Activision is the new EA: Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, 50 Cent canned?

B:L

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/blizzavision-keeps-crash-spyro-ice-age-prototype-loses-bruta/

One of the major outstanding questions surrounding the Activision Blizzard merger was: "What the hell is going to happen to Vivendi's other video game division, Sierra?" The new super-publisher announced it will be keeping five of Sierra's franchises total: Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro, the still-in-development Prototype, and another as-yet-unannounced title. We're currently looking into the fate of Sierra's other publishing arrangements: Tim Schafer's Brütal Legend (oh, Brütal Legend, we're so sorry!), Ghostbusters: The Video Game, WET, and Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

Activision Blizzard is also reviewing Sierra's other properties that they will not be publishing: think Bourne, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, World in Conflict, et al. Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith says, "We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing." Those games won't be published by Blizzavision because they're not "a strong fit with [Activision Blizzard's] long-term product strategy." No word on the fate of Sierra's classic adventure games like King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, etc.

As for the status of Sierra's in-house developers, Blizzavision will "realign staffing at Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios" – the developers of Prototype and The Bourne Conspiracy respectively – while "exploring options regarding Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios" – the devs behind World in Conflict and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, respectively. Those "options" include "the possibility of divestiture." Also potentially up for sale: Vivendi Games Mobile and Sierra Online, the latter notably responsible for a large amount of XBLA and PSN games. More on this story as it inevitably unfolds.

tl;dr:

Activision keeping:
Crash Bandicoot franchise
Ice Age franchise
Spyro franchise
Prototype
An Unannounced Title

Activision killing:
Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
WET
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
The Bourne license
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
and others



Personal opinion:
NOOO not Blood on the Sand!!!

Couscous

As far as I know, Brutal Legend can find another publisher, and I think that the developer owns the rights to Chronicles of Riddick and can also find another developer.

If you want to know what games the studios that possibly could be closed down or sold made:

As part of the drive for increased efficiency, Activision will "realign" staff at Radical Entertainment (Prototype, Crash of the Titans) and High Moon Studios (The Bourne Conspiracy, Darkwatch). As for their sister subsidiaries Massive Entertainment (World in Conflict, Ground Control) and Swordfish Studios (50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, Cold Winter), Activision is "exploring options," including the sale or closing of the outfits.

The future is similarly uncertain for Sierra Online (Assault Heroes 2) and Vivendi Games Mobile (Prison Break, Cake Mania 2). The publisher deemed them "non-strategic business units" and said it is exploring the possibility of closing or selling them as well.

B:L

titmouse wrote: »

As far as I know, Brutal Legend can find another publisher, and I think that the developer owns the rights to Chronicles of Riddick and can also find another developer.

Yeah they can.

But it's still a setback.

eelektrik

If they close down Massive Entertainment though, someone needs to shove a guitar controller up the CEOs ass.

randombattle

This doesn't really mean a lot. All they said is they aren't publishing them. I'm pretty sure they can find another publisher.

mrsnackroad

B:L wrote: »

Activision killing:
Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Nobody can convince me this world is worth living in any more.

Dehumanized

The Ghostbusters game looked good.

Everybody, everywhere should mourn the loss of 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand. That made for a hilarious thread a few months back.

Sheep

I don't see how Ghostbuster's would be picked up by one of the other big players.

Couscous

randombattle wrote: »

This doesn't really mean a lot. All they said is they aren't publishing them. I'm pretty sure they can find another publisher.

They pretty much admit in the article that they are going to downsize, close, or sell some of the development studios they own.

DarkDragoon

If Ghostbusters is canned, I will never buy anything that Activision is involved with ever again. Even the stuff from Blizzard's side.

IT TOOK 20 GODDAMNED YEARS FOR BILL MURRAY TO AGREE TO WORKING WITH THE SERIES AGAIN. YOU DO NOT CANCEL THIS, ACTIVISION.

B:L

titmouse wrote: »

randombattle wrote: »

This doesn't really mean a lot. All they said is they aren't publishing them. I'm pretty sure they can find another publisher.

They pretty much admit in the article that they are going to downsize, close, or sell some of the development studios they own.

We should keep optimistic about this. The titles are in limbo (of the lost) right now, but these are pretty big titles...

...right?


http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/brutallegend/news.html?sid=6195113

Earlier today, Activision Publishing announced a streamlining of its Vivendi Games operations, saying it would be bringing into the fold five of that company's franchises: Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Ice Age, Prototype, and one unannounced game.

An Activision representative later confirmed for GameSpot that those would be the only Vivendi Games franchises coming out of the publisher. That leaves a number of high-profile projects in limbo, including Double Fine Productions' Brutal Legend, as well as Wet, Ghostbusters, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, World at Conflict: Soviet Assault, 50 Cent Blood on the Sand, Zombie Wranglers, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust, as well as several Xbox Live Arcade titles.

"The only franchises that Activision Publishing will release are based on Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, as well as Prototype and one other game that has not yet been announced," the representative said. "We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

Activision Blizzard has other publishing arms like Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Value that were not covered by the press release and could be among the options being reviewed. As of press time, representatives from those companies did not return requests for comment.

