GTA IV Delay possible (Until Holiday 2008)

[Coldkilla]

Pachter: EA buyout could delay GTAIV
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst says publisher would have "economic incentive" to bump Rockstar's heavily anticipated gangster epic to holiday quarter.

Since EA first made known its acquisition advances toward Take-Two, Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV has played front and center in the back-and-forth. For EA's part, CEO John Riccitiello has praised the publisher, saying it is of paramount interest in the $2 billion takeover offer. Conversely, Take-Two's board of directors has positioned Rockstar's latest offering as the primary reason shareholders should refuse EA's hostile bid, saying acquisition discussions shouldn't even begin until after GTAIV's April 29 street date, so that, among other reasons, the company's full value can be better assessed.

Up to this point, gamers have by and large been unaffected by the two publishers' financial wrangling. However, as Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter sees it, a successful EA buyout could have dire implications for the imminent launch of GTAIV on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Appearing on Spike TV's Bonus Round (hosted by Geoff Keighley), Pachter said that were EA to acquire Take-Two, the publisher could conceivably bump GTAIV to the holiday quarter to maximize the game's profit potential and quality.

"I think it will be done and will be street ready [by April 29], but I think that if EA takes over Take-Two, they have an economic incentive to delay it," said Pachter. "If [Rockstar Games cofounders Sam and Dan Houser] feel that there's 2 percent more improvement they can make with an extra few months, then why not?"

Pachter also noted that the April 29 ship date is likely being forced upon Rockstar by Take-Two, saying "Take-Two financially has to get that game out. They don't have any wiggle room. They are going to be pretty much tapped out on their credit line and their cash position, so they need the money; they need to get it out. And they've got contractual obligations, I mean, Microsoft's paid up $50 million bucks for this downloadable content."

Source: Gamespot

I'm all for a better game, but I've got my preorder paid for and theres only 3 weeks left. Don't put this on me EA. I hate you people enough... Basterds...

Thread moved from PC Gaming to Console Gaming because no PC version of GTA IV has been announced.

-Schadenfroh (AT Mod)

 

[QueBert]

wait wait wait, I'm not too bright but what I read sounds like EA wants the game DELAYED?? EA... DELAY a game? That cannot possibly be right, EA never delays shit they rush half assed games to the market. I don't think this effects the PC version - which hasn't even been announced yet has it?

 

[Coldkilla]

EA doesn't own any rights to the GTA series. They want to buy out Take-Two/Rockstar, and by doing so, owning the rights to the finished GTA IV game. They are trying to take over the company by force, and are making pretty high bids for Take-Twos shareholders, and if they bite within the next 2-3 weeks, its over.

 

[Eeezee]

Pachter said that were EA to acquire Take-Two, the publisher could conceivably bump GTAIV to the holiday quarter to maximize the game's profit potential and quality.

Where in the article does it say that GTA4 is officially delayed? It's 100% speculation and (frankly) gossip.

Until Rockstar or Take-Two announce anything, you can't take gossip seriously.

In other words, IF EA acquire Take Two (unlikely given recent events, Take Two turning down offers and then EA getting all pissy and aggressive about it), then the game MIGHT get delayed (also unlikely given that the release is only a few weeks away, a lot of buzz is already generated and that's money thrown away)

 

[Coldkilla]

I can see your point in that its speculation, but I guess its bringing things into perspective. The investment firm is essentially telling EA, "Hey you could make a profit" on this... All EA has to do is simply make a bid that prolongs the release, even for a short while, and Take-Two conceivably goes broke because of this and cannot fight the power that is, EA.

I'll change the thread title slightly... but this threat with EA I wouldn't take lightly...

The offer would have to be about $32 per share from $26 since this game is expected to sell so well.

 

[Sadaiyappan]

I was listening to a business tech podcast a few weeks back and the guys on it said there wasn't enough time left for a hostile takeover to take place. So GTA4 can't be delayed.

 

[Xavier434]

Meh...this is all theory and speculation. While it might be justified speculation (not sure about that one) I would say that the release date is too close for a bump to the holidays at this point. I'm not denying the possibility, but it does seem very unlikely. However, I am very much convinced that if it is delayed it will not be due to EA's influence.

