@naxik: There are a lot. But generally any rule in the organizational documents or public offering documents that greatly hinders the value of stockholders would be easy for the purchasing company to repeal.

Think of it this way: Take Two's stocks are going up in value with this talk of a buyout. They had been sinking for quite some time. On that level at least, the buyout or at least, the talk of it, is a good thing for Take Two (athe company is, after all, its shareholders and not its executives). The concern here, presumably, is that if the shareholders meeting goes down while the EA offer is on the table, there is a pretty strong chance that the current Take Two execs could be replaced with those more ammenable to selling.

PearceShea

@Rastaman4200: Ummm...COD4 was published by Activision. Also, I think most people are disgruntled by EA's track record of taking a good IP and gimping it. Also, I bought The Orange Box for PS3, and it had many issues. Part of it may be Valve's fault, some EA and some could be attributed to the difficulty of developing (let alone porting) for the PS3. All I know is that they have no qualms putting an inferior product on the market. Which isn't to say all that they touch is crap. I really am enjoying Burnout Paradise on the PS3, and a couple weeks ago I read that they are going to be adding new areas for free. Though, buying new cars might become too cost prohibitive for some.

I'm just slightly alarmed because I don't want GTA V to become boggled down with microtransations like some of EA's other game are. Was it in the upcoming Battlefield game that you have to purchase additional guns?

I suppose it just the way the market is heading. *sigh*

symeon6

I'm really starting to hate EA.

Woodwater

@Laidbackga:
Madden has gone down in quality with each iteration since the last console generation.
the 2kX series in my opinion was the best football franchise to come out, until EA cut the legs out from under them and purchased the NFL license for what I assume will be forever.
You see that right there is the problem with EA its not that people hate their success, its just that people hate that EA buys things up, and then runs them into the ground.
EA knows they are the only game in town for licensed football, and the mediocrity of the madden franchise proves that.
Not every game that comes out of EA's various studios is bad, sometimes they make a good game, however more often than not its average.
EA is not an evil company they just stand for mediocrity, and fear risk. Thats a hard position to be in when you are in an industry based in creativity.

Gadgetron

The problemisn't what the T2 board do but all the other people who own shares do.

The 5,000sold to EA are probably the tiny investors with 50 to 100+ shares max.

Getting an extra $10 is a major win fall, though they are dealing with a russian so he'll screw EA for the max amount of cash before he sells.

For me battlefield: BC dosen't come across as being exciting, seems to be a quick rip job on army of 2.

zag011

Just die EA.

ErskinPig

@PearceShea: What I'm trying to say in the above, but don't quite get there is that it is perfectly reasonable to expect EA to produce a long string of middling games from its main offices while Bioware, Pandemic et al are relied upon to produce one or two "masterpieces" every few years. I can't imagine why they would spend all this time and money if they planned on squashing T2's creativity and gutting T2's games.

PearceShea

i wonder what other kinds of poison pills companies can use. i know there was one company that used one which basically meant. if they are bought through a hostile takeover. all software they sold is refunded at 5 times the cost. basically the company loses all of its money o.O

naxik

Last i checked COD4 wasnt an EA game, Rasta. And no, i havent bought an EA game in years. I've rented a few, but thats it.

EA does have some good ideas from time to time. The bad thing is, most of the time they half ass the execution and the game ends up being crap. They've really done nothing to correct the negitive attitude people have towards them and that's the problem

Habitual Line Stepper

EA should change their name to BS

BULLSHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

sexyj

back the fuck off EA.

Gadgetron

@Raziel3333: Yes, EA has produced a lot of ok-to-crappy games. Guess what, it's what they do. Big companies generally, by virtue of their being large, have the capacity to churn out the sort of grist that all of us Kotaku readers scorn but are often enjoyed well enough by the general public. Think of movie studios. Little indie studios produce one gem (hopefully) a year and all the big budget movies upon which the actual business of movie-going is predicated are made by the big studios. Are the big movies generaly forgettable? Sure. Are they even often crap? Definately. But we all watch them.

More to the point, there is absolutely no evidence that Take Two will be in any way ruined by this buyout. Do we all think Bioware or Pandemic are going to just start producing crap games? Presumably, someone up top at EA has some business sense (and buying up these smaller companies shows some sense) and would know very well that you don't spend millions to buy Bioware because Bioware needs to be assimilated into EA's corporate structure. No, you buy Bioware and basically everyone at Bioware stays put and they just have a different parent corporation.

