Topic: Vivendi Universal Buys Swordfish Studios

[LassePalle]

In other words, the company pulled an EA.

VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES ACQUIRES U.K.- BASED GAME DEVELOPER SWORDFISH STUDIOS    

LOS ANGELES - June 15, 2005 - Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the acquisition of independent game developer Swordfish Studios. Under terms of the agreement, VU Games will retain Swordfish Studios U.K.-based team of 45 development professionals. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.    

"Swordfish Studios has emerged as a strong creative force with an experienced and talented group of professionals," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Following the integration of Radical Entertainment into the VU Games organization and Blizzard Entertainment's acquisition of Swingin' Ape Studios earlier this year, the purchase of Swordfish further builds our internal development capabilities."    

Trevor Williams, Managing Director of Swordfish, will continue to lead the studio in the same role and will report to Peter Della Penna, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Product Development for VU Games. The studio will remain in its current office in Birmingham, England.    

Swordfish Studios has earned several awards for excellence in game development, including "Developer of the Year" for 2004 by The Independent Game Developers Association. It was also honored as the best "New U.K. Studio" at the Developer Industry Excellence Awards.    

Future products in development at Swordfish Studios will be announced at a later date. The studio just completed development on VU Games'TM PS2 first-person shooter, Cold Winter.  

[Polemistis]

'News Article: Vivendi Universal Buys Swordfish Studios'
'In other words, the company pulled an EA'

LOL! Thats so up for quote of the year!!

[KDR_11k]

They are BUYING? I thought Vivendi always wanted to get rid of their game department? With prospective buyers always declining the offer because they are only interested in Blizzard and Vivendi isn't going to sell Blizzard alone?

[Djunknown]

That was true a while back, but Vivendi decided not to. Most likely they realized that while the other studios weren't so profitable, Blizzard's track record alone was enough to keep them around. A consequence of that action was the founding members of Blizzard North, makers of the Diablo series, walked off, pissed that were at the mercy of the higher-ups with no say. But I digress...

We'll see if these buyouts pay off. It seems they're changing their focus from PC's to consoles, and no doubt there will be some 'growing pains'.

[Bartman3010]

Yes, the gaming industry is quite healthy when everybody has to merge and lay-off people.

[KDR_11k]

No, they don't merge, they buy out. Buying out and firing people for profit are signs of a healthy industry.