Activision Publishing has announced today that it has gobbled up Iowa-based developer Budcat Creations. 

Budcat has a reasonably long history with Activision, having worked on PlayStation 2 ports of a number of games in the Guitar Hero franchise, including III, Aerosmith, and World Tour. We can only hope Budcat hasn't been doomed to a sweatshop-like life of working on Guitar Hero ports; apparently the studio is currently working on -- you guessed it -- a new game in the Guitar Hero series. 

The talent to build original titles is there -- Budcat was also responsible for the excellent original Wii title, Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy. Only time will tell if Activision lets the studio off the leash.

Activision Publishing Acquires Budcat Creations

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that it has acquired video game developer Budcat Creations. Based in Iowa City, Iowa, Budcat Creations is an award-winning development studio with expertise on the Wii(TM) home video game system and the Nintendo DS(TM).

Activision Publishing has worked with Budcat Creations on the development of multiple games in the Guitar Hero franchise including Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock(TM), Guitar Hero(R): Aerosmith(R) and Guitar Hero(R) World Tour. The studio is currently in development on a new game in the Guitar Hero franchise.

"Budcat Creations is an outstanding developer with an experienced management team and a very talented group of programmers, designers and artists," said Mike Griffith, President and CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "In addition to strengthening our development capabilities on the Nintendo platforms, this acquisition increases our Guitar Hero development resources as we continue to grow the franchise and expand our global leadership position in the music-based genre."

"We are thrilled to partner with Activision and believe that this acquisition is a perfect fit for both companies," said Jeremy Andersen, General Manager of Budcat Creations. "Their world class sales and marketing support coupled with best-in-class execution across all areas of their business means that we can focus our time and resources on what we love and do best -- creating great games."

Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Budcat Creations has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Publishing and the company's management team has signed multi-year employment contracts with Activision Publishing. The studio will continue to be based in Iowa City, Iowa. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc., a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.