Creating what is effectively a massively multiplayer RPG development juggernaut, EA has tapped Muzyka to become Group General Manager of their new RPG/MMO Group, with fellow BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk acting as Group Creative Officer. With the departure of Mythic’s Mark Jacobs, Mythic co-founder Rob Denton will step up as the General Manager of Mythic, reporting directly to Muzyka. BioWare’s operations will remain unchanged.

So in effect, EA has handed the reins of Mythic over to BioWare, blurring the lines between the two entities by organising them under one group. It’s sad to see Mark Jacobs go, as he was a major contributor to the success of Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, but it should be very interesting to see what direction WAR travels in now that Dr. Ray is at the helm.

Mythic and BioWare Form New RPG/MMO Group [Warhammer Herald]

Back in January, Tecmo and Koei officially merged. The merger created a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1, when the new financial year starts.

In Japan, it’s April 1, and Koei Tecmo Holdings has unveiled its new corporate logo. The logo not only combines the aesthetics of standard Koei logo with the Tecmo “T” and corporate read colour. It also appears to be inspired by some of the more well known features of Tecmo’s Dead or Alive franchise.

Last fall, Tecmo turned down Square Enix’s offer of a friendly takeover. Instead, Tecmo commenced merger talks with Koei, stating that both “companies have excellent financial positions, strengths and the ability to take advantage of each other in order to improve profitability and solidified the foundation of a worldwide leader.”

Square Enix has since purchased UK company Eidos, which is best known for the Tomb Raider. Perhaps they will also unveil a new logo as voluptuous as this one.

It’s official. Tecmo and Koei announced today that the two companies have merged, giving birth through stock transfer to a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1.

Last fall, Tecmo rejected Square Enix’s offer of a friendly takeover. Instead, Tecmo commenced merger talks with Koei, stating that both “companies have excellent financial positions, strengths and the ability to take advantage of each other in order to improve profitability and solidified the foundation of a worldwide leader.”

The planned merger between Japanese game developers Tecmo and Koei stumbles a bit today, as Tecmo’s 2nd largest stockholder hits the more information button.

Singapore-based investment firm Effissimo Capital Management, which owns a 17.6% stake in Tecmo, issued a statement to Japan’s Ministry of Finance stating that it hadn’t enough information to come to a clear conclusion about the merger between the two companies.

“We have not had sufficient information from the company to make a judgment on the merger, such as the feasibility of their plan to raise shareholder value,” Effissimo Director Takashi Kosaka said in the statement.

Whether or not this will have any effect on the merger remains to be seen, but I for one am hoping everything goes smoothly. That Romance of the Three Kingdoms / Dead or Alive crossover cannot come to soon.

Major Tecmo Shareholder Opposes Koei Merger [Bloomberg via Gamasutra]

The WSJ reported yesterday that Disney’s CFO Tom Staggs may be looking at someone exactly like EA for a future acquisition. Staggs didn’t come right out and say it, reports the Motley Fool, instead hinting that a “strategic and attractive” purchase would be “a possibility.”

It’s not close to confirmation, but when Wall Street Journal editors ask “Is Walt Disney Co. preparing a bid for Electronic Arts?” they’re probably not asking for their health.

With EA’s stock down more than 25% since the original suggestion by WSJ, even if EA’s not looking “attractive” it’s looking a hell of a lot like more of a bargain. Plus, they’ve got Brütal Legend now. What company in its right mind would pass on Brütal Legend?

Oh… right.

5 Reasons Disney Should Buy Electronic Arts [Motley Fool]

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with SouthPeak to continue to bring great original titles from independent developers to market with a stronger sales and distribution reach,” said Mike Wilson, CEO of Gamecock. “We have followed each other’s progress closely over the last two years, and combining our team with theirs results in a very strong and well-rounded force in the market.”

The feverish coupling should have no effect on Gamecock’s upcoming titles, with Legendary and Mushroom men still slated for release this quarter. Phew, I need a cigarette.

SouthPeak Interactive Corporation Acquires Gamecock Media Group

MIDLOTHIAN, Va.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—SouthPeak Interactive Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: SOPK; SOPKU; SOPKW; SOPKZ), one of the fastest growing videogame publishers, today announced the acquisition of Austin-based Gamecock Media Group.

Commenting on the acquisition, Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak, stated, “Gamecock brings us a solid slate of upcoming titles, including Legendary, Mushroom Men and Velvet Assassin and supports our strategy of working with independent developers. We are excited to give the Gamecock titles a bigger platform to succeed.”

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with SouthPeak to continue to bring great original titles from independent developers to market with a stronger sales and distribution reach,” said Mike Wilson, CEO of Gamecock. “We have followed each other’s progress closely over the last two years, and combining our team with theirs results in a very strong and well-rounded force in the market.”

SouthPeak expects to ship Legendary and Mushroom Men in the current quarter.

[Gamesindustry.biz]

Mike Hickey of Janco Partners responds that if EA’s going to be buying, they may very well snatch up Take-Two. “The most obvious potential acquisition in our view would be Take-Two Interactive”, he says, as the acquisition of Take-Two could “eliminate their most powerful competitor in the sports market, improve their overall sports portfolio product quality, allow entry into sports categories currently protected by exclusive licensing agreements (MLB), and with essentially the same cost structure.”

Having the Grand Theft Auto series under the umbrella wouldn’t be so bad, either.

Majority consensus is that EA will still continue to expand, but may looking to less expensive purchases, a move into Asia and a couple of new Borg cubes with with to expand their empire. Sorry, still have Star Trek on the brain.

EA’s Next Big Move: Take-Two? [GameDaily]

[Reuters]

I do believe that consolidation ultimately is inevitable…Video-game development is not getting any cheaper. It’s a capital-intensive business, and I don’t see that going away. That will drive some of the smaller competitors out.

Sure will! Then the new big, mean companies can go stale, break up and we can kick the cycle off all over again! Can’t think of a more entertaining way to lose a few billion investment dollars, can you?
Consolidation inevitable, says Take-Two CEO [GI.biz]