Under the Eidos label, UK publisher SCi has acquired Manchester-based mobile developer Rockpool Games along with sister companies Ironstone Partners and SoGoPlay. The 36 members of Rockpool's staff will join Eidos' New Media division, which was established in 2003 to pursue, in part, a mobile gaming strategy; and has since produced iterations of Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Championship Manager. "We believe that the global market for mobile games is set to grow considerably over the next few years from around US $3 billion in 2006 to US $10 billion in 2009," said SCi chief exec Jane Cavanagh.Rockpool is previously responsible for mobile versions of Worms, MotoGP (pictured), and TOCA Race Driver. Ironstone Partners is the company's licensing division and also manages the Epyx back catalog (California Games, Impossible Mission), while SoGoPlay develops casual games for mobile and PC platforms.
