Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) has acquired leading independent developer, High Moon Studios. Under terms of the agreement, VU Games will retain High Moons team of more than 100 development professionals, as well as rights to the studios intellectual properties. John Rowe, president/ceo of High Moon, will continue to manage the studio from its state-of-the-art facility located in Carlsbad, California.
VU Games and High Moon are already collaborating on a soon-to-be-announced project based on a major entertainment license, said Bruce Hack, ceo of VU Games. Our acquisition of the studio is another major step forward in building the companys position as a leader in next generation console games.
In December, High Moon was named among the Top 50 Technology Innovators of 2005 by IT WEEK for applying Agile Methodology to its development of next-generation games. The studios adoption of the innovative R&D method also earned it a 2005 Workplace Excellence Award from the San Diego chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. High Moons first-person shooter, DARKWATCH, has been recognized with several art and animation awards, including five Davey Awards, two Aurora Awards and a Telly.
High Moon has assembled an experienced team of development professionals who are passionate about creating compelling interactive entertainment for audiences around the world, said Rowe. We are happy to be a part of Vivendi Universal Games, and we believe that the acquisition is a very positive step for the growth of our studio.
High Moon Studios was represented in this transaction by Daniel H. Petree of P2 Partners, and by ECA Securities Llc., an affiliate of Europlay Capital Advisors Llc.
High Moon Studios (www.highmoonstudios.com) is an independent videogame development company. Headquartered in the coastal city of Carlsbad in San Diego County, California, High Moon employs more than 100 game developers at a state-of-the-art, fully equipped development facility.
Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment with a library of more than 700 titles. The company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online (MMO) games category, holds leading positions in the PC, console and handheld games markets, and is an emerging player in mobile and wireless games. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Ent., Radical Ent., Sierra Ent., Massive Ent. and Swordfish Studios. VU Games also maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including Universal Music Group, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, and Ludlum Ent.