PearceShea

In my opinion, EA has the best sports roster...period. Madden is a big seller every year and no matter what anyone says, it's the most solid football game ever. Play madden 08, then switch to Allpro 2k8. See what I mean? It's not just the lack of stars in 2K8, it's just not as solid as Madden.
People love to hate the successful.
Question: What was the best skateboarding game last year? Was it Tony Hawk, the guy who's held the skateboard crown for the past ten years? Or was it Skate, the new comer with it's first entry into the skateboarding genre?
Skate was, in my mind, was one of the most challenging yet fun games of last year.
People hate EA for making the same games every year, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. They add what they can each year to make the game fun, without stripping away it's best qualities.
Look at how EA handled Knockout Kings.
They made Knockout Kings, and the game was mildly successful. They released a few entries in the series, but fans didn't like the controls, or didn't like this, or didn't like that. So what did EA do?
They brought in some new blood and completely revamped the whole series and turned it into what we now know as Fight Night.

I do NOT support EA's buying out of Take Two, but just because they are trying to buy out your favorite company doesn't mean EA makes horrible titles all around.

Just because your friend says EA is a big mean corporation, doesn't mean they don't make good games.

Laidbackga

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: Unfortunately, unlike 2K's MLB deal, EA's NFL exclusivity license unfortunately doesn't have that same provision regarding first party titles.

NYLatenite

Why wont EA just give up. Please, EA-Mr-Terrible-Dev/Publisher, leave 2k-Mr-Good-Dev/Publisher alone. This whole ordeal is making me sad. Why must EA be such money-hungry sons of bitches. Why not concentrate on making their shitty sports games better? Or coming up with some new shit?

dgonchild

@Raziel3333: was confused on COD4 sorry...but my point still stands...hell EA has a tie in with The Orange Box...and i dare any of you to talk crap on that one...and i do understand the whole sports thing...but if they bring the MLB liscence and a couple games over to EA and use EA's development tools and such to make those games even better i wouldnt see an issue besides it not having the same name.

Rastaman4200

@Rastaman4200: EA makes Battlefield: Bad Company, not COD4. Which, based on the beta, has no hope of being real competition.

Raziel66

@Rastaman4200: Let's not forget that Blizzard sort of went through the same thing with World of Warcraft when all their resources were tied up in that game making it a make or break affair. If WoW didn't sell then Blizzard would have went under. Blizzard now swims in money. I think it's fair to make the same comparisons to Take-Two.

Tepoz

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: That's not really what they think. Every offer like this is phrased in those terms. You wouldn't say, "listen, you and I both know that 26 is probably a little low and that we're orchestrating this to sway your sharholders;" instead you say "I have this awesome offer for you." You try and argue your point and sell the benefit of the purchase. To do otherwise would be foolish.

PearceShea

@Rastaman4200: i'll give you rockband but they only just produced that one harmonix was in the game way long before then give EA time to make shitty sequels but CoD4 is Activision there buddy. Reason we don't want EA to buy them out cause then it would mean all sport Games would be EA only other than a few small ones here and there.

Raziel3333

wow...i didnt think Kotaku was so completely full of people on Take 2's jock strap...the offer is fair, and will continue to be fair even after GTA comes out...thats the reason each piece of stock is being offered to buy at 10$ more then its worth...without this bid take 2 stock would still be at $15-$17 a share and dropping...T2 has been losing money off there stock prices every quarter for quite a while...I honestly think that it would be a good thing for them to get taken over, both for there IP's and EA's...and for all of you talking crap about EA i want you all to honestly tell me you havent bought an EA game recently...anyone...thats what i thought. If EA sucked so bad COD4 wouldnt have sold so big, Rock Band wouldnt have sold so big, and there are many more examples, i mean come on people...one thread your sucking off Rock Band and the next you talk about the company that made said game and say they make all horrible games, choose a side.

Rastaman4200

Good Plan Take Two hold them out with a sticking going na na na na naaaaa you can't touch me. lol Stay alive Take Two Stay Aliveeee

Raziel3333

Dear EA,
Although you have some good games out, and of course you have some intriguing titles coming out in the future (Dead Space), you tend to poison what you touch. I merely have to point out your continually rehashed Madden series, which, usually feels like a recycled version of the last iteration. Also, your movie games suck. Ass. Horribly too, not like a hooker that's skilled in that area. Anyway, please don't ruin one of my favorite games. Please.

-Raziel

Raziel66

I wonder how much the guns in GTA V will cost?

Totally off topic: Is anyone else using Firefox for Mac? I can't post using that browser anymore, it just started today. The comment preview doesn't show up when I'm typing, and when I click the submit it just says "Failed to post comment. Please try again later ()." I DO have the preview comment box clicked, and it shows "by NateN at Date Time", just nothing shows up when I type. Kinda funky! (I posted this using Safari.)

