Kalia

It's been "news" since May 11th when it was released to any number of news sites. I happened to research the source so please, keep your less-than-pithy comments to yourself.

Regardless, there is also an article in this month's Game Informer with Infogrames Bruno Bonnell indicating that Atari's not in quite the financial straits everyone assumes they are. *shrugs* But he would say that, wouldn't he? Given that their stock is at 63cents a share, they're darned close to life support. They have until August 30th to maintain 10 days of $1.00/share in their stocks before being delisted. By the time the financial mess is cleaned up, NWN 2 will be out. Even if Atari tanks and goes into Chapter 11 or 13 bankruptcy, the licensing can be sold off. Obsidian is an independent developer and will be able to, if asked, continue support with a new publishing house.

The basis for your article is a Dow Jones Inc. article dated May 11, 2006:

"05/11 18:32 DJ UK PRESS: Infogrames Mulls More Disposals,Atari Delisting

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Infogrames Entertainment SA executive chairman Bruno Bonnell said his company is considering further asset sales as well as a deal with its rival, Ubisoft Entertainment SA , as it continues to restructure its business, the Financial Times reported on its Web site Thursday.

"The disposals aren't over," Bonnell said at the E 3 games fair in Los Angeles. "There will be others." On Wednesday, Infogrames said it is selling intellectual properties for EUR 20 million - with Timeshift being sold to Vivendi-Universal's (V) games division and Games.com going to Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX) America Online.

However, while declaring speculation of Infogrames merging with Ubisoft "premature," Bonnell said the two French video game publishers, "could do plenty of things together, even if we haven't yet spoken." He added that Ubisoft could also bid to acquire one or more of Infogrames' games development studios, the FT reported.

Bonnell acknowledged that talks had been held with Elevation Partners, a U.S. private equity firm whose partners include rock star Bono. But he said Elevation's proposals were "not compatible with our vision."

Infogrames was also considering delisting troubled U.S. video game company Atari Inc. (ATAR), in which it holds a 51% stake, Bonnell said, according to the FT.

"One of the options would be to refocus the activities of each company on its core business," Bonnell was quoted as saying. "Atari could become the development studio for the American market whilst Infogrames would be the international publisher."


Dow Jones Newswires 05 -11 -06 1832ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc."


A three week old story is hardly a good basis or indicator for holding one's breath regarding a change in publishers at this point.