Bizarre Creations closed down, Budcat too. Lucas Arts downsize as well.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Maximus

The problem for Activision is that their business model is based on selling 15m+ copies of CoD per year to make a profit (without Blizzard). Once people realise that the annual CoD is just a lick of paint like we already know then even if the sales decrease to 5m their business model starts to look shaky. You are also making the assumption that Activision will only release one CoD title per year, they will not, it will be around 2 per year from 2012 and then people really will begin to tire.

Is that an "I hate Activision and everything they do" prognostication or do you know something we don't, Max?

As far as anyone on the outside knows, CoD is just one game per year and hopefully stays that way if ATVI knows what's good for them (but of course they don't).

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Guitar Hero is still good for me at least, unlike Rock Band which I hate.

You better buy a few extra copies of the latest Guitar Hero game then. So far it has only sold 300,000 total copies across all platforms. By music game standards (and Activision's) that's failure.

I'm saddened to hear Bizarre Creations has closed its doors. I've been a big fan of theirs since they first released Metropolis Street Racer on Dreamcast, which evolved into Project Gotham Racing on XBox.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Icemage

Is that an "I hate Activision and everything they do" prognostication or do you know something we don't, Max?

As far as anyone on the outside knows, CoD is just one game per year and hopefully stays that way if ATVI knows what's good for them (but of course they don't).

I'm basing it on the fact that they have 3 developers working on a single IP. Treyarch, Infinity Ward (well the newly hired recruits) and Raven. Raven were originally supposed to work on some CoD spin off until the IW stuff went down and they got repurposed to work on DLC for Black Ops while Treyarch brought the new IW recruits up to speed on how to apply a new coat of paint. In 2012 when Treyarch release their next CoD I expect Raven to be readying their spin off game based on a similar premise to Singularity to release in 2013 along with IW CoD, and their own Singularity follow up.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I'm basing it on the fact that they have 3 developers working on a single IP. Treyarch, Infinity Ward (well the newly hired recruits) and Raven. Raven were originally supposed to work on some CoD spin off until the IW stuff went down and they got repurposed to work on DLC for Black Ops while Treyarch brought the new IW recruits up to speed on how to apply a new coat of paint. In 2012 when Treyarch release their next CoD I expect Raven to be readying their spin off game based on a similar premise to Singularity to release in 2013 along with IW CoD, and their own Singularity follow up.

Fair enough.

Also, saw this linked elsewhere and thought it might give people a chuckle.

Who's left at Infinity Ward?

[Septimus Prime]

I'm pretty sure one of the CoD devs is Sledgehammer.

[Snake_XRS]

Max, have they really been closed down? According to this, Activision is considering maybe selling them off, but have not closed them down:

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/h...ions-20101116/

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Snake_XRS

Max, have they really been closed down? According to this, Activision is considering maybe selling them off, but have not closed them down:

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/h...ions-20101116/

When 200 employees get laid off/fired, does it matter what you call it?

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Guitar Hero is still good for me at least, unlike Rock Band which I hate.

You hate Rock Band...why? Because squares are inferior to gems?

I've seen a lot of the people hating GH, because Rock Band's creators should own Guitar Hero but Activision bought the name without the talent, but I can't say as though I've ever seen the reverse.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Maximus

So a rumour going around that since 007 bombed Bizarre Creations have been closed down.

Sad times for everyone involved and I hope everyone lands on their feet.

Also Activision prove themselves to be the short term bastards we all knew they were. I can only hope that people tell them where to go with their wallets, but that is, I fear hoping for too much. I am happy that Bungie didn't go into a full ownership agreement and only a publishing deal for 5 games. As soon as Call of Duty dies Activision will be finished. I will celebrate when that day comes.

Same here. I'm tired of Bobby Kotick and his evil empire milking away our beloved franchises. Black Ops was my last Call of Duty game and it will remain that way.

Originally Posted by Maximus

About CoD not going away. People said the same thing about Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero, but Bobby Kotick and Activision have a proved ability to ruin franchises and milk them to death.



Love PA, always so right!

[Blu Ian]

Love the tag

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Strafer

Love the tag

"Sucktivision"

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

I'm pretty sure one of the CoD devs is Sledgehammer.

Duh. Sledgehammer, not Raven! It's based off Singularity, that's why I was befuddled!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Snake_XRS

Max, have they really been closed down? According to this, Activision is considering maybe selling them off, but have not closed them down:

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/h...ions-20101116/

As of now there is only a slim possibility of Bizarre as it is being sold in one piece. I'm sure they can sell the studio, but as to how Bizarre comes out on the other side I can't really say. At the moment 200 people are out of a job until further notice.

[kman]

never good news to hear about a studio closing. Last thing I heard about Bizarre was that Activision was looking to sell it off.

Never the less, you gotta love the timing Activision, nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving" like getting shut down.

[Snake_XRS]

Originally Posted by Icemage

When 200 employees get laid off/fired, does it matter what you call it?

That's the point, I don't think they've been actually fired/laid off. From what's been said their future is uncertain at the moment. Maybe they will get laid off/bought out/fired, etc, but I don't think anything has happened yet.