NateN

@ Iron_Dragon_2.0: yeah but look at EAs attitude. they believe that TT should be grateful to sell on the eve of one of the biggest releases this year and to effectively neutralise the only sports developer than can stand against EA has done so for years. EA might have the nfl, but TT/Visual Concepts have MLB and the best NBA games. i hope this deal never happens or even better... don't sell to EA, sell to Sony. that way visual concepts can make nfl games as a first party developer.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Stay Strong Take-Two... $10 per share isn't worth your integrity and your soul! EA You suck... get out of the buissness

Godluvsugly

Fucking EA, if they don't want you, why don't you buzz off. I mean it can't be a fair price if you wanted so badly and T2 doesn't want to sell. Why don't EA offer them way more money or shut the hell up already.

nxp3

@AdeptVoice: ouch, that offended me.

Dakobah

If EA still continues even harder to acquire TT after GTAIV, I might give EA a nudge or two.

I say this hiatus will die, as mandatory, on the 18th and start up again when Bioshock II is near completion.

Fyren

"The Emperor is most displeased..."

gils0n

Either they're not gonna get bought out, or EA is gonna lose a lot of money when they do get them.
That Poison Pill plan is genius

akilshohen

Well @Iron_Dragon_2.0: It's a good thing EA's not actually doing this.

SSJPabs

I think it goes without saying that no one on Kotaku supports money grubbing EA. What id like to know is, why must they work so hard envelop the entire gaming industry under its crap umbrella when its obvious that almost everything thats been branded with the EA logo has been utter crap.

I find it amazing that EA still has money to throw around with so many failed hype games.

Zenian

EA, stop trying to take over the world. Please..

kanashimaru

@Iron_Dragon_2.0:
Agreed. It's more like a lack thereof.

Sqwerell

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: I wouldn't say crying or whining like a child shows that EA has "balls".

Iron_Dragon_2.0

to hell with EA and their bullshit offer. GTA4 is going make well over 2 billion all told. EA has some balls. crying because take two won't sell. good for them i says. ea can't do good with their own franchises dont let them destroy more. besides madden sucks and a all EA sports genre is one ill never support.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Wake me when Take-Two gets bought out or after the GTA4 release.

Luis

@AdeptVoice:

LOL'd@Komrade_Kayce:

Yes, please. I really hope they last this out.

mpmaley

EA - Worse than Jehovas's Witnesses.

AdeptVoice

why april 18 and not may 1?

oh, it obviously has NOTHING to do with GTAIV~

iRloading

Take Two NEEDS to survive this. If only to make the point, that you CAN stand up to EA.

Komrade_Kayce

At this point EA is reminding of a spoiled child who isn't getting his candy from the grocery store.

masterkeyes2

Why don't they just get a room already...

Iron_Dragon_2.0

EA just doesn't get it. T2 wants to stay out of their money loving hands.

Americo

The hipocrisy is hilarious...EA makes horrible games, oh except the ones i like. EA should die...unless that means i dont get Rock Band DLC anymore. I mean come on, i dont see how anyone can care what company makes what as long as its a good game. And i dont care what company you like, every company makes a bad game once in a while and the fact that EA is one of the biggest in the buisness means they have to produce more games a year in order to keep there buiness running the way it has been, so of cousre they are going to put out more mediocre games then the small guys, basic math. I honestly could give a crap less if EA ownes take 2 or not...the only thing i care about is the fact that with both companies using the other resources they could make some incredible games. And thinking that EA will destroy take 2 just because they own it is just ludacris, likely they will still come out with the same great games they always have, and hopefully EA will use the sports guys from Take 2 to make some good sports games for those of you who like them...as long as EA makes another Skate i dont care about any other sports game.

Rastaman4200

The worst aspect of this is, I want neither side to win. Take Two's current leadership is full of greedy bastards that are destroying the company for their own personal wealth, which is why EA is having the opportunity to acquire the company.

On the other hand, EA Katamari-like acquisition tactics are dangerous for the health of the industry, I believe. So, someone needs to stand up to them successfully.

jayntampa

@NateN: I'm using IE7, and the photo galleries below each post no longer show up.

kubevubin

Take Two is doing very well here. EA is just, as said before, acting like a spoiled child denied their treat. If EA nabs take two, they would have even more power to do so to other large companies. Take Two just needs to sit on their hands between now and May 1, when they can laugh at EA from their mountains of GTA cash.

Demonbird

That's some funny stuff.

I'm not really a big T2 guy, but anything that pisses EA off is a good move in my book. Keep up the good work ladies and gents!

sonofnone

I think speak for everyone when I say this. I don't want EA having Grand Theft Auto, so that I don't have to pay to unlock weapons in the game

excel_excel

@Habitual Line Stepper: and if you would have read my last comment i admitted a mistake on that...i was under the mistaken impression they did do COD4, and if you missed out on the good titles just because they are EA then your just dumb anyway...anyone who buys a title only because its from a certain publisher isnt a very informed consumer and should do some research on the games.

