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."

735 Comments

  • Darkblyth

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 6:21 pm GMT

    only 3 days

  • 00Rambol00

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 9:34 am GMT

    EA are gonna end up buying every game company if their offering a rediculous $2 billion dollors for T2 lol Crazy!

  • speed45823

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 4:56 am GMT

    hey check out the new and improved profile of john retardello on the following website.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Arts#EA_under_Probst.2FRiccitiello

  • Daffy101

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:22 am GMT

    For all the people saying all of the EA games are trash and such, you're right. Burnout Paradise was such a horrible game =/ *end sarcasm*

  • aTRUEplaya

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 3:32 pm GMT

    i aggreeee with enigma2007. i am really starting to hate EA with a passion. if they delay GTA4 ONE MORE TIME, i am going to be sooooo mad, words could not describe my anger. I pre-ordered this game WAY over six months ago and if EA delays it, I WILL NOT BUY SQAUT FROM EA IN THE FUTURE!!! THATS HOW MAD I WOULD BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF EA BUYS OUT TAKE TWO, THEN F*** YOU EA! YOU SELFISH F***s!

  • Bangagonging

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 1:58 pm GMT

    No mater what EA does something bad allways happen.

  • Eastcoast93

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 11:45 am GMT

    ea im starting to hate you with rock band and now this. i wouldnt mind delay as i have many games to play but for all you people would be a shame

  • zorlaczerohero

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    Simple fact is, if it is delayed by EA it will be "released" by a disgruntled employee, so ixtreme 360 owners should be ok.........

  • fooldog01

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:56 am GMT

    Just because EA buys T2 doesnt mean anything will change.

    And it isn't getting delayed. If it got delayed, they would have completely wasted all that money on the TV ad barrage that started a couple of weeks ago.

  • mrkame16

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:53 am GMT

    Well!!! if EA buys out T2, expect GTA4 to be the last great grand theft title in the series....BURN EA BURN YOU %$#@&*%S!!!!

  • ILLIDANLINK

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 5:37 am GMT

    ea delying it is the equivalent of a hot girl telling u we are gonna have sex and turns out to be a big tease, not the good kind that makes u want it more, but the bad kind that make u want to say "f***k off". We just have to pray for the next couple of days that ea does not buy it out and hope that ea does not turn out to be a big tease

  • enigma2007

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 12:11 am GMT

    @#$! EA if they cause this game to delay again I have a whole list of gamers who will cancel their reserves on it and boycott EA.............

    Release it on the 29th of april or EA your gonna have a @#$! up Christmas holiday!!! GTA GAMERS RAISE UP EA @#$ EA "Good Lord what are you doing"

  • DuaneDog

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:10 pm GMT

    This sounds like speculation. There are many coordinations in play for the launch rollout and EA isn't going to mess with profits, in hand now, for a delay to holiday season. I also think the writer of this article is failing to see how EA execs would deal with this on the shareholder side. If GTAIV is delayed after Take Two is acquired by EA, their stock will pay a HUGE price on the street... far more than what they would make by delaying the release.

    You think gamers can boycott? Wait until you see shareholders who have lost thousands or tens of thousands in decling stock value.

  • santiagochile

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:49 pm GMT

    "EA games are nothing but worthless. Every game they put out sucks. All they is screw everything up."

    Umm... Medal of Honor Heroes 2?? Sorry, but you are wrong!

  • JayR05

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:00 pm GMT

    EA games are nothing but worthless. Every game they put out sucks. All they is screw everything up.

  • BlackBear360

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 11:18 am GMT

    ^%#^@ EA for buying up the people who do care about the gamers
    %#@# Us for not having a chance to do anything to stop them

  • MurderToe

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 1:48 pm GMT

    "nynthninja

    MurderToe- They are a publisher/distributor, they have the money, they make the order, and they say what is going out and when.

    sad reality"

    Why did you even bother on telling me that? I understand what a distributor does. Publishing/distributing is not the same as developing which is what I was saying, obviously you didn't grasp that. Next time try to understand the context of what somebody is trying to say.

  • Dutch_Force

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 11:57 am GMT

    EA sucks ass, as do their mainstream **** games

  • chickmagnet_1

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 3:59 pm GMT

    Well, if it gets delayed significantly, I'll just get Mario Kart Wii or Wii Fit for the time being to hold me off. There really isn't anything else that I find too exciting coming out in the near future. Ghostbusters is a long way off. Its a good thing though, because games are too expensive.

  • moe122w

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 1:22 pm GMT

    I want this ****** game right now, but I can wait till the 29th. 16 player online is going to be sick, or just free roam with a couple friends, but if it gets dealyed for a couple months I, and probably many others here will be ****** pissed and may actually boycott this game to teach EA a lesson.

  • demosnipe1589

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:07 pm GMT

    IF THIS GAME IS DELAYED EVEN 1 MORE DAY I AM GOING TO KILL EA! EA if you want to keep millions of your consumer base then PISS OFF! I and many others will never buy EA again if GTAIV is delayed due to your impatience in buyout!

  • Impostorzim

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 9:42 pm GMT

    EA is now responsible for crimes against humanity. Alot of gamers are gonna be angry if this game gets delayed and I'll be one of them.

  • dragonfist101

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 5:29 pm GMT

    hhhhmmmm

  • Will1L

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:32 am GMT

    if this game gets delayed till christmas, it will have lost all momentum and i will probably just boycott it.

