Editor’s Note: Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA)
S&P assigns BB+ rating to Activision Blizzard (Businessweek)
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services on Tuesday assigned video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. a junk-grade “BB+” corporate credit rating and said the outlook is stable. Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), based in Santa Monica, Calif., is one of the largest video game makers, with well-known games such as “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.” The company is in transition as French conglomerate Vivendi SA, its largest shareholder, said in July that it is selling off its stake in the company for $8.2 billion.
WME Hires Zynga GM Daniel Porter to Lead Digital Department (Hollywood Reporter)
WME has tapped Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) GM Daniel Porter to become the new head of its digital department, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. As vice president and general manager of Zynga New York, Porter created three No. 1 apps for the social gaming company, which resulted in more than 150 million downloads. Prior to joining Zynga he was CEO of OMGPOP, where he oversaw the development and release of Draw Something, currently the third most downloaded game of all time, and helped arrange the company’s sale to Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA).
Electronic Arts Celebrates 25 Million Downloads of Plants vs Zombies 2 in Two Weeks (SiliconANGLE)
The mobile market is growing rapidly. In recent days, the average player is delighted with faster titles and ease of online play, such as those available on iOS or Android platforms. One such recently released game is Plants vs. Zombies 2, a new chapter in the tower defense series that has really captured the attention (and brains) of millions of players on mobile devices. Plants vs Zombies 2 carries a legacy of great value with a first series of mind boggling download numbers netted by fame and classic popularity–and it’s been a very long time in coming. PopCap Games, a unit of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) is therefore thrilled to announce that the second episode of the series has been a tremendous success reaching the 25 million downloads, surpassing in fact the download of the predecessor.
Activision Blizzard, Inc. Announces Private Offering of $1.0 Billion Senior Secured Notes, $1.5 Billion Senior Notes (EON: Enhanced Online News)
Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) today announced that, subject to market and other conditions, Activision Blizzard (the “Company”) plans to offer $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”), $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes” and, together with the 2020 Notes and the 2021 Notes, the “Notes”). The Notes will be general senior obligations of the Company and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by certain of the Company’s current U.S. subsidiaries.
Zynga’s Spooky Cool Labs launches Hit It Rich: Casino Slots on Facebook (Inside Social Games)
Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) may have recently halted its push into real-money gaming, but the company’s line of digital casino offerings has expanded with the launch of Hit it Rich: Casino Slots on Facebook. The game comes from Spooky Cool Labs, which Zynga acquired in June specifically for the purpose of building social casino games. Spooky Cool Labs previously released a Wizard of Oz themed city-builder, and the Oz license went to Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) during the acquisition. As a result, Hit It Rich: Casino Slots places a heavy focus on The Wizard of Oz brand, along with other brands including Beetle Bailey, Blondie and more.
