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[UbiSoftologist]

Source: Business Wire (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050203/35137_1.html)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2005--2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.today announced a co-publishing agreement between Take-Two Interactive Software and Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company, granting Take-Two co-publishing, sales and distribution rights to The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion(TM), the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind®. Bethesda Softworks will continue to direct the development of the title and retains all future rights to the franchise.

"We are thrilled to be working as co-publisher with Bethesda Softworks to help maximize sales of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," said Christoph Hartmann, Senior Vice President of Publishing for 2K Games. "Being selected by Bethesda to work on a title that is as highly anticipated by both PC and console gamers worldwide as Oblivion is a testament to 2K Games' capabilities in successfully managing AAA titles."

"As a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive, 2K Games has the benefit of a worldwide, industry-leading sales and distribution network, and Take-Two's proven track record of releasing great games," said Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks. "Through this partnership, Oblivion will reach the largest audience possible."

Oblivion is the fourth title in the best-selling Elder Scrolls series, and brings the RPG genre to new heights with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics. Oblivion features a 3D engine that can render stunningly realistic environments, groundbreaking AI for all characters in the game, and the same open-ended gameplay style that has made The Elder Scrolls one of the most critically acclaimed franchises of all-time.

Since its unveiling in fall 2004, Oblivion has become one of the most talked about games of 2005, with two major North American magazine cover stories to date, and has been recognized as among the most anticipated games of the year by numerous web sites and magazines.

2K Games will co-publish The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on PC and a next-generation console system. For more information on Oblivion visit www.elderscrolls.com.

In a separate agreement with Bethesda, 2K Games will co-publish Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth(TM), a first-person horror game that combines intense action and adventure elements. It is based on the works of fiction writer, H.P. Lovecraft, and has won a number of awards including being named one of the Best Games at E3. For more information about Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth visit www.callofcthulhu.com.

 

[Guns N' Poops]

So 2K Games = The new Gathering label

 

[UbiSoftologist]

So 2K Games = The new Gathering label

Gathering + 2K Sports (which is a new brand of T2)

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

Aren't we about 6 years too late for 2K to not sound lame and past it?

 

[Doom_Bringer]

So they are not working on a PS3 version?

 

[Guns N' Poops]

So they are not working on a PS3 version?

Yes, they aren't. They want to, but they don't have a developer's kit. That's why it's undecided.

 

[UbiSoftologist]

Aren't we about 6 years too late for 2K to not sound lame and past it?

:lol

 

[jedimike]

Seems kind of weird to have co-publishers. I guess Bethesda needed some moolah to finish projects. TT seems like a good fit for them.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

As long as it isn't EA, all power to Bethesda.

 

[Vark]

eems kind of weird to have co-publishers. I guess Bethesda needed some moolah to finish projects. TT seems like a good fit for them.

co-publisher is bit of a misleading term. All it really means is they help with marketing and they have wider distribution channels and are therefore better equipped at keeping things in stock at stores. IIRC they're name doesn't even appear on the box, its just that Bethesda can use their warehouses / shipping / production facilities. Basically its a smaller company 'renting' a larger companies resources in exchange for some royalties.

 

[Slo]

Vark, I'll need Bethesda to provide me with an Xbox 2 dev kit if you expect me to be able to provide meaningful feedback during the beta program.

 

[Vark]

Vark, I'll need Bethesda to provide me with an Xbox 2 dev kit if you expect me to be able to provide meaningful feedback during the beta program.

When I get mine, you can get yours

 

[Slo]

Tick tock, buddy.

 

[Blackace]

this is a good move for both companies!! any company showing RPG love is ok in my book!!

 

[Amused_To_Death]

From a gamespy preview:

"The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is being designed around the Xbox 2 (and the PS3, although the company could not officially confirm any platform besides the PC)."

Should be added to the list of Xbox2 games posted few days ago...

 

[Jotaro]

What will happen of Fallout 3?

 

[SteveMeister]

What will happen of Fallout 3?

This distribution deal is for Oblivion and Call of Cthulhu ONLY.

Basically this deal simply means (to quote Bethesda's PR manager) "More copies in more stores in more countries, more quickly."

 

[Guns N' Poops]

This distribution deal is for Oblivion and Call of Cthulhu ONLY.

He means because of Bethesda. Bethesda has bought the rights to Fallout.

 

[SteveMeister]

He means because of Bethesda. Bethesda has bought the rights to Fallout.

Yeah, I'm aware of that

 

[Amused_To_Death]

What will happen of Fallout 3?

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/03/news_6117825.html

"No other Bethesda games were mentioned in today's announcement. However, speculation has already started that the next game in the Fallout series, the license for which Bethesda bought from Interplay last year, might very well bear the 2K Games label."

 

[SteveMeister]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/03/news_6117825.html

"No other Bethesda games were mentioned in today's announcement. However, speculation has already started that the next game in the Fallout series, the license for which Bethesda bought from Interplay last year, might very well bear the 2K Games label."

Take Two distributed Morrowind GOTY for Xbox, and their label didn't appear anywhere on the box. It's premature to assume that their name will appear anywhere on an Oblivion box, either. Bethesda is still the publisher and developer -- Take Two is simply distributing the title, a deal Bethesda agreed to because Take Two can get more copies of the title into more stores in more countries more quickly than Bethesda could do it alone.

 

[Amused_To_Death]

Take Two distributed Morrowind GOTY for Xbox, and their label didn't appear anywhere on the box. It's premature to assume that their name will appear anywhere on an Oblivion box, either. Bethesda is still the publisher and developer -- Take Two is simply distributing the title, a deal Bethesda agreed to because Take Two can get more copies of the title into more stores in more countries more quickly than Bethesda could do it alone.

This is a co-publishing agreement where they'll be responsible for the sale, much like they did with SEGA's ESPN lineup last year. They put their GS label on the games.

 

[Vark]

This is a co-publishing agreement where they'll be responsible for the sale, much like they did with SEGA's ESPN lineup last year. They put their GS label on the games.

*bzzzt* try again.

 

[SteveMeister]

*bzzzt* try again.

It's two people who work at Bethesda against one!

 

[Vark]

One Junior Member, Two people that actually know what they're talking about. 3 Men enter, TWO MEN LEAVE!

 

[Jotaro]

I only wondered if it will affect the overall quality of Fallout 3. Could this game be actually good?

 

[ram]

no - because it will be "the fallout scrolls"

 

[SteveMeister]

no - because it will be "the fallout scrolls"

I don't think so.

 

[Slo]

PROVE IT

 

[SteveMeister]

Todd Howard interviewed by Fallout fan site

 

[Slo]

Boo says "Swords, not words!"