NOV. 16, 2008 • Canada’s largest independent developer, A2M, has acquired Chilean developer Wanako Games from Activision Blizzard. Wanako specializes in downloadable games such as Assault Heroes 2, and 3D Ultra Mini Golf 2. The acquisition immediately adds downloadable content expertise to A2M’s skill base.
Impact: Wanako Games was actually acquired by Vivendi Games in early 2007 when the company was trying to launch a casual game division. When Activision and Vivendi Games merged to form Activision Blizzard, the new company made it clear that casual games would be too small a niche for a global publishing conglomerate. Wanako was advertised as the largest developer in South America and it is good news that Activision Blizzard was able to sell them off, as opposed to shutting them down.
