EA Not the Only Suitor for Take-Two?

[Mot Wakorb]

As being reported by Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/take-two-more-companies-want-to-buy-us/), it seems that Electronic Arts isn't the only company in the bidding war for Take Two, they're saying that other companies have come along with a few "informal indications of interest in a business combination."

This stirs the pot some, since a few other things have happened, like the share price of Take-Two climbing to be above what EA was offering to buy Take-Two for. It doesn't look like any other companies are listed as to who is trying to get in on the Take-Two action, but it does leave one wondering what will happen next.

[Mr. Lake]

If only I had a few billion...

[Salesmunn]

U Bee Soft

[Flatpicker]

Ubisoft
Activision
Microsoft
EA

Who will emerge the victor in this fatal 4 way.

[Ancalagon]

It makes sense ... after all, when if the most popular guy in school (read: EA) gets turned down by a relatively popular girl (read: Take-Two), then everyone else suddenly thinks they have a chance with her.


Take Two is a total slut.

[Vanthar]

Isn't Vivendivision one of the only places that has the money for it?

[sflufan]

Then you have this little bit of info:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/technology/27game.html?_r=3&ref=business&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The fact of the matter is that Take Two is for sale undoubtedly and today's info about "other bidders" is intended to puff-up the stock price ahead of such a sale. Now, the other bidders may not necessarily be other publishers. For example, it could also be a private equity group who see Take Two as a good turnaround candidate.

[MosBen]

Ubisoft seems like the best option from a fan's perspective. MS or Sony buyout would also be interesting. GTA may not be the only dog in the sandbox genre anymore, but exclusive GTA would sure ship units.

[jeffbax]

Ugh... I hope they stay independent but anyone but Microsoft, Sony or EA please :(

*Nintendo omitted because they'd never buy T2 anyway... ;)*

[Itchyeyes]

Ugh... I hope they stay independent but anyone but Microsoft, Sony or EA please :(

*Nintendo omitted because they'd never buy T2 anyway... ;)*
Erm, I'm curious just what your definition of "independent" is when it includes multi-billion dollar, international, public corporations.

[Micasa]

Isn't Vivendivision one of the only places that has the money for it?

Yeah, that Microsoft company is really struggling, huh?

[jeffbax]

Erm, I'm curious just what your definition of "independent" is when it includes multi-billion dollar, international, public corporations.
I want Take2 to not be owned by anyone... and just be Take2.

[Itchyeyes]

I want Take2 to not be owned by anyone... and just be Take2.
That makes no sense though, as Take Two itself is little more than a parent company for it's own subsidiaries, many of which it itself has purchased (eg Firaxis, Irrational, and 2K games). And it already is owned by somebody, it's shareholders which change daily as it's a publicly traded company. When people talk about companies remaining "independent" they're talking about privately owned companies which are beholden to no one but their owners, which are frequently one in the same as their founders and management. But since Take Two is already a publicly traded company, that doesn't apply. Take Two on it's own is no more "independent" than it is under Microsoft, or EA, or Vivendi.

[agentgray]

Time for an EvAv pool.

Let buy them and then force them to make the games we want, a hardcore gamers developer that listens only to the hardcore gamer.

[Wombat]

There is one thing that would be worse than EA. If there was another surge of film companies deciding they need to get into making games.

[Phhhh]

Breaking News...

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation buys Take 2


Not really, but think how awful that would be.

I know he's been trying to get into games for a while, or I guess get back into them since Fox did have a games division for a little while.

[kinadian]

Ubisoft
Activision
Microsoft
EA

Who will emerge the victor in this fatal 4 way.

You don't think Sony could be one of interested companies?

[kinadian]

That makes no sense though, as Take Two itself is little more than a parent company for it's own subsidiaries, many of which it itself has purchased (eg Firaxis, Irrational, and 2K games). And it already is owned by somebody, it's shareholders which change daily as it's a publicly traded company. When people talk about companies remaining "independent" they're talking about privately owned companies which are beholden to no one but their owners, which are frequently one in the same as their founders and management. But since Take Two is already a publicly traded company, that doesn't apply. Take Two on it's own is no more "independent" than it is under Microsoft, or EA, or Vivendi.

I think he means that he doesn't want any of the currently interested companies to buy Take 2. He would prefer that Take 2 remain under its current ownership and continue operating as it is now.

[Xerxes]

Oh god. Think of the Bioware people. Ubi would be awesome. That could also give them leverage to be with the big boys. And hopefully keep EA off their door steps. I would approve of MS as well, but they bum fucking retarded. Sony's house is pretty big, couldn't see that turning out too great. Activision is huge too. Shuffling into the fold like EA would. Ubi and MS damn near need this. EA is just getting fat.

[fitbabits]

If there are potential suitors, I would bet on either Microsoft or Ubisoft...

[Xerxes]

If there are potential suitors, I would bet on either Microsoft or Ubisoft...

Cause they need a win right about now.

[Mr. Lake]

If there are potential suitors, I would bet on either Microsoft or Ubisoft...

My bet is just the opposite, EA and Sony.

I would probably bet more on Sony, actually. Just because of the fact that GTA and a host of other T2 franchises have historically been limited exclusives on Sony platforms, and their relationship is more matured than with Microsofts. Plus, Microsoft already has a number of developers in thier pocket already making clones of GTA in the form of Saints Row and Crackdown.

I also see EA making concessions to get their hands on who some considder a serious competitor to their sports and racing titles. 2K Sports and Midnight Club are pretty serious franchises that go up against EA Sports and Need For Speed every year.

