A Less Artful EA

5/14 - "Although the quarter beat analysts' expectations on an adjusted basis, many investors seem to be thinking "game over," especially since EA turned in a rather tepid forecast and gave reason to believe that the pesky "enhancing profitability" portion of EA's picture remains fuzzy at best.

EA also said it will stop offering quarterly forecasts. Although corporations' forecasts can be unreliable, I'm not sure what EA's decision to stop giving them at all -- at a time when many investors are already wondering what the heck its deal is -- says about its chances of getting its act together in the short term."

"Meanwhile, EA continues to covet Take-Two Interactive (Nasdaq: TTWO), which peddles the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto franchise, as well as the highly acclaimed BioShock. Apparently, EA needs -- and I mean needs -- this deal. And as my Foolish colleague Rick Munarriz was careful to warn, it won't get Take-Two unless it sweetens the deal...I've often said I prefer video game industry leaders as investment ideas. For now, though, Activision is the only contender that I consider up to the sector's current challenges."