In the past I have defended Michael Pachter countless times on both this website and our podcast, The Bender. However, this time I just can’t. You see, Pachter recently upgraded his rating of Take-Two Interactive from “Hold” to “Buy”, which is good. However, Pachter made a particular comment that I’m sure will rub people the wrong way:

Take-Two largely remains a one-hit wonder… The company’s one hit, Grand Theft Auto, is relatively predictable and immensely profitable.

“One-hit wonder”? There is no doubt that Take-Two’s biggest hit is far and away the GTA series, but there is one word I can mention that kind of blows this entire “one-hit wonder” argument up: BioShock. The first BioShock was immensely successful and the second is due out sometime in 2009. You also have the successful Midnight Club and Civilization* franchises that are published by Take-Two Interactive.

If you want to say that Grand Theft Auto is their biggest hit, go ahead. If you want to say that GTA needs to over-perform to save Take-Two from having a down year, be my guest. But to say that Take-Two is a one-hit wonder is simply dishonest.

*Anything with Sid Meier’s name on it

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