Ubisoft is in no position right now to bargain for T2, as they've also been the target of aquisition not-so-recently. Activision-Blizzard is in the midst of merger details and is probably not in the best position to purchase T2 either.

[RorschachCCCLX]

Microsoft has the cash on hand to buy it and has the most to gain from adding 2k/take-two to their first party stable... I'd like to see them or Ubisoft pick them up if they must be sold to remain solvent, prefurably they remain solo.

[Johan]

This would be a terrific purchase for MS, since their internal game development isn't nearly as stellar as Sony's and Nintendo's. In fact, it might even give them further leverage against EA, which was able to force MS into letting EA use it's own server as a filter for P2P play in order to allow them to shut off titles' online features.

Of course, give them a few years and they'll grind the goodness out of Take Two's studios, as well, so there's that to consider! ;)

[fitbabits]

Anyone else remember Microsoft's ill-fated XSN brand? I wonder if VC could spruce the games up a bit for a relaunch of the label?

[Xerxes]

Anyone else remember Microsoft's ill-fated XSN brand? I wonder if VC could spruce the games up a bit for a relaunch of the label?

OMG!!! Couldn't they make a NFL game if they weren't 3rd party?! Or is that just for that Baseball deal 2k has?

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

OMG!!! Couldn't they make a NFL game if they weren't 3rd party?! Or is that just for that Baseball deal 2k has?

Negative ... you are correct in the latter. When 2K struck their deal, they allowed 1st parties to create baseball games.

[Xerxes]

Negative ... you are correct in the latter. When 2K struck their deal, they allowed 1st parties to create baseball games.

Nuts. Still VC should be able to do SOMETHING with there skills for football. All-Pro just wasn't it. I mean, nobody plays Madden to play All Madden teams vs All Madden teams. While mutant league is out, there has to be a gimmick they can make work without the names.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

Nuts. Still VC should be able to do SOMETHING with there skills for football. All-Pro just wasn't it. I mean, nobody plays Madden to play All Madden teams vs All Madden teams. While mutant league is out, there has to be a gimmick they can make work without the names.

It's a shame. This whole exclusive stuff really hurt gamers. I would have loved to see a real VC NFL title for the next gen consoles.

With that said, MVP Baseball was my favorite baseball franchise, and now I'm robbed of that also.

Kudos to the NBA for not going exclusive to anyone

[SpectralWolf]

Ubisoft
Activision
Microsoft
EA
Who will emerge the victor in this fatal 4 way.

Sony? There's a good chance Sony might also be one of the negotiators.

[jeffbax]

Anyone but a smaller company merging or something with T2 would be disastrous. Especially Microsoft, EA, or Sony.

[Flatpicker]

Sony? There's a good chance Sony might also be one of the negotiators.

I don't see Sony's gaming division as financially ready to take this on.
Remember that each Sony business unit is responsible for it's own budget with no cross over, just like MS. That being said...

1. They are still losing money on the PS3 per unit.
2. They may be losing more money going fwd as BR becomes the standard and the PS3 is the cheapest unit out.
3. They have a strong enough 1st and 2nd lineup at this time that would make getting into a costly bidding war at less than necessary.

[Variable Gear]

In other news, Jack Thompson is willing to help EA (http://gamepolitics.com/2008/03/01/what-a-guy-jack-thompson-is-ready-to-help-ea-with-t2-takeover-bid/) with their Take2 takeover bid.

I am delighted to work with Electronic Arts to evict the Zelnick Trojan Horse from within Take-Two’s corporate walls. In doing so, I can get the new Take-Two into the clear as to the trouble I and others can send its way.

Zelnick is the source of trouble headed Take-Two’s way, not I, and EA can make the case, with my help, that such trouble can be avoided.

[Xerxes]

I don't see Sony's gaming division as financially ready to take this on.
Remember that each Sony business unit is responsible for it's own budget with no cross over, just like MS. That being said...

1. They are still losing money on the PS3 per unit.
2. They may be losing more money going fwd as BR becomes the standard and the PS3 is the cheapest unit out.
3. They have a strong enough 1st and 2nd lineup at this time that would make getting into a costly bidding war at less than necessary.

Also Sony has a lot of dev houses under them. Some are good quality. I think the last count was 19. They aren't known for dropping big bucks for a publisher. MS on the other has big bucks and only 5 internal studios at the moment. They could've been a power house if not for bone headed moves and took in Bioware, and told Bungie no, and snatched up bizarre creations, and all the others that went else where. Picking up Take Two is too much of a good move for MS to make. I mean the head of Microsoft's gaming table is Lionhead, maybe Ensemble depending on how you look at it.

[Variable Gear]

I mean the head of Microsoft's gaming table is Lionhead, maybe Ensemble depending on how you look at it.

If they bought Team Ninja that would change.

[Xerxes]

If they bought Team Ninja that would change.

Pfft. They'd have to buy Tecmo. They aren't giving up there cash cow, although I doubt Itagaki would have much of a issue with it. Hell, they haven't even absorbed Mistwalker. :rolleyes:

MS has/had strong relationships with all these dev houses and publishers, but when it comes time, they got a good game out of whoever and don't care about their future it seems. Sony has 19 developers to MS 5. If MS snatched up any of the people they were dealing with, they'd be so much more tougher as a publisher when compared to quality of EA or Activision and such. Bungie probably wouldn't have felt the need to leave if they weren't the only big kids at the table. So as things go on, they will have no one as everyone gets swallowed my bigger fish.