Activision Shareholders Get Jittery Over Starcraft 2

[microhive]

I just want to say that I and my brother called it!

We were right that since the merger between activision and blizzard that Blizzard needed to show the shareholders of activision that the merger was profitable. This means that Blizzard is now being pressured by the publisher model to release video games instead of their method of "The game is ready when it is ready" model. Currently since the merger Blizzard hasn't released a single game that affected their quarterly reports. While Blizzard has made money for activision via subscriptions the proof to show that merging with Blizzard as a good idea is not there because without a product selling there is no need to be merged with a company.

This is going to be a make or break moment for Blizzard and Activision and their shareholders to see if the merger will last. We will see if the shareholders will want to pressure activision to break off the merger if Blizzard doesn't produce a game. Or will Blizzard give in and follow the activision model and give dates to creating their games.

For those dissenters saying WOTLK. That was done before the merger between the two companies so aside from the monthly subscriptions like I mentioned that made activision hand over fist in cash; Blizzard still has yet to release a product to merit the merger for sharesholders.

Wasn't the merger Vivendi and Activision, but Blizzards name was used as they are the big name . I'm certain there is info somewhere that points out the publisher only gets the money from the box sales and not from the subs, but as I cannot find it atm I'll have to get back on that one. Anyways WoW earns blizzard enough money regardless and they are that high profile a developer that they can effectively ignore activisions pressuring. As Alone Disciple said SC2 and blizzard will net activision a LOT of money over the next few years, all they have to do is sit on their hands and leave them well alone.

Edit: Digging around a bit I was able to find that Activision is not blizzards publisher, Blizzard is its OWN publisher, which means that beyond financial support for workers etc and money upfront for developing new games. And going back to my previous post about the amount of money that blizzard earns from WoW, then they must be in the enviable position for a developer of being able to finance their own games.

Sad that a lot of people don't know that. Also Blizzard pretty much run their own show. They aren't directly controlled by Activision Blizzard so no worries there.

 

[dochmbi]

Blizzard is known for creating the highest rated video games of all time, and it's important that they keep it that way. That's what sets Blizzard and Valve apart from the rest of game developers and gives them an edge. You buy a Blizzard game, you get 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

That's what the investors need to understand, that it makes sense for Blizzard to take a long time to make a game, because the good image will make them more money over the long run.

 

[microhive]

Blizzard is known for creating the highest rated video games of all time, and it's important that they keep it that way. That's what sets Blizzard and Valve apart from the rest of game developers and gives them an edge. You buy a Blizzard game, you get 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

That's what the investors need to understand, that it makes sense for Blizzard to take a long time to make a game, because the good image will make them more money over the long run.

And in the first 24 hours.

 

[crazy-j]

well activision you deserve it. you slimy, suing, price raising son of a *****. you fuckin deserve it

 

[crazy-j]

Activision just better not try to rush Blizzard into bringing it out sooner. If they do, they're gonna find my boot (and probably that of a million south koreans) up their ass.

count me in!

 

[Kellerb]

I believe it's called Karma

/thread. thread ended.

 

[AkJay]

I don't care anymore, FUCK Activision, the greedy bastards.

 

[Amnestic]

Blizzard have never worked by deadlines. "When it's done" or "Soon" have, and still are, Blizzard's primary method of telling you when they'll get something out the door.

"Soon: Copyright 2004-2009 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. "Soon" does not imply any particular date, time, decade, century, or millennia in the past, present, and certainly not the future. "Soon" shall make no contract or warranty between Blizzard Entertainment and the end user. "Soon" will arrive some day, Blizzard does guarantee that "soon" will be here before the end of time. Maybe. Do not make plans based on "soon" as Blizzard will not be liable for any misuse, use, or even casual glancing at "soon."[1] "

Just be glad they're working on Blizztime and not DukeNukemForevertime.

 

[zoozilla]

I'm just worried that now Activision is going to sue some small independent company out of spite.

 

[Lord S. Binkleheimer]

Activision just better not try to rush Blizzard into bringing it out sooner. If they do, they're gonna find my boot (and probably that of a million south koreans) up their ass.

I will personally back you up with anything (legal or illegal) that I can get my hands on.


If I'm not mistaken, all of Blizz's works have been hits.
Mega-hits.
Being a gamer and not knowing Blizzard's name is like saying you don't know what the NES is.
They got this good by taking their sweet time.

 

[Lord S. Binkleheimer]

For all I care, Activision could go bankrupt. Would only do the world of gaming a huge favor.

Ah well, if you don't count Korea, then sure, MW2 will sell better than SC2. I've got a friend from South Korea, he told me they have channels dedicated to Starcraft, where you can watch the pros and you can call in and ask them for tips. How can it not sell like fucking butter over there?

Just imagine...
The new way to decide wars:
Playing Starcraft 2.
The Sequel to what is probably the most balanced RTS ever.

 

[theultimateend]

This really doesn't bother me in the slightest. The worst thing to happen to Blizzard was to add Activision to the front of it.

I agree there is nothing positive about this merger.

A Blizzard game might not make the target launch date? Le Gasp!!

In other news, water is wet, Michael Jackson is dead and the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

Can you guess which one of those three is not always the case? I'll give you a hint it has to do with astronomy. In fact "technically" it only happens twice a year .

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I know that it's for the games' sake, but with the recent events, Activision seem either lazy or evil. Or both...

Anyway, I don't really care for those games yet, haven't played Starcraft (*gasp* blasphemy!) and I don't know about MW2 since the first one not really needed a sequel. Luckily for me, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 stay right where they are, unless Ubisoft and DICE f***s up also.

 

[Zac_Dai]

Hey as far as I'm concerned, let the stock plummet. When it's dirt cheap, I'll buy as much as I possibly can and then LMAO when SC2 goes gold and breaks yet more sales records. When it does release, Blizzard may jsut as well open a wing at Fort Knox.

Silly impatient investors.

So true.
The whole thing seems like a lot of investors who don't know shit about the market they've invested money in.

 

[Credge]

If I'm not mistaken, all of Blizz's works have been hits.
Mega-hits.

No, not all. Most, but not all. Rock and Roll Racing and The Lost Vikings 1 and 2 weren't exactly hits, more like cult classics similar to Psychonauts.

You also have to remember that they've scrapped a bunch of projects as well. Ghost and the Warcraft adventure game, both of which they advertised heavily, are two of the more popular ones.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Blizzard will do what Blizzard does, and no shitty Activision will have anything to say about it. Seeing as they're basically making three games simultaneously, I don't see why waiting a little bit longer is such a big deal.