Newsmaker: Bases loaded for Take-Two?

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(everywhere) as a totally classy individual. He's just a guy that everyone identifies with, who has really has risen above, even, superstar status.

We're excited because of what he stands for, and the people that he reaches; everyone knows Jeter. Everyone loves him.

How are you going to split the work between the two studios, Visual Concepts and Kush?
Kush is the one working on the baseball game and is really devoted towards baseball; they also do the hockey products. Visual Concepts has just done an unbelievable job on the basketball product, so they will stay in the basketball market. And we have a great football team there of very talented guys. We're exploring different opportunities of what to do with that team.

People talk about the National Basketball Association license as the next one that will come under scrutiny, and probably go to just one publisher.
No, it's under scrutiny already.

Will you have news on that topic?
We have a great relationship with them. They, in the past, have been very open to the non-exclusive category. There really hasn't been one dominant player there. We have a very, very strong working relationship with them; they're very pleased with the business this year.

We'll let you know when they make those decisions, but we feel very good about our relationship with them. We have in basketball a product that we view as very, very strong and we're excited about the future with them.

Does the diversification of the Take-Two Interactive software library address any sort of diminishing in the future of the Grand Theft Auto brand?
No. I would say to anyone that Grand Theft Auto is the biggest brand in the industry. Our Rockstar guys have set the world apart with "Grand Theft Auto 3," then beat expectations on "Vice City," and then "San Andreas."

I clearly think that we beat expectations in the marketplace from a gaming standpoint.

I clearly think that we beat expectations in the marketplace from a gaming standpoint, and now...it's starting to result in sales information that's out there...It's a wholly owned, internally developed product, so we have nothing but great expectations and plans for that brand and that game.

Even last year, with "Red Dead Revolver" and "Manhunt" (selling) 2 million units a year--in a year that people said it was tough to introduce new brands--we're totally committed (to Grand Theft Auto).

What we just have to do as a public company, and also strategically, is to take advantage of our strength in the marketplace (and) to complement Rockstar with other additional strong products, and sports is one part of our diversification.

You look at what we did last week with the announcement on "Civilization"...and what we did in purchasing Indie Built. That studio brought us "Top Spin" and "Links" and "Amped" technology. I think it's all positive.

If anything, it's the opposite: The Rockstar brand continues to grow, and products like Grand Theft Auto continue to get even bigger. And we'll continue to support them.  

Curt Feldman reported for GameSpot.com.

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