Blactivision - Actard

[Ginger]

I've got to say I don't see what Blizzard gain from this, I guess they want to crack the console market, but I don't think activision brings that much to the table.

They have a few successful series under their belt but I've never thought of them as a particularly good publisher and a lot trash seems to spew out the door (hopefully that won't be contagious).

I guess the growing production costs of games pushes publishers towards oligarch-erisation but I don’t think that trend is good for the developers nor consumers.

[twmac]

Agreed.

Someone I know cracked a joke after SCI and Eidos got together that at this rate, in ten years time EA would have total control over the publishing duties after everyone bonded together in a The-Blob-meets-Glen-Gary-Glen-Ross style merger.

Maybe he was having a vision.

The bigger companies get the more they lose touch with what it is they are supposed to be doing (other than making money).

Looking forward to World of Hawk's Star Duty though, that game will be amazing.

[Marek]

I've got to say I don't see what Blizzard gain from this

Blizzard is part of Vivendi Games. Vivendi is doing the merger with Activision. Your phrasing implies that Blizzard initiated this merger for their benefit, but they didn't. It's called Activision Blizzard and not Activision Vivendi probably because Vivendi does not have the same level of name recognition.

[nckrlf]

It's called Activision Blizzard and not Activision Vivendi probably because Vivendi does not have the same level of name recognition.

That says a lot about the state of the Sierra brand these days.

[Ginger]

Ok the article I read misinformed me, it implied Vivendi would be merging Blizzard with Activision where as they are merging their whole games division with Activision. My point still remains I don't see why they choose to merge with Activision, they have had a very successful year, but that seems to be from milking one or two (what seem like developer lead) innovations for all they are worth. Activision games often feel like they are pushed out of the door too quickly with the same old ideas rehashed, despite their recent financial success I don't see them as a strong partner. I guess if their milking philosophies are applied to blizzard's franchises a cash cow will be formed, but sadly that's a short term attitude, that will eventually dry up.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Blizzardvision

Activard

[n0wak]

seems to be from milking one or two (what seem like developer lead) innovations for all they are worth. Activision games often feel like they are pushed out of the door too quickly with the same old ideas rehashed, despite their recent financial success I don't see them as a strong partner.

What you describe is exactly why Activision is now the second largest third party publisher in the world behind EA The point of this merger is to make a move for them to be the biggest.

[Roderick]

I can't remember the last Activision game I played. Pheeewww... Can't remember a whole lot, anyway. It's all been Ubisoft, Vivendi, Capcom and Nintendo.

[Wrestlevania]

Are we really supposed to care about this? Is this not just an opportunity to pretend to be all business-like and high brow?

"Oh no, I wonder if they'll slip the release date for Wrath of the Lich King now?!"

Shut up and get back to pretending you aren't a virgin, you knob. This has nothing to do with games beyond the number of zeros associated with each *gag* "IP".

[Marek]

I just looked through the PDF of the Blizzovision presentation slides and on page 17 it has these bullets:

• Improve operating performance at Sierra
  
• Realize synergies

Sigh. Realize synergies? That's... two words. They're not even trying with the business babble these days.

[Nachimir]

• Realize synergies

Best. Bullet point. Evar.

They're not even trying with the business babble these days.

Perhaps they're using Bullshit Bingo as reference now:

http://www.bullshitbingo.net/cards/bullshit/

[Wrestlevania]

Pray for their poor underlings' souls.

Alternatively, send them aid now!

[twmac]

It is kind of funny that so many posts are about requiring originality in games and yet the talk of recent has been about Guitar Hero 3 and Call Of Duty 4.

COD4 might have taken a new look at the genre, but lets face it when you play it on Veteran the same AI problems that have plagued the game since the beginning are there. Enemies who see no one but you even when you are crouched down and there are 15 of your teammates are standing in front of you providing 'supporting' fire. Teammates who supply the least amount of support I've seen in any game. Even the guys in Earth Defence Force are more useful, and if those guys piss me off I can just shoot them unlike COD which initiates an instant failure.

And then Guitar Hero 3, new songs, great, but really, how much innovation can there be in a game that relies entirely on binary routines? It is breaking games down to the most basic 1010101010 formula and there are now three iterations of it?

All published by Activision, it says a lot when the two biggest third party publishers rely on rehashes of franchises to see them through.

Don't get me started on WOW, I already have a job that I do during the day, why the hell would I want to go home and pay to do another one?

Rant ended. Am having bad day.

[Scrobbs]

I've just been checking out the stock price. At the time of the merger, the stock jumped from around $22 to around $26.5.

Apparently Activision have been on the lookout for some time for games companies, and Blizzard is the latest. They bought Bizarre Creations back in october. If they're still on the prowl, might be worth a punt.

[Ginger]

Not really, due to the choppy economy there are already signs of the retail sector recessing, games are very likely to be hard hit by this. Also I imagine most the short term gain has been grabbed already, there may still be a bit more, but if it becomes over priced u’ll have to make sure u get out before this is realised.

[Roderick]

This is excellent.