Take-Two Executive Chairman Strauss Zelnick continues to hold the line against EA's buyout offer, repeating once again the company still isn't interested. In a Q&A with The Hollywood Report, Zelnick believes that consolidation is likely to continue in the industry, but he would like Take-Two to remain an "independent company."
We'll have to wait and see if it's just lip service, but Zelnick actually says a few things that stray from the well-paved path we've seen from EA and (ever-increasingly) Activision. He finds pride in the progress made over the last 10 months since taking over the company and then commits the video game executive version of shock-and-awe by saying, "Does consolidation create better games for consumers? Does it create better careers for the creatives? Those questions are just as important. If all stakeholders aren't taken care of, then none of the stakeholders will benefit." If Take-Two survives what some analysts say is the inevitability of an EA buyout, and Zelnick sticks with that line of thinking, we may have to send him a Valentine's Day card next year. We'll have to find out if he prefers flowers or chocolates?
[Via GameDaily]
Reader Comments (15)
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:28PM nmezib said
wholeheartedly agree.
whether or not EA will still allow Take Two's creative freedom in their games and not relegate them to "Madden NFL" duty isn't necessarily a big concern for me (and neither is "omg they're gonna wreck GTA!"), but the lack of competition is.
If EA would rather not see their metascores plummet like they have been in the past few years, the answer isn't to buy every talented developer studio out there, but to allow the pressure of competition to make them a better publisher. Blizzivision is about to give EA a run for its money, so EA should step up to it, and not simply hide behind the wads of cash and sic T2 on them.
but then again, that's just my opinion.
whether or not EA will still allow Take Two's creative freedom in their games and not relegate them to "Madden NFL" duty isn't necessarily a big concern for me (and neither is "omg they're gonna wreck GTA!"), but the lack of competition is.
If EA would rather not see their metascores plummet like they have been in the past few years, the answer isn't to buy every talented developer studio out there, but to allow the pressure of competition to make them a better publisher. Blizzivision is about to give EA a run for its money, so EA should step up to it, and not simply hide behind the wads of cash and sic T2 on them.
but then again, that's just my opinion.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:34PM Burritoclock said
The only way they stop from being bought by EA is if they let someone else buy them.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:36PM (Unverified) said
I agree with you man EA alone has NO talent they just dont know how to create a game that people want to buy anymore so they buy licenses so competition dies and try to buy good studios instead of trying to create thier own new IP lets see how Dead Space and Army of Two fare IMO neither game looks good to play EA just flat out fails at just about everything they try, EVERYTHING
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:48PM copa said
EA is saying that they will take their offer directly to the shareholders, but that's a pretty empty threat.
Zelnick has a pretty persuasive counter-argument to the shareholders. Take Two hasn't done a major GTA release in four years. Their crown jewel is getting great buzz on the current set of previews, and they could gross half a billion dollars this year on just this one title.
If EA is making a fair offer, then it will still be on the table in two months. But why should shareholders lock into a deal now when the company's stock could skyrocket at the end of April?
Zelnick has a pretty persuasive counter-argument to the shareholders. Take Two hasn't done a major GTA release in four years. Their crown jewel is getting great buzz on the current set of previews, and they could gross half a billion dollars this year on just this one title.
If EA is making a fair offer, then it will still be on the table in two months. But why should shareholders lock into a deal now when the company's stock could skyrocket at the end of April?
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:50PM (Unverified) said
That's what happens when you sell stocks to the public. No surprise.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:56PM Ignatius said
So uh.
Why aren't they commenting on Jack's ramblings to try and take Zelnick out of his position? I thought that little douche couldn't legally interact with the company without going through their lawyers first.
Why aren't they commenting on Jack's ramblings to try and take Zelnick out of his position? I thought that little douche couldn't legally interact with the company without going through their lawyers first.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 3:58PM ThornedVenom said
First Valve wanting free DLC for consoles, now this?
I'm starting to regain faith in game development.
I'm starting to regain faith in game development.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 4:03PM Brucie B said
Tel'um Strauss!!!!
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 4:23PM CB said
ooh, a fancy speech bubble!
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 4:42PM Batzarro The worlds WOrst Detect said
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 4:53PM (Unverified) said
I wonder if one day EA and Activision will be the only 3rd party developers left out there.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 5:04PM (Unverified) said
Good.
This whole buy-out business is crap in gaming. By the end of the year we're going to have 3 publishers because they're going to gobble everyone up. Not to mention EA would basically kill the 2k Sports series,which would basically leave Madden as the ONLY football game,so if you don't like Madden or the game sucks then oh well,no other game to chose from instead.
This whole buy-out business is crap in gaming. By the end of the year we're going to have 3 publishers because they're going to gobble everyone up. Not to mention EA would basically kill the 2k Sports series,which would basically leave Madden as the ONLY football game,so if you don't like Madden or the game sucks then oh well,no other game to chose from instead.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 5:38PM (Unverified) said
Plain and simple, I've stopped buying games from EA. If they keep up the attitude of "buy instead of compete", I'd be really tempted to start a class action lawsuit claiming EA was trying to start a monopoly.
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 8:11PM (Unverified) said
Wouldn't it be smart for Microsoft to scoop up take two? Links,Amped,Top Spin,Rallisport = XSN...THE RETURN OF.....EA,stick to what you know Fifa and Skate! Madden SUCKS! EA was trying to corner the market and take our right to choose away from us. I will not stand for it and you shouldn't either! And as for you Take TWO....Stop cutting corners,and you know what i mean! 2K8 games that look like 2K4! You want us to stick around? Stop ripping us of!
Posted: Mar 9th 2008 10:42PM hvnlysoldr said
Remember guys, when girls say no they really mean no (buy me drinks)
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