Wanadoo Edition
In September 2000, Index+ purchased France Telecom Multimedia, a subsidiary of France's main telecommunication operator France Telecom, which was its distributor. The new company was then acquired by Wanadoo, the internet division of France Telecom, under the name Wanadoo Edition. It was then active in all phases of the videogame business: development, publishing, and distribution. Furthermore, France Telecom Multimedia developed internet content, and another Wanadoo subsidiary, Goa, specialized in online gaming, a market in which Wanadoo Edition intended to increase its business.
During its lifespan, Wanadoo Edition played a critical role in the French videogame business, publishing games for studios such as 4X, Babylon Software, Carapace, Etranges Libellules, Galilea Multimedia and PAM, and distributing products from independent publishers, such as Arxel Tribe, Kalisto Entertainment, Microïds and Monte Cristo. Wanadoo Edition's was a major player in the videogame market during the years which saw the demise of many French videogame companies, such as Kalisto, Cryo and 4X.
Wanadoo Edition teamed up with non-French studios as well, such as Asylum Entertainment, Spellbound, Haemimont Games, Rebellion Developments, and TimeGate. It also distributed games such as Tecmo (Project Zero, Rygar: The Legendary Adventure), Mythic Entertainment (Dark Age of Camelot) and PCCWJ (Raging Blades) in PAL territories. Finally, in its own studio, it developed its first 3D game: Inquisition.
The production at this time was heavily influenced by the personality of the editorial director, Edouard Lussan, a history buff. He created the concepts for most games, including the uchronic Iron Storm, set in an alternate, war-torn 1964, and Sniper Elite, which takes place in Berlin during the last days of World War II.
Emmanuel Olivier left Wanadoo Edition in January 2002 due to differences of opinion over strategy with the management of Wanadoo. A year later, in January 2003, Thierry Breton was appointed CEO of France Telecom. After a strategic audit, he decided to part with Wanadoo Edition, and the staff were laid off.
Read more about this topic: MC2 France, Brand History
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