Take-Two Pledges Not to Annualize All Games

[Dr.Finger]

I can't quite tell if this is a refreshing approach to franchise management or pure unadulterated shinola.

Speaking on a conference call (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8392&Itemid=2) Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick fired a shot across the bow of rival developers:
"I think our view is a little bit different," said Zelnick. "First of all, we're driven first and foremost by making the best games in the business. You can't do that on a clockwork type schedule.

"The second thing is, even if we had the ability to do a triple-A title annually, the question is how do you optimize the consumer's desire for a franchise title, the needed development time and the concern that if you come out [with a game] too frequently, you run the risk of burning the franchise out."The optimist in me likes when I hear a gaming executive say things like this. The cynic in be wonders how long it will take for that commitment to excellence to waver. Still I'm glad that they're at least going to try not to run BioShock into the ground right away. Some publishers would already be developing Big Daddy Kart Racing and a Little Sister card battle game by now.

[Ozena]

Big Daddy Kart Racing would kick ass, though.

[Evil Avnovice]

http://www.samruby.com/Villains/DoctorDoom/DrDoomChap.gif

[Johan]

I would pay for more Bioshock, but I don't want Call of Dutyshock or Maddenshock '08-'12...

[EvoG]

Funny enough, it appears that GTA4 episodic content for the 360 will be annual: (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16707)

In an ongoing conference call with investors, Take-Two executives announced that beyond its upcoming fiscal 2008, which will include the previously announced exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV content for Xbox 360, the following year will also include new episodic content for the 360. No further details were offered on the content.

[anakin876]

the question is how do you optimize the consumer's desire for a franchise title

I don't think I want my desire optimized by anyone - I can take care of my desire just fine - I don't need some creepy company reaching into my brain and making alterations.

[Deadend]

I think most companies would like to make their non sports IP's non annual, but they simply are too afraid to have enough IPs to be able to alternate every 2-3 years.

Take Two simply isn't slick enough to do annual releases of their non sports games if they tried. Even though they had annual GTA for a little while there.

Ubi Soft should switch to bi-annual franchises. Say having Ghost Recon on Even years and Rainbow Six on odd years, or Spinter Cell even years, Assassin's Creed odd years.

Activision could do CoD even years, and let Treyarch do a FPS franchise on odd years.. but not called CoD even if it was similar.

At least that is how I would try and do it.

***Edit***
And I just read that Activision is doing James Bond now?
Well, there you go. Treyarch does Bond games on even years, Infinity Ward does CoD on odd years, and they are both FPS games, and thus can each do their thing right.

[StGeorge]

Unfortunately, these companies are run by business and marketing majors, and they learn about "brands" in college and how to "exploit" brand awareness... they have no concept of quality or workmanship, so that's why they take second-rate dev houses and slap a "brand" on whatever crap they churn out. That's why we get a "Call of Duty" every friggin' year now.

[DubiousQuality]

Good maybe now they can take a year off after NHL 2k9 and actually try to make a next gen hockey game.

[JazGalaxy]

I don't think I want my desire optimized by anyone - I can take care of my desire just fine - I don't need some creepy company reaching into my brain and making alterations.

That's a creepy way of saying it, but I understand and agree with what he's getting at.

Milking franchises has many negative effects that rarely are discussed. For instance, witha game like Halo, the improved graphics of subsequent releases weren't much of a draw to the games because they were released so closely to one another that the difference was negligible. FOr every game released like that, interest in the game dies down a little. I know Halo is a poor example of this because it's a blockbuster title, still, but I think the results are very clear in games like Tomb Raider, where there simply wasn't enough new content or new technology between titles to reignite interest in the property.

Nintendo had it right by releasing one or two games PER CONSOLE. Not one every year.

[destoo]

I would pay for more Bioshock, but I don't want Call of Dutyshock or Maddenshock '08-'12...

I would pay for a DS spinoff.. Victorian-era steampunk puzzle game. (I think we've seen a few of those, but I want more)

[Spigot]

I would pay for a DS spinoff.. Victorian-era steampunk puzzle game. (I think we've seen a few of those, but I want more)Isn't that essentially what Professor Layton and the Curious Village is?

[TheBrainKills]

I think Valve has it right; say you are releasing episodic and then end up Duke Nukem style.

[TheBrainKills]

You could always go Peter Moly style and promise the world then deliver something you apologize for. I mean.... shut the fuck up and deliver a good game timely.

[TheBrainKills]

That's a creepy way of saying it, but I understand and agree with what he's getting at.