Rastaman4200

@ Laidbackga: dude, madden sucks IMO. EA has had exclusive rights to monday night football, espn and the NFL and the animation and presentation still isn't as good as 2k5 on xbox. i watched a friend play madden this past weekend, online and it was total bullshit. who runs back 15 yards to throw a ten yard pass? but this is what i see from too many madden players. playing in the pocket was nonexistent and i saw 6 interceptions in 4 minutes. total bullshit. i saw completions by bum receivers in triple coverage against good secondaries. i watched brian westbrook break three tackles for a td run. since when did westbrook become a power back? ill never play madden unless visual concepts develops it. it's trash. please don't give me sales figures. Wii is the best selling console bar none but that doesn't mean it's the best. madden just goes to show how little some madden fans know about real football.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

They've been poisoning there stock for EA for a bit now. Little contract boosts to make there company worth 'more' then what the stock price is listed as and making it rather hard for EA to hostile take over it.

They'll do what ever it takes to delay til GTA4 and then reevaluate the position then. EA knows that the GTA hit is looming, and wants to get in before the goose is cooked much like they did before MassEffect was released and the stock price jumps. Buying companies just before they release AAA titles is clearly apart of there corporate tactics.

huginn - thank you xbla for vgcat pictures!

EA games don't nessessarily suck, but they never push the bounderies. Think of recent EA games. Army of Two, Command and Conquer 3, Madden. All are fairly solid games but are extremely iterative. They do things that have been done before and that have sold before.

That is as good a reason as any to hope that this venture fails. Originality is something our industry needs to cling to right now.

GuiltyDragon

@BlackIceJoe: As far as I know, EA trying to buy T2 is the reason that their stocks are that high now.

The_Antihippy

God damn it EA, just take the answer you got a few dozen times and STFU already! Break yoself, foo'!

Normally I'm very tolerant of EA compared to most Kotakuites, but this is pissing me off. I wonder how much damage they're doing in terms of losing fans with this madness. Probably not a lot to be honest, but they're really not going to see it until they shut up, stop, and look around at what they've done because those crazy borg have tunnel vision.

Way to make yourselves look like the evil oppressive empire to anyone who isn't already convinced! Too bad an antitrust suit probably wouldn't come close to flying in this business.

fuchikoma

The cool people know when they are not wanted..... ***awkward***

Mr.SithNinja

Too cheap!

retronaut

@BlackIceJoe: the reason they are at 25$ right now is because of the EA offer...before the offer they were at between 15-17 a share and dropping

Rastaman4200

@Laidbackga: Last time I checked, EA had the only pro American football and baseball games on the market.

Americo

If I am not mistaken Take Two's share are at the buying price of 25.50. So if that is true why would any shareholder sell there stock now. Because all EA is going to give is a little extra money for them so it really is not worse selling there stock now. So if any thing EA should raise there price for the stock. Because I for one would never sell my stock now. Because if it is selling at 25.50. Come April 29 that price will be higher.

BlackIceJoe

this hostile takeover is getting more hostile

reptile168

@Mr.SithNinja: and you believe that Take 2 wont make a GTA 20 if they think it will make them money...you are delusional, and lets go cry some more about "Evil" EA. EA makes some great games and are doing what any other company in there possition would do, buy up the competion, and try to get the best in the industry on your team.
and if anyone is going to mess up Take 2 its going to be there president guy, the only reason he is against this is because then he wont be able to write himself anymore checks that hurt the company but help him, cuz thats exactly what he did with his recent "bonus"...he just wants to get the price up so he can sell all his shares and laugh at the stockholders all the way to his nice mansion. Dont delude yourself into thinking that Take 2 has better people running it then EA, they are both after the EXACT same thing...more money. and in the end they both could give a shit less about who likes them as long as they continue to sell games.

Rastaman4200

@Iron_Dragon_2.0: I think he means, they act as though they had big balls, whereas they're actually whiners...

laencythe

@GuiltyDragon: That is exactly why the bastards at Evil Assholes need to leave T2 alone along with every other company out there. How many people actually want to see GTA '09, GTA '10, GTA '11....?? It would be nothing more than the same recycled crap that they just keep churning out year after year.

Mr.SithNinja

So let's say that EA gets a hold of Take Two. Then what? It's going to cost them a HUGE amount of money, and if (when?) the franchises they get start turning to crap, they're suddenly spending money producing something which really doesn't do much for the company.

