...I read this twice before coming in, and it still makes little sense.
I mean, why would either of these companies want to merge? They're both making $Texas, they're both extremely profitable on their own. I see that the stated goal is to use Activision's console knowledge and Blizzard's PC knowledge to dominate the world, but even so.
The whole thing confuses me.
Activision might have snapped Blizzard up so EA couldn't five years down the line. What's going to happen to Vivendi Universal now? Are they going to fade away?
...I read this twice before coming in, and it still makes little sense.
I mean, why would either of these companies want to merge? They're both making $Texas, they're both extremely profitable on their own. I see that the stated goal is to use Activision's console knowledge and Blizzard's PC knowledge to dominate the world, but even so.
The whole thing confuses me.
Activision might have snapped Blizzard up so EA couldn't five years down the line. What's going to happen to Vivendi Universal now? Are they going to fade away?
Vivendi become the largest shareholder apparently.
It makes sense for both, as blizzard has already proven that they aren't that adept at console development (see Ghost), so they get help when they need it there, plus Activision gets a whole host of PC properties and knowledge to leverage. This is about combining resources where it makes sense (dev tools, testing, marketing etc.) and leaving the developers to develop high quality properties that make bank. They're cutting costs without sacrificing anything, while at the same time gaining expertise in places they were once deficient. Makes perfect sense, actually. The big question is if there will be political power-plays within the corp that fuck everything up.
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Man, work on Monday is going to be a buzzin' with discussion. I'm going to have to corner someone in BizDev (basically, someone with far more business sense than me) and see what they make of this.
My thought is that this has more to do with Blizzard wanting to distance themselves further from Vivendi. I'm guessing they'd prefer to do something similar to what Bungie did with MS, but were somehow unable to. Blizzard is so crucial to Vivendi's bottom line, whereas MS still makes a boatload outside of gaming (much less Bungie). So they can't just outright leave Vivendi.
So the best they can do is convince their corporate parent to let them merge with another money-making machine?
This is probably just going to be the North American face of Vivendi. Just imagine this as "Vivendi US" not actiblizzion or whatever. Vivendi likes to shadow things up more than the north american giant corps.
Wait, wait wait. Joystiq is reporting that Activision is merging with Vivendi, not Blizzard. That means Massive, Sierra, and whole bunch of other subsidiaries are coming along with this.
We can't really know, but isn't it more likely that Vivendi wanted more $$$$, and Activision was willing to give it to them? I doubt any of us knows really how much freeway Blizzard has when it comes to their Vivendi overlords, but I doubt it's too much. Other than the "You can't tell us when to release a game" clause apparently. So maybe Blizzard did have a say in this, but I find it more likely Vivendi just wants to sell the company while it'll net them a crapton versus a few years ago when they almost lost the biggest game ever for probably not a crapton compared.
Wait, wait wait. Joystiq is reporting that Activision is merging with Vivendi, not Blizzard. That means Massive, Sierra, and whole bunch of other subsidiaries are coming along with this.
It's actually bigger than we thought.
Vivendi has owned Blizzard for years, now. So, yes.
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Blizzavision
Bactilizzardision
Actiblizzion is the obvious answer.
Or Activizzard.
Activision might have snapped Blizzard up so EA couldn't five years down the line. What's going to happen to Vivendi Universal now? Are they going to fade away?
They have Infinity Ward.
Imagine it. IW and Blizzard combining forces....
Call of Duty MMOFPS
It will be one panel. Tycho and Gabe will be passed out from blood loss after slitting their wrists on the shards of broken Blizzard game CDs.
EDIT: You you be crushed to death or suffocate if $18 billion were dropped on you?
Blactivizzard
Vivendi become the largest shareholder apparently.
Sounds like a Pokemon doesn't i...
OH CRAP, Blizzard to buy Nintendo in 5 years!
(Warcraft IV confirmed.)
I reckon they're going to buy an island somewhere and start their own nation state or something.
Guess this is the thing to do this year.
I for one welcome our new Blizzivision overlords.
Gaming powers, activate! Form of, megalithic corporation! Shape of, hindrance to EA domination of the industry!
Well, a 2 party system is better than a 1 party system... I suppose
I want my Call of Starcraft and Warcraft: Total War plz
ActivisionBlizzardtopia?
I just imagined a cinematic singleplayer starcraft game in the vein of CoD4.
I'm crying. Its so beautiful.
3ds friend code: 2981-6032-4118
Man, work on Monday is going to be a buzzin' with discussion. I'm going to have to corner someone in BizDev (basically, someone with far more business sense than me) and see what they make of this.
My thought is that this has more to do with Blizzard wanting to distance themselves further from Vivendi. I'm guessing they'd prefer to do something similar to what Bungie did with MS, but were somehow unable to. Blizzard is so crucial to Vivendi's bottom line, whereas MS still makes a boatload outside of gaming (much less Bungie). So they can't just outright leave Vivendi.
So the best they can do is convince their corporate parent to let them merge with another money-making machine?
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Steam: JC_Rooks
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Sega own Creative Assembly now.
Arthas as a secret character.
Ahahahaha, that's startlingly prophetic.
Lvl 60 Tauren Chieften on Insane
They're level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftains now.
Yeah, they are. Actiblizzion will likely eclipse EA as the largest 3rd-party games publisher.
And hell, it might make em bigger than Nintendo, depending on how it plays out.
Night elfs will be unlockable characters in Tony Hawk games.
Their breasts will quadruple in size.
It's actually bigger than we thought.
So yeah, interesting....