Konami Acquires Blue Label Interactive

Konami announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire mobile game/app company Blue Label Interactive (BLI), previously known for phone game development for companies such as EA, Sony Pictures Mobile, and Disney Mobile Studios. Konami and BLI together plan to enter additional mobile entertainment ventures beyond gaming. BLI is a mobile application developer specializing in the creation and deployment of mobile software for the entertainment industry. In addition to mobile game development, Blue Label also facilitates direct-to-consumer distribution initiatives including integration into carrier billing systems and off-deck portals. The agreement follows a previously announced mobile partnership between Konami and PlayFirst (Diner Dash), which sees Konami managing the mobile publishing and distribution of popular PlayFirst casual games such as Pirate Poppers and Oasis. Kazumi Kitaue, Chairman and CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, commented, "Given the exciting and rapid transformation to 3G wireless transport systems and the related advancements in wireless device computing power, Konami is moving to the next level with the acquisition of BLI. It is our vision that we will blend both online and offline technology elements to creatively develop entertainment and deploy into alternative distribution channels." He added: "We anticipate that the merger of these two entities will have a synergistic effect on our ability to drive multiple streams of entertainment and infotainment through multiple digital distribution channels. The acquisition of BLI, their technology tools, and programming expertise will guarantee that we remain at the forefront of mobile entertainment while concurrently converging mobile, console, and online content categories."