Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

[Steve_OS]

Take-Two Interactive's chairman Strauss Zelnick believes the company could walk away from its third-party MLB exclusivity deal when it expires in 2012, according to Reuters. At this point, he feels like Take-Two is not reaping enough benefits from the current deal.

"It's a losing proposition and we don't have any interest in pursuing losing propositions."

While that comment almost makes it seem like it's a foregone conclusion that Take-Two will walk away from the MLB deal in 2012, Zelnick also made it clear he was not opposed to renewing the exclusivity agreement if the terms changed.

"He said the company is open to renewing its game licensing agreement with Major League Baseball, but only if the economics change."

The "economics" he is hinting could deal with how the game sells in the coming years or how much cash has to be doled out for the license, but in the grand scheme of things that does not really matter.

In fact, I could have just typed "blah blah blah blah MVP Baseball 2013 could happen blah blah blah blah" and it would have sufficed here, especially for Xbox 360 owners out there who have not been able to get their grubby green hands on The Show during this generation of consoles.

Source - Reuters Summit-Take-Two sees opportunity in digital (Reuters) via (Kotaku)

[Stroehms]

Yes!!!!! <3

[JerseySuave4]

as a PS3 person this means nothing to me as long as MLB the Show keeps getting made

[PVarck31]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Great news. I think the same thing will happen with football. Things at EA aren't exactly going swimmingly.

By 2012 there exclusivity will be a thing of the past.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Of course the exclusivity deal was a bad idea...they tried to respond to completely losing the most popular American sports brand (NFL) by only partially securing rights (meaning leaving open 1st party competition) to what was maybe the second most popular sport at the time and maybe 3rd now. Plus, they did it when they're game wasn't a heavyweight to begin with. Emotions and business don't mix...lol.

To be fair, I do see his point about the annual releases. It can obviously work (see The Show and 2K's own NBA series), but it's a major burden to a franchise trying to dig out from a hole...and the exclusive license binds them to such a rigid schedule, making it worse.

Fine with me though. Not renewing means a chance for open competition (though I would expect it to take a while for legit titles to filter out). Hopefully they don't give up all together though...the game is still rough, but they seem to finally have some things to build on moving forward IMO...and despite having a personal favorite, I like as many viable options as possible for my favorite sport.

Now we just need Peter Moore to catch such feelings...lol.

[Artman22]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

Great news. I think the same thing will happen with football. Things at EA aren't exactly going swimmingly.

By 2012 there exclusivity will be a thing of the past.

I really hope so.

[paptester]

Even though MLB The Show is one of the greatest games ever. It will be nice to see MVP Baseball back and running again

[Artman22]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

I also hope this doesn't motivate EA to try to buy the MLB license. I hope it's no more exclusivity.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Take-Two Interactive Suggests MLB Exclusivity May End When 2012 Deal Expires

I also hope this doesn't motivate EA to try to buy the MLB license. I hope it's no more exclusivity.

I think we're relatively safe there...EA isn't really in position to be taking on a the MLB exclusive, I don't think (hopefully not in shape for the NFL either).

But yeah...any exclusive deal (by anyone) is no good. Just let it open up.

[khaliib]

For the life in me, I can't understand why these companies are spending money for these rights when having "Backbreaker" type of customization would allow them to keep the money spent. 90% of the time, the first thing gamers do to sports games is edit rosters or team gear (if available). I think hardcore gamers are at the point were they are would buy a generic packaged sports game as long as they can customize the teams they want to be represented in the game.

Because sales have not been what they anticipated since they purchased the exclusive rights, I would suggest that 2k put out a generic game with customization and see what the sales would look like. They're not going to make huge sales in the last year and payment has already been rendered, so they should try it.

They would see that they don't need the exclusive rights for football or basketball games.
Just off their name alone and desire for their product, a generic College Football game w/full customization would sale like crazy. I'm quite sure taking a chance in this area would be cheaper than the est $40 million spent.

The major problem that 2k faces is that in America, "Football" is the money maker, then Basketball, then the other sports depending on where you live (ie. hockey is not as big in California as it is in the states that border Canada). Football is your money maker, and the other sports games are like extra income ventures. As great as their basketball is, it will never make as much money as a football title of similiar quality. They simply have to utilize a backdoor (see above) to get back in the Football game and make some real money because this reflects that their is only so much the other sports can do.

[Crash Davis]

While MLB the show is superior theres no reason to gloat about it, I own a PS3 and while I love the show, I love baseball more, more games the better!

[jrivera34]

For the life in me, I can't understand why these companies are spending money for these rights when having "Backbreaker" type of customization would allow them to keep the money spent. 90% of the time, the first thing gamers do to sports games is edit rosters or team gear (if available). I think hardcore gamers are at the point were they are would buy a generic packaged sports game as long as they can customize the teams they want to be represented in the game.

Because sales have not been what they anticipated since they purchased the exclusive rights, I would suggest that 2k put out a generic game with customization and see what the sales would look like.

How much did backbreaker sell? The reality is the hardcore gamer is a small piece of sales. Without names people recognize, the average fan will not buy the game and that is where most of their money is made.

I just want their to be competition in all games because at the end of the day that is what is best for the consumer and the industry as a hole.

[LilRick110]

Having The Show and MVP would be great. It would be a clash of MLB game titans. That is if EA gets the MLB license back or if they just blow it off. I how they'd get it back. MVP was a great game seeing it stack up against The Show would be exciting, especially with great new features.

[Dazraz]

I think the loss of any exclusive deal can only be a good thing. It was a bum deal for 2K anyway because most PS3 owners opted for the superior MLB the Show series.
That said I would like 2K to continue to develop MLB titles as last year they made some big improvements.

[Westside Poseidon]

As much as it pains you, me, and virtually everyone who regularly visits OperationSports, the hardcore gamer who values customization in a sports game isn't anywhere near 90% of the audience. Studies have shown that casual gamers are the majority by far. Look at Backbreaker's sales vs. Madden's. Madden may have had a down year, but still sold better than Backbreaker.

2K did put out a generic game with customization, it was called "All-Pro Football 2K8". Didn't sell well either. I couldn't care less about customization if the game doesn't look and play well.