Microsoft Says Live Intact, No Interest in Take Two

Yesterday we discussed possible problems with Microsoft's Xbox Live service, and Take Two's shaky future. The Gamerscore blog reports that worried Live users should know the service has not been compromised. "We want to reassure all of our 6 million Xbox Live members that we have looked into the situation and found no evidence of any compromise of the security of Bungie.net or our LIVE network. There have been a few isolated incidents where malicious users have been attempting to draw personal information from unsuspecting users and use it to gain access to their LIVE account." Meanwhile Chis Morris has it on good authority that, even if Take Two does sell, it won't be to Microsoft. "Because today's independent publishers are platform agnostic - that is to say, they build games for all major systems - taking over one would result in a massive revenue loss for Microsoft, as all development would be redirected toward the Xbox 360."

Well ...

[HappySqurriel]

Well, as a whole unit Take-Two is not a good purchase ...

The company has to be broken down into much smaller units and sold off. Someone will want Rockstar North with Grand Theft Auto, another will want Visual Concepts and so on ... Few people who have $2 Billion (or more) will want the massive bloted company that is Take Two

disagree w/ Take Two analysis

[TheSHAD0W]

Microsoft might be willing to take a revenue hit in order to increase the number of X-box "exclusive" games. Might not help w/ the Wii, but the PS3's game list is small enough that their losing a few would significantly impact its desirability.

Threats Handling

[biocute]

Either Take Two isn't posing enough threats to MS's game division, or MS-Game has learnt to play well among competitors.

MS in the software/application front is another story entirely.

Who?

[twistedsymphony]

IF MS isn't buying then who will? The only other company that I could see having interest and the financial backing is EA... Honestly I think I'd rather have their games arrive on just Xbox 360 and maybe Windows later on, rather then anual and buggy releases on every platform under the sun.

I can see it now... GTA08, GTA09, GTA10...

Google

[Xymor]

Google could but Rockstar, and put so many ads in GTA4 that the game could be given away free of charge and still make them billions in profit. Just imagine how many products they could advertise(that is the the brands could overlook GTA "bad rep")

Re:

[zootm]

Well, Google probably have the funds, and they did just buy a company specialising in in-game ads [blogspot.com]...

"That's an `i', you idiot!" "Oh, right. `Bingle'."

[HTH NE1]

"Because today's independent publishers are platform agnostic - that is to say, they build games for all major systems - taking over one would result in a massive revenue loss for Microsoft, as all development would be redirected toward the Xbox 360."

Yeah, Microsoft really Bungied their last game company takeover.

Re:"That's an `i', you idiot!" "Oh, right. `Bingle

[ben0207]

Yes, but it is a Rare event for a MGS buyout to actually turn out a good thing.

But will Microsoft buy Konami?

[tepples]

Yes, but it is a Rare event for a MGS buyout to actually turn out a good thing.

Metal Gear Solid? You think Microsoft Game Studios is going to pay $4 billion for Konami?

Re:

[ben0207]

*facepalm*

Microsoft Game Studios. Not Metal Gear Solid (though I would like MGS4 on 360, so I have no reason at all to buy a PS3. But that's a different subject altogether)

That's right, security has not being compromised

[kalirion]

Gamers whose accounts have been hijacked will be glad to know that it's not a bug, it's a feature.

Re:

[Gizzmonic]

You didn't explain why Microsoft would want to purchase Take Two. But you did make a lot of references to shit, crap, and feces. I give your post a C-.

Provoking EA

[Gizzmonic]

Microsoft doesn't want to provoke EA. EA support on the Xbox console is a major reason why the Xbox didn't fade out like the Dreamcast. Nearly all of the Xbox's library was PS2 or PC ports...and buying a publisher the size of Take Two would be a definite shot across EA's bow.

What would the Xbox 360's library look like if EA dropped it? Due to EA's exclusivity deal with the NFL, there wouldn't be anymore Madden football on 360. Microsoft is far more dependent on sports titles to perpetuate its image than

Does that make sense?

[MilenCent]

Because today's independent publishers are platform agnostic - that is to say, they build games for all major systems - taking over one would result in a massive revenue loss for Microsoft, as all development would be redirected toward the Xbox 360.

At the risk of asking a stupid question.... does this make sense? If Microsoft bought them then logically they wouldn't be independent any more. And why does Microsoft care about games getting released for other systems anyway? Are they trying to do Sony a fav