EA Attempting Hostile Take-Over of Take Two Games

[Raider1one]

So the hostile takeover of Take-Two has begun. G4TV amongst other gaming news sources is reporting EA has made a blanket offer of $26 to all shareholders with a deadline of April 11, one day after Take-Two’s next shareholders' meeting. But shareholders aside, what does this mean for us, the sports gamers?

In a way, its impact has already begun to show. When Take-Two announced its release schedule, All-Pro Football 2K9 was nowhere to be found.

Obviously this wasn’t entirely related to the attempted takeover of the company, but EA’s impact is already manifesting itself and has to be in some way responsible for the cancellation.

All-Pro Football was an expensive game to produce, seeing former athletes like O.J. Simpson getting (and promptly giving away) $50,000 for his likeness to appear in the game. One of the main ways for Take-Two to create a successful title would have been to increase the quantity of legends in the game. Apparently they didn’t find it fiscally feasible at the moment.

Even if EA does complete the purchase, I can't see them continuing this title. While there is potential with their extra funding to make this title even better, EA Sports will still be dropping this franchise. This is in direct competition with Madden and short of turning this into its football version of Facebreaker, there just isn't enough difference to keep it running.

Has All Pro Football Seen its Last Day?

But what about the other franchises? Take-Two’s MLB 2K franchise, while on a down year this year according to review scores, is still a hot commodity for EA. Consider for a moment the fact that EA’s last MLB title was MVP 07. EA is not used to not having a game in the major four sports (or five if we’re counting soccer) and really can’t be happy about it.

The first thing we’d likely see on that front is an almost immediate announcement of MVP going back into development. Whether they released it this year or not would entirely depend on how much development has been done in anticipation of a merger -- most likely it would not release until next year though.

Like All-Pro though, MLB 2K would likely cease to exist. EA would want to support its own franchises and if that means they lose the 2K titles, well, then so be it.

2K Sports' NHL 2K is likely another title that EA has its eye on. While EA arguably surpassed NHL 2K this year, there are undoubtedly features in the game that EA would be ecstatic to include in NHL 09.

I'm noticing a trend here. The most likely course of events after the buyout of Take-Two would be the folding of 2K Sports into EA Sports. The titles which vary far enough from EA's titles will likely stick around, but by and large, most of the games made by 2K Sports as we know them would likely disappear.

But I know I’m missing titles and even features that EA might use to improve their games. I want to see what you, the reader, think on this issue. What changes might be made if in fact a merger does take place. Will Take-Two’s sports division get folded into EA’s or will we still see 2K titles on top of EA Sports titles? What changes will be made?

[Chubz]

The shareholders will likely hold out for a bit more. I dont want this to happen because then essentially EA will dominate all the sports titles and could mean subpar games with no competition

[anivola]

What games would still be around? Whats the point just to have less competition?

[rocdhog]

All this does is make great games better.

[Raider1one]

doesnt look like this is gonna happen now that gta4 has made take 2 a grip of $$$$