Take-Two sceptical about bringing mature titles to Wii U

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The firm expects to be one of the winners when new consoles launch.

oct17bioshock -

Mature games from Take-Two might not make the jump over to the Wii U, according to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.

Speaking to Gamasutra about the arrival of Nintendo's next console and the firm's slate of core titles for the Wii U, Zelnick stated that "We haven't announced anything," and that he's "sceptical" about mature titles on the platform.

That isn't to say Take-Two isn't bullish about its prospects as the transition is made to the next generation of consoles.

"For a company like ours, it's a great opportunity," he says. "[New console launches] separate the winners from the losers - and we fully expect to be one of the winners."

"I don't want to minimize the challenge of creating titles for new technology or the economic challenges of doing that, but if you get it right, it's a terrific time to launch a new IP," he added.

VideoGamer.com Analysis

Take-Two is the parent company of 2K Games and Rockstar, meaning that it is home to some impressive mature IP. Among its catalogue are GTA, Red Dead, Max Payne, BioShock, XCOM, and Civilization. The Wii U would clearly become more appealing to core gamers if these titles arrived on it.

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Batmamerc's Avatar

Batmamerc

If it makes them money they will do it, simple and it will like cheekylee said all them ppl that only bought a wii this gen didn't have the option to play any mature titles. The first couple o years are gonna suck for wiiU as all new consoles do so if they do a few ports till the good stuff arrives they will.
Posted 06:21 on 19 June 2012
munkee's Avatar

munkee@ CheekyLee

I'm just thinking respect rather than business. Respect doesn't pay bills. I was also speaking broadly. Not necessarily talking about Take Two, or Wii-U.

I just meant that I would respect a company for selectively choosing platforms if it was a matter of standards and maintaining an appropriate image. Rather, than marketing to every player going because it made more money.

It wasn't a factual argument I was making either. Literally a thought that popped into my head ;P
Posted 16:14 on 18 June 2012
CheekyLee's Avatar

CheekyLee@ Clockpunk

Honestly? I picture the sort of owner who could see Bioshock at £20, think "I've heard of that. Hmmm, looks interesting.", and then drop the cash.

If we're talking about straight ports of existing games, they wouldn't need to price them at the usual £50. Not saying they WOULD go budget, because let's face it ... publishers. But, I reckon there could be a potentially large and hitherto untapped audience there for publishers prepared to take the risk.
Posted 16:12 on 18 June 2012
Clockpunk's Avatar

Clockpunk@ CheekyLee

A lot of potential customers, true, but comprised of a targetted demographic not potentially likely to be the sort who would purchase such titles.

When you think of the Wii, what sort of owner do you picture?
Posted 16:02 on 18 June 2012
CheekyLee's Avatar

CheekyLee@ munkee

I don't know. I tend to think that cutting off any section of the potential market is silly, and cutting off what may turn out to be the largest section of your potential market is suicidal. It has been long enough since a home console released now that there is a huge crowd of people who will buy right away. Nintendo have the added benefit of the masses of customers who will buy the console on faith alone, as well as the massive Wii installed base, who admittedly won't all upgrade but who they also don't really need to. Converting a third of them will do the trick.

Put it this way; all the customers who bought a Wii and only a Wii in this generation are potential Bioshock customers. That's a LOT of potential sales for an old title. Take Two would be fools to just glibly dismiss them.
Posted 15:59 on 18 June 2012
Clockpunk's Avatar

Clockpunk

The biggest question is: would such releases sell enough to justify the cost of porting them over?
Posted 15:53 on 18 June 2012
munkee's Avatar

munkee@ Woffls

"I think it has more to do with impact on the image of their portfolio than revenue"

That would be a good thing though, wouldn't it? Don't sell yourselves short, but, maintain standards. I'm not trying to bash Nintendo in anyway here. I think that if a publisher selectively chose a platform, or two, and didn't over saturate the market with their products, then I would give them more respect. Just a thought.
Posted 15:51 on 18 June 2012
SaintSteve's Avatar

SaintSteve

I bet within a year there is an announcement that some or all of the Bioshock series are being brought to the Wii U. And other Take-Two titles will follow. Why? Because Nintendo made the machine so easy to port to, that not doing so does not make sense.
Posted 15:10 on 18 June 2012
Woffls's Avatar

Woffls

Well their publishing efforts on Nintendo platforms have always been pathetic. All they had on Wii was Carnival games, a bunch of sports titles, Bully and Manhunt 2 - both of which were PS2 ports.

Apparently they can't even be bothered to port a bunch of current-gen titles to Wii U. I think it has more to do with impact on the image of their portfolio than revenue. If they don't think the market is there, then make the market yourself.
Posted 15:07 on 18 June 2012
MJTH's Avatar

MJTH

I hope they change their mind and release games that will be out this console generation on the Wii U. It would be a great disservice for the Wii U not to get the likes of GTA 5 and XCOM.
Posted 14:02 on 18 June 2012