Milking franchises has many negative effects that rarely are discussed. For instance, witha game like Halo, the improved graphics of subsequent releases weren't much of a draw to the games because they were released so closely to one another that the difference was negligible. FOr every game released like that, interest in the game dies down a little. I know Halo is a poor example of this because it's a blockbuster title, still, but I think the results are very clear in games like Tomb Raider, where there simply wasn't enough new content or new technology between titles to reignite interest in the property.

Nintendo had it right by releasing one or two games PER CONSOLE. Not one every year.
It depends on your business model Nintendo can do that because they sell hardware at profit at the same time. Other houses employ year round punting out software to meet deadlines to maintain marginsm, even if its shit it will keep the investors at bay.

[Edmontongamer]

This is really no surprise here. Take two has been more geared towards gamers than something like EA. They publish great games and have some of
the best dev's in the industry. Besides I don't think Kevin would ever rush out another shock game just to please a publisher. He has too much pull to be bullied.

Edit: man I hate this site for posting. I always end up having broken paragraphs.

[TheBrainKills]

Edit: man I hate this site for posting. I always end up having broken paragraphs.

try only posting when your drunk ;)
and hey I was born in Edmonton so I know what I'm talkin about.

[KingGorilla]

Funny enough, it appears that GTA4 episodic content for the 360 will be annual: (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16707)

Rock Star leaves Take 2 in 18 months. Or is it 2 full years? Either way, the contract is up soon.

[LionEyez]

Call of Duty every year doesn't sound so bad actually.

I remember previous Splinter Cell games seemed to come out every year or faster even. I'm not sure if that was true, but I just remember it that way.

[menage]

Isn't Bioshock and such published by 2K games????

Take 2...@k... now I'm confused.

[KingGorilla]

Isn't Bioshock and such published by 2K games????

Take 2...@k... now I'm confused.

Bioshock and the studio are Take 2 owned. It is the deal with the Devil Ken Levine had to make. But I will die with a curse upon my lips towards all mankind before I stop calling it Irrational.

Take 2 has acquired a somewhat robust portfolio in recent years. Prey, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Bioshock, they have Sid Meier and his collection of guaranteed hits. Prey 2 is coming, Fallout 3 is coming, we know that there will be a new Elder Scrolls, Sid will have a new sim or strategy game coming, Ken Levine has said they he looks forward to making another Bioshock.

What has hurt them is a great deal of corruption, embezzlement, cooking the books, insider trading.

[menage]

So 2k is owned by Take 2?

Sorry, but I always get them mixed up and I want to know what's what.

EDIT.

Never mind. it is I see on 1up.

[Kelegacy]

A Bioshock minigame collection on the Wii would be awesome, especially if it the characters were redone in kawaii and bright Nintendo colors, and with heavy use of waggle. And a guest appearance by Mario.

They could even release a white plastic face mask that you can slide your Wiimote and Nunchuck into, and the 5 year old in you can make believe you're looking through Big Daddy's helmet. Or a white plastic frame that you put your controllers into that is in the pseudo-shape of a rivet gun or drill. Or a--

Okay, I'll stop.

[NoName]

Big Daddy Kart Racing would kick ass, though.

Haha, pretty much exactly what I was going to say, and in the first reply.

[DubiousQuality]

Bioshock and the studio are Take 2 owned. It is the deal with the Devil Ken Levine had to make. But I will die with a curse upon my lips towards all mankind before I stop calling it Irrational.

Take 2 has acquired a somewhat robust portfolio in recent years. Prey, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Bioshock, they have Sid Meier and his collection of guaranteed hits. Prey 2 is coming, Fallout 3 is coming, we know that there will be a new Elder Scrolls, Sid will have a new sim or strategy game coming, Ken Levine has said they he looks forward to making another Bioshock.

What has hurt them is a great deal of corruption, embezzlement, cooking the books, insider trading.

They don't own Fallout or Elder Scrolls as properties, the're just Bethesda's publisher as far as I know. Bethsoft is owned by Zenimax Media. Theres also been rumblings that Microsoft is interested in Take 2, which if that were to happen MS could bring back their XSN sports line which would pretty much make 2k Sports titles 360 exclusive. Take 2 does have some decent IP though you're right. Now if they could only stop with the fuzzy math accounting and SEC investigations they'd be all set.

[Cavalier]

Isn't Bioshock and such published by 2K games????

Take 2...@k... now I'm confused.

"2K Games is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc"