SEGA has continued a form of expansion as they announce the acquisition of the US studio Three Rings Design, Inc. Three Rings joins the likes of Sports Interactive, who have developed the Football Manager series and The Creative Assembly, creators of the Total War franchise.
Here’s a little bit about the studio for those who who don’t know who they are. Founded in 2001, Three Rings has over ten years of experience with creating online worlds, including Puzzle Pirates, a puzzle-MMORPG and Spiral Knights, which as won the most recent Game Developers Choice Online Award. Spiral Knights is a MMO based in the world of the very popular BBC show Doctor Who.
Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business for SEGA of America, expressed his delight on teh acquisition:
“We knew from the first time we saw Spiral Knights that the team at Three Rings was not simply talented but truly unique, and the close bond we have formed with them over the past year has only solidified that impression. We are proud to welcome them as the newest member of the SEGA family, and look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years.”
Daniel James, CEO of Three Rings Design. Inc, hoped that the deal can help the independent studio further flourish in the current climate:
“Three Rings has always been a studio that prides itself on the depth and creativity of our games, we are very fortunate to have found a company like SEGA that both respects our identity and shares our passion for developing engaging and quality games. We are honored to be joining such a legendary team and look forward to collaborating on amazing ideas together.”
Usually, an acquisition of a smaller studio can be a good thing, but also lead to problems. I hope that the partnership heads into the right direction, unlike some acquisitions made by the bigger publishers. Australia has certainty seen its fair share.
