Is video game maker Take-Two a “diamond” or a “depreciating asset” for Electronic Arts? When EA publicly announced its $2 billion takeover bid for Take-Two a few weeks ago, EA’s chief financial officer Warren Jenson told reporters Take-Two was a “depreciating asset” that had to be picked up quickly so that the two companies can be integrated ahead of the holiday season. “The longer we wait, the less value it has,” he told the New York Times.

Cut to the more recent Morgan Stanley tech conference, where Jenson sweetened his talk a little, calling Take-Two’s assets “diamonds,” according to GamesIndustry.biz, a trade publication.

“We consider the people at Take-Two, and the studios and IPs, as diamonds,” he said. EA would take these Take-Two diamonds and show them off to the “global marketplace,” Jenson said.

Take-Two has been mum ever since it spurned the offer, saying it was ill-timed and undervalued the company. Although EA’s sweet-talking might mollify Take-Two shareholders a little, it’s cold, hard cash they’re waiting for in the form of a higher offer.  Of course, it all comes down to how much EA is willing to shell out for these diamonds.

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