Take-Two Cements MLB Rights

[Jayhawker]

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6563

Looks like Take-Two has team names for baseball now, as well. The article also points out that they have prohibitted third parties from making games for the console makers.

[Kazuya]

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6563

Looks like Take-Two has team names for baseball now, as well. The article also points out that they have prohibitted third parties from making games for the console makers.

I was just about to blast this as a dumb move again, untill I read that MVP had 3/5 of the market last year... not as wide open as I thought. Still, the problem is they are gambling that the 61% will choose their game now, and not go with a Sony or Microsoft effort. s***, they shoulda asked Sony to chip in, since they benefit from this deal just as much as Take Two. You know Sony has got to be lovin' it.

[Slumberland]

Here's my suggestion for EA...

Roy Hobbs Baseball 2006

NY Knights rule!

[handbagarod]

i read on gamespot that the take-two game will let you put music in the stadium. does that mean you can specify different music for each batter? if that's the case i need to find that latin version of 'jump around' that big papi rocks.

[Badgun]

I wonder if at some point Take Two and EA are going to reach an agreement where Take Two can make a football game and EA can make baseball.

[Sully]

I wonder if at some point Take Two and EA are going to reach an agreement where Take Two can make a football game and EA can make baseball.

You know Badgun, that's the smartest thing I've heard from you in quite some time.

However, it's still highly unlikely. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that the football gaming market is much larger than the baseball gaming market. It would really make no sense for EA to allow TT back into football gaming. They've got a stranglehold on the market. They'd be sacrificing too much, just so they could get back into baseball gaming and compete against TT, MS, and Sony.

[Badgun]

I wonder if at some point Take Two and EA are going to reach an agreement where Take Two can make a football game and EA can make baseball.

You know Badgun, that's the smartest thing I've heard from you in quite some time.

However, it's still highly unlikely. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that the football gaming market is much larger than the baseball gaming market. It would really make no sense for EA to allow TT back into football gaming. They've got a stranglehold on the market. They'd be sacrificing too much, just so they could get back into baseball gaming and compete against TT, MS, and Sony.

I think MVP as well as the Triple Play series has always sold well. Obviously, MVP was the #1 selling baseball game last year. EA probably figures if we let Take Two use our license to make a football game, they won't put a dent in Madden's sales, but in exchange we can make a baseball game that is sure to outsell all of the competition combined.

[matthewk]

A deal like that that would benefit us the most, so chances are it won't happen.

I could see a deal like that being discussed, but I'm sure EA would put a clause in forcing TT to price thier game at $50. That way EA is safe even if TT has a better game.

[pk500]

No way it ever will happen. Take Two and EA are competitors, not cooperators.

Take care,
PK

[Leebo33]

I'm sure EA would put a clause in forcing TT to price thier game at $50.

That sounds like some sort of illegal price fixing to me.

[DivotMaker]

No way it ever will happen. Take Two and EA are competitors, not cooperators.

Take care,
PK

Exactly.

[scottdracula]

If these contracts weren't so GD airtight, it'd leave a little breathing room for comepetitors to get in there and put out a product of their own. But I guess that's the whole point of the contract, isn't it, to crush any and all competition.

All I know is that EA is gobbling up these exclusive rights at a record pace and that worries me. because when competition dies, we're the ones who get corned in the end.

In any case at the moment my only concern is which baseball game is gonna rule the roost in 05. For my money it's MLB 2k5, because from what i've seen, it's going to be very cool.

At least in 05 baseball fans are going to have a good game.

What happens beyond that- is anyone's guess.

[geehep]

i kinda like the Roy Hobbs baseball idea. however i like MLB 2k a bit better so either way i'm good to go. as far as the consumer goes, this is a hard to like situation that EA has created, but i think TT has come out smelling pretty ok.