Somehow this all seems very short-sighted on EA's part. They'll make some quick cash, but in the long run mergers only really work if the two companies work well together. A hostile take-over won't do that.

Quilt

@BlackIceJoe: The moment EA withdraws their offer, the stock price will immediately drop below it's previous average. EA knows this, which is why they aren't backing down. I would expect the stock to halve if the offer is withdrawn.

jayntampa

@exion: nope...there stock prices were dropping before the EA offer and after the release date for GTA4 was set as far as i know

and the reason EA doesnt innovate more is because of cost...if they do alot of innovation in a game that costs mutimillion dollars and it flops they are hurt pretty bad, but a small company isnt likely to make a multimillion dollar costing game, as they have fewer resources so therefore if it flops because of the innovation they arent out as much.
Not saying that is a great excuse for making Average games, but it is understandable...why risk so much when you know people are going to buy it just bacause of the name? and unfortunatly this world is run by the almighty dollar, not the consumer.

Rastaman4200

EA is desperate as hell to get Take-Two before GTA4 comes out, and it shows. Regardless of the appreciation in value that Take-Two's stock has experienced due to EA's buyout offer, the stock valuation is extremely likely to go up more upon release of GTA4. Even if it's only a few points, every cent increase is going to make things more and more unpleasant for EA.

That being said, I hope EA is unable to acquire Take-Two until after GTA4 releases, and really I hope they give up. Not going to happen though.

crapsh00t

- $26 per share?
- No.
- Then how about $26?
- No.
- Well then... $26?
- Duh.

mizeriq

@The_Antihippy: nothing to do with GTA4 being around the corner, and being one of the biggest titles in the gaming calendar this year then?

exion

@Rastaman4200: OMG isn't it a litte early to be hitting the bong Rasta? The point was that EA does nothing but churn out yearly updates with out putting any effort into their games. T2 can put out as many GTAs as they want, but I gaurantee you that there will be far more inovations with each iteration than anything churned out by EA.

I don't give a shit what the CEOs do. Every single one in every single company is ultimatley only looking out for themselves.

I don't want EAs influence and shitty ass dev teams ( for the love of god why can't they put out a PS3 game without bugs and frame rate issues?? )fucking up one of the best franchises in the history of gaming. I don't want to have to buy a game then go home and pay more to unlock weapons before I even play the fucking thing. I don't want to play a GTA that has Burger King ads plastered all over the place. I want to be able to use Nico's cell phone in the game with out the call being charged to my own personal cell phone. ( Trust me EA is working on that one right now. )

They already self destructed the greatest sports franchise ever in Madden by snapping up the rights to the NFL licence and ceaseing any and all efforts to IMPOROVE the yearly updates. Just wait until they push out Skate 2. You will buy it and wonder WTF the differnce is from the pervious one. Maybe a new soundtrack, a couple different things to ollie off of..... that would be about it....

Mr.SithNinja

@Rastaman4200: didnt see your correction, sorry bout that.

Its not like im on some kind of boycott against EA. I buy a lot of games from lots of different companies. I do plenty of research before i do so, and if im still not sure ill give it a rental. Not once lately have I rented an EA game and thought it would be worth a 60$ purchase. There have been plenty of games in the last year that when I finished them i felt they were worth the buy, im still waiting for one from EA

Habitual Line Stepper

@Rastaman4200: EA make average enough games that don't really push boundaries. Take 2 have a history of making great games. Now I don't know exactly what it is about Take 2 that has created this scenario, certainly not the president, perhaps it's the fact it's not as bloated as EA, or that they have less marketing power to push crap games/buyout rivals, who knows.

Anyway whatever it is that has allowed take 2 to create great games, I'd rather not it destroyed by EA. Corporate structures do affect game quality, even if all corporations are after one thing in the end.

creepwood

If I were running take 2 I'd get all the stockholders to pose for a picture outside in front of the main sign for the building all of us waving two fingers in the air, telling EA to fuck off. But that's just me.

Rebelphoenix83

@jayntampa: Exactly, and I shall play a beautiful song on my tiny violin for all those people who rushed to buy T2 stocks if it happens (and I hope it does). Then, it's just a matter of Take Two bouncing back before EA starts eying the one that got away once again.

Remember that the stock went so high because the lure of profit from the buyout sent demand, and consequently stock prices, up. If the buyout doesn't happen all those people will either cut their losses and sell the stock, or hold on to it in the hopes that one day the stock value climbs to a price they can sell at.

Tiber

@Raziel66: Brilliant! I thee nominate!

Gouki146

I wish EA would stick to their sport games (Boxing, NBA, NFL, NHL) and keep the fuck away from anything else.
Because its the only thing that they are good at, or at least used to be (cant forgive them for screwing up NFS)...

