As Electronic Arts' chief financial officer (CFO) goes all East Enders on us and tells the world^* that, "We consider the people at Take-Two as diamonds", Take Two announces when it's going to make its financial report for the first Quarter of 2008.

The Rockstar owner and EA take-over target, "...will report financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2008 on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 after the market close."

Take Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick has already made it plain that he's not going to talk to EA's CEO John Riccitiello until April 30th - the day after GTA IV ships and the landscape changes for Take Two.

Before anybody gets too conspiratorial though, the fact that the financial report is going to be made before these dates must be viewed in the light of the following historical factoids:

Q1 Report for 2004 - issued March 4th 2004.

Q1 Report for 2005 - issued March 3rd 2005.

Q1 Report for 2006 - issued March 7th 2006.

Q1 Report for 2007 - issued March 12th 2007.

So, no additions to the ongoing courtship - which can be viewed very much like the movie 10 Things I Hate About You (which notorious pedlar violence and rape-based literature^*+*, William Shakespeare, ripped off in his The Taming of the Shrew).

Frankly the sexual tension between EA and Take Two is doing our heads in... we wish they'd just be done with it.

If you're really interested, "A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time and can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-0984 or (201) 689-8577."

If you're slightly less interested, "A live listen-only webcast of the call will be available by visiting ir.take2games.com and a replay will be available following the call at the same location."

<sup>* Sources: IGN via Next Generation via MCV

*+* Have you read The Rape of Lucrece? It should be banned by parliament!</sup>