A lot of opinions and analysis has been given from all angles in regards to the EA-Take Two acquisition. But here's one that really does matter. The FTC has concluded its non-public investigation on the matter and they've basically given EA the green light for it. What were their findings? Find out after the jump.

Electronic Arts has complied with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements and has submitted necessary information to allow the government probe against possible antitrust law violations. The company has also promised to take no actions in its takeover quest of rival Take-Two until late August, ensuring that the competition is safe for now. Full details after the jump.

Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the record-breaking Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3), has agreed to comply to the Federal Trade Commission's wishes and will send information about its supposed deal with giant Electronic Arts. This means that the commission will now start assessing the US$ 2 billion deal to safeguard against potential antitrust law violations. More in the full article.

Another roadblock has appeared in the FTC's ongoing probe into EA's hostile takeover bid for Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two has declined to comply with a subpoena and civil investigative demand from the FTC, saying that the new requests are too broad and costly. More in the full article.

Electronic Arts has announced that it will not buy Take-Two just yet. The company has made an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission that it will wait until the FTC finishes its probe into the takeover proposal. More in the full article.

It seems like Electronic Arts still hasn't given up its hopes of acquiring Take-Two Interactive. It was reported that EA recently submitted a second information request to the Federal Trade Commission about its proposed acquisition of the company behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise. For more details regarding this, check out our full article after the jump.

North America's ESRB has sent out a reply to the GamePolitics blog criticizing the the National Institute of Media and the Family (NIMF)'s Video game Report Card, released earlier today. Among other details, the said report card criticized the industry as a whole for its alleged inability to enforce its M-ratings. Details are available in the full article.

As President of the ESRB, Patricia Vance said in an official statement that the ESRB appreciates that the Federal Trade Commission "recognizes the effectiveness of ESRB's self-regulatory activities." The report recently submitted by the FTC to Congress described in detail the marketing practices and compliance with retail regulations. She had this to say:

We’re pleased that today’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report affirms what other consumer research has previously shown to be true, namely that the overwhelming majority of parents are aware of the ratings, understand what they mean, agree with them, find them helpful and are actively using them to choose appropriate video games for their children.

Vance responded further, saying, "The report also details the significant improvement among retailers in enforcing their store policies with respect to the sale of M-rated games, which we support and applaud." The report reflected that the amount of M-rated games sold to gamers 17 and below were reduced, due to point-of-sale policing.

While the report did praise the game industry for having successfully reinstated a stricter compliance with the ratings system, the report did point out other areas where the industry could improve its content regulation, including online policing of content and broadening ratings coverage to mobile games.

Vance answered that call, stating that the ESRB will do their best to inform parents of the content ratings and how they can effectively be used to judge game content, in order for them to make more informed decisions on part of the game selection process.

While HR1531, better known as the Video Game Decency Act, is still going through review in Congress, Michigan Congressman Fred Upton declared that the bill was a way for the legislative body to restore parental faith on the ratings system currently used on games.

As the bill's sponsor, he explained that the bill was being reviewed to prevent developers and publishers from withholding questionable content from the ESRB. The bill is supposed to introduce a form of discipline for the game industry from bending around the rating system that parents have been unwilling to trust since the 2005 Hot Coffee scandal.

But what about the game industry's freedom? Rights activists and gamers alike were quick to question the motives of the bill - which is having to police even the game development process and the content that eventually get shipped to retail stores. Upton reassured the public that the bill was "written under the strict guidelines of the Constitution."

That aside, Upton believes that the FTC should be empowered with the ability to punish game developers and publishers who sneak age-inappropriate content past the ratings system. However, he seems to be partial to the Rockstar Games' claim of "it was the HaXorZ, we tell you!" In fact, he mentioned:

It is unfortunate that a few bad players have tarnished the integrity of the ratings system. The Federal Trade Commission currently does not have the tools necessary to pursue game makers who maliciously deceive consumers - this legislation will change that, and parents will be able to have faith in the ratings system once again.

A new bill that mirrors one from last year has been proposed by Michigan congressman Fred Upton. Upton filed H.R. 1531, or the Video Game Decency Act of 2007, late last week.

This piece of federal legislation will make it illegal for game developers to hide content in the hope of gaining a less restrictive ESRB rating.

According to GamePolitics, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which Upton is a member. Upton was also one of the major critics who raised their voices against the Hot Coffee scandal. Part of H.R. 1531 reads like this:

It shall be unlawful... to... distribute... any video game that contains a rating label... for that video game where the person, with  the intent of obtaining a less restrictive age-based content rating, failed to disclose content of the video game that was required to be disclosed to the independent ratings organization...

Upton's original 2006 bill was designed to give the FTC "the authority to impose civil penalties."