Pachter on Take-Two restructuring, Manhunt 2 rating

And in the game industry news, Take-Two Interactive’s restructuring progress has reached full steam, re-consolidating their creative staff in studios encompassing 2K Games, 2K Sports and Rockstar. In Europe alone, Take-Two’s marketing and sales division suffered heavy bloodletting, while reports are coming in from the west coast about administrative cuts in 2K Games and 2K Sports studios.

Pachter on Take-Two restructuring, Manhunt 2 rating - Image 1 

Take-Two had recently announced an official status update to be delivered by next Monday, July 9, 2007 to report the new board of directors and the progress made with the company’s previously announced five-point “100 day plan.” And Michael Pachter, securities analyst for Wedbush Morgan, explained why Take-Two had to take measures to cut their costs.

“They’re doing what they’re supposed to do – finding ways to trim expense without compromising the business. … In order to continue with cost cutting, management has to cut headcount, and the studios are a pretty tempting target,” said Pachter. But while the re-consolidation could lay-off a good number of “redundant” creative talent and administration, he is slightly skeptical that the company can pull a “flawless” financial turnaround.

After claiming a less than a 50% chance for Take-Two, he also pointed out that better game decisions were necessary for investors to be “optimistic that Take-Two can generate the earnings power necessary to justify its current share price.” Manhunt 2 was one such example.

The AO-rating controversy may have turned off the potential customers, says Pachter, and the delay may have driven the core audience to platforms where Manhunt 2 isn’t offered. All-in-all, it has affected the title’s potential sales, but he stresses that the publicity is more likely an exercise of political origins than of artistic tastes. He continued:

Manhunt 2 received an AO rating for two reasons: the ESRB is hyper vigilant, and the Rockstar guys answer to no one. I think that the game is likely not a lot more violent than its predecessor, but the ESRB is not taking any chances with Take-Two games, and will carefully scrutinize all of them. That’s political reality and the company has to recognize that it is working under a microscope from now on. They’ll fix Manhunt 2, but I don’t see it selling as well as it would have, particularly since it is a PS2/Wii game. The hardcore will have abandoned the PS2 by the time the game is ready, and the publicity was likely a turnoff for Wii owners.

Via Gamasutra

And in the game industry news, Take-Two Interactive’s restructuring progress has reached full steam, re-consolidating their creative staff in studios encompassing 2K Games, 2K Sports and Rockstar. In Europe alone, Take-Two’s marketing and sales division suffered heavy bloodletting, while reports are coming in from the west coast about administrative cuts in 2K Games and 2K Sports studios.

Pachter on Take-Two restructuring, Manhunt 2 rating - Image 1 

Take-Two had recently announced an official status update to be delivered by next Monday, July 9, 2007 to report the new board of directors and the progress made with the company’s previously announced five-point “100 day plan.” And Michael Pachter, securities analyst for Wedbush Morgan, explained why Take-Two had to take measures to cut their costs.

“They’re doing what they’re supposed to do – finding ways to trim expense without compromising the business. … In order to continue with cost cutting, management has to cut headcount, and the studios are a pretty tempting target,” said Pachter. But while the re-consolidation could lay-off a good number of “redundant” creative talent and administration, he is slightly skeptical that the company can pull a “flawless” financial turnaround.

After claiming a less than a 50% chance for Take-Two, he also pointed out that better game decisions were necessary for investors to be “optimistic that Take-Two can generate the earnings power necessary to justify its current share price.” Manhunt 2 was one such example.

The AO-rating controversy may have turned off the potential customers, says Pachter, and the delay may have driven the core audience to platforms where Manhunt 2 isn’t offered. All-in-all, it has affected the title’s potential sales, but he stresses that the publicity is more likely an exercise of political origins than of artistic tastes. He continued:

Manhunt 2 received an AO rating for two reasons: the ESRB is hyper vigilant, and the Rockstar guys answer to no one. I think that the game is likely not a lot more violent than its predecessor, but the ESRB is not taking any chances with Take-Two games, and will carefully scrutinize all of them. That’s political reality and the company has to recognize that it is working under a microscope from now on. They’ll fix Manhunt 2, but I don’t see it selling as well as it would have, particularly since it is a PS2/Wii game. The hardcore will have abandoned the PS2 by the time the game is ready, and the publicity was likely a turnoff for Wii owners.

Via Gamasutra

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