A scheduled Comic Con International panel on the Ghostbusters game was abruptly cancelled last week, with no explanation given to attendees. However, the game was on the show floor in playable form.

Pharezon

What the hell? Don't close down Massive Entertainment :x

Spoit

What are the odds that EA will come to the rescue?

Couscous

Activision Blizzard has other publishing arms like Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Value that were not covered by the press release and could be among the options being reviewed. As of press time, representatives from those companies did not return requests for comment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Vivendi#Video_games

Activision Value is a subsidiary brand of Activision, a merger of Expert Software and Head Games Publishing, with offices located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.

As its name implies, Value is the publisher of budget titles for Activision. Its most prominent titles are the Cabela's line of hunting and fishing-related games, and the World Series of Poker.

That isn't going to be publishing anything of value from the looks of it. Red Octane only publishes Guitar Hero games. I think that leaves Blizzard.

Drovek

Brutal Legend...

What the heck, Activision? What the heck?

-SPI-

Brutal legend? The World in Conflict expansion!?

At least prototype seems to be safe (and the only non-shovelware they're keeping) but I've been waiting so long for that WiC expansion! I just hope massive makes it through this intact.

Daedalus

If Brutal Legend never sees a release, people will die.

Recoil42

We already knew this, really. Activision has been heading down the road of EA circa 2001-2004 for quite a while. See: Endless sequelitis, movie franchise obsession. There's even been a couple developer complaints of them being hard to work with.

This is just one of the many signs we've had so far.



I think they'll rebound, though. Like EA, they're a good company, with good foundations. They've just strayed from the path a little.

Spoit wrote: »

What are the odds that EA will come to the rescue?

EA will *definitely* pick up Brutal Legend, given the chance. Mark my words.

We'll here from Tim Schaefer about it soon enough, anyways.

One Thousand Cables

I wouldn't worry about Ghostbusters--it's a big enough franchise that somebody will pick it up.

Brutal Legend, though....

Edit: Actually, Recoil might have the right idea. I could see EA picking up BL. If not them, who else, though? My money's on MTV Games.

darunia106

Not Brutal Legend!

I never get enough of Tim Schafer's creative genius...

MinionOfCthulhu

Daedalus wrote: »

If Brutal Legend never sees a release, people will die.

You and me, man. We'll raise hell.

Kuribo's Shoe

I could see EA picking up any of these, really

Daedalus

MinionOfCthulhu wrote: »

Daedalus wrote: »

If Brutal Legend never sees a release, people will die.

You and me, man. We'll raise hell.

You and me? Fuck that, Schafer will be in Activision Blizzard's boardroom with a broadaxe. He's been waiting to do BR since, like, Monkey Island.

Couscous

Kuribo's Shoe wrote: »

I could see EA picking up any of these, really

I can't see EA picking any of the ones developed by the Activision-Blizzard.

Kuribo's Shoe

titmouse wrote: »

Kuribo's Shoe wrote: »

I could see EA picking up any of these, really

I can't see EA picking any of the ones developed by the Activision-Blizzard.

well yes besides those

Xenogears of Bore

As long as Brutal Legend dies the ignoble death it so richy deserves then I will bow before my new gods at Actiblizzon. I'll replace Pimpuchi with I dunno, Pimp GH man? Pimp Thrall? Pimp Tony Hawk!

redfield85

So that is why the Ghostbusters panel at Comic-Con was canceled. I was wondering wtf was up when they had the board in front of the door with the panels and the Ghostbusters one not happening.

TripKMA

Who... who ya gonna call now?

Daedalus

Xenogears of Bore wrote: »

As long as Brutal Legend dies the ignoble death it so richy deserves then I will bow before my new gods at Actiblizzon. I'll replace Pimpuchi with I dunno, Pimp GH man? Pimp Thrall? Pimp Tony Hawk!

Couscous

redfield85 wrote: »

So that is why the Ghostbusters panel at Comic-Con was canceled. I was wondering wtf was up when they had the board in front of the door with the panels and the Ghostbusters one not happening.

They had the game playable on the floor. I wonder what will become of the Wii, PS2, and DS versions.

Couscous

http://gonintendo.com/?p=50824

Ghostbusters canned? Game tester says no
The rumor that Ghostbusters is canned is causing quite a stir tonight. I have been contacted by a Vivendi/Sierra tester that wishes to remain anonymous, but they have confirmed that the game has not been canned. I have posted an edited bit from the email below. I have plenty of faith in this person, for reasons I cannot list.

I work for Vivendi/Sierra games and we test games. …Right now I am currently testing Ghostbusters for the Wii, I also see other people testing for 360/ps3 and the DS version, matter of fact the DS version is almost done.

There is more to the email, but once again, I cannot post in-order to keep the person’s identity a secret. You’ll just have to take my word that this is on the up-and-up.

