2K Games is giving the PS3 BioSHock gamers a bit of a treat, since the game is so far ahead of its initial release, we assume. On November 20, 2008, 2K Games will release an exclusive download pack for the PS3 edition. The DLC pack will add new "Challenge Rooms," which will be self contained area that require you to use things you learn in the game to complete puzzles. It sounds a bit like Portal, to be honest. No price or availability info just yet, so stay tuned.

This is likely just a first weekend spike, but 20th Century's Max Payne was tops at the box office this past weekend. 18 Million USD the film grossed, which may stand to reason since the game itself was based on a film-noir style, so making it into a movie was not as hard as other game to movie converts.

Variety was one of the few publications to praise the movie as "a reasonably convincing and atmospheric simulacrum of the game’s interactive environment," but conceded that "it’s not nearly as much fun as actually playing the game."

2K Sports today announced "The Other Season" for NBA2K9. This is an online fantasy league where eight real life NBA superstars have signed up to be team owners, while the gamers on XBox Live can actually be drafted onto one of the fantasy teams. Owners will include Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash, and more. This sounds like a very cool idea, if it works. Click read more for the full info.

PRESS RELEASE

New York, NY – October 2, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced details for The Other Season, a freshly unique online fantasy league for the highly anticipated basketball title NBA 2K9. With a new twist on the fantasy sports phenomenon, eight real life NBA superstars have signed up to participate as team owners, while online gamers playing exclusively on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network and PlayStation®Network will have the exciting opportunity to be drafted onto one of the NBA superstars’ NBA 2K9 fantasy team.

The Federal Trade Commission has cleared EA's proposed takeover of Take Two, following an investigation. The findings indicated that the merge, if it happens, will not substantially lessen competition in the games market. While EA has let its bid for Take Two expire, both the EA and Take Two CEOs have agreed to continue talks behind the scenes. It looks like this takeover is going to happen eventually no matter what. Well, what EA wants, EA gets.

In correspondance between the two, both the EA and TT CEO have agreed that any acquisition agreement would not come before the Holiday season this year. Thusly, they have agreed to let the EA acquisition offer expire for now. This does not mean EA has given up, as you can read.

On a totally different note, just a heads up. DM fell this past week and broke three of his ribs. Because of this, things may move a little slower this week. No, we did not forget about the GR Geometry Wars contest, we will try to verify the scores todday,. Unfortunately, when you have broken ribs, it affects everthing - talking, breathing, moving, and espeically typing. Thanks for understanding.

Take Two CEO Ben Feder told GI that he is making sure everyone at Take 2 are getting the right message. The company is still putting out games that are selling very well, and the employees are working hard to continue without distraction.


"Our strategy is to focus on our titles, make the best games we can and distribute in the best possible ways. Since the situation with EA became public we've launched multiple successful titles including GTA IV. "

The Bioshock PS3 team has revealed some of the Trophies that will be included in the PS3 version. The system works in similar fashion to the Olympic system. There are Bronze, Silver, and Gold trophies. The PS3 blog goes over some of the trophies from the different tiers.

Universal and Take Two have struck a deal to turn the much-sought-after Bioshock story into a movie. The man behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Gore Verbinski, will be heading up the project. The man who wrote The Aviatior and Star Trek: Nemesis will be writing the adaptation. The Cut Scene was able to speak with Gore himself briefly about the project, and he sounds excited about it for sure.

Electronic Arts really wants a piece of Take Two the easy way, it seems. They have extended their offer to buyout the company yet again, this time until July 18. The price has not increased though, they still are offering only 25.74 USD per share. EA must really be upset that when the Activision/Blizzard merger finally becomes official, EA will no longer have its status as the largest media company around, which does carry a lot of weight (at least in terms of resources available). The Take Two management responded with their traditional "so what" stance, and remained unimpressed. The man at the head of Take two, who has now become almost a household name from releasing statements about the buyout, Strauss Zelnick, had this to say:

"The latest extension of EA's unsolicited, highly conditional tender offer does not alter the fact that their proposal still significantly undervalues Take-Two, a fact that is reflected in the overwhelming number of stockholders who still have not tendered their shares."

If EA and Take Two do eventually merge into one company, the amount of buyout and takeover power they will have would be impressive, to say the least. This could certainly be a boon to small dev houses who need backing, but it could also be horrible for the bigger houses who have their staff and budgets "prioritized" for greater profit.

According to PSU, Bioshock has a date for PS3. According to their source, the game will see release on November 4, 2008. The game was oft rumored to be coming for the PS3 system before it was finally confirmed after months of speculation. No word from Take Two yet, of course.