Super-Developer Buys Shiny From Atari News
Jon Wilcox
02/10/2006
Foundation9 acquires the UK-based developer's non-game assets; Earthworm Jim to remain an Atari property...
The super-developer Foundation9, which includes Backbone Entertainment and The Collective studios, has today confirmed the acquisition of Shiny Entertainment from Atari.
Although the take-over refers to non-game assets only, meaning that the likes of Earthworm Jim will remain with Atari, the sale of Shiny remained an attractive offer for Foundation9. Speaking about the acquisition, Jon Goldman, Chairman and CEO of Foundation9 commented, "Shiny Entertainment fits well with the current studios of Foundation 9 Entertainment and aligns with our long-term goals for the future...The studio has tremendous talent and experience working with big Hollywood franchises and will be working with us on a major, as-yet-undisclosed day and date release. The Shiny team will only add to our capabilities and technology base."
Goldman's reference to Shiny's experience in working on licenses (Enter the Matrix and The Matrix: Path of Neo) strongly suggests that the team will be tasked with producing an as yet unknown title for their new owners. In addition, Shiny will be co-locating with another of Foundation9's studios, Star Wars: Episode III The Video Game adaptors, The Collective from 2007.
Shiny becomes the second studio to be sold by Atari since CEO Bruno Bonnell confirmed that the publisher's development houses would be up for sale; Ubisoft bought Newcastle-based Reflections and its Driver IP earlier in 2006.
We'll have more news shortly...