Vivendi studios and projects face uncertain future

[kleinluka]

Vivendi studios and projects face uncertain future

Michael French Today, 8:41am

Activision-Blizzard says studios will be ‘realigned or divested’; unwanted games like Ghostbusters sold off

After weeks of speculation, new publishing powerhouse Activision-Blizzard has confirmed it will sell off unwanted studios and projects it acquired following its merger with Vivendi games.

North American studios High Moon Studios (developer of the recent Bourne game) and Radical (developer of upcoming game Prototype) are to be ‘realigned’ the publisher confirmed in a statement – which presumably means merged into other Activision-Blizzard teams or downsized.

Meanwhile the publisher added it was “exploring options… including divestiture” for European studios Massive (based in Sweden, developer of World in Conflict) and Swordfish (based in Birmingham and Manchester, UK developer of the upcoming 50 Cent game).

The Sierra Online and Vivendi Mobile business are also possible up for sale.

At the same time, Activision-Blizzard confirmed what Vivendi-started projects it would and wouldn’t be keeping. Big kids franchises Crash and Spyro will be kept, as will the videogame rights to movie franchise Ice Age plus new IP Prototype.

However that leaves in the cold a number of other key, high-profile games Vivendi label Sierra was originally planning to publish. These include Ghostbusters, new rock music adventure IP Brutal Legend, plus rights to the Bourne/Robert Ludlum estate and the 50 Cent games.

Publishing rights for these games are also up for sale - Ghostbusters for one was presumed nearly finish given its upcoming October release date.

"We are focused on improving efficiency across the combined organisation and are concentrating on businesses where we have leadership positions that are aligned with Activision Publishing's long-term corporate objectives," said Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith in a statement.

"We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy. We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

Source: http://www.developmag.com/news/30247/Vi ... ain-future

[Thrik]

Pretty mental stuff. Hopefully everyone at MapCore will come out of it all OK if anyone is working under the Activision Blizzard umbrella.

Pretty crazy about Brutal Legend, too. Later reports are suggesting that Ghostbusters and Brutal Legend will be OK after all, but it's still pretty sucky for Double Fine who got raped publisher-wise with Psychonauts too (Microsoft dropped them towards the end of development, leaving them scrambling for a new publisher that ultimately wasn't able to distribute it as effectively).

[zaphod]

ouch, High Moon is one of the biggest houses in San Diego.

[kleinluka]

What I don't understand is, can't a developer protect itself contractually against having the publisher drop its title at the end of production? Doesn't that constitute a breach of contract of some sort? I'd assume that once a developer signs with a publisher there would be some kind of mutual protection against getting fucked over by the other party.

[zaphod]

not when the other company actually owns you and is not just your publisher.

[Bl1tz]

Well I for one am glad Activision-Blizzard is listening to what gamers want. We as gamers have been clamoring for more Spyro and more Crash Bandicoot and by god who are they to deny us these stellar games?

[Hourences]

This also affects Starbreeze which that articles completely fails to mention, as Riddick is one of the affected Vivendi games, and was also almost completed.

[General Vivi]

Yeah, I haven't really been affected just yet.... but we shall see how things go in the future. Hopefully Raven won't be pushed around tooo much or something ....

[Erratic]

Well I for one am glad Activision-Blizzard is listening to what gamers want. We as gamers have been clamoring for more Spyro and more Crash Bandicoot and by god who are they to deny us these stellar games?

Yes, more annual call of duty games and guitar hero crud. Oh lord

Also what good are more Crash games if they aren't from Naughty Dog? None have been very successful without them.

[Pericolos0]

Cancel brutal legend but continue developping prototype? This cant be real

[Pampers]

Cancel brutal legend but continue developping prototype? This cant be real

[Thrik]

Looks like Brutal Legend is OK, at least:

http://www.doublefine.com/news.php/site ... formation/

[General Vivi]

Also what good are more Crash games if they aren't from Naughty Dog? None have been very successful without them.

Whats the point if 70% of the people that worked on those games originally aren't even there anymore. : /

[Erratic]

Also what good are more Crash games if they aren't from Naughty Dog? None have been very successful without them.

Whats the point if 70% of the people that worked on those games originally aren't even there anymore. : /

touche

[FrieChamp]

This also affects Starbreeze which that articles completely fails to mention, as Riddick is one of the affected Vivendi games, and was also almost completed.

Riddick? Didn't that game come out 3 years ago?