Topic: Activision and Blizzard Merge, World shits collective pants (Read 23043 times)

Loafie, Hero of Dreams · « **on:** December 03, 2007, 03:28:52 am »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7123582.stm

Quote

The companies behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft are merging in a deal which could shake up the global video games industry.

Activision and Blizzard have said they will form "the world's most profitable games business" in a deal worth $18.8bn (Â£9.15bn).

US-based Activision also makes hit console games such as the Tony Hawk series and Guitar Hero.

Nine million people pay a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft.

'High-growth industry'

Blizzard is the biggest player in online gaming and Warcraft is the global market leader of what are known as massively multi-player online role-playing games, or MMORPGs.

It is currently owned by the French media group Vivendi.

As part of the merger plan, Blizzard will invest $2bn in the new company, while Activision is putting up $1bn.

The merged business will be called Activision Blizzard and its chief executive will be Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group.

Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi chief executive, said: "This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector.

"By combining Vivendi's games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry."

Different strengths

The two firms are hoping that their different strengths will combine to form a business which is powerful on every gaming platform and in every territory.

Blizzard is strong in Asia, where its Starcraft series has proved hugely popular.

Starcraft, a strategy game first released in 1998, is played by millions of South Koreans in gaming cyber-cafes, and by professional gamers on television.

Activision has developed a presence on all three new generation game consoles - Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii - with franchises such as Spider-Man and X-Men.

The games software industry has been through turbulent years, with companies changing ownership and going in and out of business in rapid succession.

Activision was formed in 1979 and went through bankruptcy and a series of alliances and mergers before becoming successful.

Blizzard had been through a number of owners before ending up in the hands of Vivendi in 1998.

It has begun.
http://www.activisionblizzard.com/

DISCUSS.

Dexee · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2007, 05:45:45 am »

Oh My God Bees?!

Wake[of]theBunT · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2007, 06:13:16 am »

pretty gay, i prefer blizzard the way it was.

Konrad Beerbaum · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2007, 06:16:28 am »

What the holy hell!?

mbsurfer · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2007, 01:42:16 am »

IF THER R FUKING TROLLS AND ELVES IN MY GITAR HERO GAMS IM GUNNA SHIT A BRICK.... SIDEWAYS.

Polizei · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2007, 05:09:07 am »

This basically means that blizzards new project is a 007 MMO.

Xanatos · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2007, 01:48:53 pm »

uncool

Polizei · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2007, 05:16:00 pm »

Quote from: Xanatos on December 04, 2007, 01:48:53 pm

uncool

not as uncool as YOU

Quote from: mbsurfer on December 04, 2007, 01:42:16 am

IF THER R FUKING TROLLS

you are already SURROUNDED BY TROLLS.

mbsurfer · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2007, 01:44:41 am »

Quote from: Polizei on December 04, 2007, 05:16:00 pm

you are already SURROUNDED BY TROLLS.

more like fairies

Loafie, Hero of Dreams · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2007, 03:32:11 am »

WORLD OF WARGUITARCRAFTHERO WAT?

TROLLS R SHRED!

Polizei · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2007, 05:59:17 am »

Quote from: mbsurfer on December 05, 2007, 01:44:41 am

more like fairies

PrOpZ

Xanatos · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2007, 01:35:53 pm »

Quote from: Polizei on December 04, 2007, 05:16:00 pm

not as uncool as YOU

you are already SURROUNDED BY TROLLS.

go back to your wow you goat

that's right i said it

Polizei · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2007, 08:46:33 pm »

this reminds me of that time when my philosophy professor told me that I was "incessantly nagging" him "for weeks" about sticking to the syllabus after I asked him if we should be reading ahead once. He then went on to kick me out of the class for it. Never take a class with a Milton scholar. They are douches.

HardHittinHeeb · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2007, 03:01:34 am »

Doesn't surprise me in the least that someone as big as Vivendi (who owns Blizzard) would make such an aggressive acquisition.

nlf vikingclan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2007, 01:31:57 am »

yargh, wurst fioson every after steam and ea which I don't want

mbsurfer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2007, 01:19:43 am »

Quote

Activision is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of
interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979,
Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2007.
#1 console gaming brand, Guitar HeroÂ® 2007
Highly rated blockbuster, Call of Duty
10 multi-million unit selling franchises
Stable of 12 wholly owned development studios
Pipeline includes: Guitar Hero IV, Call of Duty 5, James Bond, new Tony
Hawk, new DreamWorks titles, new Marvel titles and entry into racing
with Bizarre

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Ratdart · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2009, 06:53:04 pm »

I think guitar Hero 2 was the best so far. I am not into drums at all (plus Rock Band was the first to do drums and then GH copied) but that's not the point. Guitar Hero 3 had songs no one even wanted to play or knew. I knew maybe one song from each setlist. Guitar Hero 2 had me rocking out for hours with the classics.

PeskySaurus · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:58:54 pm »

IF THER R FUKING SAKTEBOARDS AND GENERIC FOOTBALL GUYS IN MY STARCRAFT 2 GAMS IM GUNNA SHIT A BRICK.... SIDEWAYS.

PS: Learn to play a real guitar faggots.

Wake[of]theBunT · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2009, 10:08:15 pm »

i can play a real guitar better than i can play guitar hero

Still some fun to be had in two player, one doing bass one doing lead.

VC · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2009, 10:10:02 pm »

I assume the polynesian one would be the one doing Bass?

Enzo.Matrix · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2009, 12:10:55 am »

Holy Grave Digging Batman!

This thread is almost 2 years past its prime

VC · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2009, 12:13:50 am »

Shhh, we're supposed to pretend old news is still relevant so our first-time-internet-user won't feel bad about totally blowing etiquette.

Ratdart · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2009, 01:46:49 am »

Quote from: Viashino Cutthroat on January 31, 2009, 12:13:50 am

Shhh, we're supposed to pretend old news is still relevant so our first-time-internet-user won't feel bad about totally blowing etiquette.

Ooops! Oh well. I gave my two cents.

Jeron [SharpSh00tah] · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2009, 01:47:13 am »

just so they feel its new

OMGZZ SH47 TRIANGLE !!

keefy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2009, 04:41:35 am »

I am probably one of the few that do not play or even like either COD nor WOW.

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Author Topic: Activision and Blizzard Merge, World shits collective pants (Read 23043 times)