Activision Fires Back Over Schafer Name-Calling

[Wandrecanada]

Kotick not thinking of game franchises as anything more than a corporate asset will eventually destroy everything gaming is. In the business world assets are made to be used up and discarded when they no longer provide any substantial value to a company. When you take any IP and wring it through that kind of meat grinder you'll be left with nothing of value in the end.

There is a reason some of North America's most iconic IPs continue to be regarded as timeless and worthwhile (Peanuts for example). Creators of those IPs and their subsequent managers have made it part of their business plan to maintain the integrity of the IP. They did not squeeze as hard as they could until it went dry but nurtured them via the environments in which they were placed.

Kotick is not trying to nurture his company's assets, he is leveraging everything he can in as little time as he can for the highest profit margin. After they're done with something that is no longer salvageable they'll just throw it away buy a new IP. It's disgraceful to the art, artists and fans of gaming everywhere and it's what Activision and Vivendi have both been in the business of doing for a decade.

 

[Blue Musician]

I do not care their response to Schafer's comment, but why are they keeping milking franchises? And what about Kotick's previous comments?

 

[DamienHell]

Who cares if Kotick likes games or not the problem is (as Shafer put it) he's a total prick.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

It's like if someone said, "You don't have balls," and you respond with, "Of course I have balls! They're down there right now. When have you seen my bare crotch anyway?!"

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

Has Tim Schafer ever been wrong about ANYTHING? And nintendo, MS, or Sony, needs to strike a deal with him soon.

 

[Iron Lightning]

Let's see, do I trust the dude who made Psychonauts or the dude who wants to charge subscription fees to use the new Modern Warfare's multiplayer.

hmmmm, decisions, decisions.

 

[lokun489]

Props to Kotick for making Activision what it is tho.

A shell of its former self, with its major titles in their thousandth iteration?

Kotick's a dick, and not enough of the gaming public know that. Maybe Black Ops should have an easter egg that explains just why Kotick is a dick.

They make the most money don't they? Hate him or Hate him, he made Activision #1

if going on money made it's nintendo

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"Bobby has always been passionate about games, and loves the video game industry."


Tell you what Bobby, if I can call you that, can you ask your PR person to let us know which was the last non-Blizzard/Activision game that you played, and what did you think of it?

In as passionate way as possible. (Obviously not the definition that means Wrathful or Sexual)

I mean, we have a number of people here who are truly PASSIONATE about gaming, and I'm sure they'd love to hear you with real PASSION in your voice.

I'm pretty sure Mr. Schafer would as well.

 

[MooseHowl]

Do you know what I just read?

Tim Schafer: Bobby Kotick is a total prick who hates videogames!

Activision: Bobby Kotick does NOT hate videogames. That is all.

That's exactly they way I read it, too. Well said.

 

[Royas]

If Kotick doesn't want people thinking he's a prick, he needs to shut up and stop making stupid statements to the press. Maybe he really is a great lover of games and gamers, but can't express himself well, I don't know. But in this world, perception becomes reality, and that perception is the that Bobby Kotick is a jackass who is working to turn gaming into a soulless assembly line process.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

They never said that he wasn't a total prick, they just said that he still like games.

 

[Deadlock Radium]

If he likes games, why does he try to ruin them all the time?

 

[Autofaux]

I'm sure Kotick enjoys videogames. And I enjoy tap dancing on the fucking moon.

 

[Knight Templar]

I'm sure he loves video games, or rather he loves the money pit they allow him to maintain.

Props to Kotick for making Activision what it is tho. Hate him or not, Activision is #1 right now and i'm pretty sure Kotick has something to do with that

I would think more credit is due to the games, particularly Wow and MW.

 

[Zing]

My point was never that he doesn't like video games. Simply that he's completely out of touch with the common public who don't go to bed on a pile of money.

 

[soren7550]

The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.

The goal... was to take all the fun out of making video games.

take all the fun out of making video games.

Uh huh.
Sure, guys. He is a very nice person and all.
Thanks, but I'll stick with Tim on this one.

Damn, got ninja'd.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Let's see, do I trust the dude who made Psychonauts or the dude who wants to charge subscription fees to use the new Modern Warfare's multiplayer.

hmmmm, decisions, decisions.

i'd go with the dood that made a game that made me laugh out loud, always a good way to judge
sides Psychonauts rules

 

[Crimsane]

Couldn't help but notice she didn't refute the whole him being a 'total prick' part. Can't fight the facts, I guess.

 

[DazBurger]

That's the whole damn point. Don't be naive, money isn't the thing helping the industry at this point.

Wait what?!

I have to agree there, money isent.
Creative mind make good games, not money.

Suuure! Money can accuire creative minds, but creativity needs time, which is bad for the money.
Meaning, even the best most creative well payed game-makers make shitty games when on short timetable.


On the other hand... Creative minds with NO timetable was what happened with DukeNukem Forever.


One needs to find balance, and you need a boss with a good head on his shoulders, golden fingers and passion for what he is doing to accuire that.