However if you want to look for creativity in their games, well good luck to you. Plus most of the franchises that they have acquired ended up being crap (well except for sims, its pretty much the same game over and over and over again)
Additionally, their new obsession with DLC and Ads in games wont do gamers any good. EA is like cancer and unfortunately it keeps spreading...

neojam

@Mr.SithNinja:
ummm i knew it.
But making a port of the game and making the game itself are 2 completely different things, just so you know...

@ErskinPig:
"Activision publish CoD anyway."
oops, forgot to add this to my earlier post

neojam

@neojam: ummm just so you know:

From Wiki:

While the Windows and Xbox 360 versions of The Orange Box were developed and published by Valve, the development of the PlayStation 3 port was outsourced to Electronic Arts. Gabe Newell explained, "I think the PS3 is a waste of everybody's time. Investing in the Cell, investing in the SPE gives you no long-term benefits. There's nothing there that you're going to apply to anything else. You're not going to gain anything except a hatred of the architecture they've created." Despite this, he noted that Valve will probably handle PlayStation 3 versions of its products in the future. Although he expressed confidence that "the people who have The Orange Box on the PS3 are going to be happy with their game experience", he also mentioned that he feels "it's harder to get it to the same standard as the 360 and PC versions".

Mr.SithNinja

Activision publish CoD anyway. Some people just don't know what they're talking about & should be ignored.

EA suck balls and should die so that their employees can break away and form independent studios and be free from the rotten business practices of their former overlords. That's all there is to it, end of discussion.

ErskinPig

TAKE TWO STAY STRONG! Stockholders, hold to your stock!

Adam Rock

@Rastaman4200:
No you're wrong once again, The Orange Box is Valve's baby, EA was just playing the publisher. So was the case with CoD4, which was developed by Infinity Ward...Probably most of the good games that you think were developed by EA, were made by someone else. Only a handful of those titles were developed by EA itself (EA LA & other "real" in-house studios)...

neojam

Good for Take Two. I hope they don't sell. They obviously don't want to, and hopefully they won't be strong-armed into doing so.

EA wouldn't be so vilified in the industry if their business plan didn't include buying out companies and ruining intellectual properties.

Furysetzer

@Mr.SithNinja:
Agree, but thats another story.
The point of my reply to Rastaman4200 was, to tell him that unlike he was thinking, Orange Box (among other titles) wasn't EA's game.
They were only responsible for publishing and like you've correctly added, for screwing up the PS3 port.

neojam

If I was a shareholder, I'd be smart enough to be looking at the market right now. EA is absolutely DESPERATE to get their hands on TT before GTA4 come out. Why? Because they know the game will sell like hotcakes covered in crack, which means TT will make tons of money, which means the stock prices will rise and make the possibility of a hostile takeover not an option (or a REALLY expensive option).

The people who have already sold to EA are amateurs. They see a slight wind-fall, they go for it. The people with more shares are professionals, and professionals don't care about a $10/share windfall. You don't sell just because it went up . . . when it starts going up and there's something in the market that could make it go even higher, you hold on to it, not sell it. The pros know this. Hell, anyone who's read a Robert Kiosaki book knows this.

That's why this hostile takeover plan is doomed to failure.

EvoAnubis

@naxik: Check out [en.wikipedia.org] for some of the more entertaining possibilities (they tend to be colorfully named).

I'm still having a bit of a hard time grasping EA's stance on this - hostile takeovers are, for the vast majority of cases, passe because they do so much damage to the target company, to say nothing of the long term enmity that remains betweenthe two cultures you're ostensibly trying to merge.

EA's either unfathomably greedy or has their heads so far up their asses they can't see anything.

FellTheDabus

@neojam: They were still in charge of DEVELOPING the port. It is more than a copy paste job. It is their fault that it sucked ass and nobody elses.

Mr.SithNinja

@neojam: ok, but almost every PS3 port is shitty, cant compleetly pass the buck to EA on that one. and all i was pointing out was that not everything EA touches turns to crap just because they touched it...the Orange box port is shitty, but so are a ton of other 360 to PS3 ports, hell rockstar just pushed out a shitty port of the bully to the 360(love the game but it is full of glitches) does that make them shitty too? Like i said before i honestly only care about the game quality and theoretically more resources = better quality.

Rastaman4200

@Mr.SithNinja: besides the bong comment, i see your point on the yeary re-release, but that what almost every company that has a successful IP does, and EA has had its fair share of originals...skate, Crysis, burnout, Need for speed started at EA, and if for no other game...they made skate or die ;)

Rastaman4200

EA is like a spoiled brat like what a few users said before me. EA if you want me as a gamer and a person to respect your company, make good games without handing it to your small companies you bought out of your bank account. Seriously they throw money around like George Steinbrenner, they need to seriously own a sports team instead of making video games.

