Vivendi Games
{{Short description|American video game company}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vivendi Games
| logo = Vivendi logo.png
| image = Vivendi Universal Games Headquarters.jpg
| image_caption = Vivendi Universal Games' headquarters at 6080 Center Drive in Los Angeles in 2001
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|CUC Software|(1996–1997)|Cendant Software|(1997–1998)|Havas Interactive|(1998–2001)|Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing|(2001)|Vivendi Universal Games|(2001–2006)}}
| type = Division
| industry = Video games
| fate = Merged with Activision
| successor = Activision Blizzard
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996|07|24}} in Torrance, California
| defunct = {{End date and age|2008|07|10}}
| hq_location_city = Los Angeles
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = North America, Europe
| key_people = Bruce Hack (CEO)
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|CUC International|(1996–1997)|Cendant|(1997–1998)|Vivendi Universal Publishing|(1998–2003)|Vivendi|(2003–2008)}}
}}
Vivendi Games was an American video game publisher and holding company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1996 as CUC Software, the publishing subsidiary of CUC International, after the latter acquired video game companies Davidson & Associates and Sierra On-Line. Between 1997 and 2001, the company switched parents and names multiple times before ending up organized under Vivendi Universal (later renamed Vivendi). On July 10, 2008, Vivendi Games merged with Activision to create Activision Blizzard.
History
= CUC/Cendant =
On February 21, 1996, CUC International announced its intention to acquire Davidson & Associates (including Blizzard Entertainment) and Sierra On-Line, two American video game companies, in a {{US$|1.8 billion|link=yes}} stock swap.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/21/business/cuc-will-buy-2-software-companies-for-1.8-billion.html |title=CUC Will Buy 2 Software Companies for $1.8 Billion |first=Peter H. |last=Lewis |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 21, 1996 |access-date=July 20, 2018}} The deal closed on July 24, 1996.{{Cite news|title=CUC INTERNATIONAL INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITIONS OF DAVIDSON & ASSOCIATES, INC. AND SIERRA ON-LINE, INC.|date=July 24, 1996|work=PR Newswire}} CUC International previously only operated membership shopping clubs, wherefore analysts were surprised by the company's move into the software industry.
Subsequently, following the acquisitions, CUC International established CUC Software around the Torrance, California-based operations of Davidson & Associates to oversee the new video game properties.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-10-fi-27220-story.html |title=Davidson Founders Make Quiet Exit |first=Karen |last=Kaplan |date=February 10, 1997 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Under that new umbrella, both Davidson & Associates and Sierra On-Line would act independently from CUC International.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-21-fi-38256-story.html |title=Marketer CUC to Buy Davidson & Associates |first=Leslie |last=Helm |date=February 21, 1996 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Bob Davidson, co-founder of Davidson & Associates, became chairman and chief executive of the new establishment.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-06-fi-61744-story.html |title=CUC Will Buy Knowledge Adventure |first=Karen |last=Kaplan |date=November 6, 1996 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}} On November 5 that year, CUC International announced that they would additionally acquire Knowledge Adventure, another developer, in a stock deal valued between {{US$|50 million|long=no}} and {{US$|100 million}}. The acquisition was completed on February 3, 1997. On February 10, Davidson announced that he had stepped down from his positions at CUC Software, and that his wife, Jan, ceased as president of Davidson & Associates, while both Davidsons stayed on CUC International's board of directors. Christopher McLeod, an executive vice-president for CUC International, took over CUC Software in Bob Davidson's place. In April 1997, CUC International acquired Berkeley Systems for an undisclosed sum.{{cite magazine |last=Quistgaard |first=Kaitlin |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/04/cuc-buys-content-maker-berkeley-systems/ |title=CUC Buys Content Maker Berkeley Systems |magazine=Wired |access-date=July 20, 2018 |date=April 2, 1997}}
On May 28, 1997, CUC International announced plans to merge with Hospitality Franchise Systems to create a single, "one-stop" entity.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/28/business/11-billion-merger-plan-would-join-hfs-and-cuc.html |title=$11 Billion Merger Plan Would Join HFS and CUC |first=Charles V. |last=Bagli |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 28, 1997 |access-date=July 20, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-28-fi-63045-story.html |title=CUC-HFS Merger Deal to Create Strong One-Stop-Shopping Entity |agency=Associated Press |date=May 28, 1997 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |website=Los Angeles Times}} The merger was finalized in December that year and created Cendant.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cuc-gets-renamed/1100-2462150/ |title=CUC Gets Renamed |first=Harley |last=Jebens |date=April 28, 2000 |website=gamespot.com |access-date=July 20, 2018}} As a result of the merger, CUC Software was renamed Cendant Software.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/GDM_March_1998#page/n3 |title=CUC Now Cendant |magazine=Game Developer |publisher=UBM TechWeb |date=March 1998 |page=13}}
