Mike Hickey of Janco Partners today issued some guidance for Take-Two Interactive. He has some misgivings over BioShock 2, given the title's last day of quarter release and currently unannounced platforms.

Hickey noted that Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony should sell 850,000 units via DLC, with the GTA: Episodes from Liberty City compilation (which also features The Lost and Damned) selling 3.0 million units. He does not expect the next GTA IV episode to come out until late 2010 or 2011.

The analyst also broached the subject of the company being acquired, noting a new way that the Grand Theft Auto franchise could be used. "We believe the Company would be a viable acquisition candidate, as they have arguably some of the strongest video game development talent and IP in the world. In addition, we continue to believe a GTA MMO is a distinct and enormously profitable possibility if the IP is positioned with a well capitalized partner who has an exceedingly strong track record of MMO market success, development expertise and organizational infrastructure," he said.

Activision Blizzard is certainly well capitalized and knows the MMO market, but for now this remains speculation.

— —

NOTE: GameDaily BIZ is about to become IndustryGamers.com. In order to receive the newsletter please sign up here.