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Atari Getting Sold?

Discussion in 'Game/SP News & Comments' started by chevalier, May 31, 2006.

  1. chevalier

    chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    According to news at Joystiq, Infogrames might be selling Atari or at least the NWN2 publishing rights soon as a result of financial troubles. Here's a snip:

    Atari had recently cut prices on all current gen games, but more drastic actions are in store. Infogrames may sell the publishing rights to upcoming titles Neverwinter Nights 2 and Timeshift (both due in September), and is also considering potential buy-outs of its other subsidiary studios, including Shiny Entertainment (Matrix: Path of Neo, Earthworm Jim). A potential merger with rival French games maker Ubisoft has even been speculated, although Infogrames founder and executive chairman Bruno Bonnel has dismissed this rumor as premature.

    Bonnel's recent discussions with Elevation Partners have lead some industry analysts to believe that Atari's Dungeons & Dragons license might find its way back to BioWare, but this could just be wishful thinking. Let us know if you think the Atari brand should be put out to pasture at this point, or if it just needs more capable management.

    However, MSNBC resports that Bonnell isn't really interested in the latter option:

    Mr Bonnell, who founded Infogrames 23 years ago, acknowledged that he had held talks with Elevation Partners, the US private equity group whose partners include rock star Bono. But Mr Bonnell said Elevation's proposals were "not compatible with our vision".

    Read the rest at MSNBC.
     
    chevalier, May 31, 2006
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  2. Kalia Gems: 1/31
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    Again, the article at both MSNBC and Joystiq are based on a Dow Jones article from May 11th. While perhaps news then, it is less startling now due to the passage of nearly three weeks. At this point, Atari's stock is holding "steady" in the 60 cents per share range.....like that's a goldmine. :p

    Regardless, there is also an article in this month's Game Informer with Infogrames Bruno Bonnell indicating that Atari's not in quite the financial straits everyone assumes they are. *shrugs* But he would say that, wouldn't he? Given that their stock is at 63cents a share, they're darned close to life support. They have until August 30th to maintain 10 days of $1.00/share in their stocks before being delisted. By the time the financial mess is cleaned up, NWN 2 will be out. Even if Atari tanks and goes into Chapter 11 or 13 bankruptcy, the licensing can be sold off. Obsidian is an independent developer and will be able to, if asked, continue support with a new publishing house.
     
    Kalia, Jun 1, 2006
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