Just what is up with Electronic Arts? EA has gone all-out and dropped pretensions of having learned the lessons that CEO John Riccitiello claimed to have learned. As EA gears up for the hostile takeover of Take-Two, Riccitiello has further driven fears into gamers that his company intends to eat the industry -- by implying that EA would continue Grand Theft Auto without Rockstar, if need be.
Riccitiello has "no fear that the value EA placed on Take-Two could be damaged if the trio of Rockstar creators decided not to pursue further Grand Theft Auto titles after the latest release."
"There is no doubt that EA is several times larger than Take-Two - everyday somebody walks in and somebody walks out. If the wrong guy walks out, we have an issue to deal with. But we don't stop making games."
Longtime readers will know that I have nothing against the activities of so-called "evil" corporations, but even I'm disturbed by EA's recent actions, especially since they seem to go against everything that Riccitiello has been saying for the past year. It appears that, while on the cusp of regaining some respect in this industry, EA has decided to shed the sheep's clothing and go on a rampage.
"The big headline here is that our primary interest is in Rockstar and the intellectual properties around Rockstar", stated Riccitiello to the BBC, confirming Take-Two's own theory that EA wants Grand Theft Auto, and the profits associated with the upcoming GTA IV. Just ... damn. It's like they're reveling in how ruthless they are over at EA.
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Contest:
10:53 AM on 03.14.2008
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Ok that picture is funny
The sad thing is that with the current state of imminent domain, if they can prove that they would use the property better than you can, they may just be able to take your house.
Even if this was a mutual beneficial thing and take two welcomed the buyout, I don't think gamers would like that deal either. Grand Theft is a title that a lot of us hold in high regard, and to have some other company, especially EA, fuck with it pisses me off.
GTA is my favorite series. If EA started making GTA...I would be severely disappointed.
i lost count.
and if the post is alredy out there, someone point me in its general direction plzz n thnx
Now thats video game violence i would condone.
That's Rockstar's baby. There is more talent in one frame of a GTA game than in EA's entire back catalogue.
Saint's Row is Saint's Row because it can't be GTA. Its runs a niche "skin" of the basic concepts. Given the license of being "GTA", EA could really just do whatever they want with the franchise.
Hell, given all their licensed IP's/code/game mechanics they could do something sickeningly special.
Basketball mini games based on the NBALive gameplay, driving mechanic and customization interfaces from the NFS series, and the conversation "engine" from Mass Effect.
Not to mention implementing TONS of ingame advertising which (in theory?!) could lower the cost for the discs for the consumer.
I'd rather see an IP stay with its originator, but if it happens, the IP has the potential to grow in an interesting different direction.
I don't need basketball minigames based on (terrible) NBA Live gameplay.
NFS is a mediocre racer at best.
The conversation engine from Mass Effect is only significant because of the writing Bioware put together to accompany it.
Without R*'s touch, GTA would be lifeless. They completely craft a universe and an experience. EA couldn't do that. EA wouldn't do that. They don't understand the concept of putting more than one year of development in any game.
And since when is in-game advertising a positive thing?! Seriously, dude. If you think in-game advertising would ever lower the cost of a game (especially from EA who charges for cheat codes on XBLM), you are flat out delusional.
They try to, but EA always lists some high school as their contact address. That's why most of the people who do school shootings kill themselves in the end: they realize all too late that they got the wrong address. :p
-Did you smelled that ?
-That the smell of a crappy sand box game coming.
@Daynger777 :
Me too :(
Trust me, I realize what I'm commenting is a little crazy. I'm not holding my breath for benefits from in-game advertising (though that is one theory), improvement by mechanic hacks or EA making the series in any way innovative.
But the main thing is, I don't think making a good GTA game completely requires R*'s "magic" at this point.
Lets say EA pulls GTA from Rockstar's cold dead hands, and gives it to a Bioware team. Bioware's GTA? Wouldn't that make you tingle a little bit?
Sure enough, they've got the potential to run a game into the ground. NFS, Burnout, Madden are all zombie husks by now. But I think a little frequency in GTA could be great for the industry.
. . . because if its better, great. Improvement. If its worse, and they run it into the ground, that's another set of gamers/fans/enthusiasts that will get pissed off just enough to make the next big thing happen.
Anarchy before change. Lesson learned from Civ.
Yowsers!
I think I'm cheering for EA now. I'm tired of cheering for the good guys and I think Take Two and Rockstar are a bunch of pricks anyway. Hostile takeover nazis FTW!
he thinks this is a riot, i think he just gets off on my utter distress
I think it works on shares in the company, as a public traded stock. EA's offering a sweet deal to existing shareholders to buy their stock. If EA becomes majority shareholder, take two is basically owned, literally.
I think some people in Sony PR must have been fired and moved to EA.
Oh who the fuck am i kidding?! GTA IS DOOMED!!
GTA 2009
GTA 2010
GTA 2011
It'd just be your typical yearly release with EA.
If you want to play the game, BUY IT.
There is absolutely no excuse for piracy.
How is this a surprise by the way?
If EA buys 2K they have Grand Theft Auto.
Just because the original developers or their key members leave, doesn't mean EA will drop a profitable franchise from their expensive acquisition.
Its logical that they would continue the franchise.
I still hate the idea of EA buying 2K though... Competition for sports games will hurt that niche of the industry. Very bad for sports gamers. (I don't play em but plenty of people do.)
We have received your letter to Take-Two's shareholder site. In response to your offer in the proposed acquisition of Take-Two, we would strongly prefer that you not get involved in this matter. Take-Two is a strong supporter of creative freedom for game developers. We feel that your past attitudes make any collaboration with you impossible.
Sincerely,
Take-Two
Just looked over the 360's library of EA games at http://www.ea.com/platform_xbox360.jsp
EA puts out great games, I'm always impressed by their presentation especially(I'm a graphics snob) It's cool to hate the Big Guy,
I thinks it's so funny and hypocritical that every week there's a new EA Bashing post, yet we continue to buy and love their games.
.skate, Rock Band, Mass Effect, FIFA Soccer 08, Burnout, Orange Box, Fight Night Round 3...
It's called business, capitalism at it's best. It'd be the GTA developers that'd be doing the walking on GTA, not EA. EA is promising to give us a game, with the original creators, or with another one of many awesome development teams under their umbrella.
If the Take-Two guys weren't happy with the takeover, they shouldn't have sold out to the man. They've been offered 2 billion dollars right? They're note amateurs they know what a buyout means, they knew what possible creativity rights and what benefits they will recieve from the buyout.
Take-Two aren't a bunch of heroes that live and work only for their fans, but a bunch of dudes that are telling you that, "Yeah, 2 billion dollars is a lot of money, and I care more about money more than staying 'true' to hardcore gamers."
The only thing this guarantee is that their would be no coffee in GTA 5, which I'm ok with.
Stuff it up your ass you EA whore.
Cheers!
and then they went 3d and got mildly decent and ok to play if you found them in used Rental store junk bin for $5 like i did.
Grand theft auto. OHH that sounds bad I can pick up a naughty overhead junk game that sucked balls whooooooo/
look it's about bad gang members that steel cars thats so angsty like could in final fantasy teenage rage but with out the men who look like women and spikey hair I must get this!