DomStLeger Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Apparently Vivendi, owners of Sierra among other companies, have agreed to merge Vivendi Universal with NBC, with NBC/General Electric taking an 80% stake and Vivendi a 20% stake and some cash. Sierra is a "subsidiary" of Vivendi Universal Games, part of VU but it's not clear whether that was part of the deal (most likely yes). This means Sierra has probably got yet another new owner. Obviously sierra will never make adventuregames again but it does still own the rights to a large number of series and games. To be honest this merger will have little effect on Sierra in the short term, though NBC might decide to sell its publishing arm off in the future; who knows. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3202093.stm http://media.guardian.co.uk/city/story/0,7497,1034905,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 what i find amusing is that Vivendi owns Fox Interactive... which means that NBC now owns Fox Interactive (assuming they're keeping all the subsidiaries)... which means the company Fox started up to make games out of the Fox franchises (X-Files game... *drools*) is now owned by NBC. my company used to be owned by Vivendi. (Nothing real exciting -- we publish patient education materials -- we did get to buy Sierra games at discounted prices but who would want those anymore?) Vivendi sold us about a year ago (right around when their problems started surfacing). it's too bad we didn't hang on another year... i think we'd get better benefits from NBC than we do from the crappy parent company we have now. -emily (off to fight with HR over her vacation balance... again...) ps it's too bad that even if Sierra wanted to sell off its assets, they're probably not worth enough for NBC / General Electric / God to bother. now if NBC were go to bankrupt and needed to sell their assets to make some quick cash... nah. don't see that happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomStLeger Posted September 3, 2003 Author Share Posted September 3, 2003 lol @ Fox thing; I hate Rupert Murdoch so it's funny to think that one of his big competitors is making money of him. Does Fox Interactive right the scripts for Fox News because I hear they're pretty wild; something out of the X-files. (well the paranoia of the x-files without the charming aliens) P.S. I've been thinking about the Sierra thing, and looking at the other media conglomerates I don't think any of them own games companies. Maybe they'll sell of the Universal Games part, though if they did the only companies that could afford it are the already fat bloated publishers. A second hope might be that some rich benefactor could buy back the rights to the adventure games, but sadly there are relatively few people in the adventure community with a few million knocking around... well apart from Ken Williams... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amishler Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Check it, yo. Vivendi has decided not to sell its video games and music businesses, which had previously been earmarked for disposal, for the time being. However, Vivendi is considering splitting its activities into two separate companies: one including the telecoms assets, and one including the remaining entertainment assets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpfinsa Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Originally posted by amishler Check it, yo. quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vivendi has decided not to sell its video games and music businesses, which had previously been earmarked for disposal, for the time being. However, Vivendi is considering splitting its activities into two separate companies: one including the telecoms assets, and one including the remaining entertainment assets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darn, there goes my lifelong dream to see a Leisure Suit Larry TV series.... --BPF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 apparently, ken williams tried for years to buy back the Larry rights so he could make a movie... -emily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinny Minnie Posted September 4, 2003 Share Posted September 4, 2003 Blizzard is safe for now then, er, at least as safe as they can be after losing four key employees... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal Fool Posted September 4, 2003 Share Posted September 4, 2003 Just imagine how the employees of the subsidiary companies must feel... not knowing who you might end up working for, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomStLeger Posted September 4, 2003 Author Share Posted September 4, 2003 That is interesting, so Vivendi re going to spin off their entertainment assests. What is left of them anyway? Apart from the games company, I think they still own Canal+ don't they? Not alot anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twifkak Posted September 4, 2003 Share Posted September 4, 2003 Sci-Fi channel. Maybe the USA Network (which includes TNT, IIRC). Various brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleto4_ryan Posted September 5, 2003 Share Posted September 5, 2003 but it does still own the rights to a large number of series and games. i just wonder. Have they thought ever to sold them for "many many many money"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomStLeger Posted September 5, 2003 Author Share Posted September 5, 2003 I found out whats been sold and whats not. Vivendi Universal Entertainment has been sold as mentioned; thats mainly just the american entertainment assets (USA network, Scifi, Universal Studios and Theme Parks etc). Vivendi still own Vivendi Universal Games, Universal Music, the Canal+ group and two telecoms companies; which means Sierra, Blizzard etc are still part of VUG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feisar Posted September 6, 2003 Share Posted September 6, 2003 I think VUG needs to be sorted out now that they are keeping it, like its split into so many factions and brands all working against each other. They have a lot of amazing titles signed up (like dredd vs death) and many huge untapped franchises (crash/spyro), with more organisation they could challenge EA.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomStLeger Posted September 7, 2003 Author Share Posted September 7, 2003 I agree Feisar. Stage one has to be dropping that crap name VUG. They have a stable full of good brandnames; they should just bung the names in a hat and pick one; instead of keeping one thats linked to a major financial crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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