Atari out Infogrames in

[ozzmcom]

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16238

news this day

[kalniel]

Well, more like Atari out, Atari in ;)
Test Drive Unlimited, an award-winning product in 2006, together with the entire Test Drive franchise has been licensed to IESA under a 6-year agreement that provides for a $5 million advance royalty. Test Drive Unlimited, an award-winning product in 2006, together with the entire Test Drive franchise has been licensed to IESA under a 6-year agreement that provides for a $5 million advance royalty. The agreement allows IESA, whose Eden Studios originally developed Test Drive Unlimited for Atari, to develop and market at least two new releases of the franchise during the life of the license. It is anticipated that the deal, signed on Nov. 8, 2007, will assure the continued vitality of the franchise and will strengthen the relationship between Atari and its parent company while providing an important element in the on-going financial restructuring of Atari.

[ozzmcom]

where did you get that?

[kalniel]

It was part of the press release.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=66845&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=1077682&

[kalniel]

Ooh there is a new press release too:

CLARIFICATION BY INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT

Lyon, France, November 15, 2007– In response to an announcement by its Atari Inc. subsidiary released on November 13 under the heading“Atari to refocus business plan on publishing and distribution in North America”, Infogrames Entertainment incorporating Atari Europe wishes to make the following clarification:

The November 13 press release only concerns the business of the Group’s 51-percent owned US subsidiary, Atari Inc., currently responsible for publishing and distributing video games in North America.

The announcement states that Atari Inc.’s operations will involve title acquisition, sales and marketing, and physical distribution of products from Infogrames and other partners” in North America.

In June, Infogrames Entertainment, incorporating Atari Europe, announced a new strategy focused on the relaunch of its publishing business based on an integrated global structure for development and production of games, as well as on the continued reinforcement of its distribution subsidiaries.

For Infogrames Entertainment’s game development and production, the Group’s publishing division relies on its own Eden Games studio and on partnerships with a worldwide network of independent studios.

The recent decisions by Atari, Inc. are consistent with this corporate strategy and do not undermine the Infogrames Group’s ability to carry out its video game development program and to continue selling products under the Atari brand name.

[randomus_r]

What does that mean? Their fancy talk confuses me :mefiant:

[ozzmcom]

i think they're lying.they've messed up everything and now they're trying to hushup.

[Blazingfirespeed151]

So atari Has stop making TD?

[kalniel]

Good grief, can't you even read press releases??! :p

No-one is hushing up anything.

There are basically two groups - Atari Inc, and Infogrames. TDU was made by Infogrames and distributed here by them as well (by their Atari Europe sub-company).

Atari Inc is a separate company that publishes and distributes games in North America - they had problems and are now concentrating on just their distribution side of things.

As Atari Inc is a publically listed company, anyone can buy shares in them. Infogrames have 51% of the shares, meaning they have the largest say in what happens, but they are still separate companies.

Atari Inc own the license for the Test Drive games. Infogrames pay royalties to Atari Inc to make their own Test Drive games - TDU is doing so well that they have just paid royalties for the next 5 years in advance, allowing them to continue to make at least two more Test Drive games over the next 5 years.

Does that help?

Infogrames made Test Drive Unlimited.. and they will make at least the next two Test Drive games in the future as well. Simple :)

[MartyMcSupaFly]

So atari Has stop making TD?
Atari never made TDU, Eden did. They just published it.

[kalniel]

And just incase anyone still needed clarification..

Earlier this week, troubled publisher Atari hit the headlines after its latest financials showed the US company's figures taking a nosedive across the board. In a statement, Atari admitted that it was concerned about its ability to continue to operate, and after selling off its development studios, it will concentrate on publishing and distribution in the US.

However, Atari's head of UK PR, Lee Kirton, told GameSpot today, "For Atari Europe business is fine. There's been some restructuring in the US but it doesn't affect Europe."

He reassured gamers that Alone in the Dark, Test Drive Unlimited, and the other titles that Atari had coming up would not be affected.


http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6183315.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;4

[MartyMcSupaFly]

Is Atari Europe a completely separate company to Atari US, or are they two companies under the Infrogrames banner.

[kalniel]

They are two separate companies.

Atari Europe is a private company under the Infogrames banner.

Atari Inc is a public company, which means the shareholders own it, and Infogrames have the majority of shares (just). But it's 49% owned by other people than Infogrames, and is run as a completely separate company.