B:L

titmouse wrote: »

http://gonintendo.com/?p=50824

Ghostbusters canned? Game tester says no
The rumor that Ghostbusters is canned is causing quite a stir tonight. I have been contacted by a Vivendi/Sierra tester that wishes to remain anonymous, but they have confirmed that the game has not been canned. I have posted an edited bit from the email below. I have plenty of faith in this person, for reasons I cannot list.

I work for Vivendi/Sierra games and we test games. …Right now I am currently testing Ghostbusters for the Wii, I also see other people testing for 360/ps3 and the DS version, matter of fact the DS version is almost done.

There is more to the email, but once again, I cannot post in-order to keep the person’s identity a secret. You’ll just have to take my word that this is on the up-and-up.

Little do they know that THEY'RE the ones who are canned.

bloodyroarxx

B:L wrote: »

titmouse wrote: »

http://gonintendo.com/?p=50824

Ghostbusters canned? Game tester says no
The rumor that Ghostbusters is canned is causing quite a stir tonight. I have been contacted by a Vivendi/Sierra tester that wishes to remain anonymous, but they have confirmed that the game has not been canned. I have posted an edited bit from the email below. I have plenty of faith in this person, for reasons I cannot list.

I work for Vivendi/Sierra games and we test games. …Right now I am currently testing Ghostbusters for the Wii, I also see other people testing for 360/ps3 and the DS version, matter of fact the DS version is almost done.

There is more to the email, but once again, I cannot post in-order to keep the person’s identity a secret. You’ll just have to take my word that this is on the up-and-up.

Little do they know that THEY'RE the ones who are canned.

Yea, testers would be the last to know.

bloodyroarxx

I have no doubt that:

Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand

will all get picked up.

Couscous

Would Activision be willing to allow a company it might see as a competitor publish games its studios made?

bloodyroarxx

titmouse wrote: »

Would Activision be willing to allow a company it might see as a competitor publish games its studios made?

I think all those game's licenses and in the case of Brutal Legend they are all publishing agreements. You can can game and team and someone will just pick it up somewhere else.

Spoit

I might be misreading the article, but I thought that it was about them possibly selling off those development houses

Cymoro

I think I called Activision going down this path a year ago, I'm not sure. They seem to be focusing on major franchise shit that can be pushed out the door real fast (Crash, Spyro, Guitar Hero, Ice Age?) while keeping one or two hardcore titles so they seem like they're doing something.

I haven't liked them for a while now. As long as they keep giving money to Vicarious Visions to make games, I'm not going to like them any time soon.

edit: man fuck vicarious visions
edit2: i'm just going to let my rage out now

Vicarious Visions' back catalog consists of licensed handheld games. If it's not that, it's a port to a less powerful system. Let's take a look at what they have coming up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_Hero:_On_Tour_Decades

Yes, they have a sequel to a Guitar Hero game that just came out in the last month coming out this fall. Also on the list are Guitar Hero 4 for the Wii, and 007: Quantum of Solace for the DS. All coming out by the end of this year.

They've been put at the helm of making a GBA version of Jet Set Radio. It was an abomination. Imagine playing JSR on the dreamcast, but an isometric view with tank controls, and you had to make the spraypaint moves with a d-pad.

They also made every iteration of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man_3_(video_game)

Saddler

titmouse wrote: »

http://gonintendo.com/?p=50824

Ghostbusters canned? Game tester says no
The rumor that Ghostbusters is canned is causing quite a stir tonight. I have been contacted by a Vivendi/Sierra tester that wishes to remain anonymous, but they have confirmed that the game has not been canned. I have posted an edited bit from the email below. I have plenty of faith in this person, for reasons I cannot list.

I work for Vivendi/Sierra games and we test games. …Right now I am currently testing Ghostbusters for the Wii, I also see other people testing for 360/ps3 and the DS version, matter of fact the DS version is almost done.

There is more to the email, but once again, I cannot post in-order to keep the person’s identity a secret. You’ll just have to take my word that this is on the up-and-up.

Fucking goddamnit, it better not be canceled. Those pencil pushers at Activision better release this.

Fig-D

Wow, someone at Acti-vendi-ard is a fucking idiot.

Seriously, who the hell thought it was a good idea to axe the titles that actually had promise. No, wait, WHAT ENTIRE FUCKING ROOM OF PEOPLE APPROVED THIS. Seriously. What the fuck. "Oh hey we're the world's largest publisher now, quality can suck our nuts. Fuck the consumer, let's focus all of our collective efforts on World of Warcraft and FUCKING SHOVELWARE."

God damnit.

Darth Nathan

Something tells me that a few of those games will get picked up by other companies. Preview builds of Ghostbusters and 50 Cent, for example, have shown them to be pretty far along in development. I don't think EA or whoever would pass up the opportunity to make a quick buck on those. Unless, of course, ActiBlizz still owns the rights to those games and won't sell them, in which case tough cookies.

On a related note, I hope to god no one picks up the rights to Brutal Legend. I don't care how much I get flamed for this, that shit and it's creator deserve to die.