Activision May Close Down Bizarre Creations (PGR, Geometry Wars, etc.)

RC Cola · Nov 16, 2010

May be more of a rumor at this point, though Activision definitely seems to want to get rid of them (either by selling them or just closing them down). Here's some of the "official" info:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...ev_Bizarre_Creations_Puts_Staff_On_Notice.php

Here's some info about Bizarre:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarre_Creations
As mentioned, they're best known for developing games like PGR and Geometry Wars. Activision acquired them a few years ago, and they developed Blur for Activision. It was a bit of a commercial failure (though I think possibly due to Activision's decisions). Their new Bond game doesn't seem too good either.

On a related note, Activision also closed down Budcat:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31573/Activision_Closes_Guitar_Hero_Band_Hero_CoDev_Budcat.php
They worked on some of the ports for Guitar Hero.

Wonder how much longer Raven have left. Guess they're still useful for making CoD map packs. And given that Activision will kill the CoD IP (as they did with Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero, etc.), maybe Treyarch too in a few years?

TheGM · Nov 16, 2010

It's Activision; they screw everything up.

They destroyed Infinity Ward. Treyarch is decent and they had IW previous stuff to work with, but COD is going to be screwed with constant milking and with the real IW gone.

After constant milking, they destroyed the Guitar Hero franchise. That was after losing the original developers to EA/MTV.

They bought Bizzare and put them to work on James Bond.

Can't believe Bungie signed on with them.

RC Cola · Nov 16, 2010

Yeah. Of all their options, I really don't get why Bungie signed a deal with Activision. Guess it might help if they want to do a MMO (maybe they can get help from Blizzard).

Should have signed with the sleeping monster known as ZeniMax.

MiddleMan · Nov 16, 2010

Waiting on Brink.

trickywhiteguy · Nov 16, 2010

Best game Bizarre ever made was Tribes Arial Assault for PS2!

SuperHighFly · Nov 17, 2010

WTF Activision owns everything (and screws up everything).

RC Cola · Nov 17, 2010

FWIW,

There is talk that Microsoft is interested in buying Bizarre. Not sure it is that much better (Bizarre seemed to prefer Activision to Microsoft), but that would reunite Bizarre with the PGR IP, which MS owns. And MS was looking for a developer for the IP. Oh and the whole "we may have to close the studio down and lay everybody off" thing might be avoided.

Waiting to see this soon (stolen from NeoGAF):

Activision Dissolves Blizzard Entertainment, Absorbs Key Staff

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite showing some of the company's strongest-selling franchises, it has been determined in the best interest of Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) to dissolve the partnership with Blizzard, shut down the beloved studio, and take on any further development of their key properties in-house.

"It takes a lot of money to run a studio like Blizzard," said Activision CEO Robert Kotick, "The electrical costs of maintaining the company's campus alone was through the roof! And then there was the sky-rocketing cost of soda and snack goods consumed by an ever-increasing number of support staff. Existing World of Warcraft and StarCraft II players shouldn't worry, though, as they will have access to our new, completely automated customer service system."

Mr. Kotick emphasized that, "Although Blizzard has been very good to us, they fell short of our World of Warcraft: Cataclysm pre-sale goal by about 5,000 copies. Management figured it was a good time to access the loophole I built into our contract, and I think that investors will be happy with our decision."

Activision will not only be absorbing the rights to the company's famous franchises, they will also keep several key staff on board. "While it is financially impossible to accommodate everyone who will be losing their jobs in the process," said Brian Kelly, Co-Chairman of Activision, "we have reached out to one individual, in particular: Chris Metzen. He will be doing all further voice work for Activision-published games, himself, which benefits us since we won't have to pay any other actors."

Activision promises to maintain Blizzard's work as long as it makes economic sense to do so. World of Warcraft and StarCraft II will be moved onto a system of private servers which individual players can operate -- part of an exclusive deal with GameServers.com. Both titles will be retrofit with the Call of Duty series' netcode to reduce costs overall, and to "ensure a fair playing field."

Development on further projects, including the much-anticipated Diablo III, has been put on indefinite hold. Robert Kotick had the following to say about the decision, "People may be wondering what we're going to do with all of those assets. Well, I don't want to give to much away, but let's say that you might see a certain 'Warchief' or 'Demon Hunter' as DLC characters in Modern Warfare 3."

All Blizzard staff is expected to be off-premises of the company's Irvine, CA headquarters by 11/19. The entire structure will be burnt to the ground the following morning, followed by a ceremonial pissing on the ashes.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Call of Duty and Activision are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective own-- I mean, also Activision.

SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.

About Blizzard Entertainment

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Click to expand...

(not going to happen...but then again, I wouldn't underestimate Kotick)

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Activision May Close Down Bizarre Creations (PGR, Geometry Wars, etc.)

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