Viacom isn't "looking at getting into the gaming business" - they own Harmonix, a major stake in Midway, NeoPets, GameTrailers and Xfire and have for several years now. Incisive reporting, there.

And jesus, everybody, quit crying sell-out. Take-Two is as corrupt and greedy as Viacom or any other publicly traded company.

sharkbite

@ExtremeOne316:

GTA is a Rockstar IP not Take 2. Rockstar and Take 2 have a publishing agreement and Rockstar decide what games they make.

I would imagine that unless the deal was favourable to Rockstar they would part ways from Take 2.

irnchriz

wow If this happens then the whole Video game merger thing is not really over only just beginning. If this happens you can forget about GTA being a one console franchise. cause I am sure Viacom would make GTA multiplatform since they have plenty of money and plus Viacom basically owns Midway since Summer Redstone bought them. Plus this would make Viacom a major player in the video game industry

ExtremeOne316

It wouldn't be that bad. CBS/Viacom czar Sumner Redstone did okay with one semi-successful publishing house that really only made a name for itself with one controversial series. Another such publisher wouldn't hurt either party.

NameYourCharacter [PSN:Motherfreak] [XBL:Motherfreak0x00]

WHy are people so scared and stuff? Can it get worse? lol I hope this deals happens, because I for one believe it is needed and can only be an improvement.

Irenicus-the one and only

Viacom are also behind unusual channels like the Comedy Channel, right?

Maybe they'll be able to stand back and give the designers freedom over how to make the game. That would be my idea of a good publisher.

mcderek3000

My only worry is if Take Two is sold, the new buyer will disband the sports department and I'll be stuck never buying a sports game again because I refuse to buy EA products.

MSUHitman

@Spartan1308: Apparently Yahoo may have some underlying assets and once revealed may push the initial $31 per stock bid Microsoft made even higher. Probably closer to the high 30's. I think Microsoft is prepared for Yahoo! to reject the offer in which case they'll propose a larger bid. Of course Google opposes this but then again Google already earns around 75% of total ad revenue on the internet whereas MS and Yahoo combine for around 20%.

UmeShoryu

@Logikil: I'm under the impression that one of the big three (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) doesn't want to purchase any third party publisher because of the amount of games they'd have to cancel / the teams that would go to waste. I mean, they'd have to scrap all games not on their home console.

Isn't Rockstar breaking off from Take Two in like a year or two though?

Sub

Sumner Redstone, the CEO of Viacom owns almost 90% of Midway stock, and made his daughter the chairman and CEO of it. If Viacom buys Take 2, expect a Midway announcement.

claming

Huh. That's weird. Did anybody own Take Two before? Anyway, this would be good for both parties. I doubt Viacom would screw with the games, and they would handle PR a hell of a lot better than Take Two.

gamadaya

Umm, that's the/a Phone company or a Movie produce... I'll stop there...

Allen750

@logikil: Agreed. I think Mr. Ballmer may have lost his mind offering that much for Yahoo. They are having serious difficulties right now and are at the point where they could very well just fade away if someone doesn't buy them out.

Spartan1308

Another of those instances where I look at the 44 Billion dollar Yahoo bid and wonder where MS has their heads. I can't imagine Take Two would cost anywhere near 44 Billion, and it would give MS a shit load of games to stick under it's publishing umbrella. Oh well, I hope this helps Take Two and the games in their folio. They deserve success and security with the games they've popped out.

logikil

Also. You should coin the phrase metric fuckton Luke. Genius.

Saith17

I would hate, so, so, so much to see this one happen. Don't sell out Take two. Don't do it.

Saith17

NO! NO! AND FUCK NO!

Papa Midnight

:(

Yeux de nouilles

Oh great. I fuckin hate Viacom.

Sollus

As a gamer, I'm opposed. As a stockholder...I'm intrigued :) I presume those at Take Two feel much the same way.

SuedeGopher

oh god no. Viacom also owns MTV and BET and you see how they turned out.

jp182

2K is part of take-two...

then PLEASE no =(

Bioshock,
Civilization,
Oblivion,
the darkness.

I like these games too much to see them butchered by another company/publisher.
Ok I can accept the darkness but not the others.

QC8472

Please no. Please, God, no.

giantenemycrab

then they can put spongebob (and patrick) in gta4!

hass