EA Gets Hostile in 'Grand Theft' Takeover Bid

Game maker plans line of products to get couch potatoes into shape

(NEWSER) - Electronic Arts has become the latest game maker to target the Wii-as-personal-trainer market, USA Today reports. EA Sports Active, developed with experts including Oprah Winfrey's trainer, hits the shelves in March and aims to help users lose weight through more than 20 exercises that work the upper and lower body and boost cardio fitness. Nintendo remains the industry leader, selling 2.3 million versions of Wii Fit. More»

Makers can't use players' names, but gamers willing to pay to get data

(NEWSER) - College-sports video games offer players and teams carefully designed to mirror real-world counterparts, but NCAA regulations bar use of college athletes’ names in-game. But, Ars Technica finds, fans are willing to pay those who put in the time-consuming work of compiling rosters, with one company grossing $150,000 last year selling memory cards and downloadable files that put names to players in Electronic Arts’ football franchise. More»

(NEWSER) - With the clock ticking down to the midnight release of the 2009 edition of EA Sports’ mega-popular "Madden NFL" video game, millions of eager gamers are excited to dig in—but not as excited as the manufacturer, which has made $2.4 billion from the franchise since 1995. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the anticipation on both sides. More»

Company turns to shareholders in merger

(NEWSER) - InBev is turning up the heat in its $46.35-billion attempt to take over St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, seeking to replace the company's board with a new slate of directors. The move aims to allow shareholders a direct say on the merger bid that was spurned last month, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Belgian-Brazilian brewer offered stockholders $65 a share, a 35% premium. More»

Game blows away sales records, jacks up profit forecasts

(NEWSER) - Profit forecasts have shot through the roof at Take-Two Interactive Software, thanks to the runaway success of Grand Theft Auto IV, reports MarketWatch. The company is boasting a $100 million second-quarter profit, up from a $50 million loss for the same period last year—even though the blockbuster game was released just two days before the quarter ended. More»