Blizzard or the merger of Activision and Sierra/Vivendi, would be top contenders and as far as I know since they owned by a different company that isn't EA or the likes.

[Rud]

if EA tried a hostile takeover, how would Take Two be able to defend against it.

[Tash]

EA also might be planning to take over Ubisoft. (http://www.gamecyte.com/?p=12)
It's like Katamari Damacy. They needed to roll up lots of small stuff until they're big enough to get the big stuff.

[Robin2099]

if EA tried a hostile takeover, how would Take Two be able to defend against it.
They wouldn't. Eventually the stock holders will win out since T2 has been struggling for awhile now. But EA has to be careful because talent could jump if they do a hostile takeover.

[BigLouMan20]

Please noooo! I love my NBA2K series.:sad:

[BlackCat]

Although there are a couple of exceptions, I generally prefer the 2K Sports line over EA's offerings. While there was an adjustment period when Take-Two took over from Sega, the quality has been generally high. That would be one of the bigger losses if EA manages to get Take-Two.

[tucsoncoyote]

It's like Katamari Damacy. They needed to roll up lots of small stuff until they're big enough to get the big stuff.

Exactly.. and in fact EA has even snagged some of the former Microsoft game groups (Like Kuju Entertainment, who worked with Microsoft on Microsoft Train Simulator). (Right now Microsoft is a full 20 months from getting their own Railroad Simulator out.)

so I wouldn't be surprise if after all this and all the EA snatching up all the smaller companies that they go after the big fish.. Besides Ubisoft and a few others, there's only one company that stands between them and total world domination of the Videogame core.. and that is of course Microsoft..

So I think EA is gunning for T2 right now and then it'll go after the other fish.. Ubisoft and all the rest.. they'll probably go after Activision/Blizzard next..

Oy.. this is definitely starting to look like a Monopoly.. I rememeber when EA had games like Arctic Fox..but still..EA now is starting to get too big for it's britches..

that's how I see it.

:coyote:

[TKnHappyNess]

I should've posted this, but our dear "friend" Jack Thompson is offering to help EA when it comes to Take Two. Hopefully they remember what he said about The Sims when it came to full frontal, pixelated censor nudity.

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/03/01/what-a-guy-jack-thompson-is-ready-to-help-ea-with-t2-takeover-bid/

[TKnHappyNess]

Looks like EA clearly doesn't need Jacko's help in going after Take Two, and they didn't forget his comments about Sims 2.

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/03/05/ea-wants-no-help-from-jack-thompson-in-t2-takeover-bid/

[Daxdiv]

Looks like EA clearly doesn't need Jacko's help in going after Take Two, and they didn't forget his comments about Sims 2.

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/03/05/ea-wants-no-help-from-jack-thompson-in-t2-takeover-bid/

I laughed at that, and call smart move on EA part. I wonder if Jack even remembers what he said about "The Sims" and it evils he thought they contained?

[SNS]

EA is a strong supporter of creative freedom for game developers.

Which is why they bought the company that was making Thrill Kill (which would have been the first AO game on a major console) about a week before it was released & then cancelled it, right?

[Anyone00]

Which is why they bought the company that was making Thrill Kill (which would have been the first AO game on a major console) about a week before it was released & then cancelled it, right?

Oh that's nothing: people are still sore at what EA did to Origin and Westwood.

[Mad Monkey 7]

I remeber when EA was fearing, Sega going third party. Today Sega was unable to rival EA's sales. I would have liked to see them, to be succesful and kicking EA's butts. :p

[Dark Fact]

If EA takes over Blizzard, then they've officially gone too far in my view. Blizzard works best as their own company, not under the cracking whip of corporate monopolies.

[tucsoncoyote]

I laughed at that, and call smart move on EA part. I wonder if Jack even remembers what he said about "The Sims" and it evils he thought they contained?

I wonder if Jack can rememeber anything any more.

Maybe he's got the first stages of Alzheimer's.

After all I remember Jack saying what he said about EA Games and Maxis' Sims/Sims2, and the supposed "Censor Blur removal".

But still EA's response to all this was in fact what I hoped it was.. A cold hard slap to Jack's mind...and I guess Jack forgot that too..

But as for EA Games taking on Take 2? Well if it does happen, well I have a feeling sooner or later (More than likely sooner), we'll see some federal judge come in and put a stop to this mega-game Monopoly... and if it doesn't stop.. well I have a feeling eventually Microsoft will be the target.. It's just a feeling I have..

:coyote:

[peacebyanymeans]

If EA takes over Blizzard, then they've officially gone too far in my view. Blizzard works best as their own company, not under the cracking whip of corporate monopolies.

...Blizzard is owned by Activision.

[BlackCat]

And so the plot thickens (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080313-ea-to-take-two-prepare-for-grand-theft-boardroom.html) even more. The latest offer is $26 per share, which just further proves that Take Two is waiting for the right price rather than seriously prevent the buyout. TT Chairman Strauss Zelnick seems to be the one profiting from all of this, despite his initial public denial of EA's offer.

This certainly doesn't bode well for the gaming industry. If this keeps up at this rate, there won't be any independent third parties left. What's next, Capcom and Square Enix merging to form some cutscene-filled RPG fighter?