Santa Monica, Calif. - Video game publisher Activision (NASD: ATVI) has announced that its shareholders have approved its proposed $1.7 billion merger with Vivendi Games, with 92% voting in favor of the transaction.

Shanghai - Chinese online game operator The9 said on Friday that Blizzard Entertainment's "World of Warcraft" massively multiplayer online game has achieved a record of 1 million concurrent players in China. The first expansion pack for the game, "The Burning Crusade," launched in mainland China on Sept. 6.

Irvine, Calif. - Vivendi's Blizzard Entertainment game publisher unit announced on Tuesday that its "World of Warcraft" massively multiplayer online roleplaying game now counts more than 10 million subscribers. The game launched in November 2004, and now counts 2 million subscribers in Europe, 2.5 million in North America and 5.5 million in Asia.

Santa Monica, Calif. - French media conglomerate Vivendi announced on Monday a deal with video game publisher Activision (NASD: ATVI), to combine its Vivendi Games unit with Activision to form a new company called Activision Blizzard, in a deal valued at $18.9 billion. Following the completion of the deal, Vivendi will hold a 52% stake in the combined company.

El Segundo, Calif. - Satellite TV provider DirecTV on Tuesday announced a promotional partnership with Vivendi's Blizzard Entertainment, publisher of the popular "World of Warcraft" massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. Through Nov. 30, new DirecTV subscribers will be offered 11 free months of access to World of Warcraft. DirecTV also recently courted game-playing consumers with its deal to broadcast the Championship Gaming Series.

Irvine, Calif. - Vivendi's Blizzard Entertainment games studio announced on Tuesday that its massively multiplayer online game "World of Warcraft" has now surpassed nine million paying subscribers worldwide. The company added that its expects an influx of new and returning subscribers when Chinese distribution partner The9 launches the game's first expansion, "World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade."