I-play Acquires Ditto Studios

Officials from mobile developer and publisher I-play (the company formerly known as Digital Bridges) have announced that the company has acquired British games porting specialist and developer Ditto Studios. I-Play intends to use the acquisition to deliver its existing products to market more quickly, through Ditto's proprietary technology that accelerates the process of customizing mobile games for the hundreds of different handsets available on the market. "We are already reaching over 95% of the handsets on the market with our releases, making it appear to consumers that the mobile industry is a single platform. However, the increasingly fragmented mobile platform is one of the key challenges that the industry faces today and Ditto's technology and support will help us improve and accelerate this process," said Brian Greasley, CEO of I-play. Mark Bridgeman will remain as Ditto's managing director, whilst the other Ditto directors, Bob Wood, James Allcock and Ian Metcalfe will continue to manage the Ditto team. A full integration between both companies is now underway. I-Play will also publish Ditto’s own titles, with the first one on the company’s distribution network being 3D shoot ‘em-up Major Carnage. This title will launch in both North America and Europe this July, after which the company will continue to develop both 2D and 3D games. Mark Bridgeman, managing director of Ditto commented: "We see I-play as the most dynamic company in wireless gaming and are very excited to have joined such a talented team. Ditto's vast experience in the mobile arena is a perfect compliment to I-play - there is a natural fit and clear role for us to play in porting and developing future I-play titles."