= Havas/Vivendi =
On November 20, 1998, French media company Havas (acquired by Vivendi earlier that year) announced that it would acquire Cendant Software for {{US$|800 million|long=no}} in cash, with up to an additional {{US$|200 million|long=no}} contingent on its performance.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/20/business/cendant-said-to-near-sale-of-software-division.html |title=Cendant Said to Near Sale of Software Division |first=Saul |last=Hansell |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 20, 1998 |access-date=July 20, 2018}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1998/11/cendant-sells-software-unit/ |title=Cendant Sells Software Unit |magazine=Wired |access-date=July 20, 2018 |date=November 20, 1998}} Subsequently, the division was renamed Havas Interactive.{{cite magazine |last=Rose |first=Frank |url=https://www.wired.com/2000/12/vivendi/ |title=Vivendi's High Wireless Act |magazine=Wired |access-date=July 20, 2018 |date=December 1, 2000}}
On May 16, 2001, Havas Interactive was renamed Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing, while Havas itself became Vivendi Universal Publishing.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/havas-interactive-changes-name-to-vivendi |title=Havas Interactive Changes Name To Vivendi |website=gamasutra.com |date=May 16, 2001 |access-date=July 20, 2018}}{{cite web | url=https://www.awn.com/news/havas-changes-name-vivendi-universal-interactive-publishing | title=Havas Changes Name to Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing }} The new name was likely due to the merger between Universal and Vivendi; the company also received ownership of properties from Universal Interactive Studios. Under the new name, the company was split into two parts: Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing North America and Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing International, both of which took responsibility for their respective publishing regions. On November 13, 2001, both parts were streamlined under the name Vivendi Universal Games.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/viv-u-streamlines-games-1117855872/ |title=Viv U streamlines games |first=Marc |last=Graser |date=November 15, 2001 |website=variety.com |access-date=July 20, 2018}}
When Vivendi Universal sold all of its media operations to General Electric in October 2003, Vivendi Universal held on to Vivendi Universal Games, which was re-organized as a direct division of the conglomerate.{{cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/general-electric-buys-vivendi-media-empire |title=General Electric buys Vivendi media empire |website=gamesindustry.biz |access-date=July 21, 2018 |date=October 8, 2003}} On March 3, 2006, with the sale completed, Vivendi Universal announced they would be dropping the "Universal" part of their name.{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/vivendi-universal-to-shorten-company-name |title=Vivendi Universal to shorten company name |website=gamesindustry.biz |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=July 20, 2018}} The same day, the company opened a mobile games division known as Vivendi Universal Games Mobile.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/vivendi-starts-mobile-phone-gaming-division |title=Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games |first=Nich |last=Maragos |website=gamasutra.com |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=July 21, 2018}}
= Merger with Activision =
In December 2007, American publisher Activision announced a proposed merger deal with Vivendi Games that would create a new holding company named Activision Blizzard.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/02/vivendi-computer-guitar-tech-media-cx_rr_1202activision.html |title=Vivendi To Merge With Activision |first=Rachel |last=Rosmarin |website=forbes.com |access-date=July 20, 2018 |date=December 2, 2007}}{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5023049/activision-blizzard-merger-official |title=Activision Blizzard Merger Official |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |website=kotaku.com |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2018}} The deal was approved by Activision's shareholders on July 8, 2008, and the merger was finalized on July 10, creating Activision Blizzard while dissolving Vivendi Games.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5023808/activision-blizzard-merger-finalized |title=Activision Blizzard Merger Finalized |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |website=kotaku.com |date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2018}} Bruce Hack, who served as chief executive officer of Vivendi Games, became vice-chairman and chief corporate officer of the new company. Many of Vivendi Games' properties were later dropped by Activision, citing that they would not make for a good fit for the company's long-term strategy.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/29/activision-drops-several-vivendi-games |title=Activision Drops Several Vivendi Games |first=Narayan |last=Pattison |date=July 29, 2008 |website=IGN}}
Subsidiaries
= Publishers =
=Former=
=Developers=
=Former=
Games
{{main|List of Vivendi Games titles}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Activision Blizzard}}
{{Vivendi}}
{{NBCUniversal}}
{{Crash Bandicoot}}
Category:1996 establishments in California
Category:2008 disestablishments in California
Category:2008 mergers and acquisitions
Category:American companies established in 1996
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
Category:Holding companies of the United States
Category:Video game companies based in Greater Los Angeles
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2008