I found this post at GameFaqs from a guy on his take of the possible downfall of Take Two if MLB2K6 fails. It's interesting.
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gen...topic=26637677
"When Take Two bought the third party rights to the MLB, they undoubtedly thought that 989's game would be a non-factor. They thought that a buyout of MLB rights would result in a massive, and automatic, immigration of MVP fans straight into the 2k series. Most likely, this deal was being hatched before the release of MLB 2006, when that series was still a far distant third, and generally regarded to be an inferior series.
However, the striking of this deal coincided perfectly with the rebirth of the MLB series into a serious contender. As evidenced by board activity not only here but on other major gaming sites (Operation Sports,) MLB: The Show is drawing more fan support from the alienated MVP fans than is the 2k series. And this is despite a 2k6 advertising campaign that massively outweighs MLB's, and despite multi-platform distribution for 2k6.
So what happens to Take Two's careful planning if they release a game that is not only inferior to the MVP series, but is also inferior to this unforseen competitor in MLB: The Show? All the fans which Take Two had taken for granted defect to the MLB series, leaving Take Two with no means by which to generate the revenue to cover their purchase of the rights.
One might say: "But 2k6 will be released across multiple platforms. MLB: The Show is PS2 only." Remember that the PS2 controlls over 80% of the market-- well more than enough to make multi-platform distribution a non-factor.
Pair this with a loss of their NFL rights, and 2k sports is left with their NHL series, which generates limited revenue at best, due to the sport's niche, regional market, and also has EA's NHL series as an outselling competitor, and Take Two finds themselves in a very precarious financial position, staring down the barrels of two massive competitors, each producing competing product, and who have the ability to drastically outsell them."
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gen...topic=26637677
"When Take Two bought the third party rights to the MLB, they undoubtedly thought that 989's game would be a non-factor. They thought that a buyout of MLB rights would result in a massive, and automatic, immigration of MVP fans straight into the 2k series. Most likely, this deal was being hatched before the release of MLB 2006, when that series was still a far distant third, and generally regarded to be an inferior series.
However, the striking of this deal coincided perfectly with the rebirth of the MLB series into a serious contender. As evidenced by board activity not only here but on other major gaming sites (Operation Sports,) MLB: The Show is drawing more fan support from the alienated MVP fans than is the 2k series. And this is despite a 2k6 advertising campaign that massively outweighs MLB's, and despite multi-platform distribution for 2k6.
So what happens to Take Two's careful planning if they release a game that is not only inferior to the MVP series, but is also inferior to this unforseen competitor in MLB: The Show? All the fans which Take Two had taken for granted defect to the MLB series, leaving Take Two with no means by which to generate the revenue to cover their purchase of the rights.
One might say: "But 2k6 will be released across multiple platforms. MLB: The Show is PS2 only." Remember that the PS2 controlls over 80% of the market-- well more than enough to make multi-platform distribution a non-factor.
Pair this with a loss of their NFL rights, and 2k sports is left with their NHL series, which generates limited revenue at best, due to the sport's niche, regional market, and also has EA's NHL series as an outselling competitor, and Take Two finds themselves in a very precarious financial position, staring down the barrels of two massive competitors, each producing competing product, and who have the ability to drastically outsell them."
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