THE BORE
General => Video Game Bored => Topic started by: demi on December 22, 2007, 11:36:32 PM
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NEW DELHI: Zapak Digital entertainment, the online gaming company promoted by Anil Ambani-led ADAG group, is all set to buy out Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) for around $300 million (Rs 1,200 crore).
According to sources close to the development, the deal will be finalised within the next few days. Sony Online was on the block for the past two weeks and Zapak, which has been looking for acquiring international studios, is finally said to have reached a consensus over the valuation of Sony Online.
“The deal is almost through. It is in the final stages of negotiations and by next week, Zapak will have a full right to all content, owned and published by Sony Online,” sources told SundayET.
Sony Online Entertainment is the game development and game publishing unit of Sony and posts revenue of around $ 150 million (the company doesn’t reveal the exact details for the division). It has in the past come out with popular games such as Everquest, PlanetSide, Star War Galaxies and Vanguard. SOE’s headquartered at San Diego, California, with additional game development studios located in Austin, Texas, Denver, Colorado and Seattle.
This acquisition is in line with the future plans of Zapak Digital, which is planning to enter the gaming space in China by early next year. “This makes perfect sense for us, as around 80% of content in the gaming industry is manufactured internationally. Buying out Sony, will not only give us access but also expand our reach in the global market,” said a senior Zapak Official.
The major expenses in the gaming industry is on content and marketing, and Zapak aims to reduce the cost of publishing a game by buying out those studios and relocating them to India. “This will reduce the cost drastically from $30 mn to $10mn, which will give us the advantage to channelise our funds towards marketing and other activities,” the official said.
In the recent past, Sony has aligned with Virgin Comics, a Bangalore-based collaboration of famed, self-help guru Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Richard Branson of Virgin Group. After the proposed acquisition, Zapak plans to retain control over all the deals, which has been signed by Sony Online.
According to the latest IMRB report, there are about 2.8 million online gamers in India and the online gaming industry is worth Rs 21 crore. Zapak is one of the top players in the Indian gaming space.
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this thread needs more curry
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I thought this rumor of "Off-whoring stuff to India is a good idea" went out of style in 2003-2004?
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I thought this rumor of "Off-whoring stuff to India is a good idea" went out of style in 2003-2004?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Zapak_set_to_buy_out_Sony_Online_for_300_mn/articleshow/2643807.cms
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I like the culture, food, etc...but any IT or dev project I have seen involving their reduced costs methods has turned into a off rails disaster.
I am not sure exactly what this means for SOE - but will quality suffer?
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i doubt quality ever got better even in the states
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speaking of the food - I fucking love;
- big ass super sized dosai filled with hot chutney
- that deep fried cauliflower covered in red chili sauce dish...
This place in Manhattan on 42st has the best cauliflower.
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yeah now that i think about it alot of SOE stuff feels half assed.
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speaking of the food - I fucking love;
- big ass super sized dosai filled with hot chutney
- that deep fried cauliflower covered in red chili sauce dish...
This place in Manhattan on 42st has the best cauliflower.
Sorry that was 41 east 22nd street...
http://www.tamarinde22.com/
41 E 22nd St, New York, NY - (212) 674-7400
if you are in new york you must try......I have had at least 75-100 dinners there and not one bad bump. The management is militant.
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No more Everquest Online Adventures for PS3? :o
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SOE already sucks. Can't imagine this move having any significant impact at all.
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SOE already sucks. Can't imagine this move having any significant impact at all.
Apart from people who will lose their jobs or all sorts of issues? Not really. But that's where I come in.
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SOE already sucks. Can't imagine this move having any significant impact at all.
Apart from people who will lose their jobs or all sorts of issues? Not really. But that's where I come in.
Apart from that of course. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an ass. :(
Edit: Don't companies like these usually relocate some of their employees in these kinds of situations? ???
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Well there goes that job with SOE I was about to get :/
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SOE already sucks. Can't imagine this move having any significant impact at all.
Apart from people who will lose their jobs or all sorts of issues? Not really. But that's where I come in.
Apart from that of course. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an ass. :(
Edit: Don't companies like these usually relocate some of their employees in these kinds of situations? ???
If they want to relocate to India, sure... but be real now, just how many employees out of all the SOE studios will want to pack up and move to India?
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Abu Dhabi isn't even in India.
Also this is false according to GAF.
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Abu Dhabi isn't even in India.
Also this is false according to GAF.
I think someone more credible than "GAF" will be required, unfortunately
And Abu Dhabi is in India so long as Garfield says it is - who is, btw, more credible than "GAF"
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http://www.eq2flames.com/general-gameplay/17217-may-explain-few-things.html#post382432
Take of it as you will.
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Ill be glad to see everquest sent off to die.
Everquest OA was like the worst PS2 game I ever played.
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http://www.eq2flames.com/general-gameplay/17217-may-explain-few-things.html#post382432
Take of it as you will.
Sounds like "bububu" talk.
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Champions of Norrath - GASH...
I do love me some untold legends tho....the PSP and PS3 games have entertained me so....
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Sounds like "bububu" talk.
Could be but I don't play any of their games so no skin off my nose.
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speaking of the food - I fucking love;
- big ass super sized dosai filled with hot chutney
- that deep fried cauliflower covered in red chili sauce dish...
This place in Manhattan on 42st has the best cauliflower.
Sorry that was 41 east 22nd street...
http://www.tamarinde22.com/
41 E 22nd St, New York, NY - (212) 674-7400
if you are in new york you must try......I have had at least 75-100 dinners there and not one bad bump. The management is militant.
Hmm, I am meeting a girl in the city next week, and she likes Indian food... definitely trying this... thanks!!!
-
speaking of the food - I fucking love;
- big ass super sized dosai filled with hot chutney
- that deep fried cauliflower covered in red chili sauce dish...
This place in Manhattan on 42st has the best cauliflower.
Sorry that was 41 east 22nd street...
http://www.tamarinde22.com/
41 E 22nd St, New York, NY - (212) 674-7400
if you are in new york you must try......I have had at least 75-100 dinners there and not one bad bump. The management is militant.
Hmm, I am meeting a girl in the city next week, and she likes Indian food... definitely trying this... thanks!!!
You cant go wrong - they got a great wine selection and really its the best indian food youll find outside of London.
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Maybe the PSN GripShift demo can go back up now.