Kotaku has posted a very detailed overview of EA's bid to takeover, and it has some information that I didn't even know about. The problem is that it shows EA in a nicer light then it seems, but maybe that's what's going on, Riccitiello wants to help Take-Two, and maybe Strauss is being hostel in all of this.

Personally, I think EA just wants to takeover the GTA franchise and all the profits from this, but it doesn't matter what I think, read about it here.

Kotaku AU recently tracked down this quote posted on an Australian telecommunications news site.

Okay guys, I have some news for you regarding what was edited from the AU release. I just gave Take2 a call (a friggin expensive 1902 number!) and this is exactly what I was told:

"Well in regards to what Rockstar have removed for the Australian release, as far as we're aware there was only one sexually violent cut-scene which Rockstar felt would cause the game to be Refused Classification. Unfortunately we're not able to go into specifics until after the game has been released but I can tell you that the scene involves a weapon being inserted into an enemies private area during a mission where Niko is taking revenge after one of his close friends was forced into sexual intercourse during his stay in prison."

Seriously I thought he was joking ....I was like LOL you're joking right? He says "No. This is what Rockstar felt needed to be removed from the game for it's Australian release. We were recently given permission to release this information because as we understand, Rockstar originally made a press release stating that the game would be released uncut world wide. We felt it would be misleading not to release the information".

Interesting, reminds me of the 'manipulation of testicals using a weapon' scene that got Manhunt 2 in a lot of trouble originally. Please note that until Rockstar or Take-Two confirms something officially, this is still just a rumor.

Source: Kotaku AU

Media Morgue is saying that Rockstar and Take-Two are predicting to make $400 million in the opening week of Grand Theft Auto IV. They base this on what retail stores have ordered, and if it does reach $400 million it will be the largest revenue for any entertainment product (thats movie, game or otherwise) ever before. Which is in one word, "spectacular".

Microsoft's Halo 3 is the current record holder at $300 million in revenue in the first week from over 5 million sales of the game. However it's important to note that Halo 3 was on available on Xbox 360, where as Grand Theft Auto IV is available on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 giving it a larger audience.

We should have some sales stats at the end of the first week to see how it went.

Take-Two Interactive, who owns Rockstar Games, is in talks with Former EA President of Asian Online Gaming, Hubert Larenaudie, to become President of Take-Two Asia. Take-Two already has a strong holding in the Japanese market (Rockstar Japan anyone?), but they want to expand into the Asian market and create a "meaningful online game operation" while they are at it, with Hubert Larenaudie spearheading the campaign.

Hubert Larenaudie, who has worked with Vivendi Universal, to make World of Warcraft have the presence in Asia that it has now, and of course EA. He'll be working below Gary Dale at Take-Two's newly created office in Singapore.

"Hubert Larenaudie is an experienced senior executive who has successfully built or expanded Asia Pacific operations for prominent interactive entertainment and consumer goods companies," said Gary Dale. "His in-depth knowledge of the region; his skill in creating the right product development, distribution and marketing strategy for each local market; and his track record of driving growth will help Take-Two realize the tremendous opportunities in APAC."

Mr. Larenaudie added, "Many of Take-Two's franchises, such as Grand Theft Auto, Midnight Club, Sid Meier's Civilization, and BioShock are international hits, and already have attracted large and enthusiastic fan bases in markets such as Japan, South Korea and China. With the Company's portfolio of leading brands, growing sports business, extraordinary creative talent and global appeal, I see exciting potential to build a significant Asia Pacific business for Take-Two, with a particular emphasis on the online game segment of the market."

The main points for Take-Two is:

• expanding distribution in the Asia Pacific (APAC) for the Company's interactive entertainment products.
• developing a strong presence in Japan.
• and establishing a meaningful online game operation, especially in China and Korea.

What does this mean for Take-Two? Are they bringing out the GTA MMO? Maybe even creating their own WoW clone?

Source: Kotaku

Take-Two has announced that their next Stockholders Meeting will be available as a live webcast. It will only be an audio version, not video of the meeting and will not count as attendance (for those who are stockholders, legally you must be present for it to count). The meeting will be being held at the W Hotel Union Square in New York City.

Due to limitations on space, only stockholders who have proof of ownership will be allowed into the meeting. So remember your records!

Obviously the main point of the meeting will be the Electronics Arts bid and ongoing happenings between both Take-Two and EA. Two of the strongest stockholders, Oppenheimer Funds and FMR LLC both cut their holding in the company dramatically in late March showing disagreement with Take-Two's decision of not accepting EA's bid. Another topic may be Grand Theft Auto IV and it's release at the end of this month.

