Gaucho420

Activision's Modern Warfare 2 and Console Game Pricing

I think only the most hardcore of gamers is willing to shell out $150 for nightvision goggles, but some will do it for sure. The rest of us will get the regularly priced $59.99.

By the way, has Activision thought about what may happen if someone, say under 18, uses those nightvision goggles at school? Perhaps to commit a crime? Spy in a dark gym? Scope out someone at night? I'm just sayin....there's some bad publicity waiting to happen there given the audience who may buy this. This is one of the few add-on premium packages that actually has an add-on that works in the real world, so I wouldn't be surprised if some kid, somewhere, decides to scope out his neighbors at night with that night vision and cap 'em with a bee-bee gun or something similar or quite frankly, worse. Not ATVI's fault if it does happen, but you know how the media spins this stuff.

I know this wasn't the point of the column, but I would say Wii Sports is the defining game of this generation, as it kicked off motion gaming, which is where clearly the future of the industry is.

Call of Duty is a great shooter, loved COD4, but it is JUST another shooter. If that's the defining game of this era, its sad...I would hope we'd make bigger leaps & bounds as an industry than just changing the scenario of shooters and that's why I beleive in the long run Wii Sports will stand out much more than any COD.

It'll be interesting to see how the sale do, but given what I'm seeing so far, especially the discounting of games almost one week after they are released and sometimes, upon release, I foresee Modern Warfare doing gangbusters out the door, but without a price drop on the 360 or PS3, I foresee it tale-sales dragging behind.

And god-forbid the game isn't a 9 or 10, it could happen...then sales will taper off even more. The retail environment is much too tough currently and will only get worse, that I do not see this game in the long run living up to its giant sales hype.

A price cut in console prices and then it maybe different.

Take-Two Should Be a Bigger Acquisition Target

TTWO is where Activision was 5 years ago, except they have a killer franchise.

I made some good returns buying early on at $13, selling during the takeover battle and I would advise anyone to buy shares now for a long term hold.

Given the current recessionary environment, the lack of confidence in anything as well as the living fro news to news market action, in the short term all of these stocks could still go further down and by short term I mean six months to a year.

Electronic Arts: What Is the Problem?

Take over target?

I can't say I can argue with that logic, given the stock collapse. But one has to wonder what one would be buying with EA? Spore? The Sims? The sporting games? I don't know...I would hope for better and newer IPs, outside of SPORE I guess.

Either EA's leaving the faucet running or the its developers are way over paid, as clearly, its costs are way out of line with its revenues. No wonder it wanted TTWO (who beat out earnings, what 5 quarters in a row now?).

It'll be interesting to see who, if anyone, makes a bid. Disney? Universal (GE?)? Time Warner? Merger with UBIsoft or someone else?

I must say the price of the shares are very attractive due to their slide, but their current weak performance is very unattractive...if EA can't make money in this environment, it speaks of severe internal cost issues and mismanagement.

Video Game Stocks: Beyond the Economic Slowdown

ERTS is a loser stock and will be for a while...a doubling of the loss from last year? In a growing industry?

As far as THQI, it is a buy at these levels, as is TTWO. But TTWO to me, could be the next ATVI as the quality of its games are tough to beat. Nothing can hold a candle to GTAIV and one can only hope they reinvest the money towards more franchise. The release of GTA Chinatown DS should further drive sales, even if the DS isn't exactly a hard core machine, it will see simply due to how many DS are out there.

I would rank all the Cos. in this order:

1. ATVI- Top of the game, but again, it cannot fall into the EA trap of doing sequels year after year, as you end up killing franchises with over-saturation. Guitar Hero will be the next big ATVI franchise to fall, the same way Tony Hawk fell.

2. UBISoft-up & coming, beats all forecasts and has a nice wide array of games. Its partially owned by ERTS. I could see this company merging at some point.

3. TTWO- Truly, the talent here is vast. Can they resign the Houser Twins? That is the biggest question at TTWO and expanding its lineup. I rank them 3rd based on potential.