Now don't get me wrong, I've worked at a place for over a year where everyday you walk into work could be your last, and every few days a cubicle goes empty without warning, so I know the stress going through all the employees minds right now and what it does to their output. I'm not being insensitive to that aspect.

Then again, the problem is the consumer. Not knocking the people personally, but look at the BO thread--it has utterly blown up these past 2 weeks. People like COD and don't care whether it's 5 hours long, a rehash, rushjob, paint over, whatever you want to call it. No other game could basically sell you the same thing over and over, then charge the highest DLC prices over and over and continue to sell it.

These are the exact reasons why I didn't buy Enslaved, TFU2, or BO. I refuse to buy a game that is super short, just on principle. By doing so you set a precedent that you are ok and willing to buy a product that is only 5-8 hours long. If that's the case, what is their incentive to make twice or three times that length?

My point is, everyone is out looking for a villain, be it Activision, EA, or whoever. I propose, the villain is the mirror.

When consumers stop accepting mediocre efforts and rehashes with their purchases, not only does the quality of gaming grow, but so does the innovation.

UPDATE--I just saw Max's post--I'm really sorry about these devs losing their jobs, that's a tough pill to swallow. Hopefully they'll get picked up quick.

[AranhaHunter]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I'm basing it on the fact that they have 3 developers working on a single IP. Treyarch, Infinity Ward (well the newly hired recruits) and Raven. Raven were originally supposed to work on some CoD spin off until the IW stuff went down and they got repurposed to work on DLC for Black Ops while Treyarch brought the new IW recruits up to speed on how to apply a new coat of paint. In 2012 when Treyarch release their next CoD I expect Raven to be readying their spin off game based on a similar premise to Singularity to release in 2013 along with IW CoD, and their own Singularity follow up.

I'm pretty damn sure there'll be a COD in 2011. As of now it looks like COD is on top of the world, and it is, but franchise fatigue can happen, Sony Santa Monica said that GOW needs to take a break now so it doesn't run the risk of that, but Bobby doesn't care as long as it's profitable NOW.

My heart goes out to those who were laid off, it's a really sucky feeling and I hope they all find jobs soon.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by Maximus

You have it the wrong way around. Vivendi (owners of Blizzard) bought Activision. Activision have one mega IP, CoD, that is it. Once that is done (and it will, make no mistake) they have nothing left. They killed Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Bizarre, James Bond, everything they touch turns to shit.

To be fair, High Moon made a pretty good game with War for Cybertron. It started with Activision and it was good. Maybe that's more to do with High Moon and Hasbro than Activision or maybe it'sthe exception that proves the rule, but not everything they touch turns to shit.

That said, I'd still dance a jig if someone shut 'em down or they had a regime change.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by Maximus

The problem for Activision is that their business model is based on selling 15m+ copies of CoD per year to make a profit (without Blizzard). Once people realise that the annual CoD is just a lick of paint like we already know then even if the sales decrease to 5m their business model starts to look shaky. You are also making the assumption that Activision will only release one CoD title per year, they will not, it will be around 2 per year from 2012 and then people really will begin to tire.

Or what's to say the old Infinity Ward guys won't put out something to challenge the franchise like Harmonix and RB did to Guitar Hero?

That's what would scare me if I were a shareholder - a repeat of the GH/RB debacle.

Dominate the franchise -> Lose the people who got you there -> Watch those people put out a serious competitor that moves the genre forward -> Watch the competition fragment the market -> Become the #2 game and begin playing catch-up to the competition's inovation.

Won't happen overnight (if it happens at all), but it's not out of the realm of possibility - and that doesn't account for the possibility of someone else coming in and being the challenger.

[Septimus Prime]

Looks like Activision closed Budcat and slashed a bunch of QA jobs, too.

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/31573...Dev_Budcat.php

My condolences to everyone involved.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

Or what's to say Infinity Ward won't put out something to challenge the franchise like Harmonix and RB did to Guitar Hero?

That's what would scare me if I were a shareholder - a repeat of the GH/RB debacle.

Dominate the franchise -> Lose the people who got you there -> Watch those people put out a serious competitor that moves the genre forward -> Watch the competition fragment the market -> Become the #2 game and begin playing catch-up to the competition's inovation.

Won't happen overnight (if it happens at all), but it's not out of the realm of possibility - and that doesn't account for the possibility of someone else coming in and being the challenger.

The difference is that Harmonix created Guitar Hero and the studio shifted publishers without a loss of personnel. They created the music rythym genre, and they continue to expand it with Rock Band. By comparison, Infinity Ward is basically Infinity Ward only in name. The top tier of talent from that group left entirely or followed the rest over to the new studio partnered with EA.

With Guitar Hero, all Activision was left with after Harmonix left was the IP and the plastic instrument maker, Red Octane, which Activision shut down earlier this year. Activision then shifted Guitar Hero development over to Neversoft, which had just finished killing off the Tony Hawk series. Now, Neversoft and Activision are working to put the Guitar Hero series 6 feet under.