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Dwango Wireless aquires Spike

Japanese console publisher to become subsidiary.

Dwango Wireless has acquired Japanese developer and publisher Spike after purchasing a large number of shares in the company.

Spike has traditionally produced titles for the console market, including Tendo Doctor for the Nintendo DS, Crimson Tears for the PS2 and forthcoming PlayStation 3 title Way of the Samurai 3. The company is also working on an untitled Xbox 360 game.

Dwango said that the move is designed to enhance its portfolio of mobile gaming content, telling US website 1UP: "Rather than buying the shares for [Spike's] company product, we would like to use their system and game development knowledge in order to strengthen our online and cellphone titles."

This isn't the first time Dwango has looked to console publishers as a means of expanding its portfolio - earlier this year the company purchased a controlling stake in Chunsoft, best known for its Mysterious Dungeon series of RPGs. Chunsoft has continued to develop console games whilst working with Dwango to produce new versions of its most popular titles for mobile phones.

Dwango Wireless separated from its parent company, Tokyo-based Dwango Co. Ltd, last month. Along with a wide range of games for mobile phones, DW's portfolio includes content based around lifestyle brands such as Napster, USA Today, Playboy and Rolling Stone.

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