Fireblast

All your GTA4 profits are belong to EA.

bluesquareapple

EvoAnubis : If I was a shareholder, I'd be smart enough to be looking at the market right now. EA is absolutely DESPERATE to get their hands on TT before GTA4 come out. Why? Because they know the game will sell like hotcakes covered in crack,

It will be the first game in the GTA series that was developed for a 'next gen' system. And is also coming out on the 360 and PS3 simultaneously (no 1 year, or 6 month exclusivity anymore).

Just look at what some other old school titles that have had recent next gen releases have done (For example COD4).

Yeah, GTA4 will sell millions and millions of copies.

lordargent

EA is so sad...I mean really they are the worst businessmen I have ever seen.

Why don't they just give $30 and call it a night. The deadline cracks me up though.

EA is trying their best to sneak in. I wouldn't be surprised if they extended it again to April 28th 11:59pm haha!

PhilESkyline

@Rastaman4200: Crysis is not developed by EA. It is developed by Crytek and merely published by EA. They do not own the IP or dictate the actions of Crytek (as it fucking should be!).

ErskinPig

@ErskinPig: its not my point if they are the publisher, the creator, or the babys mammas daddy...everyone is acting like everything EA touches turns to shit or is shit...i was mearly showing examples of games that EA has worked on that are good.

Rastaman4200

@TKWarrior: well if you choose games based on there publisher alone then you have fun with that...but for me, i'll choose based on the merits of the game, not because i want to suck off the makers/publishes of the game...you tell me one company that has never made a crappy game, And then show me a company that cares about the consumer more then the bottom line...i wanna see it. EA is no different then any other big company, they care about money, plain and simple, and if you think that take 2 are in it for the "art" or "to make great games" alone then you are deluding yourself, every company wants to make only great games but they wont sacrifice there buisness for it, just like EA they want the money. Now im going to stop worrying about it as, like i said before, i dont care who ownes who as long as they make good games, and EA has made some good games recently as have take 2. So continue to flame EA as "the evil devil boogie man" all you like but as soon they make another Rock Band/Mass Effect/skate/burnout must have game you will buy it, so all your arguments are moot and hypicritical.

oh and for the record i did say that THEORETICALLY more resources = better quality...theory and practice are entirely different things, its up to the companies to work out the practice but the theory is sound.

Rastaman4200

Sorry, I meant "bottom line first, quality product last" not "bottom line first, quality product second". Second would be great.

To think this takeover is anything but EA trying to digest another developer to gain its IPs since they can't compete any other way is just retarded.

TKWarrior

@Rastaman4200: Man if anything, I have to commend your tenacity trying to defend EA in a Take-Two takeover article.

But you are missing some key factors as to why there is hatred for EA by many in the gaming community and industry. From your past posts it shows you need to do some research so here's this to start:
[en.wikipedia.org]

Contrary you your 'more resources = better quality' theory you keep preaching, bigger companies DO NOT develop a game the same way smaller independent studios do. I'll throw out the Blizzard example that somebody else mentioned before. Before WOW Blizzard was almost toast and certainly didn't have the resources of EA at the same time. But they were still able to put out the most profitable game in recent history.

There was a time when EA was Electronic Arts and actually developed most of their own original ideas. Today's EA has used the resources it gained from that time to instead buyout the competition in one way or another. Their actions to others in the industry and to their own employees have shown time and time again its all about the bottom line first, quality product second. Most of the IPs EA has put out have either been from a developer they have taken over, a rip on a preexisting title/series, or a crappy port for a recent blockbuster movie.

I could give you soooo many reasons why EA is viewed as a negative on the industry, but I hate typing long posts as much as I hate reading them. Just do a search for EA in this blog or EA+any negative word in google.

Lastly: "anyone who buys a title only because its from a certain publisher isnt a very informed consumer and should do some research on the games"
Actually, to be interested in a game because its made by a particular developer shows you have done some research and at least know a little more about the industry then the average 'Oh, another Madden!' customer (aka, EA's target audience).

TKWarrior

@EvoAnubis: Those Hot Cakes are extremely delicious :P

Mike918

@Rastaman4200: Ready At Dawn

Mr.SithNinja

@Rastaman4200: @Mr.SithNinja:

A full counter-argument to everything you guys have said -

Westwood Studios.

I'll never forgive them.

