And building owners may not like negotiating with brokers who work for a rival developer.

Sony has opened talks with rival developers, real estate executives involved in the bidding said.

But Montclair has a personality, and it is not, one rival developer insisted, "hoity-toity."

Ultimately, rival developers were unable to match the reception of the Grand Theft Auto series.

The deal also illustrates just how fast conditions have changed and how rival developers are battling to buy potentially lucrative properties while the market is hot.

They have backed alternative plans for the site, including proposals by rival developers that would include mostly low-rise buildings and not require eminent domain.

But Brookfield has scared off potential buyers by telling rival developers and public officials that it has the exclusive right to develop the site.

A 1998 lawsuit over parking brought by a rival developer, however, delayed development for a year.

"It's like the Vietnam peace talks over there, where they can spend six months arguing about the shape of the table," the rival developer said.

A high-stakes stalemate among the city, an independent state casino board and rival developers was settled this week when the Governor finally stepped in.