 

[Coldkilla]

I also agree that its pretty close. I'm just afraid EA will go "over the deep end" with this one. Also this was under the news section for GTA IV and not under Gamespot's "Rumor control", so I figured this Pachter guy is significant.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I can see your point in that its speculation, but I guess its bringing things into perspective. The investment firm is essentially telling EA, "Hey you could make a profit" on this... All EA has to do is simply make a bid that prolongs the release, even for a short while, and Take-Two conceivably goes broke because of this and cannot fight the power that is, EA.

I'll change the thread title slightly... but this threat with EA I wouldn't take lightly...

The offer would have to be about $32 per share from $26 since this game is expected to sell so well.

The analyst isn't saying that a buy-out bid would cause a delay in release; there's no reason why that particular event would delay release. What is being said is that if EA were to be successful in it's hostile takeover bid prior to the April 29 release, they may choose to delay the game until the holiday '08 season to somehow squeeze more money out of the game and give the game developers time to perform last minute tune-ups that may provide a slight improvement to what will be ready on 4/29.

The problem is analysts can say whatever they want without really understanding the market of the company they're studying. Honestly, this game is so anticipated at this point that there will be no need to delay this to the holiday '08 season to see maximum profits. All of us that have been looking forward to this release since last year, will be buying it no matter what the date on the calendar is and others will be buying this all the way through the holiday season, when new users receive this or a new console to play this on as gifts.

Bottom line, this game is going to sell just as well, if not better, at the end of April as it would if it were released during the holidays. It might actually fare worse during the holiday compared to the end of this month if enough of us got fed up enough at another delay that we forget about buying this.

There is no benefit to putting off sales today for visions of sugarplums in the future.

 

[mugs]

Fuck EA. If that happened, I wouldn't buy the game.

 

[Kev]

Michael Pachter is a fucking idiot. There is no chance in hell this game gets delayed to the holiday season, when it has to compete with all the other AAA titles that are released around that time of year.

GTA games print money, it doesn't matter when you release them.

 

[BoberFett]

With the retail push for this game going on right now, EA would receive hell from companies bigger than they are if they caused it to be delayed. This single game has the potential to create hundreds of millions in retail sales when you take into account software and system sales. How friendly do you think Target and Best Buy are going to be to EA in the future if they screw them to the tune of 30M in sales that they were anticipating for this quarter?

It will not be delayed at this point. No question.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Kev
Michael Pachter is a fucking idiot.

Agreed. The guy gets paid ridiculous sums of money for being right 60% of the time.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
With the retail push for this game going on right now, EA would receive hell from companies bigger than they are if they caused it to be delayed. This single game has the potential to create hundreds of millions in retail sales when you take into account software and system sales. How friendly do you think Target and Best Buy are going to be to EA in the future if they screw them to the tune of 30M in sales that they were anticipating for this quarter?

It will not be delayed at this point. No question.

agreed there is absolutely no way in hell this game will be delayed.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I don't think they would delay GTA4. If anything, they would make sure it comes out so that Take-Two can show their investors that they are still a good brand.

 

[Baked]

Fucking analyst again.

 

[Mahaguru]

Probably just creating more hype by paying analysts to come up with news. Can't ever have enough hype.

 

[R Nilla]

Yeah... No...

 

[Regs]

Wasn't this the same crap about San Andreas? EA and Take Two rumor crap?

San Andreas turned out to be crap anyway.


CRAP CRAP CRAP

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: mugs
Fuck EA. If that happened, I wouldn't buy the game.

If EA does this I hope only one person buys the game - a member of a pirating group that then distributes the game freely to everyone. Fuck EA

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: Baked
Fucking analyst again.

I agree. They get paid so much but know crap about video games.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Baked
Fucking analyst again.

LOL, I was going to post the same thing, only in nicer wording . In the past year or so, I've learned to be sick and tired of these fucking analysts. They really need to get a real job, as they aren't any better than those palm readers in the run-down buildings on the shady side of town.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

LOL, bullshit.

 

[ManBearPig]

EGM had a column about them...says their salary is $200,000-$800,000.

Why?

 

[Xylitol]

Goddammit... All EA wants is money - I want a good game released as soon as possible. Bunch of douche bags...