Riccitiello: Hollywood Is Worried News

It seems that Electronic Arts' CEO has just one thing on his mind these days, and that thing is called Grand Theft Auto IV. John Riccitiello struggle to absorb GTA IV and its parent company, Rockstar Games, into the EA family may be ongoing and uncertain, but like a schoolboy with a crush, he's not letting that stop him from talking about the upcoming game whenever he can.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the EA boss revealed that the impending release of GTA IV might affect the box office performance of movies launched in a similar time frame, beginning with Iron Man. The movie, which is due to launch across the UK on May 2nd, just days after gamers get the chance to experience the story of Niko Bellic.

"The buzz in Hollywood, which I heard from some Hollywood folks . . . is people are worried whether Iron Man the movie is going to get killed by Grand Theft Auto the game," explained Riccitiello, continuing that, "I don't think I've ever heard of that before."

Riccitiello also feels that the videogames industry has stepped into a new age, comparing it to the end of silent movies in Hollywood: "It feels like what movie moguls might have seen in the 1920s and said: 'Hey, we've got talkies now, where is it going?' I feel like we've stepped through a time window where our games are so compelling and seem so real."

"Our industry is passing through a phase where I believe the greatest games will be viewed by almost everybody as being as important as Best Picture at the Academy Awards."

Although a hostile takeover of Take Two remains on the cards, time is surely running out for EA if it wants to capitalise on the release of GTA IV, which is due to hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in a fortnight. Shares in both publisher ended down on Friday, although Take Two's price has continued to be fairly stable at around the $25 mark, just a dollar short of EA's February offer.