Here is a strange rumor. According to China’s Global Times, Apple is in talks to acquire Hansen Information Technology, a Chinese game developer that specializes in JAVA based MMORPGs.
The American multinational is to acquire Chinese web game firm Handseeing Information Technology Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, by 1 billion yuan ($147.62 million).
Being that Hansen is based in China, I have never heard of the company. Though it appears to be a popular MMORPG developer. Perhaps one of our international readers could chime in and provide us with some more information on the company or their games.
If the rumored purchase is indeed true, the obvious use for the company would be to build web based games for devices like the iPhone and iPad. Additionally, the technology could allow Apple to move the yet to be release Game Center to the web. A web based version of Game Center could put it in competition with Pop Cap, Microsoft’s MSN Games, Kongregate (which was just acquired by GameStop) and of course Shockwave.com.
This is all rumor and speculation of course. We would expect if Apple were to move into web based gaming that they would be focused on using HTML5, SVG or WebGL rather than JAVA. [Global Times]
