1. Record labels seek more action on Rock Band and Guitar Hero

2. Why the Wii is well-suited to video game violence

3. Video games not all bad, psychologists say

4. Warhammer Online open beta starts Sept. 7

5. EA Games President feels the need to move to an online model quickly

6. EA’s Take-Two offer to expire tonight

7. Lifelike animation heralds new era for computer games

8. Why Xbox Live gaming should be free for all

9. Blizzard Unveiling Lich King cinematic, Details at Leipzig

10. Dyack: Canadian Town’s Future Riding on Too Human

“You either have to be first, best, or different.” Sound advice to follow. Since it took me as long as Tommy Boy to graduate from college, I’ve realized I’m going to have to be something ‘different.’ For example, I start off everyday wearing flaming red boxers with airplanes on them.

So when Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of the Board of Take-Two (Rockstar Games), publicly entertains the idea of creating a rhythm game, I’m forced to wonder what type of boxers Take-Two is going to put on its new title. What will make this one stand out from Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, and the other popular rhythm franchises that have beaten Rockstar to the punch?

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EA’s founding tag line is “we see farther.” Well, in this case, that couldn’t be closer to the truth. EA sees where Take-Two Interactive is headed and wants a piece of the action. With Grand Theft Auto IV’s record-breaking first week sales of $500 million and Universal Pictures shooting a BioShock film, it’s no wonder Take-Two considers EA’s offer of $25.74 per share “grand theft.”

Despite the fact that EA is a much, much larger company, it knows that Take-Two can innovate, something that EA has had problems doing since the turn of the century. While EA has caught a nasty case of “sequel-itis,” Take-Two’s Rockstar Games is making a killing thanks to edgier titles, like Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt.
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