AMD TO BUY ATI FOR 5.4 BILLION DOLLARS
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) today confirmed what has been floating around the ‘net as a rumor these past few weeks – namely that they are purchasing graphics chipmaker ATI Technologies.
“NEW YORK — July 24, 2006 –AMD (NYSE: AMD) and ATI (TSX: ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT) today announced plans to join forces in a transaction valued at approximately $5.4 billion. The combination will create a processing powerhouse by bringing AMD’s technology leadership in microprocessors together with ATI’s strengths in graphics, chipsets and consumer electronics. The result: A new and more formidable company, determined to drive growth, innovation and choice for its customers, particularly in the commercial and mobile computing segments and in the rapidly-growing consumer electronics market. Combining technologies, people, and complementary strengths, AMD plans to deliver in 2007 customer-centric platforms for the benefit of customers who want to collaborate in the development of differentiated solutions..” -AMD Press release
The move, while certainly noteworthy, doesn’t really make all that much sense if you ask me. AMD is closely tied to Nvidia as far as chipsets go, and it seems adding Nvidia’s main competitor (and thus closing off that avenue of profit) along with picking up a large chunk of debt from ATI just spells trouble in the long-run. It’s almost as if sides are now being drawn… AMD/ATI on one side, Intel and Nvidia on the other.
Investors seem to be choosing sides already with AMD stock falling in trading today while Nvidia stocks saw over a 10 percent increase. The moves indicate just how risky a proposition this is for AMD and, needless to say, it could have dramatic short and long-term effects on the industry. Where it’s all going to wind up is anyone’s guess, but we’ll be following this story over the next few months (and longer) as things become more clear-cut.
Click here for the AMD press release, here for a Yahoo/Reuters report on the merger and here for a CNN Money article showing that investors are already preparing for closer partnership between Nvidia and Intel.
MAME32 V.107 UPDATE
Just a quick note here, according to the comments over at the MAME32 team’s site, v.107 of MAME32 is about 85% complete and should be released shortly. It would appear the slight delay is due to the team trying to get all the new video options just right.
DEAD OR ALIVE 4 DEMO NOW IN XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE
A demo of Tecmo’s Dead or Alive 4 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo weighs in at 680.76mb. Go and get your jiggle on. Giggity giggity.
DRAGON’S LAIR HD UPDATE
Updating an earlier story, Digital Leisure replied to our inquiries about the newly released HD version of Dragon’s Lair. We had asked whether the widescreen modes were created by cropping the original artwork and whether Digital Leisure would be offering discounts for people who’ve bought earlier versions of Dragon’s Lair from them as they have in the past. Here’s the answer we got;
“Yes, though the widescreen version is in true HD dimensions it technically loses the most amount of information. There are three versions on the disc including the original, full screen and widescreen all in HD quality. Sorry, but there are no discounts on product for previous owners.” -Digital Leisure
Click here for our earlier story on the HD version of Dragon’s Lair and here for the Digital Leisure website. As I have with just about every version of the game ever released, I’ll most likely be picking up the HD version at some point, and when I do, I’ll post back on how much of an improvement over the original video it actually is. Until then, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that a HD version of Space Ace can’t be too far behind.
