Poll: Is Activision Ruining Blizzard?

[Uszi]

So, Activision and Blizzard merged a few months ago. All seemed, if not good, then at least the same. Definitely not worse.

BAM!
Blizzcon:

Blizzard releases SCII as three seperate games, to milk the fan base for all it's worth [http://pc.ign.com/articles/918/918895p1.html]

Battle.net, always kept free by blizzard will no longer be so, because they 'kind of have to.' [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/blizzards-wilson-some-battle-net-features-to-be-monetized/]

MOAR evidence:

http://www.aeropause.com/2008/10/activision-blizzard-merger-complete-now-charge-for-everything/

http://www.starcraftwire.net/n/1265/starcraft-2-trilogy-yearly-expansions

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/11/key-starcraft-ii-trilogy-details/#more-11304

MTV Multiplayer: Will these be full-priced products?

Sigaty: You know, we haven?t even talked about that yet. I don?t know. They?re definitely full-sized games. I mean, the scope will be big; it?s going to be 26 to 30 missions in the first one, and we intend to have at least that much in the next after that. By the end, I?d say up to 90 missions. Definitely full-scale. And again, multiplayer will be upgraded the same way we have with other expansion-like products.

http://fanboys-online.com/

"And I don't think anyone is particularly happy with Activision other than Activison as of late. Other than being pretentious about Guitar Hero to the people that made Guitar Hero and sold them Guitar Hero, I can't help but wonder if they had anything to do with StarCraft 2 being split into a trilogy, and Battle.net becoming another revenue for money after being free for as long as anyone can remember. Here's hoping Diablo 3 isn't a brand new game for each class that comes with it."

HAIL TO THE KRUDMAN, he speaketh only truth.

------------------------

We've already discussed the suckiness of these announcements, the question is, do you think that Activision is responsible?

 

[Splitter]

I predict that this might be locked but I could be wrong.

Anyway, as much as those things all really suck, theres nowhere in the articles that shows theres any clear link made between Activision and this happening, just clutching at straws.

EDIT: Spelling, and stuff.

 

[Uszi]

I feel like I'm doing my journalistic best to dig up a potential link between the two. What is there to lock?

 

[varulfic]

I don't know if it's activisions fault, but something is ruining blizzard.

 

[Splitter]

I feel like I'm doing my journalistic best to dig up a potential link between the two. What is there to lock?

I personally don't think theres anything wrong and you've done a good job in showing you've actually looked into it and stuff, but I've seen things like this get locked.

 

[Uszi]

Well, if you read through everything they deny any allogation that Activision is responsible.
I suppose that would end it.

... though, I don't believe it.
I am a Blizzard Fanboy though.

 

[The Wooster]

Yes you see Blizzard used to be an old man who worked tirelessly in this little tiny workshop making fun games for all the girls and boys. BUT THEN THE CORPORATION CAME! "Oh God!" whined the fans "They're trying to make some money! Blizzard has never charged a monthly fee for a game before!" Then the common sense fairy arrived.

And that's all for tonight kids. Lights out.

 

[Hellion25]

Yes you see Blizzard used to be an old man who worked tirelessly in this little tiny workshop making fun games for all the girls and boys. BUT THEN THE CORPORATION CAME! "Oh God!" whined the fans "They're trying to make some money! Blizzard has never charged a monthly fee for a game before!" Then the common sense fairy arrived.

And that's all for tonight kids. Lights out.

Pretty much this exactly. Any company that charges monthly rates to its millions of users to play one game are a bunch of profiteers anyway. They are just taking it a bit further now. Let's not kid ourselves that Blizzard are a group of bedroom coders who are more concerned about making games than money.

 

[OverlordSteve]

The solution to all of Blizzard's problems:
TURN WARCRAFT BACK INTO A GODDAMN RTS.

 

[NeedAUserName]

Me thinks it will be Vice Versa, as Activision was a great gaming label, and Blizzard, is well Blizzard.

 

[The Wooster]

The solution to all of Blizzard's problems:
TURN WARCRAFT BACK INTO A GODDAMN RTS.

Yeah. That'll clear that money problem right up. Maybe afterwards they could all saw off their left thumbs as well.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

The solution to all of Blizzard's problems:
TURN WARCRAFT BACK INTO A GODDAMN RTS.

Yeah. That'll clear that money problem right up. Maybe afterwards they could all saw off their left thumbs as well.

Even in sarcasm, you make scary sence =/

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Yes you see Blizzard used to be an old man who worked tirelessly in this little tiny workshop making fun games for all the girls and boys. BUT THEN THE CORPORATION CAME! "Oh God!" whined the fans "They're trying to make some money! Blizzard has never charged a monthly fee for a game before!" Then the common sense fairy arrived.

And that's all for tonight kids. Lights out.

Agreed. This is reactionary/hateboy/misinformed panic. Onoz! The Corporations, they're all corporationy! They ruined our gumdrop forests and rivers of chocolate! You sound like the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G) from Team America: World Police.

Let them make a game that sucks before you pass judgement, god, wheres the loyalty?

Also, the 'suckiness of these announcements' is debateble, and not such a forgone conclusion if you've looked at any of the threads. Some of us think this isn't such a bad thing and may turn out to be GOOD, provided Blizzard can pull it off in a classy way. If they can't, well- everyone has hits and misses. Blizzard will have to screw up more then once to lose my respect.

 

[searanox]

I doubt Activision has much to do with it. Blizzard makes more money than Activision despite having a tenth the number of games on store shelves. However, Blizzard also have really damn high development costs because they spend years making and remaking their games. A five-year development cycle is not sustainable, nor is offering a robust online service for free, assuming you want to either break even or make a small profit on it. I don't mind monetisation of Battle.net so long as they don't remove content etc. for those who don't pay, or start throwing ads everywhere. As for the StarCraft 2 thing, it's a logical decision and I don't really object to it, so long as the games really are full-featured (and I have no reason to doubt they will be, even though I would prefer one massive game later on rather than three smaller ones sooner).

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I doubt Activision has much to do with it. Blizzard makes more money than Activision despite having a tenth the number of games on store shelves. However, Blizzard also have really damn high development costs because they spend years making and remaking their games. A five-year development cycle is not sustainable, nor is offering a robust online service for free, assuming you want to either break even or make a small profit on it. I don't mind monetisation of Battle.net so long as they don't remove content etc. for those who don't pay, or start throwing ads everywhere. As for the StarCraft 2 thing, it's a logical decision and I don't really object to it, so long as the games really are full-featured (and I have no reason to doubt they will be, even though I would prefer one massive game later on rather than three smaller ones sooner).

I agree with this sentiment, it's probably just a way for Blizzard to keep paying it's bills.

 

[Caliostro]

This is blizzard you're talking about...What's there left to ruin?

 

[Jazzyluv]

Activision is keeping blizzard alive, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Activision is keeping blizzard alive, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Que? Blizzard rakes in millions a year with WoW...

 

[Jazzyluv]

Activision is keeping blizzard alive, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Que? Blizzard rakes in millions a year with WoW...

Activision is funding blizzard, so yes, it is keeping blizzard alive, that is how it works.

 

[Zallest]

Activision is keeping blizzard alive, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Que? Blizzard rakes in millions a year with WoW...

That's what i don't get millions? No.. Billions! Yes! They make tons of money off of WoW! Why charge for Battlenet? Are they really that money hungry or are their employees really not getting payed enough that they need more?

I loved D2 for all it was worth. Loved it enough that when it was YEARS old and i wanted to play again and bought new copies because my disc were worn down. They have a strong fan base and people will pay for battlenet but do we really need to? is D3 really gonna be worth it?