The announcement was made 1 hour ago, hopefully our favorite game wont be affected by that merge:
We're pleased to announce that along with the other companies that make up Vivendi Games, we are merging with Activision to form a new global entertainment organization called Activision Blizzard (pending shareholder and regulatory approval). Similar to our previous arrangement, Blizzard Entertainment will now operate as a division of this new organization.
There will be no changes to our games, our websites, our personnel, or our day-to-day operations as a result of the deal. However, this combining of resources will benefit all of the companies involved and will further strengthen Blizzard's ability to continue delivering high-quality content for our players around the world for many years to come. To learn more about this exciting new development, please read our Activision Blizzard FAQ.
Comments
Blizzard and Activision are far from the dying method, yes.
Now EA Games Online is close to that stage in my opinion.
They killed a lot of good friendly titles they deemed a profit loss.
'Motor City Online' (Race car game) and 'Earth and Beyond' (Space game) are my most favorite EA destroyed. They gave one year and killed them, rather than giving incentives to return.
Warchief Thrall's Azerothian Wasteland ^^
That song rocks^^
Would be cool to play it on GuitarHero :P
o_O Would be sweet :D
wow, I'd be happy just to get a little fraction of that^^
I could've gotten 0,01B$, it wouldn't even show^^
Yes, although it already IS one of the best in the business^^
It would be nice if they could use some of the resources to give the graphics an upgrade though, to meet today's standard (the engine is after all about 3 years old, unless they upgraded it with BC ofc...)
well congrats -.-
Call of Starcraft XD
IT is blatantly a money thing. Vivendi Games has a dire reputation. They ruined the Tribes series and screwed over Homeworld fans so it is no surprise that Vivendi would take the (wise) decision to distance themselves from their games area.
The naming is simple - Activision are attributed with major console titles not to mention franchise titles such as Star Trek, Transformers, X-Men and Spiderman. This gives them a reputation as a major player in the franchise arm of the games industry. Blizzard are the foremost authority on RPG/RTS/MMO deveopment, with the top 3 gaming franchises (based on sales) being tehir franchises (with World of Warcraft occupying the top spot as a stand-alone).
Couple the two names together - Activision Blizzard - and you have a company that combines to of the most well known gaming companies into one easy-to-identify team...
Activision Blizzard = End of EA.
did somebody say "Warchief Thrall Proskater 4" ? woot lol
By the way, I've done a bit more looking into this, and this merger will actually still retain Vivendi as the owner of the combined company -- they're simply moving their games division (which is worth nearly twice as much as Activision, at 8.1 billion USD) out into its own public stock -- under the name Activision Blizzard. Vivendi, once all is said and done, will own 68% of Activision Blizzard.
It's honestly a mark of how successful Blizzard Entertainment has been thus far to have their co-branded parent company carry part of their name, when this company is going to encompass far more than just Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. I think that's where a lot of confusion is being caused; this also includes Sierra Entertainment, and any other game developer currently under the Vivendi Games umbrella.
Guitar Hero: Warcraft! now in stores! Download the exclusive Lvl 70 Elite Tauren Chieftan song and get a code for a free World of Warcraft prize!
Buy all the stocks and vote NO!!!! lol
oh joy....another merger....... -_-
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. - Albert Einstein
I find it somewhat strange they would call it Activision Blizzard.. the damn name doesn't even make sense and I also think Blizzard is a better game studio. They really should come up with a name that doesn't suck. Putting Activision first also makes me think they will have more control of the new entity.
I can't really see what good or bad this would even bring to Blizzard. Smells like a Vivendi deal to me. Typical moneybags thinking... one good game studio + one great game studio = the new halo 3! .. shame game development is actually more of a creative process than anything else. Let's just hope the soup doesn't taste as bad as the name :)