Activition Not Interested in Apple or Facebook Apps

Bobby Kotick, the man who brought you the sparkle pony, doesn't see Apple or Facebook apps as a business opportunity for Activision. Makes me wonder why Blizzard was so anxious to have Battle.net Facebook-friendly.
http://www.1up.com/news/activision-ceo-bobby-kotick-doesnt-see-app-store-business-opportunity

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Starcraft 2 Not As Popular in South Korea

Kotaku says Starcraft 2 isn't a big hit in Korea, due to the struggle between Blizzard Activision and e-sports authorities over control and money. That's turned players off on the game.  Edge says a month after Starcraft 2 was released, only 2-3% of Internet cafe gamers were playing the game which Blizzard gave away for free in South Korea.  Here is the short report at Kotaku which summarizes the full Edge story in the second link.
http://kotaku.com/5688166/hey-korea-why-you-so-down-on-starcraft-ii

http://www.next-gen.biz/features/the-battle-for-starcraft-ii?page=0%2C0

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Acitivision Quarterly Profits for 2010

Revenue for the quarter ending September 30 was $745 million and profit was $51 million.
http://www.1up.com/news/activision-expects-2010-profitable-year

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Rumors of a Bungie MMO

With Activision now publishing future Bungie titles, it should be no surprise that rumors of a Bungie Halo MMO should start circulating.  I did find Kotick's quote surprising, however, since I was unaware that Blizzard had any customer service.
http://www.massively.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/

Bungie has announced that Halo Reach is their last Halo game and they want to go in other directions.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1007095p1.html

I doubt that a Halo MMO is in the cards, although I imagine Activision would love to have one. I believe that Battle.net has been set up as the first step in a plan to capture the console game crowd.
http://kotaku.com/5676270/consider-the-possibility-of-activision-games-running-on-battlenet

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WOW has Twelve Million Subscribers? UPDATED

Based on an Activsion press release.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101007005648/en

Since the Solo MMO Player's server population is half what it was last winter, I think the numbers are bogus.

UPDATE:  Tobold may explain the discrepancy between Activision's figures and the reality of what we see on our server.
http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2010/10/translating-12-million.html

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War of Words

Bobby Kotick responds to Tim Shafer's insult two months back (for which Shafer apologized) with one of his own, then goes on to insult EA and Infinity Ward's former heads.
http://www.1up.com/news/activision-ceo-claims-ea-struggling-handles-studios-improperly

He also called Bungie the only remaining high quality independent developer a few days back.
http://kotaku.com/5645940/an-open-letter-from-a-former-bungie-vp-to-bobby-kotick

EA and Shafer respond.  I expect this'll get hotter before it blows over.  Kotick has a knack of leaving upset people in his wake.
http://www.1up.com/news/ea-tim-schafer-respond-negative-kotick-statements

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Laugh of the Day

Let me quote Kotaku's header for this article:  "Activision Blizzard Teams with White House to Develop Smart People".
http://kotaku.com/5646858/activision-blizzard-joins-with-white-house-to-develop-smart-people

Don't miss the comments section.

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Kotick Insults Independent Game Publishers Everywhere

At a Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference last week, Kotick insulted independent game developers by saying Bungie was "probably the last remaining high quality independent developer."  This has sparked some reaction among independent developers, of which Bungie is no longer one since they've taken Activision's money and signed a 10-year publishing deal.
http://kotaku.com/5645940/an-open-letter-from-a-former-bungie-vp-to-bobby-kotick

If you want to hear the whole 45 minute spiel from the conference, the link is in the above.  Thanks, Kotaku!

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Activision Considers a Cutscene Starcraft Movie

Per quote from Bobby Kotick.  Sigh.
http://kotaku.com/5639929/activision-considers-selling-video-game-cutscenes

UPDATE:  Apparently Fahey didn't dream the above.  1Up reports they are thinking about a digital download movie.
http://www.1up.com/news/activision-in-game-cutscene-movies

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Analyzing Blizzard Financials

This article explains the pitfalls of figuring out Blizzard's financials after the Quarter 2 financials were released August 2.  This is a good introduction to the way businesses account for their expenses.  It mentioned in passing that Activision paid its first dividend ever in the last quarter.  For me that is a warning flag.  ATVI is the stock market abbreviation for Activision, by the way.
http://deuwowlity.blogspot.com/2010/08/blizzard-made-how-much-on-celestial.html

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Q2 Results for Activision

Yesterday Activision revealed its revenues were down (but earnings up) during the last three month period.
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/706744/Activision-Q2-10-Earnings-Net-Revenue-Down-Online-Sales-Exceed-Retail-For-First-Time-.html

Highpoints apparently are that Wii game sales are down a lot, Activision is selling more via digital downloads than via retail outlets, and "Worldwide subscription numbers for World of Warcraft are holding steady at more than 11.5 million players."  Blizzard is also working on adding tournament play and private chat functions to Battle.net.  As for Cataclysm, "we are on track to launch the expansion by the end of the year."  In the Q&A Activision staff say there are no new Call of Duty map packs available and that the launch of Starcraft 2 hasn't impacted the numbers of subscribers for WOW.

