Publisher Take-Two Interactive Software may be the target of a $1.5 billion buyout offer from entertainment conglomerate Viacom, according to "industry rumors" reported by MCV.

If true, the move would mark the latest in the recent rash of video game buyouts and mergers, the most notable of which was Activision Blizzard, the unexpected $18.9 billion combination of major publisher Activision with Blizzard Entertainment owner Vivendi Games. Read more »

Rockstar has denied recent allegations that a Grand Theft Auto film adaptation starring rapper Eminem was nearly complete before the developer backed out.

Variety's gaming blog reported Monday that a deal was all but finalized between a major movie studio and Rockstar, but fell apart before plans could be firmed up. In response, Rockstar creative development VP Dan Houser has stated that his company never seriously considered any such proposal. Read more »

A deal over rights to develop a film adaptation of Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto series came very close to completion but fell apart at the last minute, says Variety's Ben Fritz.

Writing in a blog post, Fritz says that a deal between one of the six major US film studios and Rockstar was "virtually in place" to begin developing a Grand Theft Auto film, and Eminem was considered for the starring role. But before any plans could be firmed up, the deal dissolved. Read more »

In today's press and analyst financial conference call, Electronic Arts executives weighed in on the matter of PlayStation 3's development difficulties as they relate to multiplatform releases.

Likely in reference to games such as EA and Pandemic's own Mercenaries 2, EA executives were asked whether the challenges in development multiplatform games on PS3 have cleared up. "Not quite," responded EA CEO John Riccitiello. Read more »

Rockstar Games sends along the first trailer for Bully: Scholarship Edition (X360, Wii), showing the Xbox 360 version of the game in action. Originally a PlayStation 2 title, the Scholarship Edition of Bully will feature eight new missions, four new classes, and two player offline minigames. The game ships March 4.

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Silicon Knights is looking to expand their Niagara, Ontario offices as part of a newly announced plan to jump-start the ailing, formerly industrial economy of the region, according to the Welland Tribune.

The studio is planning to add 80 new employees to its current workforce of 165. The boost is part of a plan called nGen, meant to establish a "new-media incubator" to reinvigorate the Niagara economy and retain skilled citizens from leaving the region for more lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Read more »

Infuriated gamers anxious for monetary compensation for the sexual deviancy unearthed by hacker trickery in Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PC, PS2, Xbox) can now file their settlement claim online.

GTA publisher Take-Two's settlement of the class-action lawsuit brought against them allows customers who purchased copies of GTA:SA manufactured before June 20, 2005—otherwise known as the "Hot Coffee" version—to have their discs replaced with the revised edition of the game or supply proof of purchase for a partial cash refund. Read more »

A High Court judge in London upheld the ban of Rockstar's Manhunt 2 (PS2, PSP, Wii) in the UK, overturning Rockstar's appeal granted last month, according to ITN.

Last June, Manhunt 2 was denied rating by the British Board of Film Classification, barring it from sale in the UK; a modified version of the game was also rejected in August. A month ago, Rockstar successfully appealed to the Video Appeals Committee, forcing the BBFC to assign a rating to the game. Read more »

Rockstar product development VP Jeronimo Barerra has revealed that technical issues with the PS3 were partly to blame for last fall's delay of Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360).

"It's really no surprise to anybody that the PS3 was definitely a contributing factor to that," Barerra told MTV. "Now, we're neck and neck. That's not an issue anymore. But back then that was something we were taking into account." Read more »

Rockstar North's long-awaited Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360) will arrive in stores worldwide on Tuesday, April 29. Publisher Take-Two Interactive, which had vowed the game would hit by April 30 following last fall's delay, announced the date today.

Today's news tails yesterday's flood of new GTA4 details, which included word of a Resident Evil 4-esque free-aim mode, a reworked wanted meter that only recognizes crimes if witnessed by police, the option to instant warp back to a mission's start point in the event of failure, and the ability to get drunk. Read more »

IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy, Team Xbox, Computer & Video Games all have new Grand Theft Auto 4 previews, taking in a new demonstration by Rockstar Games.

Confirming recent rumors, Konami today announced that a PlayStation 2 version of the former PSP-exclusive Silent Hill Origins is in development.

Released on PSP last fall, Silent Hill Origins details the exploits of hallucinating trucker Travis Gordy as he explores the creepy-as-hell town of Silent Hill. Konami mentioned that the game would sport updated controls, through no further details, such as a release date or developer, were provided. It is believed that Climax Studios, which handled the PSP edition, is behind the PS2 version. Read more »