Microsoft To Buy Digital Anvil

SEATTLE (AP) â€” Microsoft Corp. is planning to purchase Digital Anvil, an Austin, Texas-based developer of computer games. <br><br>Terms of the deal were not announced, but Microsoft said Tuesday it would

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) â€” Microsoft Corp. is planning to purchase Digital Anvil, an Austin, Texas-based developer of computer games.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but Microsoft said Tuesday it would gain the rights to games being developed by Digital Anvil. Those include ``FreeLancer,'' a three-dimensional space-combat game, and another game planned for the Xbox video game system, which Microsoft expects to release next fall.

Digital Anvil and Microsoft have collaborated since 1997.

Digital Anvil's founder and chief executive, Chris Roberts, said Tuesday he will serve as a consultant until ``FreeLancer'' is completed late next year and then will leave the company.

Microsoft has also acquired other game developers over the past few years, including FASA Interactive Technologies Inc., Access Software Inc. and Bungie Software Products Corp.