Microsoft buys a piece of Nintendo, literally!

[Zeus]

Microsoft has bought a large chunk of Nintendo's land in Redmond! The derelict 28-acre land sits between Nintendo's North American headquarters and Microsoft's RedWest campus which plays host to its MSN online unit. Neither company disclosed the price paid for the land, but the property has been recently assessed at more than $26.5 million, with Nintendo originally purchasing the space for just $601,277 back in 1987. Great profit!


The company's headquarters will remain in Redmond. In fact, Nintendo is planning to grow its employment in Washington, which currently stands at about 1,000 people, in areas including testing and distribution, according to the statement. The property is north of Northeast 51st Street and west of Highway 520 and provides "a natural fit" with Microsoft's RedWest campus, said Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos.

Microsoft's long-term plans for the property are unclear. Gellos said it could provide office space for about 2,000 people. But the company is focused now on the three-year, $1.3 billion campus expansion currently under way on both sides of Highway 520. The project will grow the Redmond campus by about a third.

This acquisition was not contemplated as part of that expansion, "but it certainly has that potential," Gellos added.


News Source: <A href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003773038_webnintendoland03.html" target="_blank">nwsource.com</a>

[p$p b0y]

not bad, $+26million just for holding on to something for 20 years...

[alkalinetrio]

washington? last i heard they was going for new york. either way, good deal for the land and even though it was assessed at 26 mil, you can bet microsoft had to pay WAY over the odds to obtain the land from a rival company. Im sure there was a lot of other people nintendo would have prefered to sell to, so microsoft probbaly had to fork out a little extra

[KainXS]

now that was a smart move on nintendo's part

[neurotoxin]

I`m guessing they need all the extra space for Fu*cked Consoles :rolleyes:

Gentlemen.... Let the Flaming Commence :P

[Totalfixation]

my best bet would be they bought solely to protect themselves from building developers. It will allow them to keep the surrounding areas clear from over crowding.

[alkalinetrio]

a mexican has just taken over bill gates to become the worlds richest man...

all this spending billy boy, with huge repair bills for the 360 it isn't a wonder!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6267714.stm

[mystic54]

How old is this news? People knew this months back because we had a story on it back then as well (same pic I think too).

[66xx66xx66]

what?? there are a lot of nicer cheaper building in the USA? Why buy Nintendo's building?? is MS up for something else???

[Inferno]

they didn't buy a "building", they bought land. land that happens to be right next to where they currently are. why have two different campuses when you can just have one big one. makes much more sense this way.

and this is new news, as the article states the sale will close mid-July

[John Crichton]

Nintendo knows how to make money!

I think the next wii will kick microsoft and sony ass even graphically

[SteveNZ]

they didn't buy a "building", they bought land. land that happens to be right next to where they currently are. why have two different campuses when you can just have one big one. makes much more sense this way.

and this is new news, as the article states the sale will close mid-July

They announced intent to buy it about a month ago.

[chinese_fury]

Between selling a ton of DS Lites and Wii's and then letting go of 60% of their staff in the U.S. - what is Nintendo in Japan going to due with all that cash?
Buy a small country and call it Nintendoland?

[Xenogears V]

If you cannot defeat an enemy, done friend him.:rolleyes:

[{{909}}]

what is Nintendo in Japan going to due with all that cash?
Buy a small country and call it Nintendoland?

they already have one, previously called japan ;)

[Calidrifter]

Nintendo knows how to make money!

I think the next wii will kick microsoft and sony ass even graphically
No it wont. That would involve investing money on new technology. Shigeru miyamoto won't let that happen. The next system will be a 3rd generation gamecube with a new gimmick on their controlers. Remember... its not the graphics!:D

[Inferno]

they already have one, previously called japan ;)

you're a genius...:D