The future is looking not quite as bright for Take Two Interactive. The Federal Trade Commission completed an investigation into the Hot Coffee scandal, and came back with more hot water.

Take-two has also been reeling from other troubling events including the economic fallout from the hot-coffee snafu, the burning of the New York office, Bully protesting, and the unending attacks by both Jack Thompson and the Democrats. Even though the latter-named assailants are not directly attacking Take-Two, the actions being requested would affect the cornerstone of T2 products.

With the exception of a recent Table Tennis game and a re-rated RPG, Take-Two is facing a future of success found in genres closely monitored by various watchdogs. While the biggest successes tend to be the most risky, continued success cannot be maintained by publishing movie tie-ins and various strategy games.

A string of studio closures seems to be a streamlining attempt to save the hemorrhaging firm. But with a projected tightening of disposable income going to games, legal pressure on successful titles, and a possible widespread slowing of the economy, things are not looking good for Rockstar's hero. But there is hope.

The Table Tennis game was not only a brilliant tactical move for the embattled firm, but also an opportunity to deliver an excellent game to a wider audience. Though the hardest core of players has devotedly followed the Grand Theft Auto franchise, Table Tennis took the appeal of Take-Two's sports properties and injected the Rockstar polish to provide a squeaky-clean, high-quality game for almost any 360 owner to enjoy.

Legislation threatens to increase the costs (through increased quality and damage control) on already costly development projects. Additional costs would not only tighten the expected return during develpment but may also significantly offset the number of units delivered to retail; fewer eligible consumers means a lower quantity demanded. Depending on costs, the Table Tennis formula may be the answer Take-Two needs to stand the test of time.

When other high-profile vice companies encountered administrative opposition, they found a creative workaround. Beer companies were forbidden from showing people consuming their product. That's when they asked "Wassssup?"

Don't the creatives inside Rockstar, 2K Sports, and the other dev houses get asked Wassup often enough to get themselves out of a legal do-loop? Or is that what consumers demand?