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potential that hasn't been exploited in the past. We're excited, and we have some real die-hard baseball fans in our organization that are equally as excited.
What plans are in place, in terms of frequency of product?
Well, the first plans are to take advantage of all the console systems and the new portable systems. Baseball in the past has not had a big presence on the portables, and we think, particularly with the PSP (PlayStation Portable) and DS, there's a big opportunity. And we think that the market is growing from an international standpoint. So we don't want to talk about everything we're doing, but we think there are ways to position the product differently at different times of the year, not just at the start of the season.
What are the downstream possibilities for working with MLB.com and seeing some of what you do in the game space surface online?
It's too early to tell how it will come out, but we'll work real closely with them.
Why specify the preclusion of third-party publishers?
We just never felt it was our position to cut out the hardware companies. We look forward to working with the hardware companies and we think that it's beneficial for us to be as a partner with them, not the one that cuts them out of the business.
From day one, in all our conversations, starting with football, we said that we don't believe in the exclusive marketplace. We believe that there should be a competitive marketplace, and this is just a way of that falling into that presentation.
What do you say to shareholders who might feel differently, who might say: 'Hey guys, why don't you get an exclusive? There's more control of pricing, there's more control of the release schedule. There's just a greater ability to drive more revenue out of the deal.'
First, our shareholders have to be pleased because a year ago we weren't in sports, and this shows major steps toward diversifying our product line.
Second, and to generalize, we would say that we are an exclusive third-party company with the American pastime. We did that in a very short period of time, where we were recognized by Major League Baseball as the partner to be with.
Third, we work very, very closely with Sony, and that relationship is extremely important to us. So, we have to make some real smart management decisions to protect (and) keep that relationship strong. This was just one way of doing that.
Have you worked with (New York Yankees player Derek) Jeter before?
In my prior life (at Acclaim) I worked with him. Jeter is the one superstar recognized not just in the baseball world, but really
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