The Annual Stockholder Meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. EST on April 17th, the webcast will be accessible via ir.take2games.com.

Thanks Escapist Magazine.

Next-Gen.biz has posted an 8 page look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, it's affect on Rockstar Games and most importantly how co-founder Sam Houser feels about the series. Mr. Houser hasn't given an interview for a few years, so this was surprising.

"In part one of this expansive two-part look into the making of one of gaming's biggest franchises, Edge talks to Rockstar Games president Sam Houser and finds out how the most important game series of the last ten years came into being and how GTA IV will take the story to a new level."

I won't ruin the article for you, it's a great read so we suggest you read it for yourself at Next-Gen.biz. If you need a reason, just look at the fact Sam Houser doesn't give many interviews, and with that comes lots of thoughts and opinions by the man himself that show us exactly what he is aiming for with Grand Theft Auto IV and future games by Rockstar.

Related: Next-Gen.biz: 'GRAND THEFT AUTO: THE INSIDE STORY'

In addition you may also be interested in Next-Gen.biz: 'THE MAKING OF GRAND THEFT AUTO IV' which is the talked about 'part 2' of the interview, it also looks briefly into the History of GTA, but mostly into GTA4's technology and surprises.

Electronic Arts (EA) CEO, John Riccitiello, has stated that Rockstar is the “primary interest” in EA's bid to acquire Take-Two. This clears the speculation of the bid being based around the 2K Sports label which produces very popular sporting games. However, Mr. Riccitiello stated that 2K Sports is the “secondary consideration” or secondary interest of the bid.

The situation has been very good for Take-Two's stock as an altercation of the bid, as you can see by the chart below it spiked around the time of the bid and has been on a steady rise since.

The question of whether this deal is right or not it still floating around and still unanswered, everyone has a different opinion and really the deal could go either way. The stock holders are obviously enlighten by the bid and seem to be for it at the moment, but will it be a good move?

Our opinion; If the deal goes ahead Rockstar should split into their own parent company, really they are already set to do that. With all their studios, it's like they a parent already, but the risks and extra work that would be involved may be the down-fall of that idea. At the end of the day I guess, ourselves, we'd rather see Take-Two stay the way it is, but the way people are talking it seems like that may not be the case.

Take-Two just held their conference call for the first quarter of 2008. While nothing totally new has been said, here are some various interesting parts from the call.

1. More Grand Theft Auto IV pre-orders than expected
2. Retailers "love" Midnight Club: Los Angeles
3. First Grand Theft Auto IV episodic content still on track for fourth quarter of this year.
4. Take Two has changed the release date of Midnight Club: Los Angeles from spring to 4th quarter.
5. At least one major Rockstar sequel in 2009.
6. Take Two will not comment if Grand Theft Auto IV has gone gold or not.
7. Take Two is doing everything to have enough copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.
8. Take Two will not comment on Rockstar's contract.

Keep checking back as we may listen to the conference again just to see if we have missed anything.

Take-Two has just sent out a notice to all stockholders. The annual stockholders meeting will be held on April 10, 2008 at 2:00 PM. What will be discussed at the meeting? Well they will elect eight directors, consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Incentive Stock Plan,  ratify the appointment of Ernst &Young LLP as Take-Two's independent registered public accounting firm, and transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

You can also bet that the EA proposal will be the hot topic discussed during the meeting. Keep reading RockstarWatch as we are continually covering the events. Notice is attatched below:

 
February 28, 2008

Dear Stockholders,

        You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. that will be held on April 10, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the W Hotel Union Square, 201 Park Avenue South, Studio 1, New York, New York.

 
       As more fully described in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, the purpose of the meeting is to:

1.

elect eight directors;


2.

consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Incentive Stock Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 2,000,000 shares and to permit the issuance of awards thereunder to consultants;


3.

ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2008; and

4.

transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

        Your Board of Directors believes that the election of the nominated directors, the approval of the amendment to the Incentive Stock Plan and the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and, accordingly, recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of these proposals.

        Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. After reading the enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, I urge you to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided or cast your vote by telephone or via the Internet. If the address on the accompanying material is incorrect, please advise our Transfer Agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in writing, at 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038.

        Your vote is very important, and we appreciate a prompt return of your signed proxy card. We hope to see you at the meeting and appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely yours,

Strauss Zelnick
Executive Chairman

Benjamin Feder
Chief Executive Officer

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.  622 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA
tel 646.536.2842    fax 646.536.2926    www.take2games.com