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Gaming titans try to gobble each other up
The number of giant players in the video game industry may be shrinking even more.
Electronic Arts (“Madden ‘08,” “Rock Band”), which was recently eclipsed as the world’s largest maker of interactive entertainment software, may be trying to claim the throne again with its $2 billion bid for Take Two, the folks who own the reins of the “Grand Theft Auto” series.
EA is in a position of major strength despite recent admissions that it might have lost its way creatively, especially when it comes to acquisitions. Take Two, on the other hand, has had financial and accounting issues that could charitably be described as “Messy” and “complicated.”
Take Two was behind last year’s sublime hit “BioShock,” but truth be told, I’m not convinced “Grand Theft Auto 4” is going to be the monster hit the company needs, EA takeover or not. “GTA 4” has been beset by delays and it’s not clear if the gaming world — which is increasingly moving toward casual and music games — is ready for more of subsidiary Rockstar Games’ snide (and not always very good, from a gameplay perspective) brand of misanthropy and violence.
Electronic Arts must see something there it wants, though. $2 billion is a lot of scratch and that bid may go even higher as Take Two’s share price continues to climb on the news.
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