I hate name changes like this. Whenever two companies merge and they settle for a name with is effectively Company x Company y, they almost always phase out the Company y part within a few of years. We could be looking at the death of the Blizzard brand within five years, people...
I hate name changes like this. Whenever two companies merge and they settle for a name with is effectively Company x Company y, they almost always phase out the Company y part within a few of years. We could be looking at the death of the Blizzard brand within five years, people...
Not really. They're still going to use Blizzard Entertainment with their games.
"Yeah! I'll burn my game disc! Never mind that I can still downloaded the client from the internet! And... wait, cancel my account? No, man! I'm nearly Level 70. Level 70, people."
Is anyone else feeling more despair than shock at this? Is it just me?
not just you. i dont think i've ever even played a Blizzard game, and I dont want Activision F-ing around with what's good. I don't know why, but i keep getting the feeling that Activision's QA mindset isnt good, at least not with GHIII
SirUltimosDon't talk, Rusty. Just paint.Registered Userregular
edited December 2007
I have a lot of faith that Blizzard will continue to operate as per usual. No one's going to try and change what they do, it's just stupid.
I may also be in the minority, but I think that as far as huge publishers go, Activision has a very low concentration of evil. I really do think everything will be business as usual, just with a new (albeit stupid) name.
Wait, how do people reason that Activision Blizzard is a dumb title but Square Enix is acceptable?
Because Square Enix was a merger between two companies called Squaresoft and Enix, whereas this Activision merger is between Activision and Vivendi.
Very true.
Also, so much for loyal Blizzard fans. Snippet from the WoW boards -
"If I even hear a rumor about in-game adverts I'll burn my copy of WoW."
You and me both know this will not happen. Addicts cant just give up like that. They will stop playing for like a day then jump right back in no question. I hate that kind of fakery when protesting something. If you want to make a point, at least be fucking believable.
On the plus side this might mean Diablo 3 (when it released in like 8 years) might be released on consoles as well as pcs
Come on, you and I both know that Diablo is meant to be played on a PC, not a console. And I hope to all-mighty God they don't turn Diablo 3 into an MMORPG.
I just imagined a cinematic singleplayer starcraft game in the vein of CoD4.
I'm crying. Its so beautiful.
If they want to make me feel better, they'll call it Starcraft: Ghost.
If they REALLY want to make me feel better, Activision either informally started work, or are starting now, and it'll be polished and ready to ship about the same time Blizzard is done with Starcraft 2.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business -- which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s® World of Warcraft®, the world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise -- with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.
Vivendi Games, not Vivendi. Vivendi will own a controlling share of the company.
Do we know Vivendi will get a controlling interest? I just heard it say they would be the largest single shareholder, that doesn't necessarily mean they'd have a controlling stake.
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.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business -- which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s® World of Warcraft®, the world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise -- with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.
Vivendi Games, not Vivendi. Vivendi will own a controlling share of the company.
Do we know Vivendi will get a controlling interest? I just heard it say they would be the largest single shareholder, that doesn't necessarily mean they'd have a controlling stake.
True. One would assume you'd want to keep your largest share holder satisfied though...
How does that change anything, Zek? I read that post a while ago. I don't doubt that Blizzard will keep making good games and stuff, it's just that this deal opens them up to the console world.. and that means less attention paid to the PC crowd, and that does not sit well with me at all.
How does that change anything, Zek? I read that post a while ago. I don't doubt that Blizzard will keep making good games and stuff, it's just that this deal opens them up to the console world.. and that means less attention paid to the PC crowd, and that does not sit well with me at all.
A blizzard game made both for PC and consoles... thats not a pleasant thought.
The moment Blizzard makes a console-exclusive game, the shit will hit the fan.
Wasn't Starcraft Ghost supposed to be console-exclusive?
Yes. And the shit DID hit the fan. And they canceled it.
They canceled it because the game was taking too long to develop, not out of some retarded "hey, our WoW fanbase won't like the fact that we're making a game you can't play on the PC" sentiment that gets thrown around on message boards.
Posts
Because Square Enix was a merger between two companies called Squaresoft and Enix, whereas this Activision merger is between Activision and Vivendi.
Not really. They're still going to use Blizzard Entertainment with their games.
Very true.
Also, so much for loyal Blizzard fans. Snippet from the WoW boards -
"If I even hear a rumor about in-game adverts I'll burn my copy of WoW."
...
...
FUCK!!
not just you. i dont think i've ever even played a Blizzard game, and I dont want Activision F-ing around with what's good. I don't know why, but i keep getting the feeling that Activision's QA mindset isnt good, at least not with GHIII
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I may also be in the minority, but I think that as far as huge publishers go, Activision has a very low concentration of evil. I really do think everything will be business as usual, just with a new (albeit stupid) name.
Still, I'm shocked, and I bet EA is, too.
You and me both know this will not happen. Addicts cant just give up like that. They will stop playing for like a day then jump right back in no question. I hate that kind of fakery when protesting something. If you want to make a point, at least be fucking believable.
Will we have to wait for Ubisoft, EA, and Vivendi to merge?
That might be a little on the late side.
Pffft. We should all know that Selo's Accelerating Chorus is superior since it doesn't require everyone to be close to the bard.
Nevermind that it also frees up an extra song for twisting.
I don't fucking jest. This is bad bad news.
Come on, you and I both know that Diablo is meant to be played on a PC, not a console. And I hope to all-mighty God they don't turn Diablo 3 into an MMORPG.
If they want to make me feel better, they'll call it Starcraft: Ghost.
If they REALLY want to make me feel better, Activision either informally started work, or are starting now, and it'll be polished and ready to ship about the same time Blizzard is done with Starcraft 2.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3168513659&postId=31681000174&sid=1#0
Steam BoardGameGeek Twitter
How exactly do you think this is going to negatively impact Blizzard?
This is not a case of a smalltime dev being gobbled up.
https://medium.com/@alascii
Maybe not, though.
We're basically in the same position with games publishing that we are with telecommunications since SBC and AT&T merged.
Steam BoardGameGeek Twitter
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3168513659&postId=31681000174&sid=1#0
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3168513659&postId=31681000174&sid=1#0
True. One would assume you'd want to keep your largest share holder satisfied though...
Yes, now when you're destroying Zerg forces you, yes you, can see wonderful ads for Pontiac and Axe!
https://medium.com/@alascii
Instead of Spawning more?
Wasn't Starcraft Ghost supposed to be console-exclusive?
https://medium.com/@alascii
Yes. And the shit DID hit the fan. And they canceled it.
A blizzard game made both for PC and consoles... thats not a pleasant thought.
They canceled it because the game was taking too long to develop, not out of some retarded "hey, our WoW fanbase won't like the fact that we're making a game you can't play on the PC" sentiment that gets thrown around on message boards.
Ahem.
I for one, welcome our new Actiblizzion..er...Blizzavision...wait...Activision Blizzard Overlords.
Maybe EA will change their ways a little bit now that they're not the Overlords.
Read the link Zek linked to 100 times, this merger changes absolutely nothing as far as Blizzard are concerned.