Topic: It is like Carrot Top marrying Jessica Alba.

[Pugnate]

OK maybe not that weird, but still makes you go huh?

[idolminds]

Damn you, I was just going to post this.

Seriously, though. What the fuck?

[MysterD]

Please tell me this is a freakin' joke....

[idolminds]

No joke.

[Pugnate]

Whatever interest Blizzard had left in PC exclusives... cut that in half.

Who wants a bet that five years from now we will be reminiscing about the days when Blizzard was a great company?

[Quemaqua]

Well, fuck.  That makes me want to hurt somebody.

[idolminds]

I wouldn't say that just yet, pug. What was the last Blizzard console game? Since Starcraft Ghost was canned, the last one was Starcraft 64 released in 2000. I really wouldn't worry too much about Blizzard turning its back on the PC (Starcraft 2 is PC exclusive). I also wouldn't worry about the quality of their games going down. Somehow I don't think anyone is in the position to pressure Blizz to release a game before they damn well feel like it.

[Quemaqua]

But who in the hell thought that anyone was in the position to combine them with another company?  Who was even stupid enough to think that was a good fucking idea?  Blizzard has to be close to the most profitable games company in existence in terms of development, not to mention one of the most respected names in the industry.  You're merging the company responsible for Warcraft and Starcraft with the people who brought you... Crash fucking Bandicoot?  I'm sorry, I fail to see the logic there, unless of course you're trying to simply force further console development so as to reach an even wider market with your PC-centric money-maker, which is exactly what this reeks of to me.  I can see no other reason for it.

[MysterD]

Edited Addition

Whatever interest Blizzard had left in PC exclusives... cut that in half.

Who wants a bet that five years from now we will be reminiscing about the days when Blizzard was a great company?

No wonder Roper went to Flagship.
Oh wait, EA publishes their stuff....fuck!


Original Post
First, 2K buys Irrational.
Then, Bioware and Pandemic go to EA.
Now, Blizzard goes to Activision?

WTF is this world coming to in 2007???

[Quemaqua]

To be fair, I believe 2K already owned Irrational and just made them change their name recently.

EDIT - Also, I wasn't aware that EA got Bioware/Pandemic.  That fucking sucks.

Also, what's up with:

Says EA CEO John Riccitiello, "We bring a lot to the table ... we simplify the process of courting publishers, basically taking it to zero." He adds that EA, being the publishing giant that it is, can "reach places where [BioWare and Pandemic] don't get to so we can build their properties bigger."

Someone help that man construct an intelligible sentence.  No, seriously.  What the fuck?

[sirean_syan]

Well joy. Hopefully Blizzard will retain a large amount of autonomy like they did with whatever deal they had with plan old Vivendi. Honestly, that deal didn't seem that bad and this could just work the same way. Still, then you have to wonder why it was actually done.

Maybe it's like Voltron coming together to kill a giant monster, like EA.... probably not.

Crappy week in gaming this has been.

[Pugnate]

I wouldn't say that just yet, pug. What was the last Blizzard console game? Since Starcraft Ghost was canned, the last one was Starcraft 64 released in 2000. I really wouldn't worry too much about Blizzard turning its back on the PC (Starcraft 2 is PC exclusive). I also wouldn't worry about the quality of their games going down. Somehow I don't think anyone is in the position to pressure Blizz to release a game before they damn well feel like it.

Like Que mentioned, it is the twisted logic that makes me wonder. The only reason Blizzard would want to combine with the publisher that has console hits like "Guitar Hero" and "Tony Hawk", is because they want to make a move for the console market. While I don't think they will stop releasing PC exclusives, they may start giving consoles a larger focus. Just look at Bioware.

edit:
Though I suppose Bioware never had the commercial PC success that Blizzard did. Blizz are the owners of South Korea's national sport. That's got to count for something.

Blizzard already rule the PC market, and there have been rumors that they wish to bring their next MMO to the Xbox 360.

One other thing that worries me is that the CEO of this new company will be the Activision CEO. To me it is a little like The United States and Venezuela becoming one country, but then choosing Hugo Chavez as their leader. That may seem like an extreme example, but with Blizzard putting in twice the money, it seems odd that the CEO would be from Activison. 

No wonder Roper went to Flagship.
Oh wait, EA publishes their stuff....fuck!

Dude Roeper left in 2003.

Check your calender. It is nearly 2008.

Says EA CEO John Riccitiello, "We bring a lot to the table ... we simplify the process of courting publishers, basically taking it to zero." He adds that EA, being the publishing giant that it is, can "reach places where [BioWare and Pandemic] don't get to so we can build their properties bigger."

hahaha.. wtf indeed.

Also, I wasn't aware that EA got Bioware/Pandemic.  That fucking sucks.

I could have sworn you posted in that thread...

edit:

I dug it up. I think you posted in there, but missed it?

http://www.overwritten.net/forum/index.php?topic=2918.0

Maybe it's like Voltron coming together to kill a giant monster, like EA.... probably not. Sad

Crappy week in gaming this has been.

Or captain Planet!

Though I've been looking at this across the forums, and everyone else seems to be echoing the same sentiment. They all seem to be wanting an EA killer. Trouble with EA is... well they've got every thing. Heck, I am sure they'll try to get your first born the minute he comes out.

But yes, highly crappy week.

edit:

Can't blame Blizzard at all though. The move was made by Vivendi, who own Blizzard. They will soon be controlling 68% of Activision, and will be combing the two companies.

