Blizzard Promises Activision Hasn't Changed Anything

[VegetaPrinceofSaiyans]

Well, idc really as long as Activision keeps its horrible claws out of Blizzard and doesn't force them to pump out the same game every year with slightly updated graphics(I'm looking at you Call of Duty franchise) then I am fine with that. Just don't fuck with my WoW and I won't execute my plan to assassinate your CEO, k Activision?

 

[The Lunatic]

Oh, so, the recent screw ups have all been Blizzard's fault?

Well, that's much more comforting.

 

[Blueruler182]

"In a negative way," That's the cop out. I don't have any issues with Blizzard, but that phrase is the cop out.

 

[Loonerinoes]

You know...it's funny just how analogus Bioware and Blizzard are considering their status as of right now. The former has just started moving up in the earnings of EA with releasing two triple A games recently + the upcoming SWTOR and the latter is, by a report collated by John Funk, responsible for something like 60% of all the profits Activision makes (I'm not sure of the number, just...off the top of my head).

In any case, when a division moves to that kind of position it's fair to say that the influence from the top is indeed diminished. I have no doubt, for example, that I wasn't driven away from WoW because the evil Activision somehow *forced* Blizzard to move more and more casual and more and more bland for me.....that was just Blizzard all along. I mean, they still make awesome games and have a great feel to all their games, but they just moved away from what I liked to go through in games.

So yeah...I wouldn't go the conspiracy route that much myself either. Let Blizzard be Blizzard and Activision be Activision I think...because if you're at the critical lynchpin position that they are now...you don't want to have another Infinity Ward debacle (which probably happened because Activision saw them as possibly growing past their projections and hence were not ready to pay out the dues but yet again...not enough info to judge on that).

 

[Tom Phoenix]

So what they're saying is that jacking up the ticket price for Blizzcon, charging $40 to stream video from Blizzcon [http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/25054-BlizzCon_video_stream_not_free_3995_pay_per_view], splitting one game into three full price games, putting Activision's Chief Financial Officer in charge of Blizzard's operations [http://www.massively.com/2010/03/31/acti-blizz-restructuring-assigns-new-executive-to-blizzard/], and revealing our real names to the internet and all it's denizens [http://kotaku.com/5580585/blizzard-forums-will-soon-display-your-real-name] was all their idea?

Good to know...

Yes, actually.

Blizzard are big boys. They make decisions on their own, for good and for bad. The "If it's good it's Blizzard if it's bad it's Activision" mentality is laughable.

As long as Big Blue still pulls in over half of Activision's operating profit, Vivendi's hands-off rule is probably still in full force. Which means that yes, when Blizzard does something boneheaded it's Blizzard's fault.

Exactly. I don't know why people have such a hard time wrapping their heads around this idea. The earnings from WoW alone consist almost half of Activision-Blizzard's yearly earnings. You do not wield such a substantial financial mallet and be the inferior party in this agreement.

It's kind of ironic really...don't people ask themselves why the holding company is called Activision-Blizzard? Don't people ask themselves how come Blizzard has remained intact while all the other developers were closed and their IP's consolidated into Activision? Don't they ask themselves how come none of Blizzard's games, even SC2, don't have Activision mentioned anywhere on the box?

The fact is, Blizzard hasn't been an independant company since 1994. Mike Morhaime, the CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, has switched five bosses throughout his career. And yet, somehow, Blizzard has always been able to develop games at their own pace, at their own accord. Infact, that hasn't even changed in over two years since they have become a part of Activision-Blizzard. So really, any mistakes made by Blizzard are their own entirely. Bobby Kotick may be the devil, but even he can't be blamed for everything video game companies do wrong (yes, even when those companies are associated with him).

Also, am I the only one who finds it ironic how Blizzard is criticised for making the campaign of the core game Terran only and announcing two expansion packs, when Relic preety much did the same thing and nobody complained? The original Dawn of War only had a Space Marine campaign and three expansion packs were released for it...Not to mention that the Terran campaign in SC2 is as large as all three campaigns in the original, so the claim that Blizzard cut content that should have been in the core game doesn't hold water.

By the way, SilentHunter7, Blizzard operated BlizzCon at a loss in spite of the increased ticket price.

 

[SilentHunter7]

And spliting one game into 3 is called an expasion pack, but your probably an inbred self entitled teenager who wasn't around when such things exhisted.

As far as I know, I'm not inbred, and my birth certificate says I was born in '89, so I know I'm not a teenager. And I'm pretty sure expansion packs are still around, so it's literally impossible to have not been around when they were. You're 0 for 3, buddy.

Oh, and here's two tips for posting on this forum from a guy who has been here a while:

1) Invest in spell-checking software. Or better yet, download a browser that spell-checks for you. Your grasp on the english language is questionable at best, and using proper spelling can go a long way towards not looking like a complete idiot when you post.

2) Don't resort to tired insults to make a point. Trust me, you won't last long if you do.

 

[Wardnath]

Aw... that is so CUTE. Blizzard says that they aren't being influenced at all by that soulless businessman Bobby Kotick, even though he's the 'Director; President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard'.

And even cuter... The Blizzard diehards BELIEVE IT!

