Schafer: Bobby Kotick is a


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Oh dear.

DoubleFine's Tim Schafer has told Eurogamer that Activision boss Bobby Kotick is both a "total prick" and a "dick," speaking at Develop today.

It's worth remembering that Brutal Legend was supposed to be published by Activision until the Blizzard merger, after which is sort of "wasn't". The game was eventually published by EA.

"His obligation is to his shareholders," Schafer said. "Well, he doesn't have to be as much of a dick about it, does he? I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick. It seems like it would be possible. It's not something he's interested in."

He added: "[Kotick] makes a big deal about not liking games, and I just don't think that attitude is good for games in general. I just don't think we're an industry of widgets.

"We can approach it like we approach bars of soap, where you're just trying to make the cheapest bar of soap. He definitely has that that kind of widget-maker attitude. I don't think he's great for the industry, overall. You can't just latch onto something when it's popular and then squeeze the life out of it and then move on to the next one. You have to at some point create something, build something.

"Hopefully he'll go back to another industry scene. He could go to an industry that makes more money. Ball bearings? something that suits his passions more. Weapons manufacturing?"

Not much to add to that, really.

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2010/07/14/schafer-bobby-kotick-is-a-total-prick/

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Activision-Blizzard are the hugest dick in the video gaming industry at the moment. Blizzard has a superiority complex, skipping E3 to have their own convention (for their ? 3 IPs?). And charging for streams? And the whole RealID debacle. Do they really need their own digital distribution method, with several already out on the market?

Activision, who does the bare minimum in many games and are just general cheapskates. Who neglects to pay the developers of one of their most profitable games ever and (as Vivendi) would try to snipe sales from their developer (Valve). I suppose it was inevitable that the two would merge, the gravity of their own doucheness must have just attracted them to one another.

And yet, they somehow manage to produce good game every now and then. I suppose they?re a lot like the Soup Nazi?

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If anyone is going to cause a gaming crash it'll be Kotick.

Too bad he has almost almost limitless amounts of money to throw at devs, who should know better than to sign with his awful company.

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Activision-Blizzard are the hugest dick in the video gaming industry at the moment. Blizzard has a superiority complex, skipping E3 to have their own convention (for their … 3 IPs?). And charging for streams? And the whole RealID debacle. Do they really need their own digital distribution method, with several already out on the market?

For the Blizzard portion, you're post is almost a complete failure. The only real bit of worth noting is the RealID issue which has already been put to rest. I don't really see many complaining about having RealID in game as it's created a lot more convenience than what is currently present.

Overall, I think there are better things to be concerned about with Blizzard. Their conventions, providing the option to stream it, and their distribution method are hardly worth bitching about...

As for Kotick, I suppose if you want some good PR with the gaming community, you'll bash him as well. Can't say I disagree with someone calling Kotick a douche bag anyway.

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For the Blizzard portion, you're post is almost a complete failure. The only real bit of worth noting is the RealID issue which has already been put to rest. I don't really see many complaining about having RealID in game as it's created a lot more convenience than what is currently present.

Overall, I think there are better things to be concerned about with Blizzard. Their conventions, providing the option to stream it, and their distribution method are hardly worth bitching about...

Blizzard is arrogant. They have been for a while now, and considering they only have 3 brands (2 of which haven?t seen a game in years), they have no reason to be.

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The reason Blizzard is arrogant and can actually do the convention, is because people in general agree, warcraft and starcraft are some of the best RTS, while diablo 2 is still crowned the best dungeon crawler, and I dont need to say how popular WoW is.

Kotick sucks however.

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So what? Kotick is a good, aggressive businessman. I don't really care for the head of company's personal politics, religion or personality. All I care is the end product in my hands.

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Blizzard is arrogant. They have been for a while now, and considering they only have 3 brands (2 of which haven?t seen a game in years), they have no reason to be.

See below:

The reason Blizzard is arrogant and can actually do the convention, is because people in general agree, warcraft and starcraft are some of the best RTS, while diablo 2 is still crowned the best dungeon crawler, and I dont need to say how popular WoW is.

