Hawkins' Digital Chocolate acquires Sumea

Mobile game developer Digital Chocolate, which was founded by industry veteran Trip Hawkins, has announced that it has acquired Finnish mobile developer and publisher Sumea in a move designed to broaden its international reach.

Sumea counts major carriers such as Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, AT&T and Cingular among its customers, and brings with it a catalogue of 24 titles - including Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, Mafia Wars, Street Soccer and Extreme Air Skateboarding.

The acquisition will give Digital Chocolate a significant presence in the European mobile game market, as well as broadening the company's catalogue of games - and of course, the relationships with the major mobile operators won't hurt either.

According to the statement on the acquisition, Digital Chocolate plans to retain the Sumea brand, and will be leveraging the acquisition in two key ways - by increasing the distribution of Sumea's titles in the USA, and by using Sumea's European distribution channels for Digital Chocolate's own products.

"Acquiring Sumea provides Digital Chocolate with strong, established partnerships with major global carriers, broad geographic distribution and an entire catalogue of top-rated games," enthused Digital Chocolate founder Trip Hawkins.

Hawkins set up Digital Chocolate after his former company, 3DO, went bust last year. Prior to 3DO, of course, he was best known for being the founder of Electronic Arts.