E-mail
del.icio.us
Technorati
DiggConsolidation in the video game industry continues, with Activision Inc. Thursday announcing the acquisition of Bizarre Creations, developer of the popular "Project Gotham Racing" for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox consoles.
No terms were announced, but in its blog, U.K.-based Bizarre recites a familiar refrain among small game developers: It isn't easy being small and independent.
"The most dangerous time for any independent is the period between projects," the company says.
In other words, a developer is only as good as its last published title. That said, the 160-person company insists it wasn't in financial trouble or looking to be "saved."
Activision has been scooping up small game developers with leading titles in some of the most popular game genres. Last year it acquired RedOctane Inc., which publishes the popular "Guitar Hero," a leader in the music video game genre.
"Project Gotham Racing" is one of the leading racing games, a $1.4 billion market that is the fourth-largest video game category, which generates 10% of the industry's sales. Money Out prefers taking the wheel of the "Need for Speed" series from Electronic Arts Inc., another major gaming consolidator. It'll be interesting to see how being part of a bigger company will change Bizarre's future racing titles. - Olaf de Senerpont Domis
See Sept. 26 post from Bizarre Creations' blogSee September 2006 story from TheDeal.com
See October 2006 story from TheDeal.com
For more on the deal see lockergnome and The Motley Fool
- 'You can get a robust return and take care of the planet,' Al Gore tells investors
- Analyst: Software maker Chordiant should seek sale
- ex-Kelkoo CEO rips Yahoo!, blames its culture for failed deal
- Think your portfolio is ugly? Behold Carl Icahn's
- Chipmakers Staccato and Artimi to merge, land $20M in VC
