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NBC Merger Leaves VU Games, Blizzard, Sierra In Cold

Posted by simoniker on from the no-change-is-bad-change dept.

Thanks to Reuters for their report that Vivendi Universal Games has still not found a buyer, with indication that, despite much confusion, "The video game unit is not a part of the newly-created NBC Universal, and Vivendi has signaled its intention to hold on to the division." VU Games is also the parent company of both Sierra and Blizzard, but although "...industry insiders have questioned why Vivendi would want to retain ownership considering its divestiture of other entertainment assets", VU Games will stay as it is for now, since "...sources in the banking and games-publishing industries have said the sale bogged down over price, with Vivendi asking on the order of $800 million."

2 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Such 100% no-question-about-it BORING stories like this make it, and my MegaMan Collection and other stories get rejected.
    What Mega Man Collection story? They've already run one.
  2. I will sell VU Games for... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "..ONE BILLION DOLLARS." (pinky to the mouth) "MWUhahahah!"

    Uh.. I don't think so. At 800 million asking price, assuming they make $25 back per copy of a game sold (assuming retailer markup, cost of duplication brings the retail price to $50 total), they would have to sell, what.. 32 million games?

    To sell 32 million games, you'd have to make 10 titles that sell over 3 million each - they would take over 30 years to make assuming 3 years each (or 15 if they do 2 in parallel).

    AND I've not included the cost of financing development. Not a great long-term investment.