There seems to have been a recent flurry of take-over activity in the gaming world, with big studios snapping up the young pretenders. It would all make Gordon Gecko very proud.

Firstly, Activision has acquired Irish DemonWare, a Dublin based developer, with offices in LA and Vancouver, though the deal hasn’t been officially announced.

DemonWare, established in 2003, specialises in creating real-time network software, producing middleware and components designed to reduce development times.

Likewise Vivendi Games has added Wanako Games to its stable. Being the largest game development studio in Latin America Wanako recently developed Assault Heroes for Xbox Live Arcade.

On the other side of the industry Google is going to buy in-game advertising firm Adscape Media for US $23 million (EUR 17.5m) perhaps to gain a toe-hold in the business against another giant. Back in May 2006, Microsoft bought in-game ads specialist Massive Inc in a deal rumoured to be worth as much as US $400 million (EUR 304.5m).

>> Link - Official Site/Vivendi
>> Link - Official Site/Activision
>> Link - Official Site/Wanaka Games
>> Link - Official Site/Demonware
>> Link - Official Site/Adscape Media