Seven video game companies, including Microsoft Corp. , Eidos Plc and Ubi Soft Entertainment , have qualified to bid in the auction for the assets of bankrupt publisher 3DO Co. , according to court papers filed Thursday. In a notice filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco, 3DO"s attorneys said Microsoft, Eidos, Ubi Soft, JoWooD Productions Software AG, Namco Hometek Inc., Turbine Entertainment Software Corp. and Crave Entertainment filed by Wednesday"s deadline to bid in the Aug. 14 auction.
3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 28 and said it would seek to sell its assets. The company had struggled with weak sales and repeatedly sought financing from its founder and chief executive, long-time video game industry executive Trip Hawkins. The filing did not detail what assets the seven bidders were interested in, or what they were offering to pay. Microsoft entered the console games business two years ago with its Xbox console, though it was in the PC games business for years beforehand. Britain"s Eidos is best known for the "Tomb Raider" franchise, while the French Ubi Soft has had success of late with its "Splinter Cell" action title.