SCEA acquires Zipper Interactive (Socom team)

[mckmas8808]

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced today that leading game developer and long-time partner Zipper Interactive, creators of the top-selling SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs franchise, joins its newly formed global development operation, SCE Worldwide Studios. In an effort to further its commitment to long-term creative excellence in game development on PlayStation(R) platforms, the addition of Zipper Interactive marks the second studio acquisition by SCE following Guerrilla B.V. in December 2005.

"Zipper Interactive is one of the most well-known and respected development teams in the industry and we have enjoyed a great working relationship with the company since July 1999," said Phil Harrison, president, SCE Worldwide Studios. "Zipper's tremendous achievements and expertise in creating top-selling games with fantastically loyal online communities is a great addition to our development organization. We are delighted that Zipper Interactive is now a core member of the SCE Worldwide Studios network."

"We were first drawn to Sony Computer Entertainment by their vision for growing the videogame industry," said Jim Bosler, president and CEO, Zipper Interactive. "We've enjoyed an incredible relationship with SCE for more than six years. This has allowed us to combine our cutting edge technical and design capabilities with SCE's creative insights and extraordinary support to become the leader in the online console multiplayer field. As a part of the Sony Computer Entertainment group we can look forward to introducing innovative titles that push online functionality and community experiences even further."

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/1/24-42

Man Sony is really gearing up for the future. This Worldwide Studios thing might actually be the biggest thing to happen to the Playstation family in history.

Your thoughts.

 

[!eVo!-X Ant UK]

Good news, we now have the socum team

 

[speng]

Great news, it just means Socom series and potentially other games should be top-notch.

It also somewhat lessens the impact of development costs for the games as the best studios are becoming first party development houses, with the backing from the companies.

Speng.

 

[Synergy34]

I'll tell ya what, any team that can get 32 players online for the PS2 has got to be talented. I was expecting this a long time ago to be honest, SOCOM is very popular. Good pick up by Sony.

 

["Nerve-Damage"]

Cool

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/1/24-42

Man Sony is really gearing up for the future. This Worldwide Studios thing might actually be the biggest thing to happen to the Playstation family in history.

Your thoughts.

Very nice find indeed bud!!

 

[archie4oz]

Erm... The news is kinda all over the gaming industry web... Kinda amusing they don't mention that Zipper also did the original Crimson Skies as well..

 

[drpepper]

Man, all this time I thought Zipper was already a first party.

What other games than Crimson skies and Socom have they done?

Socom 3 is good (especially from a technical POV), 2 was good too but the glitching was ridiculous.

 

[Titanio]

Man, all this time I thought Zipper was already a first party.

What other games than Crimson skies and Socom have they done?

Mechwarrior 3, I believe.

More precisely, they made the PC version of Crimson Skies.

 

[dodo3]

SONY aquires Zipper Interactive

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2120&Itemid=2

 

[RavenFox]

Maybe Ninja Theory is next ;-)

 

[overclocked]

Mechwarrior 3, I believe.

More precisely, they made the PC version of Crimson Skies.

Wait now not Crimson skies on XBOX right

OT i think its great that Sony is so aggresive now.
Its pretty remarkable that the most of the AAA titles has come from Sonys SCE Worldwide studios, and many what should you call them AAB titles also
Mighty impressed

 

[Joe DeFuria]

I just can't believe that Sony can't compete "fairly"....going off and buying game studios and all this...F'ing monopolies....







/sarcasm off

 

[Inane_Dork]

Your thoughts.

We don't need more game developer consolidation. We're already well into the buyout/quit/startup/buyout loop. We need more publishers to earn developer trust and keep it through being a good publisher, not moneyhats.

 

[Nicked]

SCE studios are just awesome now with all the talent they've acquired and IP they've built up.

Hopefully they'll let Zipper do something new (in addition to SOCOM).

 

[MechanizedDeath]

We don't need more game developer consolidation. We're already well into the buyout/quit/startup/buyout loop. We need more publishers to earn developer trust and keep it through being a good publisher, not moneyhats.

Consolidation is a fact of economic pressures. It's happening in too many industries for it to be a fluke. The good thing is that SCE seems to have some of the better creative standards in the industry. Stuff like ICO, SotC, Vib Ribbon, Parappa and others wouldn't have gotten the attention or funding Sony gave them. As long as they keep supporting unique and creative games, they can buy up everyone.

I do have to agree with pubs needing to get their shit together. Creative control problems are my main concern. PEACE.

 

[typoEDR]

Ninja Theory bends over for no one, baby, no one.

 

[Inane_Dork]

The good thing is that SCE seems to have some of the better creative standards in the industry.

This is true.

 

[-NakedZ-]

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27736

 

[Serenity Painted Death]

Except that SOCOM is the biggest online game for playstation 2? This is a perfectly logical progression.

 

[tema]

Please buy NT!