12. Vivendi Games

Year formed: 2000

Headquarters: New York

Studios: Blizzard Console (Aliso Viejo, Calif.); Blizzard Entertainment (Irvine, Calif.); Blizzard North (San Mateo, Calif.); High Moon Studios (Carlsbad, Calif.) Massive Entertainment (Malmo, Sweden); Radical Entertainment (Vancouver); Sierra Entertainment (Bellevue, Wash.); Swordfish Studios (Birmingham, U.K.); Vivendi Games Mobile (Los Angeles; San Mateo, CA)

In the last year prior to the merger of Vivendi's gaming unit with Activision, World of Warcraft powered sales year round, though financial reports cited the lack of a new WoW expansion as the cause of lower-than-expected revenues.

Outside of WoW, Vivendi's release schedule-populated in large part by F.E.A.R. sequels and movie licenses - was slim. Review scores were unimpressive, and ratings given by our readers were mediocre.

Reader comments were unkind to the publisher as well, though as one commenter acknowledged, this may all be academic, with the merger now finalized.

Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade