The consolidation of the gaming continues ever toward a similar place to that which the film and businesses find themselves in, with a major firm once again acquiring and immersing a smaller developer. Much like they did with and NeverSoft, announced late that Vicarious Visions has been purchased for an undisclosed sum. The developer, with a headquarters in New York and a studio in California, is currently working on the port of 3, and recently released Spider-Man 2 for the DS.

Spider-Man 2 was reportedly the new format's biggest third-party release since launch, and could have been a major factor in Activision's decision to splash out. The firm employs about 100 staff in total, and many top brass have accepted long term deals with Acti as part of the purchase.

"Vicarious Visions' talented team and proprietary technology combined with our internal systems and capabilities will play a key role in Activision's continued leadership on the next-generation platforms," beamed Kathy Vrabeck, Activision president.

By Luke Guttridge