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Take-Two Acquires Firaxis

Posted by Zonk on from the ruh-roh-raggy dept.

eToyChest reports that Publisher Take-Two has acquired Firaxis studios, developers of the Civilization franchise. From the article: "At this point I'm not sure what to think. If Take-Two takes a hands-off approach, and lets Firaxis do their thing, then I'm all for this. I just don't want this to become a matter of "too many cooks in the kitchen", and somehow negatively impact future titles that spring from Sid Meier's genius. Your thoughts?"

7 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Big deal by CasulPoster · · Score: 5, Informative

    Take Two has already published two successful Sid Meier's games. This may simply be a way of ensuring that they have permanent control of those franchises.

  2. This is crap by ZephyrXero · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't think it's very good. If Take-two wants to regularly invest (and thus) profit off the games Firaxis makes, then that's fine. If they want to sign an agreement for them to do a certain number of games this way...that's fine. But, there's no reason for all these publishers to keep gobbling up all the developers. We're gonna get to a point where there are very few companies that autonomously create games, and thus less innovation I'm afraid.

    --
    "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
    1. Re:This is crap by Serapth · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We there is a reason... survival. When you have a big predator gobbling up every successful independant developer available, if your a rival, you have to act to protect your prize divisions. EA, through their actions, are basically forcing Take2 and Ubi to follow suit to a certain degree. This is also why Pandemic + Bioware merged together with an investment firm. About the only way they could stay independant and successful.

  3. just a little closer now by Red+Flayer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Take2 previously handled much of the marketing etc for Firaxis. Take2 doesn't deal so much with the development aspect of game publishing... that's done by the subsidiaries IIRC. Not to say that the parent co doesn't have input, but I imagine it's similar to the original Take2/Rockstar setup. Rockstar devlops games, Take2 publishes them.

    Where this worries me is that the Civ franchise will probably need to be dumbed down a bit in order to do well in a larger market -- especially the console market (and you can bet they'll be pushing it there).

    I'd like to see the top of the org chart for Take2's new acquisition -- will Sid continue in his current role?

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  4. One word: MicroProse by alexwcovington · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Remember how Sid Meier's greatest games got sold off piecemeal, and how all the new Railroad Tycoons suck?

    That's what happens when Sid Meier isn't involved anymore. Pirates! and Civ IV were great games, but we won't be seeing the likes of them until Sid creates another firm 10 years from now.

    Granted, 2K has not been heavyhanded with Rockstar, but then Rockstar makes pretty much the #1 game franchise in the world. A smaller firm like Firaxis will be easy to meddle with and fuck up irreversibly.

    --
    (It's never too late to join the Renaissance)
    1. Re:One word: MicroProse by d3kk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ... Or they'll understand that games like Civilization are quite successful for a reason and they won't mess with it. Not all publishers exist solely to ruin video games and everything you've ever loved.

  5. Coming Soon... Civ 5: Grand Theft Capital by Alpha27 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In this turn-based game, you will create brothels, build slaveships, create drug cartels, research ways to refine cocaine, harvest opium fields, and assasinate political leaders, and it'll have a story line.
    =)