Kotick is claiming "The relaunch of Battle.net is a perfect example of how we are rolling out the next generation of services and online environment to our audiences, while others are just beginning their complicated and costly explorations of where to begin.  The combination of technical capability and tangible benefits Blizzard is delivering to its StarCraft audience represents the next evolution in the arenas of gaming, social networking, online commerce and customer service."  I guess he's forgotten about xBox Live, Steam, etc.?

If you want to read the transcript of the entire conference call, it is here.  The numbers are at the end, with Blizzard's numbers separate from console games. The Q&A session at the end with analysts is also quite interesting as they try to pry subscription numbers and such out of Blizzard staff.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/219068-activision-blizzard-q2-2010-earnings-call-transcript?source=thestreet

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Activision Loses Another Lawsuit

This one was a fight over use of a paintball player's name in video games. The dirt is buried in the article about his newest paintball game which I think is for the Playstation.  Thanks to 1Up for pointing this article out.
http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/greg-hastings-painball-2/preview/greg-hastings-hates-activision-and-says-crazy-things-about-greg-hastings-paintball-2/a-20100803163257556083/g-20100803123623996086

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The Role of Women in WOW (and Games in General)

In the way these things seem to happen on the Internet, I've found three interesting articles about sexism and the role of women in WOW.  The first article I found via a posting on 1UP.  It explains why Activision doesn't create games starring female characters.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/29719/InDepth_No_Female_Heroes_At_Activision.php

Simultaneously The MMO Melting Pot asks why there is sexism in WOW, and...
http://www.mmomeltingpot.com/2010/08/the-mental-shaman-sexism-in-wow-whats-the-problem/#respond

....links to this article exploring the problem in depth.
http://mentalshaman.com/2010/08/04/i-dont-see-your-problem-sexism-world-of-warcraft-and-geekery/

Here's the direct link to the statistical analysis of female characters in WOW mentioned above.
http://paperclipchains.livejournal.com/101267.html

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Activision Lawsuit and Downloads

Activision has been much criticized for the cost and skimpy content in its Call of Duty series downloads.  However, the Call of Duty map packs have been downloaded more than 20 million times.  They cost $15 each currently.  You can do the math yourselves, but at that rate, skimpy content at high prices will continue to flow.
http://kotaku.com/5602915/call-of-duty-map-packs-downloaded-over-20-million-times

In other Activision news, Kotick has lost a sexual harassment and sexual discrimination lawsuit and the appeal which seems to involve a dispute over what he owed a lawyer in the case for representing him.   Details here.  Note that he wasn't the one doing the harassing but did not prevent it.  Instead he fired the complainant.  Many thanks to Kotaku for leading me to the LA Times story.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/08/activision-ceo-kotick-loses-battle-with-top-hollywood-litigator.html

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Activision Did Not Place $100 Million Bet

Activision is now saying that the Wall Street Journal article that quoted them as spending $100 million on Starcraft II is wrong.  That's how much they spent developing and maintaining World of Warcraft.  You can raise your eyebrows at their statement here.
http://kotaku.com/5594862/starcraft-ii-did-not-cost-100-million-to-make

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Is Activision Planning Console Game Subscription Fees?

There is some evidence that Activision is planning to charge a subscription to play Modern Warfare 2 online.  Since the game has been out a long time, this is unlikely but perhaps they are thinking of using this for a new Call of Duty game with Black Ops coming out this fall.  After all, Activision has made no secret of their envy of xBox Live fees.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180442

However, Activision says no subscription fees are planned in a response to the story above.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180466

http://www.1up.com/news/activision-denies-plans-charge-online

I believe in the tooth fairy, too.

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Activision Places $100 Million Bet UPDATED

The Wall Street Journal reports that Activision has spent over $100 million developing Starcraft II per Kotaku, but Kotick expects they will make 5-10 times that much on the game.
http://kotaku.com/5589040/starcraft-ii-has-a-100-million-price-tag

The WSJ online article is subscription only (and a very hefty subscription, too!) but here is a similar article by the same author that doesn't mention development costs.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/activision-looks-to-pump-growth-with-starcraft-ii-2010-07-15

Starcraft II comes out July 27.

UPDATE:  Activision is now saying the $100 million number refers to what they spend developing and maintaining World of Warcraft.
http://kotaku.com/5594862/starcraft-ii-did-not-cost-100-million-to-make

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Call of Cuty Founders Versus Activision Lawsuit Date Set

Kotaku has the details of the three lawsuits that are pending.
http://kotaku.com/5583678/trial-date-set-in-activision+infinity-ward-suit

Some of the alligations are listed in a later posting.
http://kotaku.com/5583710/lawsuit-activision-created-modern-warfare-police-state

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Activision Considering Call of Duty Online Subscriptions UPDATED

Well, they have to have something when WOW dies.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180011

UPDATE:  Kotick wants consoles to be replaced by PCs.  Or at least to work a deal where he creates a gaming PC with a manufacturer.  All that Call of Duty money Microsoft makes must be making him grind his teeth!
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180255

UPDATE #2:  What Tim Schafer thinks of Bobby.  Of course, they have history, i.e., a lawsuit.
http://kotaku.com/5586641/tim-schafer-calls-activision-boss-a-total-prick

UPDATE #3:  Tim regrets saying what he did.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180401

UPDATE #4:  Kotick responds to Tim with insults.
http://kotaku.com/5648723/activision-boss-replies-to-schafers-total-prick-comment

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