Irvine-based online game developer Blizzard Entertainment Inc. shattered sales records with the July release of its latest game, “StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty”
The game sold 1 million copies within the first 24 hours, making it the bestselling PC game of 2010, according to the company.
Blizzard went on to sell more than 1.5 million copies in the first 48 hours, making “StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty” the fastest-selling game of its type.
The game was released in North America, Europe, South America and Asia.
“We launched ‘StarCraft’ II in 11 different languages and on five different continents,” Chief Executive Mike Morhaime said in a statement.
Blizzard developers were on hand at several of the launches to meet players and sign copies of the game.
The company, which sees about $1.3 billion in yearly sales, is part of Santa Monica’s Activision Blizzard Inc.
“StarCraft II” comes at a critical time for Activision Blizzard, itself part of France’s Vivendi SA.
Activision is in a lull between releases of some of its blockbuster video games, including “Guitar Hero, “Call of Duty” and “Tony Hawk.”
A few weeks ago Activision Blizzard got hammered by investors on worse-than-expected sales for the second quarter.
Profits were up 12% from a year earlier to $129 million on sales of $967 million, which were down 7%.
“StarCraft II” was five years in the making and is a sequel to 1998’s “StarCraft.”
The game is a real-time strategy game in which three races—the “protoss,” “terrans” and “zerg”—face off in a science-fiction world.
“StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty” sells for about $60 a pop. A special collector’s edition goes for $100. Once you’ve bought the software, the game’s free to play online with others.
Smith Micro Director
Aliso Viejo’s Smith Micro Software Inc., a maker of connectivity and file shrinking software for cell phones and other mobile devices, added a telecommunications veteran to its board.
James Straight joined Smith Micro as a director last month.
Straight has held senior executive roles for several telecommunications companies and served in the White House Communications Agency under the Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations.
He was a senior vice president at Verizon Wireless, a unit of New York-based Verizon Communications Inc.
Straight was responsible for product management and development for all consumer products under the Verizon Wireless and Verizon telecom units.
Smith Micro had a recent market value of about $330 million.
That’s Corny
Anaheim’s Mobile Edge LLC, which makes hip laptop bags, backpacks and accessories, has upped its green cred with a lineup of security checkpoint-friendly bags that are made out of corn.
Yeah, corn.
Mobile Edge teamed up with DuPont, part of EI DuPont de Nemours & Co., which makes a futuristic material called Sorona. It’s a recyclable material that blends corn polymers into a fabric that looks and feels a lot like nylon.
The material is made in way that emits some 60% less greenhouse gas than typical petroleum-based nylon or polyester production.
Last year, Mobile Edge released a line of bags and totes made of natural cotton canvas and recycled plastic fittings that are roughly 80% biodegradable.
Software Hirings, Funding
Santa Ana-based RealPractice Inc., a startup that sells Internet-based software to lawyers and law firms that moved here this year from Los Angeles, added a trio of executives.
Brad Cooper joined the company as senior vice president of marketing and general manager of online channels. Matt New was hired as vice president of product. Claude Ciocan joined as vice president of engineering.
Chief Executive Carey Ransom nabbed the top post in June after RealPractice founder Rudy DeFelice stepped down. DeFelice still has an advisory role.
RealPractice also said it closed a round of funding by angel investors, former employees and other backers, which include Corona del Mar’s Miramar Venture Partners and Santa Monica’s Rustic Canyon Partners.
The company didn’t say how much it’s raised in the most recent round. It has raised $10 million to date.
RealPractice’s software programs are marketed as helping to save time and money for lawyers.
