Take-Two's Zelnick on selling to EA, making new IPs, and GTA IV
When Strauss Zelnick and his band of merry cohorts (read: Take-Two investors) took over the beleaguered gaming publisher last March, lots of industry pundits thought the veteran biz guy would fix it up and sell it off (EA perhaps?). Speaking at the Reuters Business Summit, Zelnick said, "I'm much more interested in growing the business than in selling it, to be clear."
Zelnick's been working on improving the efficiency of the company (like selling off that silly peripheral business), planning on growth (sell the company? Heck, they're probably going to be hiring!), working on building new IPs instead of licensing them (BioShock did swimmingly) and, oh yeah, GTA IV, about which he says, "I believe this release, Grand Theft Auto IV, is going to be vastly better than those expectations -- vastly better -- and that's hard to do when expectations are so high." Don't call it a comeback.
Zelnick's been working on improving the efficiency of the company (like selling off that silly peripheral business), planning on growth (sell the company? Heck, they're probably going to be hiring!), working on building new IPs instead of licensing them (BioShock did swimmingly) and, oh yeah, GTA IV, about which he says, "I believe this release, Grand Theft Auto IV, is going to be vastly better than those expectations -- vastly better -- and that's hard to do when expectations are so high." Don't call it a comeback.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gonk @ Nov 27th 2007 11:24PM
smart thinkin
Alexander @ Nov 27th 2007 11:33PM
GTA IV ON PS3 FTW (safety deposit box and duffle bag boy) lol
Yubastard @ Nov 28th 2007 12:44AM
dude, I'm the same! lock box for my weed stash and duffel bag for my xbox 360! GTA IV FTW!! can't wait to bust a cop's ass in HD!
*giggles*
colin @ Nov 28th 2007 1:47AM
duffel bag for my weed stash, lock box for my money
Razorlution @ Nov 27th 2007 11:50PM
If EA gets Take 2, its all over, but alot depends upon whether they get the IP at the same time. Much like how Bungie is allowed to go on, but M$ owns the Halo rights.
Brymo @ Nov 27th 2007 11:50PM
So how does he decide what wig to use?
colin @ Nov 27th 2007 11:57PM
don't call it a comeback, i've been here for years
plyx @ Nov 28th 2007 1:11AM
I'm sure GTA IV is going to sell like gangbusters. I think the market will shift in Rockstar's favor next year.
Brucie B @ Nov 28th 2007 7:25AM
Strauss Zelnick is a Great Guy, Use to work for him when he ran BMG/RCA records.