You comment that eighty pence is an 'attractive' bid, on the basis that the share price was recently in the thirties. Some may equally comment that it is opportunistic and not at all attractive on the basis that the share price was as recently as November in the two hundred pence range, since then the board has been sacked, costs cut and the next episode of Lara Croft is imminient. £1.20 and they may get the support of shareholders but at 80p they have as much chance as Jane Cavanagh did, when she was looking for £6.00.

Hi Roberto. Of course, you make a good point - Eidos has four or five major titles due to come either just before or just after the Xmas holiday period that could have a real effect on its value. But so much rests on the new Lara. Imagine if it was a critical and commercial faliure (as Eidos suffered with Angel of Darkness in 2003). It would be a disaster for investors. The 200p we saw in November had been consistently pushed up by buyout rumours - which is why it plummeted when the firm announced it had ended talks without a suitor. Will this new round of speculation push it up even further - or will it fizzle out? Should be an interesting week. Be sure to check out our interview with CEO Phil Rogers in a few days time...

Whilst I can accomodate you by imagining that Lara Underworld could be a failure; indications from previews and the strength of the franchise, suggest it won't be.

Furthermore, I do feel that the disaster has already happened and that the ongoing risks have been fully priced in.

Things can only get better at this juncture.

Still, who can tell ?

It's a mystery to me how sentiment can swing so wildly and then be accepted as a fair representation of fact at that point by observers.

Your non-commital appraisal is journalism without conviction. You should take a position and justify it. Whilst the commentary you give is within its terms correct, don't you feel that this should be an opinion piece?

I concur, that it'll be an interesting week.

I do hope the speculation will push it up further for the purely selfish reason of ownership rather than for any feelings of loyalty to the Company or it's products.

Rant Over.

Hi Roberto - thank again for your comments. It's not my or MCV's intention at this juncture to put forward anything that could be construed as opinion, which is perhaps why there is no strong 'conviction' in the news story or the above.

I'm keen to spark debate, but I have no wish - and, considering this is purely a rumour story at present, a lack of requisite evidence - to make a solid prediction.

You rightly point out that Lara: Underworld has enjoyed positive previews in the specialist games press. In addition, it's a franchise looked upon fondly by a mainstream audience. Both these facts - and the lessons Eidos/SCi learned with AoD - suggest it has a good chance to be a big success.

But will shareholders who snapped up stock at just over 30p bother to wait around until Christmas to find out - now they may stand to make almost treble their initial investment from the rumoured buyout offer?

Or will those who've held shares for a longer period (who saw their stock plunge in the pre-Rogers era) stand firm and force the firm to wait until, as you predict, the price is at least over £1-per-share?

More importantly, what will Robert Tchenguiz do?

Keep checking back at ww.mcvuk.com. As soon as we know which way the wind's blowing, you will too...