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Vivendi Universal Games to Launch Mobile Games Division

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 6, 2006 - 6:35am.
Los Angeles - Vivendi Universal Games plans to launch a mobile games unit that will both develop and publish original titles, and license games from third parties based on intellectual property it owns, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The company hired Paul Maglione, formerly vice president of marketing and publishing at U.K. mobile game developer I-play, to develop the new division. "These last five years, our mother company has become extremely keen on mobile across all our divisions -- not just with Vivendi Universal Games but also SFR, which is one of the leading European wireless network carriers; Universal Music, which is the most active music company in mobile music; and the Canal+ Group, which is doing a lot of things in mobile TV. So there's a wider corporate focus on mobile which fits VUG very nicely," Maglione told THR. The mobile games unit plans to release a dozen titles in 2006, including adaptations of its "Crash Bandicoot" and "Spyro" franchises, and will also have an eye towards acquiring mobile game companies. "I think you'll see other pure-play publishers who could be acquired over the next 12 months," added Maglione.
tags: Vivendi Universal Games | Mobile Games Division |

Vivendi Universal Games Acquires "Darkwatch" Developer High Moon

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 5, 2006 - 7:04am.
Los Angeles - Vivendi Universal Games, the media conglomerate's video game publishing unit, announced on Thursday that it has acquired High Moon Studios, developer of the "Darkwatch" game franchise. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Los Angeles-based VU Games said it will maintain High Moon's 100-person staff and headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. "VU Games and High Moon are already collaborating on a soon-to-be-announced project based on a major entertainment license," said VU Games CEO Bruce Hack. "Our acquisition of the studio is another major step forward in building the company's position as a leader in next generation console games."
tags: Games | Vivendi Universal Games | Darkwatch | High Moon |

Vivendi Universal Games Acquires "Simpsons" Game Developer Radical

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 23, 2005 - 9:11am.
Los Angeles -- Vivendi Universal Games, the video game publishing division of the Franco-American conglomerate, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Vancouver-based developer Radical Entertainment, creator of titles including "The Simpsons: Hit & Run" and "The Hulk." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Radical and its 200 developers will remain in Vancouver, led by founder and president Ian Wilkinson. The studio's two titles based on Fox's "The Simpsons" have sold a combined 6.5 million units, while its "The Hulk" title sold over 2 million. Radical is now working on several titles for launch in 2005, including "Scarface," "Crash Tag Team Racing" and "The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction." "The purchase of Radical Entertainment reinforces our commitment to strengthening VU Games' creative talent and internal console development capabilities," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games.
tags: Games | Deals | Vivendi Universal Games | Simpsons | Game Developer Radical |

Vivendi Universal Games Lays Off 89 French Workers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 12, 2005 - 10:33am.
Paris -- Vivendi Universal Games, the video game publishing unit of the Franco-American media conglomerate, told French newspaper Les Echoes that it plans to lay off 89 employees in France, Reuters reported. A Vivendi lawyer told Les Echoes that the company had already transferred most of the affected workers to Coktel, a studio that the company currently owns but is expected to sell off. The cuts come just six months after Vivendi laid off a total of about 380 workers, mostly from its U.S. operations. On a brighter note, Vivendi's Blizzard unit has seen record sales for its recently released massively multiplayer online roleplaying title, "World of Warcraft."
tags: Vivendi Universal Games | French Workers | Lays Off |

Vivendi Universal Games Sells Knowledge Adventure Unit to VC Firms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 5, 2004 - 3:02am.
Los Angeles -- Vivendi Universal Games, the company's video game publishing unit, announced on Tuesday that it has sold its Knowledge Adventure educational software business, to Knowledge Holdings, a holding company formed by Bay Area venture capital firms Azure Capital Partners and Telesoft Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal divests VU Games of Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart and Mathblaster properties; however, VU Games will continue to sell and distribute the developer's titles. "The divestiture of these educational software titles is part of VUG's strategy in the U.S. to focus our business on games," said VU Games CEO Bruce Hack.
tags: VC Firms | Vivendi Universal Games | Sells | Knowledge Adventure Unit |

Vivendi Universal Games Announces Reorganization, 350 Layoffs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2004 - 8:34am.
Los Angeles -- Vivendi Universal Games, the video game publishing unit of the Franco-American media conglomerate, announced on Monday that it will lay off 350 employees as part of a reorganization and cost reduction plan. The company said that the layoffs would not affect its Blizzard Entertainment studio, which develops the "Diablo," "Warcraft" and "Starcraft" online games. "Restructuring the organization and reducing our cost base are necessary to improve our operating effectiveness and profitability," said VU Games CEO Bruce Hack. "This constitutes another important step in our turnaround plan aimed to better position the company for growth." Vivendi Universal Games plans to release several major titles in the second half of 2004, including Blizzard's "World of Warcraft."
tags: Vivendi Universal Games | Reorganization |