What analysts and strategists are calling "unsubstantiated chatter" had a profound effect on EA stock today, rising 8.1 percent to $20.01 during Nasdaq trading this afternoon.

"There's talk that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It's unsubstantiated chatter, but it's out there," said Frederic Ruffy, an options strategist at WhatsTrading.com in New York.

And sometimes being out there is more than enough. Microsoft shares also rose during the day, gaining 1.1 percent to $26.05, despite analysts claiming that such a move makes no sense whatsoever.

But Trip Chowdhry, an analyst at Global Equities Research, said Electronic Arts was not on Microsoft's "radar screen" based on his industry contacts. "Our contacts just don't see Microsoft buying Electronic Arts, no synergies whatsoever, and also not Microsoft's corporate primary focus right now," Chowdhry wrote in an e-mailed note.

A quick glance about the internet finds that analysts largely agree - this doesn't seem like a likely move. Still, we've reached out to Microsoft and EA alike, and will update the story once we receive any response.

UPDATE: We just received a comment from Microsoft. "Microsoft has no plans to purchase Electronic Arts." Clears that right up, now doesn't it?

Electronic Arts stock up on takeover talk-traders [Reuters - Thanks David!]

Eidos held their shareholders meeting yesterday, during which a vote was held to determine if the Square Enix takeover bid would be approved, with 85% percent of the company's stock represented in the voted. After an overwhelming majority voted in favor of the takeover, an Emergency General Meeting was held, during which the motion to accept the acquisition was approved.

So what happens now? According to the plan laid out by Eidos management, Eidos stock is delisted on April 21st, and by May 6th, everything Eidos belongs to Square Enix. That's when we start calling them Squidix.

Square takeover of Eidos given green light [GamesIndustry.biz]

At the time, Namco Bandai already had deals to score up to 70% of the company, with plans to go for full ownership. As of this morning, they'd bought 95.02% of D3's company shares at $628 a pop for a total buyout value of $12.55 million, according to Japan's Nikkei newspaper.

D3 Publisher's Publicity Manager, Tamara Sanderson Low, emailed Kotaku the following statement:

Bandai Namco Games, owned by Bandai Namco Holding Inc, plans to acquire 100% of D3, Inc., and its subsidiaries D3Publisher of America and D3Publisher of Europe. D3Publisher operations will remain unchanged at this time. Development of our current and unannounced titles is ongoing and will move forward as planned. D3Publisher is thrilled to join forces with Bandai Namco Games to further strengthen their position in the US and European marketplaces and continue to make quality games that gamers will enjoy.

I guess the era of hostile takeovers is gone, what with the depression and stuff. Does this mean we'll be seeing Puzzle Quest: Naruto next?

Namco Bandai To Acquire Game Developer D3 [Nikkei - subscription required]

Square Enix publicly revealed their offer to Eidos earlier this month, and since then stockholders have been tripping over themselves to show their support for the deal. Warner Bros. has already pledged their 20% stake in Eidos to the takeover, and now Insight Investment Management and Pioneer Investment Management have sold their 11.13% share of the company to Square Enix. In other words, things are looking very god for Square Enix.

According to Square Enix, it now has "irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the EGM in respect of, in aggregate 84,947,489 Eidos Shares representing 32.23 per cent of the existing share capital of Eidos."

The takeover still hangs on a vote at Eidos' stockholder meeting next month, but it's pretty much a done deal at this point. Square Enix is slowly eating Eidos, and Eidos likes it.

Square acquisition of Eidos picks up speed [GamesIndustry.biz]

Once thought to be a front runner to buy out the company themselves, Time Warner is now backing Square Enix's recently revealed bid to buy out Tomb Raider publisher Eidos Interactive. Time Warner first invested in Eidos parent company SCi in late 2006, upping their 10% stake in the company to 20% last year. Now all 20% is firmly pledged to Sqaure Enix.

Between Time Warner's support and the management at Eidos asking stockholders to go along with the Square Enix bid, it is looking even more likely that 75% of shareholders will vote for the takeover come the March stockholder meeting.

Warner backs Square Enix's bid for Eidos [MCV]

According to a press release issued today by Namco Bandai, the company seeks to turn D3 into a full subsidiary, with agreements already having been reached with various shareholders to purchase a 70% interest in the smaller company and an eye on obtaining the full 100%. The release indicated that the need to work together as one group company in order to survive and expand in the harsh economic environment as the driving force behind the buyout.

The release highlights the potential gains for both companies from such a union, with D3 gaining access to Namco properties to use in their line of casual games, while also benefiting from the company's anime, toy, and amusement facility business units.

It sounds like a good fit to me, and Namco Bandai doesn't seem to be taking no for an answer, so it's a pretty good bet that D3 will soon be welcoming their new Namco overlords. Just keep the Puzzle Quest coming and nobody gets hurt.

Bandai Namco plans D3 buyout [Adriansang.com via Gamasutra]

Also, as a result of Take-Two issuing additional stock following the approval of the company's incentive stock plan, the price per share EA is offering has dropped to $25.74 from $26.

EA reveals that as of 5PM yesterday, 6,423,787 shares of Take-Two common stock had been tendered in and not withdrawn from the offer.

For more on how all this works, be sure to check out Leigh's feature on the takeover.

EA Extends Take-Two Tender Offer Expiration Date to May 16, 2008

Offer Price is $25.74 per Share, Reflecting Additional Shares to be Issued by Take-Two

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA") (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that it has extended its tender offer for all of the currently outstanding shares of common stock (including the associated preferred stock purchase rights) of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ("Take-Two") (NASDAQ:TTWO) to 11:59 p.m., EDT on May 16, 2008. The tender offer was previously set to expire at 11:59 p.m., EDT, on April 18, 2008. EA also amended its offer to reflect a price of $25.74 per share. The price takes into consideration additional shares to be issued to Zelnick Media following stockholder approval of the amendment to Take-Two's incentive stock plan at its 2008 annual stockholders meeting on April 17.

Valued at approximately $2 billion in cash, EA's aggregate consideration for Take-Two shares remains unchanged.

EA continues to believe that the offer price is full and fair, and that a transaction between Take-Two and EA is the most compelling combination financially, strategically and operationally for all parties.

As of 5:00 p.m., EDT, on April 17, 2008, 6,432,787 shares of Take-Two had been tendered in and not withdrawn from the tender offer.

While EA believes that its proposed transaction with Take-Two would not be anti-competitive, the FTC has not yet reached any conclusions regarding the proposed acquisition and has indicated that it needs further information and additional time to conduct its review.

"The actions of the Take-Two Board may increase the risk for their stockholders by delaying a potential transaction," said Owen Mahoney, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at EA. "We continue to believe that our $26.00 per share offer price is full and fair, and that a transaction between Take-Two and EA is the most compelling combination financially, strategically and operationally for all parties."

In response to Take-Two's actions, which include moving the annual stockholder meeting to April 17th, EA has amended its tender offer, extending the offer from April 11th to April 18th, under condition that T2's board either redeem the stock purchase rights issued with the stockholder rights plan, or they are assured the rights have been invalidated, at least in regards to their takeover bid.

I layman's terms? Take-Two laced their stock with poison. EA modified their offer to eliminate said poison. Take-Two moved their stockholder meeting past the offer deadline, and EA extended the offer deadline to compensate. It's very much like watching a chess game - you care about the outcome, but the match itself is boring and a bit confusing unless you understand exactly how the game works.

EA Amends Take-Two Tender Offer and Extends Expiration Date to April 18, 2008

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA") (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that it is amending its tender offer for all of the currently outstanding shares of common stock of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ("Take-Two") (NASDAQ:TTWO). The amendments are in light of the actions publicly disclosed by Take-Two on March 26, 2008, including its adoption of a poison pill and change to the date of its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders to April 17.

The principal amendments to the offer include:

* EA has added a condition to its offer requiring either (1) that Take-Two's Board of Directors redeem the preferred stock purchase rights issued as a result of Take-Two's adoption on March 24, 2008 of the stockholder rights plan, or (2) that EA be satisfied that such rights have been invalidated or are otherwise inapplicable to its acquisition of Take-Two.
* EA has extended its tender offer for all of the common stock of Take-Two until 11:59 p.m., New York City time on Wednesday, April 18, 2008, unless further extended. The offer was previously set to expire at midnight, New York City time, on April 11, 2008.

"The actions of the Take-Two Board may increase the risk for their stockholders by delaying a potential transaction," said Owen Mahoney, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at EA. "We continue to believe that our $26.00 per share offer price is full and fair, and that a transaction between Take-Two and EA is the most compelling combination financially, strategically and operationally for all parties."

EA commenced on March 13, 2008 its all-cash tender offer to purchase Take-Two shares for $26.00 per share, which represents a 64% premium over Take-Two's closing stock price on February 15, the last trading day before EA sent its revised proposal to Take-Two.

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, March 27, 2008, approximately 5,000 shares of Take-Two had been tendered in and not withdrawn from the tender offer.

"We expect that in order to save face, Take-Two management will withdraw its demand that any discussions wait until after the launch of GTA IV, and we think that management will engage in discussions with EA,"

GTA IV to sell 9m units, ship 6m in first week [GamesIndustry.biz]

With the acquisition of Anno, Ubisoft reinforces its position in the real-time strategy market. Anno, along with Ubisoft's The Settlers, is one of the most well known franchises in Germany, reaching a wide audience that includes not only traditional gamers, but also women and families. We are proud to add another top-quality brand to our rich portfolio and we are looking forward to bringing the brand to an even wider audience."

It's about time pirates became more readily available to women and families. Kim Phu

Ubisoft Acquires RTS Developer SunFlowers [Game Informer]