Oh well. The Activision | Blizzard boycott continues. Maybe someday I'll buy SC2, when they release the complete finished game in one box.

Cuter still, you believe that you and you alone will even make a sizable difference.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"Preserving that culture is a key part of our ability to continue to deliver great games. We nurture it, protect it and take care of it as much as we can, because it is a big part of who we are."

And the work they've done with Infinity Ward has been preserved for everyone to see.

 

[SilentHunter7]

Cuter still, you believe that you and you alone will even make a sizable difference.

You got to start somewhere.

 

[tautologico]

If you are genuinly going to call me a troll then procede to tell me that Starcraft 2 is one of the best games the industry has ever produced and that it is on par with some of Blizzards early work then all I can say to you is that you can fuck off and enjoy your average peice of overpriced shit.

Well, I've been playing Blizzard's games since Blackthorne and the first Warcraft and I'll go ahead and say it: Starcraft 2 is at least as good as any other of their previous games.

 

[tautologico]

The problem i had with WoW now is that all they did to make it easier for players was change numbers around. This meant that areas and quests that used to be significant were ignored, and pretty much all of the dungeons that used to be home to some of my best moments weren't being played by anyone due to the faster leveling.
I think it was a mess, and they did a good job of alienating returning players.

With Cataclysm they're overhauling the only section of the game i had a problem with. They're making it easier for players to level up while making the most of what's there, rather than changing numbers around and messing up parts of the game.
I doubt they'd let the same problems slip by again and i can't complain about being alienated if i'm new to the content as well, so that's why i've got my hopes up

In that case yes, I think you'll like it. But I don't know about they never letting the same happen again, it's a big world and they can't keep updating all the areas all the time. If an area is deserted, why not look for more interesting areas?

 

[rsvp42]

I'm not sure why people can't just look at this, say "good to hear" and then move on. If Blizzard says they still have control, then just go with it. The company hasn't failed yet, nor has it made any major mistakes, so until it does, we have no reason to get bent out of shape. It's odd how people get so wrapped up in the whole story of a company, the leaders, the money-makers, the behind-the-scenes workings... Perhaps it's just my personal taste, but I prefer to simply buy a game, play it, and if it's good, buy more later on. Sure, I can become loyal to a company with a good track record and wary of one with bad press, but ultimately I buy the games that interest me. It's as simple as that. Everyone gets so emotional about Bobby Kotick and shit. Bah, whatever.

 

[Booze Zombie]

"Activision shall not effect us what-so-ever.
We were already aiming to take as much of your money as possible, anyway!"

 

[Canid117]

This makes no sense, the POINT of merging two companies is to combine their best traits.

This was more of a move to make the companies larger so they could compete with EA and share resources if need be. It also makes the stock look better.

 

[JIst00]

It wasnt just SCII that they hiked the price on, ALL Activision titles are now £45, £5 more expensive than the current benchmark price generally adhered to. For example a new copy of MW2 is not £45, compared to the £40 that a lot of my friends paid for originally, and also Transformers, which I got for £40 is now £45. Check out Gamestation's shelves and you'll see for yourselves.

OT:

Of course Blizzard are responsible for themselves despite the merger, especially if the figure is 60% of profit or revenue (cant remember which one was specified above).

The article from the LA Times posted above was interesting though, and not at all suprising, he may not have any control per se, but Bobby will want to be keeping a close eye on the cash-cow and make sure its being milked properly.

SCII and Diablo III being anounced not long after the merger is most likely a coincidence, Blizz have been busy little bees for the last half a decade, and with the latest WoW expansion on the horizon, which they are probably going to shift focus onto their other franchises to update them and keep them current.

 

[RicoADF]

So I guess that means that Blizzard is wholly responsible for the decision to use draconian DRM measures. Starcraft 2 single player requires an internet connection to function. So if you've got a laptop and want to play Starcraft 2 anywhere you like, anywhere you like better have broadband.

You don't need to be connected to play it. You just need to be connected once, to activate your installation. After that it's optional, you stay connected to b.net if you want to get achievements and talk to friends, otherwise you can go offline all you want.

That's great news! I must have been swindled by the prolific bad vibes of the user reviews on Amazon. Thanks for the update.

I've got SC2 and connection to battlenet has dropped while playing the campaign. It just gave a little message at the bottom left that it had dropped and any acheivements made wouldnt be recorded unless the connection came back. No big deal imo since I dont care about them.

 

[Verbal Samurai]

It's like an abused spouse trying to cover up their bruises from their friends by lying.....

Sad really.

Real ID was nothing more than Blizzard walking into a door...

...honestly! Activision would never do anything like that! Bobby LOVES us!

 

[RicoADF]

If you are genuinly going to call me a troll then procede to tell me that Starcraft 2 is one of the best games the industry has ever produced and that it is on par with some of Blizzards early work then all I can say to you is that you can fuck off and enjoy your average peice of overpriced shit.

Well, I've been playing Blizzard's games since Blackthorne and the first Warcraft and I'll go ahead and say it: Starcraft 2 is at least as good as any other of their previous games.

I'd also say StarCraft 2 is as good as Starcraft and the Warcraft games I've played (Warcraft 2 & 3)

 

[scw55]

Good to know we have evidence that TRH was Blizzard's fault <3