Sega sells 2K developer.

[Experiment2100]

According to sources, Sega parted with the critically esteemed developer of ESPN NFL 2K5 and ESPN NBA 2K5 for just $24 million. That very low-sounding price is likely due to Electronic Arts' impending monopoly of NFL game rights and its 15-year exclusivity deal with ESPN, whose high-profile brand name will no longer give Visual Concepts' games instant recognition.

Link

2K Games will incorporate Take-Two's internally-owned development studios Visual Concepts, Kush Games, Indie Built, Venom Games, PopTop Software and Frog City Software, as well as the team at Take-Two Licensing.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050125/255465_1.html

I really don't see how VC is going to last without the SEGA, ESPN, and NFL name.

[Medvedenko]

That's too bad...since the 2k games owned over the years....It was the only reason I bought a Dreamcast way back when....

[Experiment2100]

Take Two Inks Deal with MLBPA

The publisher has signed a semi-exclusive deal with the Major League Baseball Player's Association. The seven-year deal, which begins in 2006, will preclude third-party video game publishers (including EA) from using the likeness of any Player's Association member. Take Two has yet to seal a deal with Major League Baseball for rights to team names, stadiums and other assets.

Here is the real burn

Microsoft (which owns the much-praised "High Heat" franchise), Sony (which has an internal development team specializing in sports games) and Nintendo can still make their own games.

The deal says hardware publishers can make their own games. So it affects EA the ost.