Namco, Bandai merging Japanese game ops

TOKYO--While the formation of Namco Bandai Games America seems to have resolved the merger between Namco and Bandai across the Pacific, the two companies are still jumping through restructuring hoops in their homeland.

Namco Bandai Holdings announced it will establish a new company, Namco Bandai Games Inc., that will absorb its video game operations starting March 31. While it will incorporate all of the pair's combined gaming ventures, Namco's arcade operations will soon be spun off into their own new company.

Current Namco chairman Masaya Nakamura will serve as chairman of Namco Bandai Games, with Namco vice president Shukuo Ishikawa taking over the new company's president position, and Bandai board member Shin Unozawa becoming its vice president.