Komrade_Kayce

No EA!! Please don't buy Take two and make them suck as much as you do! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

leimeisei

edit to last: Daxter sold alot, but *i personlly* thought it wasnt very good

Rastaman4200

@Mr.SithNinja: oh you mean the guys who made that shitty daxter game for the psp? Ok, that was kind of hash, but it wasnt a great game, plus the company has only made 2-3 games to date, not exactly to be compared to EA. When they finish the port of Okami i might give them more credit, but it is going to be a port after all.GoW:CoO was freakin awesome tho, far too short, but a great game, Kudos to them for the successful translation to the psp.

Rastaman4200

@Rastaman4200: My point being that they are a company that refuses to flood the market with endless waves of crap in hopes a decent title makes it out. They actually care about what they put out. It is the best example of possible of their quality vs. EA's quantity.

That being said, I would bet a year of my "riduclous Government salary" that once the time for God Of War 3's release approaches that EA will be doing the exact same thing to them.

They are the Darth Vader of game companies, hunting down and destroying any and all Jedi fledglings that may rise to challenge them.

EA GAMES: Join us or DIE!

;)

Mr.SithNinja

@Mr.SithNinja:

EA is not the Sith Lords they once were, oh Sith Ninja. They used to do very bad things that should not be forgotten or forgiven. There was this long span of 'peace' in the galaxy with EA just quietly putting out ports and sequels and not pac-manning companies.

However, this is the first time in a long time someone told EA flat out 'No', and we're starting to see some of the old EA come back.

And you cant lop too much praise on 2k. Except within the last year or two, they've generally kept themselves going on playing it safe sequels year after year after year.

Komrade_Kayce

Also, Take Two stock price as of closing today (Friday) was 25.33. A whopping 67 cents shy of the offer from EA. Prior to the tender, it was 17.36. EA did T2 stockholders a favor just by offering the deal. If they stick it out till after the GTA release, the chances of their stock dropping back down to the old price are pretty slim.

Bacardi151

I think alot of you are confusing EA's fully owned studios, and just the ones they strike publishing deals with when you say "all EA games suck and anything they do is bad"

There is a huge difference.

Games like Madden, Tiger Woods, and just about every sports franchise do indeed suck (with the rare exception of skate. That game rocked). They are re-hashes of the same thing every year. Those studios that develop these games are FULLY owned by EA and as such, dictate how they operate (which is how the whole EA Spouse thing came about).

Games like Rock Band (Harmonix), and the Orange Box (Valve), were developed by independent studios that are NOT owned by EA, but struck distribution deals with EA. EA doesn't get to say anything about how those studios are run, only about how distribution will be accomplished.

You should all take a step back and realize that EA itself is MOSTLY a publisher, with only more recently (as in the last few years) started to gobble up studios into their belly.

This move by them to try and jump on GTA4's coattails and snatch up another publisher so they can steal all of the profits without all the work is brash as hell, and can only be seen as being money-hungry.

I am glad as hell that T2 is resisting this with all of their might. They deserve a break after all of the trouble they've had the last year, and the awesome games they are pushing out despite it.

Viva la Take 2!

Bacardi151

At this stage, is there any way of refusing EA?

mcderek3000

It's almost become a natural cycle for games. A great IP is born, prospers, and is finally gobbled up by EA, where it shrivels up and dies. The latest entrant is, of course, Criterion's Burnout.

mcderek3000

The Activision Blizzard merger is freaking EA out and is forcing their hand at total Sports Games domination, problem, is T2 rightly isn't willing to sell out that easily, could be general dislike of EA, could also be that they are in negotiations with another publisher for a merger/buyout, and this whole EA thing is just good publicity and a smoke mirror for T2

z0phi3l

Wow, you could make a film dramatization out of this. "The last hope for the sport games genre lies on one company's shoulders: Take Two." That would totally sell.

eskimo-bob

The problem isn't that EA makes bad games- they actually make some pretty good ones.

The problem is that when EA "acquires" a game that is well liked and special, you can then expect to have a new one EVERY YEAR until it no longer sells "up to expectations". When you get a sequel every year, the specialness starts to disappear- look at Need for Speed, Madden. Instead of being something you couldn't wait for yearly titles become just another game on the shelf, buried alongside dozens of other ordinary games.

crashlanding

I think that the worl would be better off without EA. Their business model is ill conceived and bears the strategy, if we own the rights to everything, money will flow and we will be loved.

In reality, they have ruined the NFL license, their quality is lacking, and because they own the rights to everything, they are poisoning the titles that buoyed up the industry.

risingphoenix

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: "to hell with EA and their bullshit offer. GTA4 is going make well over 2 billion all told."

You've got to be kidding.. maybe half a billion.

Pandaschreck

@Rastaman4200:
COD4 is Activision and Rock Band is only a distribution deal. Now your argument has no leg to stand on.

T-1BX