Originally owned and operated by the Japanese publisher Sammy, the former Sammy Studios, Inc. established itself as an independent developer following Sammy’s pull-out of American development in efforts to focus on its Japanese productions. In March of 2005, the company announced that it had completed a management buyout from Sammy Corporation, and had changed its name to High Moon Studios, Inc., with CEO John Rowe heading the developer’s continuing North American efforts on previous games from Sammy Studios and other titles (including the macabre shooter Darkwatch.) In January of 2005, it was announced that Vivendi Universal Games had acquired High Moon Studios. John Rowe, president and CEO of High Moon, continues to manage the studio from its state-of-the-art facility located in Carlsbad, CA.