Electronic Arts Inc has agreed to purchase all outstanding stock in Westwood Studios Inc, and to buy certain other assets of Virgin Interactive Entertainment Inc, a division of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc, for a total of $122.5m. The deal is expected to go through by the end of September. Las Vegas, Nevada-based games outfit Westwood was founded in 1985 by Brett Sperry and Louis Castle and is best known for Command & Conquer, Lands of Lore, Kyrandia, Blade Runner and Dune. Importantly in a games industry where end users’ personal loyalties count for much, both Sperry and Castle have signed five-year employment contracts with San Mateo, California-based EA.
