If I remember correctly, Vivendi has actually been trying to sell off Activision for years now. The problem is that no one who could actually afford to buy it is interested.gigastar said:Vivendi own Activision, its Activision whom seemingly want to get away from Vivendi.Dr.Awkward said:hmmm... I'm wondering if Vivendi's goal is to get all this cash, buy themselves off of Activision Blizzard, and strike out on their own? It might explain Vivendi's lack of games or announcements for the last few months...
Sailing across the wide acountant-sea...MCerberus said:Yar! This be great for the corporate raiders! These scurvy dogs been getting away with running a healthy profitable company! Now it be time to legally take ALL THEIR BOOTY! Logic be damned, short term profit be thars!
This once happened to an organization I was once employed under (nothing to do with games, but very much similar). Despite happening often enough, I can tell you now, that this is assuredly a huge mistake and will almost certainly end in tears for Act-Bliz. Vivendi will stand on Act-Bliz to keep its head above the water which threatens the job-security of everyone employed there and of course will affect the consumers. Focus on product/service-for-profit will shift to a panicky squealing to get clear of debt and product/service will suffer as a result. The better quality that consumers tend to enjoy is borne primarily from a process of risk and experimentation. Risk and experimentation die out fast in a high-stress and large debt environment. If the debt strangles out Act-Bliz, it will go down in flames while Vivendi draws a few more labored breaths. Even if Act-Bliz sinks, Vivendi will probably continue to plow blindly-forward with poor business models and practice. It's purely conjecture ... but I rode this god-awful train once before.Pandaman1911 said:While I dislike ActiBlizz as much as the next guy, this just makes me horribly sad and fucking mad as hell at the same time. From my point of view, Vivendi is just doing the equivalent of a Yoshi double-jump, using one company's momentum to keep itself afloat a few precious seconds longer, while the other is sent to a fiery doom. Say what you will about Activision, at least they make goddamn video games.
YARR! From a project management standpoint this move be a sign of a failing company. Taking long-term booty from the coffers to pay for yer wenches fills your boat with bilge. Fact is, take from the fixing budget and ye be askin for your boats to sink. Activision needs to be fighting these scalawags using minority stakeholder protections say I!carpathic said:Honestly though, this is just a bigger company shifting money on a balance sheet, the only reason we care is because it is a games company.
Ye be havin' no arrrrgument from mee on yer point thar.MCerberus said:YARR! From a project management standpoint this move be a sign of a failing company. Taking long-term booty from the coffers to pay for yer wenches fills your boat with bilge. Fact is, take from the fixing budget and ye be askin for your boats to sink. Activision needs to be fighting these scalawags using minority stakeholder protections say I!carpathic said:Honestly though, this is just a bigger company shifting money on a balance sheet, the only reason we care is because it is a games company.
To be fair to Vivendi, unless something changes drastically in the near future, they don't have a long-term to think about.MCerberus said:Yar! This be great for the corporate raiders! These scurvy dogs been getting away with running a healthy profitable company! Now it be time to legally take ALL THEIR BOOTY! Logic be damned, short term profit be thars!
They wont die, at worst they get sold off and someone else picks up the wowfair checks.Witty Name Here said:I hope Acti-Blizz doesn't go under... Or if the Activision ship sinks along with Vivendi, Blizzard can sail the storm. I have a great deal of respect for Blizzard, and Chris Metzen seems like a pretty cool guy, I don't want to see such a great company go under.
I spat MTN Dew all over the laptop at that good job Sir.Jack_in_the_green said:"The Lannisters send their regards", Bobby...