A Take-Two Takeover?

[fitbabits]

According to this story (http://tinyurl.com/9u9hq) on Marketwatch.com (http://www.marketwatch.com), it's a distinct possibility:

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. shares rebounded more than 10% Monday on takeover speculation after losing a quarter of their value last week amid concerns about the video game maker's corporate governance.

Take-Two (TTWO16.19, +1.50, +10.2%) closed up at $16.19 to follow a Saturday report in the New York Post, citing unnamed sources, that the company has been in active talks with several buyout firms over the past week.

The report comes after the stock fell 26% over four trading days last week. On Wednesday, the game publisher filed a document with securities regulators that contained a resignation letter from board member Barbara Kaczynski, who said she had concerns about the company's management.
Thanks to TheUnknownSoldier and Gamecloud (http://www.gamecloud.com) for the tip.

I wonder who the suitors are? And what are the ramifications for the GTA series following the Hot Coffee saga. Will the next game in the series be toned down if Take-Two are under new management? Not an altogether unlikely scenario, especially when you consider the continuing fallout from Hot Coffee.

[KamaItachi]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if we saw a bidding war between MS and Sony. There's good money in the GTA series and having it as an exclusive would be a huge bonus.

[fitbabits]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if we saw a bidding war between MS and Sony. There's good money in the GTA series and having it as an exclusive would be a huge bonus.
Yeah, that was my first thought as well. But then I got to thinking how tainted the GTA series is now following the Hot Coffee stramash. Who knows, though?

[Vandenh]

If not MS or Sony, it certainly looks like the exclusivity of GTA will be gone. EA?

[fitbabits]

If not MS or Sony, it certainly looks like the exclusivity of GTA will be gone. EA?
EA would certainly be a contender, I guess. What about UbiSoft, though? They must be flush right now and they would probably love to add a new franchise to their roster.

[Scaryboy]

If it's EA then GTA is essentially doomed. They don't really dabble in M-rated/controversial content do they?

MS/Sony seem the most likely candidates.

[darkwarrior]

Hopefully there won't be any buyout in the end. Assholes like JT have succeeded right now, overblowing HC, plus other incidents but the GTA series can literally sell £300 consoles, it must bring a fortune in profit to the company.

[Doctor Setebos]

Don't forget that Jack Thompson bought some shares of Take-Two (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3146569), as well. I don't know if he's planning some kind of hostile takeover of the company, but I wouldn't hold it past him. He has a furious hatred of Paul Eibler.

[Sinistar]

Wasn't GTA developed on Renderware? And didn't EA buy Criterion & Renderware? (yes to both questions)

[Heretic Machine]

GTA is developed by Rockstar, and I don't think Rockstar is owned by Take-Two. I could be wrong though.

[fitbabits]

GTA is developed by Rockstar, and I don't think Rockstar is owned by Take-Two. I could be wrong though.
From the Take-Two Corporate site (http://ir.take2games.com/index.cfm):

Take-Two's product offerings include titles for the leading hardware platforms - the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP? (PlayStation®Portable) system, the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360(tm) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, , the PlayStation® game console, Nintendo GameCube(tm) and Nintendo Game Boy Advance, as well as for PCs. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels: Rockstar Games and Global Star Software; and distributes products in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two also manufactures and markets video game and electronic peripherals and accessories in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region through its Joytech subsidiary.

[boratika]

EA would certainly be a contender, I guess. What about UbiSoft, though? They must be flush right now and they would probably love to add a new franchise to their roster.
Well the french have never been scared of a little "Hot Coffee"...

[Reanimated]

Whoever buys them is going to get A LOT of baggage.

[Cool AN]

I doubt it will happen.

[Royal Fool]

Exclusivity could still happen regardless of who buys them out, if that happens at all... Sony have always paid big money getting games exclusive. Who knows, Take Two might even want to sell off individual properties.

[megaman]

What about irrational? :(

[LilAbner]

It'll be one of these four:

Electronic Art$
Micro$oft
$ony
Ubi $oft

Whoever it is, let's just hope they drop the deal with 3D Realms to publish DNF. Most people in this world are held accountable...that means you, George B.

[Demo_Boy]

I'm thinking it is Sony.
They place a lot more value on exclusives than MS, and it usually pays off.

[CrysDark]

I would think sony, they would need to protect thier interests. Isn't GTA to sony like zelda is to nintendo?

Although GTA with the power of the 360, some achievements, and some co-op action would rock.

[ldi222]

MS has a hell of a lot more cash to throw around than Sony and I would be astonished if they would let Sony have Take Two.

[Ghost_Saint]

GTA isn't tainted at all folks. The only people who think that GTA is now tainted are the parents and politicians that think that video games are the root of all child evil.

GTA 3 reached 70% of it's target audience (18-24 year old males). If you don't know much about those figures, then let me explain, TV shows would sell their souls, the souls of their family, the souls of their pets, the souls of their parents, friends, co-workers, friends of friends, anyone they could find a name and soul for, if they could actually get 70% of the hottest target audience in the entertainment market to see their show.

How many people do you think will play GTA 6? If GTA 6 reaches 30% of it's target audience then it'll still be a success. And with the huge success of Fifty cent: Bullet proof, we know one thing in the video game industry, GANGSTAH SELLS!!!

[Dakar]

Yeah, I'm with Ghost_Saint.

Anyone who think GTA is any less viable now is crazy. If anything the next game will do BETTER than it's pre-decessors.

This news really saddens me, I hope they don't sell themselves to MS or Sony. (This would mean alot more games than just GTA would be exclusive to one console). I hope they stay independent and ride out the rough times.

[dotbomb]

The common thought about this is that it won't be a public company that buys them because of the baggage surrounding Take Two. If there is a buyout it is likely to be a private sale. The seller would then split the company up and sell the pieces since it is worth more split up than whole right now.

All this is pure speculation though based on stock activity and analysts realizing that the different divisions of the company are worth far more than the market price right now.

[Ghost_Saint]

If they do sell out, I'd rather it be MS. If they sell out to sony then there's absolutely no chance of any more PC versions. If it's MS, then there's at least a small chance.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

I hope EA don´t buy them , because they will put 2ksports down. Only way EA can win over other developers is to buy them and shut them down. I hope MS buys them then. Or Vivendi.

[Manzy]

It'll be one of these four:

Electronic Art$
Micro$oft
$ony
Ubi $oft

Whoever it is, let's just hope they drop the deal with 3D Realms to publish DNF. Most people in this world are held accountable...that means you, George B.

Aghhh! $o many dollar $ign$! My eye$, my eye$!

[sflufan]

Jack Thompson doesn't have anything remotely resembling the capital to acquire this company so that's not even a realistic option.

More than likely it will be a private equity firm that sees this as a "turnaround" project.

[Dr Quincy]

My money would be on a Sony aquisition.

[mister_slim]

Let's see:
MS has a 'GTA-alike' in the works, from Real Time Worlds.
EA has the Godfather.
I don't see Ubisoft buying Take-Two, though a merger would strengthen their ability to resist EA and balance their portfolio a bit.
Sony is probably the best bet, though I still don't see it as likely.
Maybe Nintendo will swoop in. They've got too much cash lying around and a real shortage of western development teams. Pretty unlikely though.

[eth3rton]

Or Vivendi.


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