Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick talks about games beyond Grand Theft Auto
Strauss Zelnick is chairman of Take-Two Interactive. He has an enviable place in the industry, as head of a company that, through its RockStar Games division, has a lock on Grand Theft Auto, the most valuable franchise in the video game industry. GTA IV sold more than $500 million in its first week upon release in April 2008 and went on to sell a total of more than 13 million units. But although Take-Two owns… Continue Reading
The ten most-anticipated video games of 2009
With the new year approaching, there’s no time like the present to look ahead to what is shaping up to be another record-breaking year in the videogame business. While many big games have yet to be officially confirmed or even announced, especially from Nintendo’s tight-lipped camp, there are enough console games out there to compile this top ten list. I’m leaving out downloadable games – Take 2 Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and… Continue Reading
EA gets a new soldier in the takeover fight
It’s not wise to go without a consigliere in a mob war. That’s why Electronic Arts appointed Eric Brown as chief financial officer today. The Godfather himself, EA CEO John Riccitiello, needs Brown to run the numbers on taking over Take-Two Interactive. Yesterday, Take-Two’s board rejected EA’s $2 billion hostile tender offer as inadequate.
Brown, 42, worked in the late 1990s as chief operating officer and CFO for EA’s Redwood Shores studio. Before his latest appointment…. Continue Reading
Justice Department approves Sirius-XM merger
After a year of review, The Department of Justice has approved the merger of satellite radio companies Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings.
The deal also requires the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. But the ruling is sure to be controversial and is likely be a sign of things to come for other industries.
The deal raised antitrust concerns because it combined the only two major players in satellite radio. But the two sides… Continue Reading