[Update] Breaking: Activision Shutters Project Gotham Dev Bizarre Creations?

[DigitalSushi]

Activision have also closed down Budcat Creations.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-11-16-activision-closes-guitar-hero-dev

So if your a Game Developer under the Activision umbrella, you better not have "Creation" in your name.

 

[AngelOfBlueRoses]

Goddam it, even APPLE have standards.

Not at all. [http://www.cracked.com/article_18377_5-reasons-you-should-be-scared-apple.html]

OT: That's a damn shame. I've heard a few people say next-to-no marketing about Blur in this thread and realized that the only thing I saw about Blur was one commercial and some free trial on Steam, that I rarely use anyways.

 

[Dana22]

Well, that's Activision Blizzard for you.

The only thing that ever matters, is if you can make money.

Both Project Gotham and Geometry Wars sold quite well.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Goddam it, even APPLE have standards.

Not at all. [http://www.cracked.com/article_18377_5-reasons-you-should-be-scared-apple.html]

I didn't say they were good standards, I just said they had standards.

 

[Ldude893]

Oh god, not again.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

Waitaminit. Bizzare? Creators of that little gem, Geometry Wars? And Kotick couldn't figure out a way to keep 'em profitable?

If so, the wrong asses got fired here.

-- Steve

 

[Staskala]

They don't make money, they get axed.
As much as I dislike Activision in general, this is a case where you can't really fault them.
They are a business first and foremost, so if they have a part that only loses them money what else should they do?
If you do a bad job you get fired, it's as simple as that.

Besides, Bizarre wanted to join Activision, they weren't bought up or anything.

The perfect solution for us is to join the ranks of Activision, alongside their other talented studios. It's a pretty incredible chance for Bizarre to improve ourselves and make the most of all the fantastic new opportunities this opens up.
Bizarre isn't a developer in financial trouble, and we're certainly not looking to be "saved" by a bigger corporation. We're a dev looking to take our games to the next level, and make the absolute best products we can possibly make.
(...) [http://www.bizarrecreations.com/article.php?article_id=5277#pressrelease]
So that's pretty much the idea behind it. Bizarre are happy because it means we're completely safe as a company, we all get to stay exactly the same, and we now have the opportunity to stretch our legs with some brand new game concepts. This is going to be fun...

Great fun, I bet.

 

[Delusibeta]

According to PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/11/16/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios], Budcat is also facing the axe. Also, according to Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5691455/bizarre-devs-took-a-chance-may-get-closedbizarre-devs-took-a-chance-may-get-closed], Bizarre hasn't been formally shut down, but everyone there has received a three month notice of redundancy. Budcat? Not so lucky.

I'm regretting buying Starcraft 1 for £5 in the summer.

 

[Infinatex]

Well, that's Activision Blizzard for you.

The only thing that ever matters, is if you can make money.

Not to sound too dickish, but it is a company and companies exist to make money. If part of you business is not holding it's own then sometimes all thats left is to cut your losses and move on.

 

[Ohlookit'sMatty]

I first read this as Blizzard, not Bizarre which was what made me pause to read it // Not that this is any better news

-M

 

[Mangue Surfer]

Activision is a symptom and not the cause. The problem is that gamers are pushing the market in a way that very few people can make money. New IPs are generally not good business this days.

 

[Numina Infuscata]

after MW2 they can suck my buns. I will literally only buy an activision game that is awesome and that I've tried at someone elses house.

BTW I played COD MP at my friends and guess what? ITS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS 2.

Mildly fun, nothing special.

Hell, I learnt that fact after Modern Warfare 1
They are all repetitive shooters with bleak settings =/

Farewell, Bizarre Creations...
It seems a lot more people loved you than I anticipated...

Word on the grapevine is Geometry Wars was outselling Call Of Duty and Activision got scared, so they shut you down *hugs*

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

Wasnt Activision the one who shut down the guys that made Sabouter?

Pandemic Studios, the guys behind Battlefront, Mercenaries and The Saboteur, was shut down by EA.

They also did Full Spectrum Warrior for the Xbox which was pretty enjoyable.

 

[NLS]

But, but what about Geometry Wars 2 for PC? I need more Geometry Wars!

 

[ImprovizoR]

So, if you don't make enough money they fire you and if you make too much money like IW did they still fire you? Someone should put a bullet in Kotick's head. If this means there will be no sequel to 007: Blood Stone I'll be pissed!