Fallout from Activision deal

It's a little too early for specifics, but Vivendi's purchase of a controlling stake in Santa Monica-based Activision might not be the greatest news if you're a small game developer or publisher. The long-talked about industry consolidation has finally arrived, which means a few large players controlling much or all of the business. Of course, the deal makes perfect sense for both companies. Under the agreement, the new company will be called Activision Blizzard, with Vivendi controlling a 52 percent stake and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick still running the show. Pro-forma revenue of the combined entity will be $3.8 billion, which is a bit higher than Electronic Arts, up to now the biggest videogame company. Activision gets into the online gaming world, which is Vivendi's big draw (World of Warcraft), while Vivendi expands into Activision's turf, the console business. (NYT, PC World)