14 DAY TRIAL // Namco Bandai is set to be ready to take over D3, the parent company of D3 Publisher, which is best known for having created the Puzzle Quest franchise. It seems that the Japanese firm has managed to get 70% of the other company through direct deals with shareholders. Namco Bandai appears not to settle with this and aims to fully take over D3 Publisher by buying up the remaining shares.
Namco Bandai says that it is taking over D3 because the company can help it develop multiple intellectual properties over various gaming platforms, while tying them in with toys and television programming. One of the most important assets D3 Publishing currently has is that Ben 10: Alien Force intellectual property, based on the hit Cartoon Network show. A game based on it is set to launch in the coming period.
At the moment, Namco Bandai is intensely developing two franchises based on anime characters that D3 is also involved in - Naruto and Dragon Ball Z. Namco Bandai sees the acquisition as one of the best ways of getting a complete control on those very popular anime series. Namco Bandai is said to also be interested in Vicious Cycle Software, which developed the Vicious Engine middleware application.
The only subject barely touched on in the buy out announcement is Puzzle Quest. The game, based on the popular match-3 mechanic, added a light role playing element and a story to create a very easy to get into but interesting experience that managed to attract casual players thanks to the instantly recognizable mechanics, and more experienced players thanks to the fresh approach to a fantasy universe. In February, D3 Publisher should release the follow up to the game, called Puzzle Quest: Galatrix, which will have a space setting and will construct battles around mechanics similar to those of Hexic.