Stay up to date with all of our Windows 7 news right here! windows7
Reply to this topic Topic Options
4 Pages V   [1] 2 3 ... Next : Last » 
Blizzard entertainment and Activision to merge, New name "Activision Blizzard"
daPhoenix
Post #1 Dec 2 2007, 16:52


Neowinian Senior
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 3,032
Joined: 10-August 03
From: Finland, European Union
Member No.: 34,188
Quote -
SANTA MONICA, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business -- which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s® World of Warcraft®, the world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise -- with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.

Activision, one of the world’s leading independent publishers of interactive entertainment, is best known for its top-selling franchises, including Guitar Hero®, Call of Duty® and the Tony Hawk series, as well as Spider-Man™, X-Men™, Shrek®, James Bond™ and TRANSFORMERS™. Blizzard Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, has projected calendar 2007 revenues of $1.1 billion, operating margins of over 40% and approximately $520 million of operating profit. Blizzard owns the #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise, World of Warcraft, which currently has over 9.3 million subscribers worldwide. Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, Warcraft®, StarCraft® and Diablo® games account for four of the top-five best-selling PC game titles of all time. Vivendi Games also owns popular franchises, including Crash Bandicoot™ and Spyro™. Pro forma for calendar 2007, Activision Blizzard expects to generate approximately 70% of its revenues from owned franchises. As a result of the business combination, Activision Blizzard expects to have the most diversified and broadest portfolio of interactive entertainment assets in its industry, positioning the combined company to capitalize on the continued worldwide growth in interactive entertainment.


Source: Businesswire

Well, this can't be good.
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster

Log In or Register · Advertise on Neowin
Adamb10
Post #2 Dec 2 2007, 17:50


Feel the wrath
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 2,425
Joined: 9-August 04
From: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Member No.: 65,970
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 (£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.




Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7123582.stm


IMHO Im not a fan of this. Blizzard is known for there high quality of games and I'm afraid now w/ activision in the mix, that will be tarnished. hmm.gif
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
+spenser.d
Post #3 Dec 2 2007, 17:53


Neowinian UNSTOPPABLE
Group Icon
Group Icon

Group: +Subscriber²
Posts: 7,456
Joined: 19-December 03
From: Madison, WI
Member No.: 43,062
I dunno why you'd think that. Activision puts out some pretty great games. I'm actually less a fan of Blizzard than Activision, but only because I'm just not really interested in the games they create, not because I think they aren't a great quality developer.

-Spenser
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
Slimy
Post #4 Dec 2 2007, 17:57


Ars + Neowin
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 22,350
Joined: 4-April 04
Member No.: 51,806
Holy **** this is huge!
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
macrosslover
Post #5 Dec 2 2007, 17:57


Muad’Dib
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 2,100
Joined: 13-August 02
From: Atlanta, GA
Member No.: 16,693
maybe activision can actually finish starcraft ghost....
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page
(Spork)
Post #6 Dec 2 2007, 17:58


BlackBerry Tour
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 2,669
Joined: 20-August 07
Member No.: 234,799
this will be HUGE !
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page
daPhoenix
Post #7 Dec 2 2007, 18:09


Neowinian Senior
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 3,032
Joined: 10-August 03
From: Finland, European Union
Member No.: 34,188
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=604400

On retrospect, I should've posted that in BPN.
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
Tech Star
Post #8 Dec 2 2007, 18:12


T3H Slim
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 7,046
Joined: 24-November 04
From: California, USA
Member No.: 82,465
Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. blink.gif
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
Lexcyn
Post #9 Dec 2 2007, 18:16


Neowinian Wise One
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 4,514
Joined: 18-January 02
From: Ontario, Canada
Member No.: 8,784
Wow ... never saw this coming at all. Wonder what's going to happen with any future games, such as WoW 2, etc. This will be interesting indeed.
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
gregb0b
Post #10 Dec 2 2007, 18:16


mingus inflaga!
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 1,944
Joined: 1-July 04
Member No.: 61,054
Quote - (Tech Star @ Dec 2 2007, 18:12) *
Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. blink.gif

Money talks smile.gif. I think Blizzard is getting too greedy, I guess millions in revenue monthly means nothing. Gotta go for the gold!




"WoW coming to consoles Q4 2008!"
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
TheNay
Post #11 Dec 2 2007, 18:16


Urbanist & Techie
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 6,129
Joined: 4-November 03
From: Toronto, Canada
Member No.: 39,591
Quote - (Tech Star @ Dec 2 2007, 13:12) *
Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. blink.gif


Me too, mayb they're making a game called, World of Doom 4!
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
nid~vaeda
Post #12 Dec 2 2007, 18:16


Neowinian³
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 346
Joined: 13-October 06
Member No.: 183,566
I hope this doesnt effect Starcraft 2....that would suck big time
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page
Adamb10
Post #13 Dec 2 2007, 18:18


Feel the wrath
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 2,425
Joined: 9-August 04
From: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Member No.: 65,970
Quote - (gregb0b @ Dec 2 2007, 12:16) *
"WoW coming to consoles Q4 2008!"


Not a bad idea actually.
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
gregb0b
Post #14 Dec 2 2007, 18:19


mingus inflaga!
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 1,944
Joined: 1-July 04
Member No.: 61,054
Quote - (Adamb10 @ Dec 2 2007, 18:18) *
Not a bad idea actually.

To bad there is too much junk going on, and with limited buttons on a controller it would be very difficult to accomplish that tongue.gif
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
Zoue
Post #15 Dec 2 2007, 18:24


Neowinian³
Group Icon

Group: Registered
Posts: 304
Joined: 29-August 04
Member No.: 69,211
I don't like this one bit. It's just one more step towards giant conglomerate companies monopolizing the gaming market. Too many smaller companies and games are going under because they don't have the money and resources to compete with companies like this. In the long run it only stifles competition and innovation.
Profile Card PM + Reply to Post Go to the top of the page Email Poster
« Older · Back Page News · Newer »
4 Pages V   [1] 2 3 ... Next : Last »   Reply to this topic

 
Powered By IP.Board © 2009  IPS, Inc.