EA to acquire Take-Two

[Pavlos]

They've done it again. Only this time it's $2.0 billion worth.

I smell a monopoly forming but it's probably just me.

Wonder what the guys at Irrational Games are thinking... selling their souls to Take-Two for Bioshock seemed like such a good idea at the time, didn't it?

[Web Rider]

Yeah, I've been thinking the whole Monopoly line too since EA first acquired BioWare. I mean, it's not like EA lacks the money or manpower to develop any of these things on their own. They just seem to be buying them out because they can.

[Achilles]

Ugh...hope this doesn't sully the future of my beloved GTA franchise.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Originally Posted by Pavlos

I smell a monopoly forming but it's probably just me.

I was actually thinking on two things when I saw this topic title.

First was a thought on when EA will be sued for monopoly. Second was if they're ever going to stop acquiring (bribing) studios.

EDIT: And it would seem that T2 answer was a sound: NO! Thankheavensforthat!

[SilentScope001]

EDIT: And it would seem that T2 answer was a sound: NO! Thankheavensforthat!

Nah. It's a standard: "I am waiting for you to offer me more money to sell my company, so give me it." Still, merger may fail. Who knows? I remember the good old Microsoft/Yahoo talks. Still do.

I don't know. I sorta don't care about EA or hate it as much as anyone else. I do however hate Take Two ruining the GTA series with repackaging the exact same game, and then possibly taking out the fun out of GTA IV (which was, running around killing people with massive tanks and absurd weaponary).

[swphreak]

Eh... It's only a matter of time til EA gets what it wants. Take Two will be assimilated.

[tk102]

EA = Everyone Assimilated

[Ctrl Alt Del]

After the assimilation comes the replicas: I smell Bioshock 2?

Originally Posted by SilentScope001

I do however hate Take Two ruining the GTA series with repackaging the exact same game

Considering EA is still EA (Let me emphases: Electronic Arts), would be they of any good to the franchise? I mean, it would be unacceptable for Rockstar to take so much time making GTA IV.

[SilentScope001]

Considering EA is still EA (Let me emphases: Electronic Arts), would be they of any good to the franchise? I mean, it would be unacceptable for Rockstar to take so much time making GTA IV.

At least then EA would be honest with their repackaging than Rockstar would be. That has to be a good thing. (I'll keep a cynical view of GTA IV until it comes out, and then if it is good, then I'll revise my view. Not before.)

[Char Ell]

Looks like EA wasn't interested in conceding the #1 spot in terms of largest publisher to Activision Blizzard.

'Twill be interesting to see how things turn out. IMHO the odds of this deal going through are 60/40 against.

[Serpentine Cougar]

If there ever is a monopoly, maybe open-source games will step up to the challenge...

[Pavlos]

Actually, one good thing that could come out of an acquisition is Ken Levine and the System Shock licence both being in the same place. Then again... bring back SHODAN for a third run and I reckon she'd cease to be one of the best villains of all time and simply get thrown on the comic-book villain scrap heap.

I doubt there will ever be a full blown monopoly and if there is it won't last for that long. Too many game designers are in it for the art and the fun. A monopoly leads to stagnation; it has to reason to be creative as it itself is the only player it can compete against. So if companies infringe on their creativity then you can expect to see independent developers/publishers splintering off.

Anyway, I'd imagine the European Union/Congress would intervene to preserve the free market, wouldn't they?

[mur'phon]

Anyway, I'd imagine the European Union/Congress would intervene to preserve the free market, wouldn't they?

Of course, though that dosen't prevent EA from destroying a lot of good developers/licences.

[Rev7]

Originally Posted by Pavlos

I smell a monopoly forming but it's probably just me.

Its not only you...

EA is a big company. Big companies do those kinda things.

[Da_man]

Wait a sec.. wasn't take 2 the creator of Oblivion and Bioshock?

We might actually see a good game come out of EA yet.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Originally Posted by Da_man

Wait a sec.. wasn't take 2 the creator of Oblivion and Bioshock?

We might actually see a good game come out of EA yet.

More likely another rushed game.

[Da_man]

Originally Posted by Ctrl_Alt_Del

More likely another rushed game.

Oblivion and The Sims put together?

ObliviSims

[sayoko]

Oblivion 2008 maybe, and Oblivion Street 2008?

[Da_man]

Originally Posted by sayoko

Oblivion 2008 maybe, and Oblivion Street 2008?

Argonians Vs. Kaijhiits

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Originally Posted by sayoko

Oblivion 2008 maybe, and Oblivion Street 2008?

I just don't want hear:

EA Sports... Big!

Followed by that hideous trademarked splash image.

[Char Ell]

So after much posturing over an extended period of time (6 months) it was decided that an EA acquisition of Take-Two wasn't the way to go. Maybe EA will try to entice the Houser brothers to join the EA fold next year when their contract with Take-Two expires.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

[Arátoeldar]

Originally Posted by Da_man

Wait a sec.. wasn't take 2 the creator of Oblivion and Bioshock?

We might actually see a good game come out of EA yet.

Oblivion along with all of the other Elder Scroll games have been done by independent game studio Bethesda.

[PastramiX]

Originally Posted by Pavlos

Anyway, I'd imagine the European Union/Congress would intervene to preserve the free market, wouldn't they?

The EU probably will, but Congress in the U.S. is a bit more, uh... "corporately inclined" when it comes to mergers. Case and point: they allowed Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, the nation's only two satellite radio providers, to merge, thus creating a monopoly.

Did anyone hear? EA is having a new corporate headquarters being built:

[Char Ell]

^^^
Apparently Take-Two didn't get the "Resistance Is Futile" memo.