[Quemaqua]

Funny, I did post in that thread, Pug.  Must have just blocked out the information.  Sigh.

[MysterD]

Funny, I did post in that thread, Pug.  Must have just blocked out the information.  Sigh.

Hell, I don't blame you for blocking out such bad news, heh.

Dude Roeper left in 2003.
Check your calender. It is nearly 2008.

True...
...But NamcoBandai was originally supposed to published Hellgate.

Well, I think it was early 2007, EA announced they'd be publishing w/ Namco, since Namco was already losing massive amounts of $$.

Okay, it was Nov. 2006.

[Pugnate]

Hell, I don't blame you for blocking out such bad news, heh

That's what I was going to respond with.

Thought I'd share this before hitting the sack. Just pasting some guy's post from the PCG forums:

This should answer many of the questions people are having about the merger. Taken off of the WoW forum:

Q: What are the details of the deal?
A: Under the terms of an agreement with Vivendi, Blizzard and the other companies that make up Vivendi Games will combine with Activision to form a new public company called Activision Blizzard. We do not anticipate any difference in Blizzard’s operations as a result of the combination. Joining forces with Activision will create a stronger and more diversified company that we anticipate will benefit and strengthen both brands.

Q: What will happen to the Blizzard brand name?
A: The Blizzard brand name will stay the same as it’s always been: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Q: What will change with regard to the day-to-day operations at Blizzard?
A: There will be no changes in the way Blizzard operates. All of the people, processes, and philosophies that have made Blizzard so successful will be preserved. Blizzard will benefit from all-star sales and distribution teams to service our products. In addition, the combined company will be stronger financially, managerially, and operationally.

Q: How will this impact Blizzard’s games?
A: This will not impact Blizzard’s games. We remain committed to providing the same high-quality game content and support that we always have. Development on Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II, as well as on our unannounced games, is continuing as normal.

Q: Will there be any visible differences in Blizzard’s logo or packaging/marketing materials as a result of this deal?
A: No, there won’t be any changes to our company name, logo, packaging/marketing materials, or anything else along those lines.

Q: Will there be any management changes at Blizzard as a result of this deal?
A: No, there won’t be any management changes at Blizzard as a result of the combination.

Q: Will Activision and Blizzard now share development teams?
A: No, both of our companies will continue to operate as they have previously with regard to game development.

Q: Will the release schedules for any Blizzard games be impacted?
A: No, the transaction will not have any impact on our games, our day-to-day operations, or our release timelines.

Q: Will any of Blizzard’s offices close as a result of the deal? Or, will any new offices open?
A: No, all of our offices will continue to function as they have, and we don’t foresee the need to open any new offices for the time being.

Q: Will any employees move to different offices as a result of the deal?
A: We don’t anticipate making any such moves as a result of the deal.

Q: Does this deal include Activision’s and Blizzard’s international offices?
A: Yes, every part of our companies in the U.S. and abroad is involved in this deal.

Q: If Activision Blizzard is a public company, does that mean I’ll now be able to buy stock in Blizzard?
A: Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard, Inc and will continue to be a publicly listed company traded on NASDAQ. You will be able to buy stock in the combined company.

Q: When will the transaction be complete?
A: The transaction is subject to approval of Activision shareholders, customary closing conditions, and regulatory approvals. Pending approval, the companies expect the transaction to be completed by mid 2008.

On positive thing I can say about this is that Blizzard have very quickly tried to address any concerns, without letting things cook. Gamespot could take example.

[MysterD]

So they say...
Sounds like the normal PR stuff when a merger happens...
We'll see what REALLY happens, in due time....

[JacksRag(e)]

Coming soon to a console near you: World of Guitar Hero.

[MysterD]

Coming soon to a console near you: World of Guitar Hero.

World of Neversoft just sounds scary...

[idolminds]

Call of Diablo: War is Hell

[MysterD]

Tony Hawk's Starcraft

[gpw11]

Hmmmmm, you know, both these companies kind of just make the same games over and over again.  This might work out.

[MysterD]

Hmmmmm, you know, both these companies kind of just make the same games over and over again.  This might work out.

Don't most companies do that when they make a true-blue sequel, though???

[gpw11]

Oh, fully.  I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all, just that there's like 10 Tony Hawk games and aside from WoW, Blizzard really only knows how to make two different games.

[MysterD]

Oh, fully.  I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all, just that there's like 10 Tony Hawk games and aside from WoW, Blizzard really only knows how to make two different games.

Let's see...it'd help Activision get a lock on those two genres.

Blizzard's two -- that would be basically RPG's (Wow + expansions, Diablo series + Expansions)
And RTS's (Warcraft series and Starcraft + expansions)

And I don't think Activision really owns either market...well, might help them big-time now...

They pretty much got the shooter market locked (Call of Duty series and any shooter Id Software does).
They got the skateboarding genre locked -- Tony Hawk.
They got the lock on the music genre -- GH3 by Neversoft.

[Pugnate]

Oh, fully.  I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all, just that there's like 10 Tony Hawk games and aside from WoW, Blizzard really only knows how to make two different games.

You are correct. One is Diablo, and the other is Warcraft/Starcraft. I wouldn't count those as separate games, because they are pretty much the same thing. Hell they even copy each other's plot twists.

[MysterD]

As if Activision ain't made enough announcements...

CoD5 and GH4 have already been announced.
So has another Tony Hawk game.

[Quemaqua]

I'll raise a cup of vomit to that.

[Pugnate]

That's disgusting.