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EA and Take Two: A Grand Theft against Gamers?

 Consolidation isn’t new. Every company needs to either branch out or restructure at one point of another. In the world of business, it’s either you embrace change or face extinction. Though some hard core gamers like to think of the games they play as something on a plane quite different from usual businesses, the truth is, these companies need to think of the money, too.

Take Two Interactive, maker of the Grand Theft Auto series, recently received an offer from gaming goliath Electronic Arts. A takeover bid worth US$2 billion was presented, but apparently, Take Two didn’t find the price tag appealing enough. Electronic Arts sure isn’t Don Vito Corleone; it was an offer Take Two Interactive easily refused. Take Two saw itself as on the verge of great internal changes, and EA’s offer just didn’t quite cut it.

But it’s not just Grand Theft Auto that really drives the deal, though pundits say it plays a big part. The truth is that Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive have rival sports games that could be aligned into a single line should the takeover see fruition. This would significantly lessen the cost of game development for both companies.

For us gamers, though, the crucial point is this: less development costs for the two companies means a single line of games, which also means fewer options for us once again. Instead of having more players in the field competing to produce the best game possible for us enthusiasts, a merger would inevitably create a shift downwards for creativity.

Certainly, businesses need to consider important money-making decisions. They need to cut costs. Nevertheless, they have to remember that the gamers’ happiness still come first, as they’re the main judges of which games thrive and which games don’t. As of now, Take Two Interactive hasn’t completely said no; the company just decided to put off any offers until the launch of the next Grand Theft Auto release. In a merger like this, creativity stands to lose.

The same goes for us gamers.
By: KD Choi
Published: 03/14/08


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3 Posted Comments:

@ 11:40 am 04/06/08 by sgeour
I have to say, i wouldnt have been anywhere near happy had EA taken over. Something tells me that EA just wouldnt finish off the games to such a high quality as take two, and i hope take two continue to decline offers from larger companies.
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@ 5:11 pm 04/06/08 by Daryl Lau
Thank goodness for this... we don't want to see another Microsoft in the gaming world. Jeez!
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@ 6:03 pm 04/06/08 by KD Choi
Exactly. I love the Sims and EA's great with its products, but really, at least give us some options! You're right Daryl, we don't want another Microsoft!
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