  • volcomstoner180

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:04 am GMT

    man this better not get delayed
    ill be so pissed

  • beatles5

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:43 am GMT

    can't spell CHEAP without EA

  • dewd4

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:48 am GMT

    If Take Two can just hold on after friday when the offer ends. GTA should be going gold within the next week

    Oh sorry i forgot, EA sucks

  • fallendamnation

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:04 am GMT

    thats normal of EA always thinking about the cash and not caring if they screw consumers or not

  • blackdragon303

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:28 pm GMT

    if this is delayed by EA than EA sucks, i mean how many games do they need to have? seriously

  • GTA083

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:31 pm GMT

    they better not put it off until christmas. i have been making payments on this game for almost a year

  • dutch777

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:25 pm GMT

    it's a sad day when EA can possibly effect the release of a game it has nothing to do with BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to EA.

  • markevens

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:02 pm GMT

    God Damn EA.

    Where is Actard to the rescue?

  • wagepeace

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:44 pm GMT

    AAAAARRRGGGGGHHH.... i mean....seriously?!?

  • hidden_ninja4

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:12 pm GMT

    Gollblast you EA, ruining it for everyone. This buyout would seriously suck to, heretofore, unheard levels. I really hope 2K doesn't sell out.

  • Dawn_Patrol

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:33 pm GMT

    I have been waiting on this game for ages now. And now that the time for release is drawing near, the last thing I want to hear is that after a delay before and a longer wait, it could be put back even further than last time, if EA get a hold of Take Two. See if GTA IV gets delayed AT ALL this time to hell with Take Two and EA as I have been waiting long enough for this game. A game that was originally finished off upon the last delay. NO MORE DELAYING GET GTA OUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APRIL 18th - the EA dead line.

  • LinKuei_warrior

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:59 pm GMT

    "you gave them hell boys...nothing to be ashamed of"

  • i-like-pie

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:10 pm GMT

    There is no other excuse to delay this game other then money. The game is ready(it was ready on its original release date anyway). This will be a smack in a gamers face. And I bet EA would add some stupid gimmicks to the game a few examples: the analoge fighting system is overused, they will boost the AI if you're too skilled and player interactivity (defjam+music+analoge fighting system=fail) They didn't want gamers to play on the microsoft servers but on the EA server(which sucks and is glitched for me get your act straigt EA) Good example of EA greediness. In The Godfather there was a cheat that gives you alot of money. But they removed the cheat and charged frikkin money for it(downloadable content). EA was good back in the day. But they added crap to good games. Frikkin money hog you better use the money to develop good games. End of my rant

  • Simp222

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:10 pm GMT

    OMG!!!!!! If they delay this game again, i think im gonna go POSTAL and share sum pain!!!!!!

  • KwasiAsiedu

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:12 am GMT

    I am sure EA would love to get their hands on Take-Two before GTA comes out. They know the offer price would be bumped up with the release of GTA. If it gets delayed again there will be a one man riot (me). I will go to EA HQ and throw a tantrum.

  • tufflukthakid

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:22 am GMT

    Yea i really wouldnt care either, but if GTA: IV gets delayed because of EA i would be upset. I woldnt want to wait a whole 6 more months again to get it.

  • philiplibertine

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:34 am GMT

    i must be the only one that doesnt care about weather or not GTA4 had an EA logo on the box, really i just want to play the game, dont care who its published by at all

  • Montrealien

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:09 am GMT

    ledgic_13 said..

    ea will take this a ruin it...why do you need this e.a...to make moere money and be even richer...damn that sucks.

    dont sell out to e.a take 2

    -------


    This comment wins, all! And is the best example of all that is going on in this comments section.

  • ledgic_13

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:55 am GMT

    ea will take this a ruin it...why do you need this e.a...to make moere money and be even richer...damn that sucks.

    dont sell out to e.a take 2

  • eezzy_rider

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:36 am GMT

    I know it sounds crazy and petty but if this were to happen, I will seriously consider never buying any EA titles ever again.
    I don't care if it's the next revolutionary thing out.
    Then this is not fully confirmed, i just wanna shoot some hoes ;[

  • markharris31

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:09 am GMT

    Montrealien Judging by the 20 new comments here...school must be out.

    You mean pre-school?

    It's like someone took a bottle away from a baby with all the crying in here. Read the article, actually go watch the interview, and take a chill pill. This is an off-hand comment from an analyst, not feedback directly from the devs. Put it in perspective.

  • markharris31

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:09 am GMT

    Montrealien Judging by the 20 new comments here...school must be out.

    You mean pre-school?

    It's like someone took a bottle away from a baby with all the crying in here. Read the article, actually go watch the interview, and take a chill pill. This is an off-hand comment from an analyst, not feedback directly from the devs. Put in in perspective.

  • Dreski83

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:30 am GMT

    seriously... I wouldn't be surprised if GTA4 was delayed from its late April release, yet if this was ever in cause of EA's recent interference... oh man!! just another reason to hate them even MORE!

  • Dreski83

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:30 am GMT

    seriously... I wouldn't be surprised if GTA4 was delayed from its late April release, yet if this was ever in cause of EA's recent interference... oh man!! :[ just another reason to hate them even MORE!

  • VolcanicDemon

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:59 am GMT

    gta iv is finished and it would be ridiculous to delay it again. take two are not forcing the release on gta iv, it has already been delayed for long enough and it wil come out april 29th or maybe even april 25th in the uk. Its 3 and a half years in development for christ sake! One guy working for xbox world magazine has alread finished the game and his review will be out april 23rd. he said its finished, amazing, more than he expected and by far tops the amazing vice city. he completed it in 25 hours (excluding side missions). The game is done as of now and ready to ship on the 29th so Pachter can kiss my ass!!!

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