Remember this article regarding "breaking the bank" http://xbox.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/microsoft-ready-to-break-the-bank-at-e3-2009/.

I think Microsft might be planning on purchasing a publisher....Take 2...UBSoft....Or even EA if you think about it.

By letting 1/2 their internal First Parties go with Bungie, Bizzarre, closing Esemble, The Flight Simulator Studio, Restruturing Rare, I think Microsoft is planning something with the cost cutting.

What do you guys think...Will buying a big publisher like Take 2 and all its assets, francises and developers be a possibility?

I think most likely Microsoft will just pay for exclusives from developers but closing all these internal studios and letting their Cash Cow Bungie be independent makes no sense unless Microsft planned this a couple years ago and using the extra money saves to do a full buyout of a large Publisher or a few big developers like a EPIC or Bethesta.

What do you guys think? Will this year E3 be the Megaton of all Megaton?

Maybe........hope not

I really doubt it. When they started the original Xbox, Microsoft went on a buying spree and bought up lots of studios so that they would guarantee games for their console. Now with the 360 there are plenty of 3rd party titles that Microsoft doesn't have to create the games themselves.

The cost of games have shown that multiplatform is the best investment for game publishers. Not making a game for the Wii and PS3 is leaving money on the table. Microsoft is happy with a successful console and collecting licensing fees from 3rd party developers. Having the occasional AAA exclusive is enough to set them apart from the competition. Basically I think they are careful at where they are putting their money.

I don't think so... they have lost a shit load of $$ and are just cutting costs, and will buy out a single 3rd party game to be exclusive every now and then.

So you think MS is selling winners so they can buy losers? Uhh, maybe you need to rethink this topic, RayRay. If anything, they want to take a hands-off approach a-la Windows, simply providing the platform and reaping the rewards of hegemony (not that they have built that, yet, they are still trying...)

you guys forget that around 80% of MS income is from another source(and not their entertainment division)

MS is feeling the heat from competition in the area of their main income(apple ,google,....)

so when ever times get tough ,entertainment is the first division for MS to get the cut so that they can focus on their main source of income(OS)

They dumping 360 to develop 720 or whatever it will be called, ms will never buy Take or ea, you must be crazy to post this garbage. Some idiot probably thinks this is news so stop

They dumping 360 to develop 720 or whatever it will be called, ms will never buy Take or ea, you must be crazy to post this garbage. Some idiot probably thinks this is news so stop

Microsoft isn't selling and closing almost all of their 1st party studios just to buy new ones.

maybe :)

buy Bioware from EA pls