3. ERTS- Puts out a lot of games, but the quality isn't quit there yet, although progress is being made. If Rock Band leaves EA and MTV publishes it on its own, it would be a big loss. Its sporting business also needs help or simply a breath of fresh air, as most games feel like cut & paste from the previous version. The losses and missed earnings estimates is great cause of concern.

4. THQI- barely any debt and tons of cash...they just need to put out better quality games.

5. KNM- Konami...big company, but not so big in the west. DDR franchise will get competition from ATVI's eventual Dance Hero. Its rock game is not very good...I could see a merger with a western partner.

6. Capcom- Said to be looking to merge with a western partner...TTWO? THQI? UBISoft? I'm sure the current financial mess is puttingt those plans on hold, althought the strength of the Yen vs. other currencies could facilitate this. But I doubt it.

Anyways, ERTS missed earnings today, while NTDOY reports no slowdown on its end the very same day (outside of effects of the Yen's strength), shows that customers look for value and quality games...I'm not so sure EA offers either at this point.

Activision Working on Popular 'Guitar Hero' Spinoff

Its about time....the days of Guitar Heros dominance are numbered. The last few games have gotten lower and lower ratings and Guitar Hero World Tour has been rated significantly lower than Rock Band 1 or 2.

Anyone who's played either Rock Band or Guitar Hero can tell you which game is better as well, so for me, I worry about this franchise for Activision...I also worry about Call of Duty, as at some point that will get old as well. The problem with releasing games each and every year of the same title is they get old real fast...ask Activision about Tony Hawk games, for example or simply ask EA, who for a while was putting out the same games over and over again.

With MTV/EA signing The Beatles onto Rockband for 2009, I repeat...the days of Guitar Hero's giant success are numbered, so ATVI will need to keep doing what its been doing, which is create new winners to replace the old ones.

Consolidation in the Gaming Industry During the Economic Downturn

I agree with you Bruce...just picked up some THQ today.

Take Two's White Knight, Ubisoft, Rides In

I fully agree with Bruce. I think this is beneficial for both TTWO and UBISoft, as well as the industry. And it would put pressure on both EA and ATVI, from a consumer standpoint, as suddenly the two ring circus has a third (not counting the omni-present Nintendo, of course)

As a TTWO stockholder and a gamer, I hope these two can find a way merge.

UBS Analyst: Activision Unlikely to Approach Take-Two

Forbes this weekend suggested UBISoft is currently looking at a merger with TTWO. Positives for this are complimentary games, the fact that both companies have licensed their games for movies (Bioschock, Prince of Persia), UBISoft has stated they would like to get into sports (TTWO has a sports stable of games) as well as the previously stated desire of UBISoft to have franchise games. TTWO has the biggest franchise of them all in GTA, while Bioshock looks to be a potential big franchise as well.

Negatives to this merger would be that UBISoft cannot buy out TTWO due to a lack of cash, and that EA actually owns 16% of UBISoft.

I would prefer this route for TTWO rather than the buyout as EA is inept for many differerent reasons, most of which its games are mediocre (at best), the offer price severely undercuts TTWO's true value and quite frankly, I don't care what Wall Street thinks, as most of them had TTWO rated a hold or sell prior to this and well, they were dead wrong then and they continue to be dead wrong on the value of the company now.

Let's hope UBISoft and TTWO can pull it together, as that company, with its talent and stable of games, would definitely challenge ATVI and EA in time. The games offered by those two have better stories, longer replay value and in the end, more interest and innovation than EA's tired sports and movie licenses or ATVI's Guitar Hero (how much longer can the popularity of this TRULY LAST?...I have GH and Rock Band...not too sure I need any more editions of either) or COD (its going to get old sooner rather than later and I love COD4...but every idea has its limits).

In the end, the future blockbuster franchises are clearly more prevalent with TTWO and UBISoft than the other two and these will be the games customers buy in the future. Guitar Hero is old, Rock Band's been done...I simply see a better future with more GTA's, more Bioschocks, Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, Tom Clancy's, Mafia's etc...than the latest Harry Potter Game, COD 35 or anything the other two have.