By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Microsoft - Microsoft is a likely bidder for Take-Two takeover - GTA going exclusive?

HanzoTheRazor on 29 July 2008

BengaBenga is right, it ain't gonna happen and for profitable reasons!



Playing and finishing games first>>>>>>>>>>Then talking!

Opinions are subjective and just like moods, can change.

TOP 12: Deus Ex, Shadow Man, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturn, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Metroid Prime, Zelda (series), Uncharted (series), FF Tactics, Persona (series), Demons Souls, Vagrant Story.

MOST WANTED: Deus Ex: Human Revolution, The Last Guardian, ICO/Shadow OTC HD

Around the Network
Outcast on 29 July 2008
BengaBenga said:

 

Please do the math: There4 will be about one GTA every 3 years. Let's say it sells 10 million (which I highly doubt on a single platform, not a Sony platform on which the series became big). That will be around 300 million dollar in revenue, if we take a $30 per game slice for the publisher+developer (which is reasonable). The development of GTA4 costed $100 million. So on GTA your talking about a $200,- million profit. In 3 years. That's not by far enough to warrant a take-over. They won't ever be able to get their money back. Not even close

Sure TT has other franchises, but those are not so important since others make that kind of games too. Midnight Club and the Sports games all have competitors, they won't be an enormous advantage for 360 or the next Xbox.

 

And again: ENTERTAINMENT IS NOT MICROSOFTS CORE BUSINESS. They have loads of trouble in their software and internet divisions right now. That's their bread and butter, they'll have to fix tht first.

You're looking at it in a very close minded way. With every exclusive Microsoft gains, profit and revenue will be gained exponentially in other areas. It's a knock-on effect - more people buy the 360 and future Microsoft consoles because they have more exclusives, these people will buy more software from Microsoft which will allow them to buy more exclusives and so on. If this does actually happen, Microsoft will have two of the highest selling and well known franchises in the Western world exclusive to their platform - Halo and Grand Theft Auto. They also have the majority of Sony's exclusives on their platform from last generation.

Sony is losing brandname recognition and popularity with a lot of people. Many who have bought a Sony console this generation as their only console will think twice before doing so next gen.

 



EaglesEye379 on 29 July 2008

I dont think Take Two will fit MS long term strategy as a software/service/hardware provider.

The two companies that will fit much better are Epic (the keys to the Unreal engine and hence gaining a significant jump in the developer community) and Valve (the keys to Steam/Havok engine and potential of cross-platform services with PC).



Godot on 29 July 2008
DirtyP2002 said:
BengaBenga said:
Not going to happen.

Microsoft has its hands full covering their core business. Their getting passed on all sides there. They're not going to do a take-over for a department that just this year made its first profits.
Besides that, the costs can never be recoverd by putting TT's games only on 360. You have to remember that buying a publisher to become a first party will decrease the software sales dramatically. And since GTA4 is already out the door, the main competitive edge is gone as well.

 

 Yeah you are right about the software sales decreasing, but you forgot the hardware sales will increase, as soon as new GTA stuff is coming out. Or the next Xbox3 will have another huge systemseller with GTA5 coming exclusively.

by the way: I doubt it will happen. But I would have a good time just checking the vgchartz-forum. The FF multiplat news was great, all the Sony-fans going crazy and opening stupid threads to explain why FF isn't that big.

You forgot that GTA didn't move much hardware.

 



How many cups of darkness have I drank over the years? Even I don't know...

 

ctk495 on 29 July 2008

I blame Bill Gates and Wii fit.



Around the Network
colonelstubbs on 29 July 2008
ctk495 said:
I blame Bill Gates and Wii fit.

 

 Bill Gates has 'retired' though

Wii fit tho....everything is wii fits fault



I hope my 360 doesn't RRoD
         "Suck my balls!" - Tag courtesy of Fkusmot

quimicomortal on 29 July 2008

Flat chance, there's no way Microsoft could put more money on the table than EA. And that is asuming that Microsoft does have the money and the desire for a purchase of that magnitude.



End of Year prediction:

wii: 37 m

360: 24 m

PS3: 20 m

CrashMan on 29 July 2008

Keep in mind, around 40% of the profitability of the game comes from the fact that it is multi-platform. Run the numbers and see that (est) 42% of the sales come from the PS3 version, subtract a few percent for PS360 owners who bought the PS3 version instead, and you are looking at around 60% profit potential. Now, if MS estimates a large enough fanbase for the next GTA release to counterbalance this, then fair enough, but its not as cut and dry as comparing the profitability of the franchise to the bidding price.



I am a Gauntlet Adventurer.

I strive to improve my living conditions by hoarding gold, food, and sometimes keys and potions. I love adventure, fighting, and particularly winning - especially when there's a prize at stake. I occasionally get lost inside buildings and can't find the exit. I need food badly. What Video Game Character Are You?

Mega Man 9 Challenges: 74%

Waltz Tango Jitterbug Bust a move Headbanging
Bunny Hop Mr. Trigger Happy Double Trouble Mr. Perfect Invincible
Almost Invincible No Coffee Break Air Shoes Mega Diet Encore
Peacekeeper Conservationist Farewell To Arms Gamer's Day Daily Dose
Whomp Wiley! Truly Addicted! Truly Hardcore! Conqueror Vanquisher
Destroyer World Warrior Trusty Sidearm Pack Rat Valued Customer
Shop A Holic Last Man Standing Survivor Hard Rock Heavy Metal
Speed Metal Fantastic 9 Fully Unloaded Blue Bomber Eco Fighter
Marathon Fight Quick Draw G Quick Draw C Quick Draw S Quick Draw H
Quick Draw J Quick Draw P Quick Draw T Quick Draw M Quick Draw X
joshin69 on 29 July 2008

Quite amusing really. People thinking Sony and MS will deal like Chelsea just to get one over the other! me thinks not.



 

 assumption is the mother of all f**k ups 

mike_intellivision on 29 July 2008
BengaBenga said:
 

 Please do the math: There will be about one GTA every 3 years. Let's say it sells 10 million (which I highly doubt on a single platform, not a Sony platform on which the series became big and the hype died a bit with 4). That will be around 300 million dollar in revenue, if we take a $30 per game slice for the publisher+developer (which is reasonable). The development of GTA4 costed $100 million. So on GTA your talking about a $200,- million profit. In 3 years. That's not by far enough to warrant a take-over. They won't ever be able to get their money back. Not even close

Sure TT has other franchises, but those are not so important since others make that kind of games too. Midnight Club and the Sports games all have competitors, they won't be an enormous advantage for 360 or the next Xbox.

 

It just hit me about the sports liceneses. I doubtl MLB would allow its baseball game only on the 360. It could produce a first-party game for the 360, but would lose the third-party exclusive license. The NHL and NBA have substitutes put out by EA, so those could become first-party games, but those licenses may also have some langauge in them about having to produce for all consoles. (Also, the quality of the 2K games has seem to be a bit adrift lately, but that's an issue for another time).

In other words, there are proable agreements which would make this very tough to do -- the same things that keep EA from doing making a console then doing exclusive Madden for it ...the minute they do that, they are in violation of the agreement.

 Mike from Morgantown



      


I am Mario.


I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble.

Wii Friend Code: 1624 6601 1126 1492

NNID: Mike_INTV