Activision's Ownership of Bizarre Helped Cause Studio's Downfall

[vansau]

Activision's Ownership of Bizarre Helped Cause Studio's Downfall

Former senior executives at Bizarre Creations have revealed that, aside from a number of other problems, Activision's ownership didn't help the studio.

Remember how it was explained that Bizarre Creations shut down <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108003-Former-Bizarre-Creations-Dev-Says-a-Perfect-Storm-Killed-the-Studio>because of a "perfect storm" of circumstances? Well, it turns out there may be a bit more to the story. Apparently, things at Bizarre Creations started to go downhill after the purchase by Activision. One of the first things to go was Bizarre's "independent culture." On top of that, the studio was suddenly making games that, while good, were made to "fill slots."

According to former creative director Martyn Chudley in an interview with Edge Magazine:

"We weren't an independent studio making 'our' games anymore. We were making games to fill slots. Although we did all believe in them, they were more the products of committees and analysts. The culture we'd worked on for so long gradually eroded just enough so that it wasn't 'ours' anymore."

Chudley also revealed that, after a three month search to find a buyer for the studio, Activision gave Bizarre's founders the opportunity to buy the studio back. However, Martyn's wife Sarah (who was the company's commercial manager) explained that this wasn't really an option.

"Bizarre had grown even more since [Activision] took over, and we just didn't have the skills, capability or finances to look after over 200 people," said Sarah. "Martyn and I were always small-company people, which is why we stepped aside when we realised it needed big-company skills to manage."

While it's a little sad that Bizarre's founders didn't take Activision up on the offer to buy the studio back, their rationale does seem to make sense.

Source: <a href=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/bizarre-creations-staff-speak-out-on-closure>Edge via <a href=http://gamepolitics.com/2011/04/06/report-activision-offered-bizarre-founders>GamePolitics

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[RA92]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

 

[manythings]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They already made derivative crap so I don't see a problem. HEYOOOO!

But seriously, hasn't this happened several times in the past two or three years? A big company snaps up a small one and slams it into the round hole before casting it aside.

 

[Dorkmaster Flek]

Somebody should tell Mike Morhaime at Blizzard about their experience, seeing as he's so keen to defend Activision's management of their studios. Blizzard gets to do what they want because they're huge already. Other studios don't get the same freedom.

 

[Delusibeta]

Can I post an "I told you so" image yet?

 

[Canid117]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They are still independent so they can break their contract and go somewhere else if Kotick tries this on them.

 

[8bitlove2a03]

It's sad to think that good game companies can be hurt by people who just want to make money. It's also sad to think that I no longer consider "Activision contributes to running a game studio into the ground" as news.

 

[Jumwa]

I guess it's time for Kotick to order more of his current employees to broadcast how great and uncontrolling he is AGAIN.

 

[Irridium]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They survived Microsoft where others have either died or are abominations that barely resemble their former selves(Ensemble/Rare, respectively).

So there is hope. And by god I hope Activision doesn't end up killing Bungie.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

This is my shocked face.

You may notice it looks exactly like my normal face.

Activision caused a company to crash into the ground? Like it did with so many others...

Wow. I'm really shocked.

 

[shintakie10]

Meh, small developer gets snatched up by big publisher. Small developer becomes medium/big developer. Small developer loses what made it "special" in the first place. Developer either crashes and burns or gets turned into yearly crap production factories.

It happens pretty much every time. If anythin I'm more surprised people actually are surprised by this anymore.

 

[Jumplion]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They are still independent so they can break their contract and go somewhere else if Kotick tries this on them.

Are you sure? I could have sworn they signed, like, a 10-year contract with them or something, but I have no idea.

This is my shocked face.

You may notice it looks exactly like my normal face.

Activision caused a company to crash into the ground? Like it did with so many others...

Wow. I'm really shocked.

This on so many levels. Activision have already broken various other studios within just 4 years of acquiring them. I can't believe that another studio suffers the same fate, it's just mind-boggling.

 

[Traun]

Isn't it great? A studio can blame someone else besides pirates today! Can't wait for EA to sue Activision over the failure of the C&C franchise because they're on the same planet.

 

[Ldude893]

Meh, small developer gets snatched up by big publisher. Small developer becomes medium/big developer. Small developer loses what made it "special" in the first place. Developer either crashes and burns or gets turned into yearly crap production factories.

It happens pretty much every time. If anythin I'm more surprised people actually are surprised by this anymore.

It doesn't make it any less sadder. The small studios under Activision don't have the power to freely create quality work; they're forced to focus more on the quantity.

 

[Canid117]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They are still independent so they can break their contract and go somewhere else if Kotick tries this on them.

Are you sure? I could have sworn they signed, like, a 10-year contract with them or something, but I have no idea.

They did indeed sign a contract but they are still independent from Activision. Act publishes their games now but doesn't actually control the company. I think people are forgetting that both parties have to adhere to a contract when one is singed and Activision isn't the only one who can hire competent lawyers.

 

[VulakAerr]

This happened mostly because Blur was sent out to die against Split/Second which had a superior marketing campaign, despite having far less longevity as a game. The Bond game was pretty shitty though.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

I wonder how Bungie would fare under KotickVision...

They are still independent so they can break their contract and go somewhere else if Kotick tries this on them.

Are you sure? I could have sworn they signed, like, a 10-year contract with them or something, but I have no idea.

They did indeed sign a contract but they are still independent from Activision. Act publishes their games now but doesn't actually control the company. I think people are forgetting that both parties have to adhere to a contract when one is singed and Activision isn't the only one who can hire competent lawyers.

It's even narrower than that, if I have it quite right. The contract is just for the current IP they're working on; Bungie can work on other IPs later and would not be obliged to publish them through Activision.

That gives Bungie some interesting leverage, depending upon the contract wording... if Kotick makes it too much of a hassle, Ryan/Jones might be in a position to move to greener pastures with another IP and leave Acti/Blizz high-and-dry. (Though I don't think Acti lawyers are incompetant/desperate enough to make that a cheap option to pick.)

-- Steve