EA and Take-Two only talking to each other, not us anymore

Looks like we won't be hearing from EA or Take-Two for a while about their never-ending tango.

In an SEC filing today (per Reuters), Electronic Arts said it has signed a confidentiality agreement that "prohibit[s] each of EA and Take-Two from, among other things, publicly disclosing the status or terms of any discussions or negotiations... unless EA or Take-Two notifies the other that it is terminating discussions.

"As a result," it continues, "EA does not intend to make any further announcements... unless and until discussions between EA and Take-Two have been terminated or such parties have entered into a transaction."

No more endless tender offer extensions? No more accusations from John Riccitiello and Jeff Brown that Take-Two's management isn't really committed to the company and that EA could sell its games better? No more endlessly repetitive statements from Strauss Zelnick that his company is worth more than EA is bidding, hyping (with plenty of justification) the huge sales of "GTA IV" and glossing over the big problems with its sports biz? For the sake of us journalists, I hope these talks wrap up soon one way or another. Otherwise the rest of 2008 will be so much more boring.