Kotick sucks however.

They work hard and put a lot of time (arguably too much time) into their games. The fans also very well appreciate it. I really don't see them as being arrogant at all, so much as it is about them wanting to do things right. In this day and age, who can argue with a developer that wants to take their time? Last thing we as gamers want is an unfinished pile of garbage. (Hellgate: London comes to mind)

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See below:

They work hard and put a lot of time (arguably too much time) into their games. The fans also very well appreciate it. I really don't see them as being arrogant at all, so much as it is about them wanting to do things right. In this day and age, who can argue with a developer that wants to take their time? Last thing we as gamers want is an unfinished pile of garbage. (Hellgate: London comes to mind)

Putting effort into one?s work and being hubristic are not mutually exclusive.

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All I care is the end product in my hands.

Shame the product tends to be a bit under cooked if he can't knock a game out each year.

Too bad he has almost almost limitless amounts of money to throw at devs, who should know better than to sign with his awful company.

I thought he sold all his shares in Activision a few months back though?

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Hopefully he'll go back to another industry scene. He could go to an industry that makes more money. Ball bearings? something that suits his passions more. Weapons manufacturing?

:laugh: I wonder what the other shareholders or Activision think. Sure he's making them a profit but in the long run he's ruining their reputation.

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Isn't "dick" and "total prick" pretty much the same thing? :D

No, dick tends to refer to your whole penis, prick just your japs eye.

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just because he doesn't like video games doesn't mean he's not the right man for the job. he's a good business man, which means he's the right man for the job. as long as activision keeps bring in coin, he's not going anywhere. right now all he sees is $$$$$ with SC2 coming out.

90 of the gaming community talks big when it comes to boycotting actvision blah blah blah, but i bet that 90 percent all goes out and buys SC2, plays CoD or subscribes to WoW. Kotick is on a cushy seat right now and he can do what he wants with it as long as he keeps printing money.

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He can run the company how he wants he just needs to stop the crap from falling out of his mouth whenever he opens it. I, however, WILL boycott Activision i wont be buying any of their games and any games i do want to play like Black Ops i will acquire by other means.

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:laugh: I wonder what the other shareholders or Activision think. Sure he's making them a profit but in the long run he's ruining their reputation.

Well if the shareholders dont like him they can have him ousted. Hasnt happened yet so he must be doing something right for them.

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just because he doesn't like video games doesn't mean he's not the right man for the job. he's a good business man, which means he's the right man for the job. as long as activision keeps bring in coin, he's not going anywhere. right now all he sees is $$$$$ with SC2 coming out.

90 of the gaming community talks big when it comes to boycotting actvision blah blah blah, but i bet that 90 percent all goes out and buys SC2, plays CoD or subscribes to WoW. Kotick is on a cushy seat right now and he can do what he wants with it as long as he keeps printing money.

Nope,

Double nope,

and triple nope :p

I won't be playing any of them.

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Nope,

Double nope,

and triple nope :p

I won't be playing any of them.

well obviously you're the ten...atta boy. at least someone has morals.

Me personally, i could care less about who runs the company. i just wanna play games and activison/CoD series has never done me wrong.

He can run the company how he wants he just needs to stop the crap from falling out of his mouth whenever he opens it. I, however, WILL boycott Activision i wont be buying any of their games and any games i do want to play like Black Ops i will acquire by other means.

just say you're going to pirate it...

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just say you're going to pirate it...

No cause talking about piracy is not allowed on neowin, i may rent it, i may borrow it but he isnt getting any of my money.

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No cause talking about piracy is not allowed on neowin, i may rent it, i may borrow it but he isnt getting any of my money.

lol im just playing... yeah. i don't blame people for not supporting this d-bag. what gets me is that people have been saying no more activision or EA for the last 'ever but then you see them in threads about the game or the multiplayer (which means they bought it) so it just amuses me.

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