14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most interesting developments in videogaming in late summer has been the acquisition of Marvel Entertainment by Disney. The impact on videogaming might not be immediately apparent but consider that super hero games have been doing rather well lately and you might see how Disney can leverage properties like Wolverine or Spider Man and turn them into highly successful and profitable series.
And now, it seems that Time Warner, the company that controls D.C. Comics, might also be interested in more acquisitions in the videogame industry.
The innuendo comes via an article in Business Week, which mentions that Time Warner has about 7 billion dollars in reserves that could be earmarked for an acquisition if a suitable asset is found. The article clearly states “Buying a game company would help Time Warner diversify away from movies and ad-supported media. The time is ripe, since many game makers are hurting and could go cheap.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Jeffrey Bewkes, stated that “We still look at any potential acquisition for its strategic rationale, what the risk is in terms of what we are willing to pay, and what our financial return will be.”
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment already represents the videogame creation-oriented arm of the company and it has the ability to put out a good game, like the recent Batman: Arkham Asylum.
But Time Warner is still missing the ability to put out multiple videogames while timing them to take advantage of synergies with movies or television. That could change if the company picked up Take Two, which has been determined to be ripe for a take over, or, in an unlikely move, Electronic Arts, which had been posting less than stellar financial results for some time. Of course, Time Warner will not be weighing in on any acquisition for some time, wary of getting itself into another AOL quagmire.