strauss zelnick
Rumor: MLB 2K Series may be in trouble
Some comments by Take-Two Interactive Chairman Strauss Zelnick don’t seem to bode well for baseball at 2K Sports. In an interview with Reuters, Zelnick called 2K Sports’ exclusive contract with Major League Baseball a a losing proposition.
We’re not getting a new Red Dead game every year
We’ve seen franchises get out of control before. The obvious examples are anything Tony Hawk related and Guitar Hero games. Is a coincidence these are Activision published games? Probably not. The Call of Duty franchise is also a yearly endeavor that has been split between two developers. If Activision isn’t careful, audiences will grow weary of CoD to the extent where its profitability is irreversibly damaged. Take-Two isn’t taking this chance with its big franchises.
Take-Two chairman doesn’t want to punish used game buyers
This year has been cruel to consumers who buy used games. Electronic Arts started using its Online Pass to prevent used game buyers from accessing a title’s online content. The only way around it is to pay for the pass. THQ has done the same thing with WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011. Every new copy of the game comes with a code to unlock online play. It’s also available as a separate purchase for $10. Not everyone feels this is the way to go. Take-Two’s chairman Strauss Zelnick feels less focus should be placed on used games.
Take-Two chairman talks digital distribution and tablets
Anyone that follows the videogame industry will tell you digital distribution is on the rise. Steam is reporting a record amount of users and big profits. Game companies are also using digital releases as marketing tools to promote its full retail titles. Take-Two Interactive is no stranger to digital distribution. This is the publisher that brought us Stories from Liberty City and all the Red Dead Redemption expansions. As good as the digital business is, Take-Two’s chairman Strauss Zelnick doesn’t see it overtaking physical products.
Strauss Zelnick trusts Facebook
Facebook is in the middle of yet another controversy after a massive information leak was discovered. Certain programs on Facebook were sending private user information to third party advertisers and other data loving companies. I personally know of one individual who was temporarily locked out of their account after someone tried too many times to access their profile with an incorrect password. Facebook privacy is a touchy thing right now, but Take-Two Interactive’s chairman Strauss Zelnick still has faith in the service.
GTA IV downloadable content, Chinatown Wars pushed to Spring 2009
MTV’s Multiplayer Blog brings us some sad news from BMO Capital Markets Conference today (November 13, 2008). Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick told the people there that GTA: Chinatown Wars would be released by the end of April 2009 and the Xbox exclusive downloadable content for GTA IV would be pushed back until Spring of 2009.
Zelnick did say the DLC portion is almost complete but…
Electronic Arts makes $2 billion offer to Take-Two
EA has decided the best way to preserve its ascendancy by making a big acquisition – or, at least, try to. The publisher announced on Sunday (February 24, 2008) that it has placed a $2 billion acquisition-bid for Take-Two Interactive at $26 per share. Take-Two rejected the offer, posting a response on its site.
EA also released excerpts from the offer letter (dated February 19, 2008) written by its CEO John Riccitiello to his Take-Two counterpart Strauss Zelnick:
