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Take Two Lands Exclusive MLB Deal

Posted by Zonk on from the next-up-exclusive-rights-to-mighty-mites-hockey dept.

The deal reported last week on Slashdot has come to fruition: Take Two interactive and MLB have signed an exclusivity deal. Worthplaying has the news. "The innovative seven-year arrangement will dramatically limit the number of baseball video game manufacturers and ensure aggressive marketing and promotion of baseball video games, while promoting competition in the marketplace to drive innovation in baseball product development. Beginning in 2006, Take2 will have exclusive rights among third-party publishers to develop and market simulation, arcade and manager-style baseball video games..."

27 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe I am missing something... by Willie_the_Wimp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can someone explain to me how "dramatically limiting the number of baseball video game manufacturers" will "promote competition in the marketplace to drive innovation in baseball product development"? Maybe I was asleep that day in ECON 101.

    Oh wait, (not that I usually bash MS) but limiting choices to drive innovation is the new economy. Sorry... I forgot.

    Todd

    1. Re:Maybe I am missing something... by AceCaseOR · · Score: 4, Funny

      I believe the press release could best be translated as, "In your face, EA!"

      --
      Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you in your sleep.
    2. Re:Maybe I am missing something... by Sierpinski · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'd have to agree. Its competition that makes the company strive for excellence. Especially when there are other good comparable (similar) products out there. If EA is prohibited, for example, from developing any more MLB games, then what will set the 'bar' for a good game? (Not that EA does it, but they are a major player in the sports genre.) As Willie said, limiting choices doesn't seem the best way to promote competition.

      Maybe they're talking about just the few really big companies, but any time I hear the phrase 'Exclusive deal' I groan just a bit.

      Competition also ensures that if you dont like one developer's take on a game (game play, controls, etc) you have other options. If Take2's version of MLB basically doesn't meet expectation, who else will we have to turn to for our MLB games?

      --
      And they said zombies weren't real!
    3. Re:Maybe I am missing something... by fireduck · · Score: 4, Informative

      Those 2 sentences really seem at odds, don't they? The only way I can spin is is that it's not quite a monopoly, as the deal is only applies to 3rd party developers. Apparently if Sony, MS or Nintendo wanted to make their own MLB games, they are entitled to. So, rather than get hundreds of lousy MLB games for each console system, you'll have at most 2 Take2's and S/MS/N's version. (are MLB games even that popular that there are more than 2 for any given system?)

      But even then, I think it's a stretch to claim that Take2 competing against Nintendo for the best MLB game on the gamecube is going to result in innovation...

    4. Re:Maybe I am missing something... by JFMulder · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Judging by Mario Tennis and Mario Golf, I'm pretty sure Mario Baseball would be a lot more fun than real baseball.

    5. Re:Maybe I am missing something... by cmallinson · · Score: 3, Interesting
      IANAIPL (I am not an IP lawyer) but doesn't this statement mean that nobody can make ANY type of baseball game? Not just ones with licensed characters, etc, but anythign having to do with baseball?

      I'm pretty sure it's just the players/teams/stadiums that are licensed here. I think EA should create a baseball game with all their licenced football players and teams. NFLB 2005 - The Off-Season.

  2. and in other news by computerme · · Score: 4, Funny

    Take 3 Interactive retained an exclusive 6 year agreement from the US park service to build video games of watching grass grow...

  3. Wrong. by tekunokurato · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Bullshit. Anyone can make a baseball videogame. It's rights to the use of MLB trademarks, logos, and other intellectual properties that have been auctioned here.

    --
    Read jack phelps dot net
    1. Re:Wrong. by DeepRedux · · Score: 4, Informative

      The deal does not include MLB trademarks and logos. It is with the player's union and not with MLB. The deal is basically for the right to use player names.

  4. Huh? by zoomba · · Score: 5, Funny

    How is a seven year licensing deal "innovative"? What's so innovative about a contract?

    Lawyer 1: Ok, I've got this great idea... we'll buy the rigths to Major League Baseball for a period of seven years!

    Lawyer 2: Seven years?!!? I've heard of five year deals, even ten year deals... but SEVEN?! That's so far outside the box we'll have to label it as 'innovative' in our press release!

    Lawyer 1: What can I say? I'm a visionary. No longer will we be tied to 5 year intervals on licenses... it will liberate the industry from the chains of oppression!

  5. because by tod_miller · · Score: 5, Funny

    baseball games are easy to make. You hit a damn ball. How many new golf games are released?

    What next? SSSSSSX Tricky Baseball pro underground 2?

    Mod up your bat, and do break dance moves while hitting home runs into crowd of oiled up lesbians.

    Get extra points for inventive sliding moves...

    lets face it, baseball sucks.

    Does baseball even have cheerleaders? (sorry I know nothing about american sports, so feel free to mod me down!)

    --
    #hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
    1. Re:because by wo1verin3 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Mod up your bat, and do break dance moves while hitting home runs into crowd of oiled up lesbians.

      You have a torrent for this game?

  6. Features Needed by trekstar25 · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as whatever baseball games they produce still have the "Hit batter with pitch" and "Charge the mound" buttons, I'm fine with this.

  7. I don't get it by Mauvaisours · · Score: 5, Insightful
    exclusive rights among third-party publishers to develop and market simulation, arcade and manager-style baseball video games
    Can you explain me how MLB can forgive to make baseball games ? I understand that they can prevent using MLB brands, team, players,... but that doesn't prevent from doing baseball games. It's the same for football (or soccer as you call it on the other side), and Pro Evolution Soccer proves you can make successful games without the official license.
  8. College Teams by awhelan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    MLB and the NFL may be hurting their popularity by doing this. All the companies left out of their exclusive deals aren't going to just let their game engines go to waste. Within the next few years we are probably going to see more NCAA games. Many people prefer watching the unpaid college athletes over the professionals anyway and these excluseive deals will make college sports more popular... it's free publicity for the NCAA.

  9. BaseBall games by clinko · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've always hated baseball games anyway, it's just 1 button you need, not even a joystick.

    1. Aim pitch with line that goes up down. (HIT BUTTON)
    2. Pick speed with line that goes up down. (HIT BUTTON)
    3. Swing (HIT BUTTON)
    4. Run towards ball on ground (HIT BUTTON -REPEAT)
    5. Throw to base (HIT BUTTON)
    6. See Stats (HIT BUTTON)
    7. Next inning starts.

    1. Re:BaseBall games by mikael · · Score: 3, Funny

      I've always hated baseball games anyway, it's just 1 button you need, not even a joystick.

      Unfortunately, the concept of one-click gameplay has already been patented. That's why console system controllers have so many buttons these days, and why many PC games still use the keyboard.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  10. baseball gaming = overrated (for me, anyway) by Second_Infinity · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In many years of playing baseball games I've grown weary of them altogether. Seems that major improvements have been made in gameplay and graphics, but the games still have a boring aspect to them - nothing really new. At least the football/basketball games incorporate different play options, Helmet-cams and enabled rough-housing.

    Maybe if the stadium is in Liberty City and we have to run from the cops while running the bases it'll be a bit more entertaining... Who knows though.

    Of course, maybe they'll surprise me and resurrect baseball gaming once again.

  11. Damned Internet Explorer by ZoneGray · · Score: 3, Funny

    Damned Internet Explorer cache must be screwed up, it keeps displaying old Slashdot stories that I read a few days ago.

  12. Why Sega/T2 = EA by superultra · · Score: 3, Interesting

    People were bitching at EA for picking up the NFL exclusivity contract and talking about its unfairness to Sega. Yet, here is Take Two (who distributes Sega sports) doing the same thing. Moreover, Take Two tried to do the same NFL exclusive contract as EA got, they just bid less than EA. So are people starting letter writing campaigns into Sega?

    As an interesting sidenote, the EA-NFL contract was completely exclusive. But here, it seems that first-party studios are not barred from making MLB games. I wonder if Microsoft put too much into buying the High Heat franchise to let that go?

  13. PR by Tony · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Imagine you are in public relations. Now imagine you tell nothing but lies. But I repeat myself.

    In the wonderful world of "News" releases, up is down, SCO is a Linux company, our government is here to help us, and massive restrictions lead to innovation.

    If you repeat a lie often enough, people forget the truth; eventually, the lie becomes Common Knowledge. Right now, the market seems rife with "Common Knowledge"-- like, the market will adjust itself because it's a "fair market", helping the rich get richer helps the poor get richer, and restrictions lead to freedom.

    Ah, well. Such is life. As bad as it is, it still is pretty damned good. I mean, as long as you don't live in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda, Uzbekistan...

    --
    Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
  14. business case? by uujjj · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can understand why the exclusive deal makes sense from Take 2's perspective. Can someone explain to me how MLB would make more money licensing ONE company to do games than it would licensing MANY companies to do games?

    I don't think Take 2 alone could give MLB more money than, say, MS, EA, Vivendi, etc combined all doing their own licensed games.

  15. In other news by DarkFencer · · Score: 3, Funny

    In other news, EA is considering buying out Take Two Interactive to gain the MLB license back and "drive competition"

  16. Diaster by ThresholdRPG · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is an impending disaster for the gaming marketplace.

    First it was EA with the NFL license. We know why they did it: the ESPN line of games was eating into their profits bigtime, and had exposed the fact that $20 for a barely updated annual game is more than enough to charge.

    2003
    Madden sales 5,000,000
    ESPN sales 450,000

    2004 (through Nov)
    Madden sales 3,000,000
    ESPN sales 2,000,000

    Now Take 2 tries to counter EA by inking this deal.

    This is a horrible trend and I don't see it being reversed unless consumers vote with their wallets.

    --

    -Michael
    Threshold RPG
  17. "innovative" my ass by doormat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since when is limiting competition innovative? Its a shame there isnt a law against spewing such bullshit.

    --
    The Doormat

    If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
  18. NHL exclusive deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, I've personally signed an exclusive deal with the NHL to develop and market simulation, arcade and manager-style hockey video games that let you re-live the excitement of the 2004-2005 NHL season.

  19. Base Wars by Kyru · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I just hope this brings about the return of the greatest baseball game ever Base Wars