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Take-Two & SEGA Team Up on ESPN News
Chris Leyton
08/06/2004
Take-Two and SEGA announce agreement to co-publish ESPN range…
The troubled times facing SEGAâs EPSN range today took an unexpected twist, with the confirmation that it has signed a binding letter of intent with Take-Two Interactive, to co-publish all SEGA ESPN videogames including ESPN NFL Football, ESPN NBA Basketball, ESPN NHL Hockey, ESPN College Hoops and ESPN Major League Baseball.
Developed by Visual Concepts, the titles will be co-published under the SEGA/Global Star software label; bizarrely Global Star was set up to publish âaggressively pricedâ (read budget) titles for Take-Two Interactive, whilst its other subsidiaries namely RockStar Games and Gathering cater for their more prolific titles.
Price seemed to be a focal point for Take-Two with the confirmation "We plan to expand the audience for ESPN Videogames' sports titles by applying a variety of proven marketing techniques," said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two's President. "We are also adding the compelling element of value pricing to this high quality line, creating a significant point of differentiation for both core and casual gamers. We believe the recent console price cuts are bringing new consumers into the interactive entertainment market, and sports titles will be a meaningful part of their software purchases. Finally, with Sony and Microsoft not publishing sports titles this holiday season, there is a significant competitive opportunity for ESPN Videogames titles. The combination of these factors should expand the overall market for sports titles."
Under the terms of the agreement, Take-Two Interactive will become the exclusive distributor of the titles, whilst SEGA will provide development infrastructure and marketing support.
This seems to suggest less of a focus on the range from SEGA, having witnessed a trouncing in the genre from EA during the last couple of years, and ostensibly backs up many suggestions that SEGA should pull away from the dominated market.
"The combined efforts and resources of SEGA and Take-Two will create an exciting and powerful partnership that will heighten the level of aggressive competition in the sports game segment," said Hisao Oguchi, Representative Director and President of SEGA Corporation. "Along with this deal, Sega is committed to offering great entertainment in the growing overseas market."
"We believe this exclusive relationship with Sega is an exceptional opportunity for Take-Two," said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two President. "We have tremendous respect for the critically acclaimed properties Visual Concepts have created and are confident in Take-Two's global sales and distribution resources will be able to fully support the products."
So does this suggest SEGA are quietly distancing itself from the range, or perhaps partnering with another in a new attempt to dethrone the mighty EA; let us know your opinions?
