T2 Shareholders Meeting Reveals PERFECT Review Scores for GTA IV

T2 Shareholders Meeting Reveals PERFECT Review Scores for GTA IV

April 17, 2008
Some interesting results from the T2 shareholder meeting:

First, from a T2 source, GamePolitics has learned that the controversial compensation package sought by chairman Strauss Zelnick (left) and his management team was approved by a 73% shareholder margin. What effect this will have on the EA bid remains to be seen. We should know more on Friday.

From a game standpoint, Zelnick let slip that T2 has already seen some of the reviews for GTA IV. Although he didn't specify the publications involved, he did say that all of the reviews were perfect scores:
We've already received numerous [GTA IV] reviews, and to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn't write better reviews...

It's no surprise that GTA IV is garnering great reviews, as all previous major GTA releases have as well. It is interesting that the reviews are apparently flawless - not to mention that Zelnick has revealed this information ahead of time.

Of the shareholder affirmation of his compensation package, Zelnick said later, via press release:
Today’s vote demonstrates stockholders’ confidence in management and the Board of Directors of Take-Two. The Board and management remain committed to acting in the best interests of stockholders. We are confident in the significant growth potential of Take-Two and in the unique value of our business given our strong position in this dynamic industry.

In other meeting business, Zelnick declined to say whether he had signed a confidentiality agreement (presumably with EA) and also wouldn't comment on today's report that the Federal Trade Commission is requesting additional data on any potential EA-T2 merger.

Comments

Dammit, I wanted to know about the EA proposal the most. I think that's what most gamers are looking for. Nice to hear GTAIV got those scores though.
Wait, wait, wait... Jack Thompson backed out of doing something he vowed to do? Stop the presses.
What about Jack "the jackass" Thompson? Did he even go the the meeting? And when will we know if EA acquires T2?
I'm concerned about two things. Games getting perfect scores before they're released is rarely a good sign. And why isn't there any mention of Jack? He promised to be there. Did he let me down? That would destroy me.
No surprise.
What of Dick Thompson wanting to gain an audience at the meeting?

Otherwise, Go T2! Rock* On!
[...] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSome interesting results from the T2 shareholder meeting: First, from a T2 source, GamePolitics has learned that the controversial compensation package sought by chairman Strauss Zelnick (left) and his management team was approved by a 73% shareholder margin. What effect this will have on the EA bid remains to be seen. We should know more on Friday. From a game standpoint, Zelnick let slip that T2 has already seen some of the reviews for GTA IV. Although he didn’t specify the publications involved, he did say that all of the reviews were perfect scores: We’ve already received numerous [GTA IV] reviews, and to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn’t write better reviews… [...]
Yeah, what about JT?
Chances are he didn't show up.
Entirely Irrelevant: That picture (I presume of Zelnick) looks ALOT like McNulty from The Wire...
Alas, if only I had the proper console for it..
I listened to the webcast as it happened and to my recollection, only two questions were fielded at the tail end of the meeting. Both dealt with the EA hostile takeover bid. The only major point I paid attention to was that GTA IV is being punched out at the manufacturer and will be shipped on time. I would expect the Western seaboard fall off the map before any one batshiat crazy "lawyer" keeps it off retail shelves.
This is a good thing for Take-Two to say. It shows that they are fine with out anybody getting in there way. If EA gets a hold of it they would force them into releasing GTA and Bioshock every year and loose what made the games so fun in the first place. I only know one company that can do that and get away with it and it's Insomiac Games.
What reviews?
@ Michael:

Xbox Magazine UK reviewed the game and gave it a 10.

"Official Xbox Magazine UK
Utterly stunning in every resepct. [May 2008, p.79]"
OPSM UK also gave it a 10 also.
I'm more worried about these reviews. The way it sounds, it looks like T2 is patting themselves on the back for money well spent.
[...] I was just reading a report on Game Politics about the Take Two shareholder meeting. Yep, I know. Boring stuff for most of you. You want commentary about games don’t you. Read on, there’s not much about the meeting there anyway. [...]
@Mike T
They don't really have money to buy reviews, just some ad space. Most of their advertising is done virally and by word of mouth of many fans.
They were paid $50m to hold content just for 360 DLC.

Besides, a lot of good games get great reviews before release, that's how they are able to make the reviews on time for print media... >_>

Good reviews don't always mean good sales though.
They invited selected reviewers to their offices in order for them to be able to complete their reviews prior to release, playing on virtually final code. Nothing untoward going on.
@Ryno

Maybe JT knew it would destroy you and decided to let you down so you would be destroyed.

That S.O.B. is f***ing evil. I can imagine him sensing Ryno's destruction and saying "one less gamer to shoot up a school" and then evil-laughing.

