Midway acquired privately-held Paradox in an all-stock transaction for 333,334 Midway common shares. The acquisition further strengthens the Company's internal development capabilities as it brings two talented development teams to Midway. This marks the third acquisition in recent months to bolster Midway's high quality game development. In October, 2004 Midway acquired Austin, Texas-based Inevitable Entertainment Inc., the development studio working on Midway's upcoming new videogame, AREA 51. In April, 2004 Midway acquired Seattle, Washington-based Surreal Software Inc., the highly accomplished video game developer behind the successful videogame, The Suffering.
Midway President and Chief Executive Officer David F. Zucker commented, "In acquiring Paradox Development, we have added a talented and established developer that not only deepens our internal product development organization but also brings incremental fighting-genre expertise to Midway. We have made great strides in improving our overall quality of games, and the industry and our customers have recognized this accomplishment. Today's acquisition further strengthens our ability to expand on our current portfolio of games and produce new high quality, top-selling games for the future. Furthermore, the Paradox teams' expertise in the fighting genre is an excellent fit with Midway's product strengths and will help us extend the Mortal Kombat franchise into the action-adventure genre and release a highly engaging title in the Mortal Kombat universe annually."
Based in Moorpark, California, Paradox Development is a successful creator of high-quality interactive entertainment products, with an emphasis on games within the fighting genre. Founded in 1994 by Christine Hsu, the former COO/CFO of Malibu Comics, Paradox Development has developed 13 titles, including seven fighting games, across multiple platforms.
In addition to shares issued for the acquisition of Paradox Development, a total of 261,906 restricted shares of Midway common stock were issued to key Paradox employees as retention incentives. The restrictions on the stock will lapse in stages over a period of three years, provided the employee remains at the Company. The Paradox employees who received restricted shares were: Teresa Chang, Damon Dubois, David Gautrey, James Guintu, Christine Hsu, Paul Interrante, Peter Jefferies, Ben Kutcher, Mark Lappin, James Maxwell, David Ollman, Adam Phul, Richie Romero, Barclay Smith and Paul Stapley.
About Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an Action-Adventure title driven by both intense single and multi-player action. Similar to the recently released Mortal Kombat: Deception, background interactions (i.e., acid pits, living trees, spiked ceilings, etc.), multiple new fatalities, and action-based puzzles will also play an important role in the player's quest for an "outstanding" victory. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks will feature an impressive line-up of Mortal Kombat characters as well, that make frequent appearances as enemies, in boss battles and during several additional in-game interactions.