Play Nice Like Electronic Arts

It's tempting to play hardball with a rival. But you never know when your competition might become an ally against an even bigger threat. You can be a bully and grab what you want, while turning off your new team. Or you can work behind the scenes, laying the groundwork quietly to get what you want.

In a video game, you have to tackle -- or blow up -- the competition. But that's not necessarily the way to win in business. If EA makes a deal with Take-Two, it will prove that it sometimes pays to drop your weapons.