France's Anuman Interactive Expands With New York Office

Anuman Interactive, the Montreuil, France-based game publisher behind titles such as Trainz and Prison Tycoon, said Monday it would expand with an office in New York. The U.S.-based subsidiary will coordinate with the French headquarters "in order to consolidate its ambitions for distribution in the United States," according to a statement from Anuman. The company last year acquired the longstanding Microids brand from French software company MC2, and is working on bringing Microid franchises such as Dracula and Syberia to iPad and iPhone. Heading up Anuman's new U.S. branch is Michele Anouilh, formerly of edutainment company Scholastic, where she led international interactive entertainment sales. She said that with a U.S. branch, the publisher can establish stronger relationships with Stateside business partners and press. Anuman Interactive CEO Stephane Longeard added, "We are now hoping to establish ourselves on the American video game market for the longterm. All the sector’s major stakeholders are there (Apple, Microsoft, Big Fish, Google, etc.) and it is up to us to create profitable business opportunities." In August last year, the company launched the HdO Adventure collection for Apple mobile devices, a package of hidden object adventure games. The company has also been publishing games for Nintendo DS, Wii, Sony PSP and Apple devices since 2007.