Blizzard Commits To One "Frontline Release" Per Year
Despite its reputation for a "when they're done" approach to release schedules, Activision's [gn] fourth quarter earning call last night that it now intends to release one "frontline" game per year.
Much of the call focused on Activision's performance in the market, along with forecasts for the future including a prediction from Activision President Mike Griffith that the Wii [http://www.xbox.com] will see growth of over 16 million units in the same period. But more interesting was a statement from Blizzard COO Paul Sams, who said the studio was now scheduled to put out one major release every year.
"Blizzard intends on delivering one 'frontline' release per year," Sams said. "I think you can see in our numbers that that is contemplated." Blizzard currently has World of Warcraft [http://www.starcraft2.com/] front as well, but Sams wouldn't say which "frontline release" gamers can expect in 2009.
The smart money seems to be on Starcraft 2, which Sams recently Diablo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89403-StarCraft-II-Beta-In-the-Next-Few-Months] all the way back in 1996. There's no doubt Activision has the resources to make it happen, but will the final result be what we've come to expect from Blizzard?
Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/activision-blizzard-predicts-console-sales-in-2009-promises-one/]
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Despite its reputation for a "when they're done" approach to release schedules, Activision's [gn] fourth quarter earning call last night that it now intends to release one "frontline" game per year.
Much of the call focused on Activision's performance in the market, along with forecasts for the future including a prediction from Activision President Mike Griffith that the Wii [http://www.xbox.com] will see growth of over 16 million units in the same period. But more interesting was a statement from Blizzard COO Paul Sams, who said the studio was now scheduled to put out one major release every year.
"Blizzard intends on delivering one 'frontline' release per year," Sams said. "I think you can see in our numbers that that is contemplated." Blizzard currently has World of Warcraft [http://www.starcraft2.com/] front as well, but Sams wouldn't say which "frontline release" gamers can expect in 2009.
The smart money seems to be on Starcraft 2, which Sams recently Diablo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89403-StarCraft-II-Beta-In-the-Next-Few-Months] all the way back in 1996. There's no doubt Activision has the resources to make it happen, but will the final result be what we've come to expect from Blizzard?
Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/activision-blizzard-predicts-console-sales-in-2009-promises-one/]
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