Atari Strikes Back
Infogrames, Hasbro Restructure Deal
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Atari has made headlines again with a deal worth $65 million with the toy giant Hasbro. Hasbro has purchased the former exclusive gaming rights for its properties from Infogrames, or Atari, depending on which name you choose to go by. Infogrames received the 15 year exclusive rights as part of the deal that as gave it Hasbro Interactive and Games.com in December of 2000. As part of the new deal Infogrames has also entered a new licensing deal with Hasbro for 10 Hasbro franchises.
The new deal gives Infogrames "exclusive rights to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS in all interactive formats for the next ten years." Infogrames plans on releasing three new games on the license by the end of 2006, D&D Online, NeverWinter Nights 2 and Dragonshard. Infogrames also received a "7-year license on nine major Hasbro properties, covering wireless, Internet (online games) and interactive television formats. The games are MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE, GAME OF LIFE, BATTLESHIP, CLUE, YATZHEE, SIMON, RISK AND BOGGLE."
Although Infogrames looks to have made it out on top, Hasbro has also had a few gains most notably the reacquisition of digital "gaming rights to all of its properties including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, TONKA, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, CONNECT FOUR, CANDYLAND AND PLAYSKOOL." Infogrames will continue selling and distributing most current games from the previous deal until the transition period is finalized.
As a side note, notice the careful wording of what Infogrames can do with its new board game licenses, the phrasing makes no mention of "normal" gaming platforms such as PC, console or handhelds. It seems that Infogrames has received the rights to cell phone, web-based and TV hook-up games as opposed to the traditional forms.
Source: Press Release
The new deal gives Infogrames "exclusive rights to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS in all interactive formats for the next ten years." Infogrames plans on releasing three new games on the license by the end of 2006, D&D Online, NeverWinter Nights 2 and Dragonshard. Infogrames also received a "7-year license on nine major Hasbro properties, covering wireless, Internet (online games) and interactive television formats. The games are MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE, GAME OF LIFE, BATTLESHIP, CLUE, YATZHEE, SIMON, RISK AND BOGGLE."
Although Infogrames looks to have made it out on top, Hasbro has also had a few gains most notably the reacquisition of digital "gaming rights to all of its properties including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, TONKA, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, CONNECT FOUR, CANDYLAND AND PLAYSKOOL." Infogrames will continue selling and distributing most current games from the previous deal until the transition period is finalized.
As a side note, notice the careful wording of what Infogrames can do with its new board game licenses, the phrasing makes no mention of "normal" gaming platforms such as PC, console or handhelds. It seems that Infogrames has received the rights to cell phone, web-based and TV hook-up games as opposed to the traditional forms.
Source: Press Release