Microsoft today announced plans to acquire BigPark Games Inc. of Vancouver, B.C, which was founded by Don Mattrick and other video-game veterans. Mattrick has since become Microsoft's top video-game executive, but he's still BigPark's chairman and an investor in the Canadian online video-game company.
Financial terms of the pending acquisition weren't disclosed. BigPark will join Microsoft Game Studios, continuing its work on an exclusive Xbox 360 game. "Over the past year, Microsoft and BigPark have worked closely on this project, providing Microsoft with a clear view into the caliber of talent and innovation at BigPark," the company said in the news release announcing the deal.
BigPark is expected to announce one of its new games in June at the E3 video-game convention.
Here's how Microsoft explained Mattrick's connection to BigPark in the news release: "BigPark was founded by Wil Mozell, Erik Kiss, Hanno Lemke and Don Mattrick before Mattrick assumed the role of senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. Mattrick’s role as an investor in BigPark was fully disclosed to Microsoft before he joined the company, and his ongoing involvement as chairman of BigPark was approved pursuant to the Microsoft Standards of Business Conduct."
Update: Ina Fried of CNet News.com has more on the issue, including a statement from Microsoft that Mattrick wasn't involved in either side of the negotiations.
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