A sign that Rockstar does not want to re-sign the contract with Take-Two possibly, today Chief Operating Officer of Rockstar left to go to Take-Two as Executive Vice President. He had only been COO of Rockstar Games for 11 months, and he leaves after a year of hard work and no doubt, good times. I'm sure it's not the last we will hear of Gary Dale, if anything it's the start of something new and exciting with lots of new opertunity to impress us all. Again.
Take-Two had this to say about Mr. Dale:
"Gary's depth of experience in the interactive entertainment industry and his long-time association with our Company make him an excellent choice to take on this new corporate Executive VP position," said Ben Feder, Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two. "As part of our emphasis on driving profitable growth, we are asking Gary to spearhead our efforts to explore opportunities in emerging areas such as online gaming and casual games, and in promising regions such as Asia/Pacific and Latin America, while also helping to enhance the performance of our sales organization. As corporate liaison to our Rockstar, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play labels, Gary also will use his expertise to ensure that we take a coordinated approach to building and growing our businesses."
MCVUK also added this in there report:
"Dale will be chiefly looking at the publisher’s sales and distribution activities, and is said to be pursuing further ‘business development opportunities’ for the company, chiefly by liaising with all of Take 2’s publishing labels, of which Rockstar is one. He will also be tasked with exploring the opportunities in emerging markets such as online and casual gaming."
Online and casual gaming? I hear people gossoping already...
Thanks... MCVUK.com for image and quote. Full press release by Take-Two here.
Not long after selling Joytec to Mad Catz this week Take-Two today announced their new publishing label devoted to games for casual gamers and children of all ages, 2K Play. Not only are they planning on developing more 'family-friendly' games but they have joined with Kid's Entertainment Leader, Nickelodeon.
"We welcome our new partnership with 2K Play," said Shaul Olmert, Vice President/Digital Media products for Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "This is the first time Go, Diego, Go! is coming to handheld and console systems and will mark Dora the Explorer's debut on the popular Nintendo DS™ system. We are excited to welcome 2K Play into our growing family of innovative digital products."
2K Play joins the growing line of successful subsidiaries consisting of Rockstar Games, 2K Sport, 2K Games and Global Star Software. Check our latter news article too see what is upcoming from the new subsidiary already, such as Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! It will be exciting too see what Take-Two makes of this new 'family-friendly' gaming experience, stay tuned.
In a press release earlier today Take-Two announced it has sold it's video game accessories subsidiary, JoyTech, to Mad Catz.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Announces Sale of Joytech Video Game Accessories Subsidiary
New York, NY - September 7, 2007 - Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) today announced that it has sold substantially all of the assets of its wholly owned Joytech video game accessories subsidiary to Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ). The Joytech sale reflects Take-Two's previously announced plans to divest its non-core businesses.
"The sale of the Joytech assets is consistent with one of the key goals we established in our 100 Day Plan: to develop strategic alternatives for any operations that we determined to be outside our core publishing business," said Ben Feder, Take-Two's Chief Executive Officer. "We are particularly pleased that we accomplished this goal in a manner that will allow substantially all of our Joytech employees in the U.S. and U.K. to join Mad Catz, which is a highly respected provider of video game peripherals."
The Joytech sale is not expected to be material to Take-Two's financial results.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox® and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K and 2K Sports, and Global Star Software; and distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them. The Company has no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary significantly from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors. These risks and uncertainties include the matters relating to the Special Committee's investigation of the Company's stock option grants and the restatement of our consolidated financial statements. The investigation and conclusions of the Special Committee may result in claims and proceedings relating to such matters, including previously disclosed shareholder and derivative litigation and actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or other governmental agencies and negative tax or other implications for the Company resulting from any accounting adjustments or other factors. Other important factors are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, and in the Company's Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended April 30, 2007 in the section entitled "Risk Factors."
Let's just hope this doesn't become a regular occurance. We don't want to see Take-Two selling off their large substantiates such as Rockstar Games or 2K Games.
Interested in buying shares in Take-Two? This week may be a good opportunity to do just that. Seems the Grand Theft Auto IV delay has hit the parent company of Rockstar Games rather hard with their stock dropping 3.32 (or 16%) in just a few days. No doubt it will be high in the radar once an [official] date has been announced for it's release next year, and when it is fully released, just as GTA San Andreas did when it was released back in '04.
Take-Two Chairman, Strauss Zelnick, was interviewed by MercuryNews recently discussing Take-Two and Rockstar Games. Brought up was Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2, no new information on the games though, however a discussion of the Manhunt 2 ban and their stance on the ban, the game and the rating system. A very interesting read, check it out at MercuryNews.com.
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Today as we know Take-Two Interactive held their Conference at this year's E3. However it wasn't until the end of the conference that Rockstar Games appeared and showed off some new footage of Grand Theft Auto IV. The two trailers currently released of the game were also played, these were played prior to showing the new footage. The trailers were not at all edited nor changed.
Devin Winterbottom, who was managing the conference, said that Grand Theft Auto IV's code, music, voiceovers and other portions of the game are still being worked on and are not final.
The beginning scene gave us a view of Niko who was at “Star Junction” (Liberty City's version of New York's Times Square. The flashing news tickers on buildings, as well as other animations were stated as looking amazingly realistic. The following scene had Niko jacking a car (apparently a Bentley), eh then cruses a modern version of Liberty City. Niko soon then pulls up at a parking lot on the waterway near the Algonquin Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge). Niko then takes out his mobile phone and calls someone.
As Mr. Winterbottom stated voiceovers are not complete yet, so no dialogue was used during the phone call. We have only heard of one bug so far, where distant buildings popped up suddenly.
Thanks to GameDaily for their information on the conference, and GameSpot for the image of the photography warning.
CVG has gotten word from a anonymous source that Take-Two/Rockstar will appeal the ban of Manhunt 2 rather than modifying the game. Keep in mind that is from a anonymous source, not Take-Two. If successful, Manhunt 2 will be most likely to release with the content deemed "harmful" by the BBFC in tact. When CVG contacted Rockstar, the response was "Take-Two is considering all its options".
Source:CVG
The link from Gamespot.
An exert from the article: "Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board," a representative told GameSpot. "We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment."
Now there is only three options for Take Two. Either tone it down to get it on the consoles, release it for the PC, or cancel it (which I highly doubt is going to happen). Well, I guess it looks like Daniel will be staying in his cell for a while longer