*his shadow whispers something in his ear*

What? That was you? You ass! You're getting a month in the seal for that!
Oh, see, now right off the bat, I'm suspicious. Perfect reviews always sets off the BS alarms. It's precisely because of junk like that, that nobody trusts reviews.
So Thompson was a no-show? Probably saw an ambulance on the way there and chased it for a few blocks.
@Papa Midnight -- I'd never seen the resemblance before, but you're right. Jimmy McNulty is a great character.
The great reviews and praise the GTA games get tend to bewilder older people. My father, to this day, cannot fathom how such "filth" can be considered good. Having never played games, he never will...


JT + NO SHOW = He lied about owning TT stock. Just like his fictional "client" going against TT. Add this one to the HUGE pile of lies.
And back on track...only seen one review so far, and it was a perfect 10 out of 10. Can't remember which site it was, though.
To all those who are suspicious of GTAIV's 'perfect' scores:

T2 is still a struggling company. For all the bravado and bluster they haven't fully turned the company around yet (though 2007 was a good start).

Perfect reviews notwithstanding, if they weren't 100% sure that GTA IV would make them scads of money they -as a struggling company- wouldn't turn down EA's $2bil offer, not only once, but twice - and urged their stockholders to do the same. If they actually had any doubt at all that GTA IV *might* have a mediocre showing they would have jumped at the offer.

Besides, there's always the possibility that the simplest answer is the truth - that GTA IV is an awesome game and deserves the reviews so far.
@ Dog

Gta 3 got a 9.5 and VC got a perfect 10 and SA got 9.75. GTA and SA where ntoed to be full of glitches, while VC had reletively few. This was Game Informer. I'm not 100% on the SA, and 3 but positive on VC.
Zelnick espousing the perfect scores at a shareholder meeting was likely to bolster morale and shareholder confidence for anyone listening. I'm sure it was also a clear message to EA that their offer was low and the perfect scores are some sort of proof that the T2 library is worth more than EA's offer.

Thing is, if EA got hold of the GTA series, we'd see GTA jump the same shark that EA jumped with the Medal of Honor and MAdden series'.

That would just suck.
@ JDS

You mean the exact same game with a diffrent tittle/number?
Ebonheart Says:

April 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
@ JDS

You mean the exact same game with a diffrent tittle/number?
==============================================

Exactly. That, and stifling enhancements to 3D engines by cranking out game after game so fast that the engine isn't strengthened; all to make a quicker buck.
[...] Filed under: NewsIs there really such a thing as a perfect game? Of course not, but they can be good enough to be considered the best there is, and Take Two seems to already know that about GTA IV. According to a post on GamePolitics, the upper levels of Take Two have already laid eyes on reviews of their game and: "to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn't write better reviews." Disregarding the obvious your-mom joke, this means that we definitely have a quality game coming later this month (as if that was in doubt). And it should be interesting to witness the internet fanboy meltdown if any publication dares to give it anything less than a perfect score. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Permalink Comments [0] [...]
I'm pretty sure GTA IV got all of it's reviews because they let reviewers play it early. I mean, with all the new features and raising the bar quite a bit , it most likely deserves the 10's.

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GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 07/06/08 at 01:57pm
BlackIce: It might be just a bit too late now.
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:07pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: Jack, Jack, Jack... When will you learn?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:38am
tallimar: hmm... youre right, im not getting the right mind frame... "YOU WILL LIKE FRIES WITH THAT!" how's that?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:36am
gameman9: Nah, he will just scare the customers.
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:35am
tallimar: i think jack's new line may end up being "would you like fries with that?"
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:00am
Adamas Draconis: His fave line. Always thought it should be "They've got me right where I want them."
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:43am
gamepolitics: he's got 'em right where he wants 'em,LOL
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:30am
Silencets: It was a great idea. Just another step in the overarcing master plan off JT...we little people wouldn't understand....
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:35am
Jack Wessels: Yeah I knew that part. I'm just amazed at whatever thought process led him to think that was a good idea.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:33am
gamepolitics: actually, he also sent similar material to the FL Supreme Court about 6 months before that
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:24am
Jack Wessels: for him and would somehow get Kent in trouble.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:23am
Jack Wessels: @GP: Wow, I've skimmed that one before, but I never noticed that JT actually thought this was good news....
Posted 07/06/08 at 04:40am
gamepolitics: eraser: see our original story on that:http://tinyurl.com/6nm9oe
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:21am
infect999: because he's an idiot
Posted 07/05/08 at 11:41pm
eraserheadthelynch: why did he send gay porn to the judges?
Posted 07/05/08 at 10:44pm
Jack Wessels: @Silencets: Maybe it'll come to JT soon too, so he can finally complete that show cause order....
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:30pm
Jose_Pedro_Ramirez: No one believed that the ice at the North Pole would ever melt, but...
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:28pm
Haggard: Maybe he thought the judges would appreciate it?
Posted 07/05/08 at 03:27pm
Silencets: I'm sure JT had a perfectly good reason sending gay porn....It'll come to me any day now...
Posted 07/05/08 at 02:54pm
Grendal: once you send gay porn to judges, I'm comfortable calling you crazy
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