A Formal Thread about Activision/Blizzard

Bedinsis

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Ag3ma said:
Valve isn't really a game developer. It's a company that can do game development, but...

From interviews with Gabe Newell, Valve does not appear to work like most companies. Perhaps in some ways a sort of "dream workplace" for some people. As long as the Steam platform still sells games, the money keeps rolling in. It seems to hire a lot of very talented people... and then to an extent lets them do what they want. It feels almost like an academic department: a load of principal investigators who can go away and do their own research just so long as they can justify the grants to their funding bodies (or for lower level staff, to their principal investigator). It seems that Half-Life 3 doesn't get made because management orders it done, it gets made when enough Valve staff decide it's an interesting thing to do and club together to do it. Lots of little studios get snapped up with Valve, and they often seem to stop making games, too. Remember "Firewatch", by Campo Santo? Campo Santo were bought by Valve, and where's their next game? Also disappeared into the ether. The Half Life series seems to have stalled because they couldn't think of a new way to take the FPS that was sufficiently interesting and innovative: Alyx was only made to help with the VR sales.
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While this is all interesting, the subject of this thread is about the misconduct on Activision-Blizzard. I suggest you post this on the video game articles/videos thread.

Then again, yesterday was the 2-year-anniversary for the start of this thread, so calling it "current events" might be inaccurate. Not helped by Microsoft's ongoing acquisition leading to that being the most recent important headline about Activision-Blizzard.
 
Gordon_4

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Absent said:
I assume this had already been posted in the thread ?

View attachment 8939
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My dude, that comic is old enough to fucking vote.

Bedinsis said:
I refer to the sexual harassment that allegedly happened under his watch; if he himself did not take part in it then he is still a scumbag for letting it happen but it undercuts this joke.
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Now it has been a hot minute, or indeed two years, but my reading at the beginning of this cesspit drainage exercise is that a lot of the harassment long pre-dated the Activision and Blizzard merger meaning it happened under the watch of the sainted Mike Morehiem. Also, when you work in organisations that are either that large or disconnected - Kottick likely parks his arse in Activision's HQ in Santa Monica whereas Blizzard is over fifty miles away in Irvine - there's a good chance even if Kottick wasn't a non-3 laws compliant android in human skin, he'd never have known. And realistically you can't expect him to know considering the layers of management between the abused and himself that acted either corruptly, complicit, or just cowardly would make it hard for the information to filter upwards. Seriously look at any decent corporate structure: they're like fuckin' pyramids from the NES era.
 
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BrawlMan

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gameishard.gg

CEO Bobby Kotick Discusses the Future of Video Games at Activision Blizzard Meeting

CEO Bobby Kotick Discusses the Future of Video Games at Activision Blizzard Meeting - gr4cze.pl
gameishard.gg gameishard.gg

During an all-hands meeting at Activision Blizzard, CEO Bobby Kotick shared his vision for the future of video games. The meeting, reportedly held this week, included discussions about the company’s legacy and its potential under Microsoft’s acquisition, which is expected to close soon. Kotick mentioned the possibility of Elon Musk’s Neuralink, an implantable brain-computer interface, playing a role in creating “more visceral” content that goes beyond the current gaming experience. He also highlighted the potential of AI and machine learning in shaping the video game industry moving forward.

Kotick discussed the potential for enhanced emotional connection through realistic mouth movements and facial animation in video game characters. This aligns with Microsoft’s existing focus on AI and its plans to utilize the technology in all its future endeavors. Kotick expressed excitement about the unlimited potential for growth if Microsoft completes the acquisition.

Another topic addressed during the meeting was the potential “re-emergence” of the Guitar Hero franchise. Although no specific plans were mentioned, Kotick hinted at the franchise’s comeback under Microsoft’s ownership.

If reports are accurate, Microsoft’s deal to acquire Activision Blizzard could be finalized on October 13. This highly anticipated deal was announced in January 2022 and has generated much discussion and speculation in the gaming industry. As the acquisition moves closer to completion, the future of Activision Blizzard and its impact on the gaming landscape remains an exciting prospect.

Sources: Windows Central

Definition of Terms:

  • Activision Blizzard: A prominent video game publisher and developer, known for franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo.
  • Neuralink: A company founded by Elon Musk that aims to develop implantable brain-computer interfaces to enhance human capabilities.
  • AI: Artificial Intelligence, which refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence.
  • Machine Learning: A subset of AI that involves training machines to learn and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed.
  • Guitar Hero: A music rhythm game series where players use a peripheral guitar controller to simulate playing famous songs.
  • Microsoft: A multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers.
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Gordon_4

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bluegate said:
As if Activision was so strapped for cash that they couldn't create a new Guitar Hero game on their own? Wtf.
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I figure the expense of Guitar Hero/Rock Band is less developing the game, but the licensing of the music AND the peripherals required to 'play' that cannot be used (as a rule) for anything else.
 
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Ag3ma

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Gordon_4 said:
I figure the expense of Guitar Hero/Rock Band is less developing the game, but the licensing of the music AND the peripherals required to 'play' that cannot be used (as a rule) for anything else.
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Plus that any company would try to get someone else to pay for stuff as a matter of course.
 
Gordon_4

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Ag3ma said:
Plus that any company would try to get someone else to pay for stuff as a matter of course.
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But someone will have to pay for them, and that party will want recompense for that. And honestly, even if it’s just a guitar or two, this thing is gonna come out at $300+ and in an environment where people are struggling with buying fuel and groceries? It’s a laughable proposition.
 
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thebobmaster

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Gordon_4

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thebobmaster said:
finance.yahoo.com

Microsoft closes $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard

The deal closed Friday after Microsoft cleared a final hurdle from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
finance.yahoo.com finance.yahoo.com

It is done. The merger passed UK muster, and now it has been signed, sealed, and delivered.

ETA: Did find out one other thing.

If that doesn't embed: Bobby Kotick is getting $400 million out of it, but he's out in January.
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A bargain at twice the price.
 
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Gordon_4 said:
But someone will have to pay for them, and that party will want recompense for that. And honestly, even if it’s just a guitar or two, this thing is gonna come out at $300+ and in an environment where people are struggling with buying fuel and groceries? It’s a laughable proposition.
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Depends on whether they can argue a case past the others, e.g. to drastically drop the music licensing fee because the game will provide advertising.
 
The Rogue Wolf

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thebobmaster said:
finance.yahoo.com

Microsoft closes $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard

The deal closed Friday after Microsoft cleared a final hurdle from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
finance.yahoo.com finance.yahoo.com

It is done. The merger passed UK muster, and now it has been signed, sealed, and delivered.

ETA: Did find out one other thing.

If that doesn't embed: Bobby Kotick is getting $400 million out of it, but he's out in January.
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Taking bets now on how long before we hear "we know we promised to keep all of our new franchises cross-platform, but we've decided to make (super-popular IP) exclusive to Microsoft platforms".
 
bluegate

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The Rogue Wolf said:
Taking bets now on how long before we hear "we know we promised to keep all of our new franchises cross-platform, but we've decided to make (super-popular IP) exclusive to Microsoft platforms".
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They didn't waste any time scrapping the PS5 version of Starfield.

I wouldn't expect them to attempt to keep up appearances this time around.
 
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Ag3ma

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bluegate said:
They didn't waste any time scrapping the PS5 version of Starfield.
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Bethesda never made any commitment to a PS5 version of Starfield, as far as I'm aware. Although being bought by MS almost certainly ensured it never was going to happen.
 
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