Activision keeps Spyro, Crash, Ice Age, Prototype, not publishing Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, Bourne games, 50 Cent sequel
Finally today comes the official list of games from Sierra, the console publishing label of Vivendi Games, that Activision Blizzard (the company formed by Activision's merger with Vivendi Games) will publish. It's
keeping exactly five franchises: Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Ice Age (the Fox animation license), "Prototype" (the upcoming open world action game from Radical Entertainment), and an unannounced project.
What does that mean for all the other games? Activision Blizzard's VP of corporate communication confirmed for me that those five are the only games/franchises it is planning to publish "at this point" and that the company will explore alternative options for all of Sierra's other projects in development. Here are just some of the Sierra games that will now either die or go to other publishers:
-"Brutal Legend"
-The Robert Ludlum estate license (There was at least one other Bourne game in the works)
In its announcement today, Activision Blizzard also said that it will "realign" (aka downsize) two of Sierra's development studios, High Moon and Radical, and is "exploring options... including divestiture" for the other two, Massive and Swordfish (meaning it will try to find a buyer and if it can't, shut them down). It's considering selling the Sierra Online and Vivendi Games Mobile businesses too.
This is, by and large, not surprising. I have previously reported (both with on-the-record statements and, earlier, off-the-record reporting) that many Sierra projects and studios were likely to be on the chopping block, since Activision execs are completely in control of the merged company's publishing business and imposing their judgment on what stays and what goes. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is obsessed with wholly owned franchises and valuable licenses. It's entire portfolio consists primarily of a few big franchises it owns ("Call of Duty," "Guitar Hero," now "World of Warcraft") and some big licenses ("Spider-Man," Tony Hawk, DreamWorks Animation, "Transformers," and now James Bond).
So it makes sense that it would hold onto the few well known franchise characters Sierra has, Crash and Spyro, the one big license, "Ice Age," and place a calculated risk on "Prototype" and one other game.
As much as I admire developer Double Fine, the fact that it doesn't have a great commercial record and that "Brutal Legend" isn't quite mainstream fare made me think it wouldn't be Activision's cup of tea. Not to mention that my understanding of the developer's deal with Vivendi was that it held onto the rights, which isn't Bobby Kotick's preferred way of doing business.
I'm also not incredibly surprised about the Ludlum estate, since Jason Bourne and his other books are espionage/action titles would conflict with the James Bond license that Activision already has. Plus, all indications I have are that "The Bourne Conspiracy," the first game to result from Vivendi's 10 year Ludlum license, didn't sell great. As for "50 Cent," the first game only sold fairly well and was critically panned and I don't think anybody was exactly drooling for the sequel.
I am surprised about "Ghostbusters," though. And not only because i inaccurately predicted that its presence at Comic-Con meant it would be coming out. Here we've got a game based on a very well known license that doesn't conflict with anything else on Activision's slate and it's far enough along that it's scheduled to come out this fall. I always thought this was a brilliant get for Vivendi and it seems like the kind of thing Activision would eat up. With development almost done, why not give it a shot? It doesn't make intuitive sense to me (unless the game really sucks).
I'd be surprised if Sony Pictures isn't able to sell the "Ghostbusters" license somewhere else and get the
game in development by Terminal Reality released by someone. I'd also bet that some publisher is going to want the critical hosannas, and possibility of a new franchise, that comes from picking up "Brutal Legend." Again, here's a game that's set to come out this fall and at least a portion of the gamer audience is excited for. We'll probably see it come out one way or another. As for the Ludlum games? Former Vivendi Games CEO (now Activision Blizzard vice chairman) Bruce Hack told me at the time he made the deal he thought Robert Ludlum could be the next Tom Clancy in the videogame world. Now we'll see if any other publishers agree.
I already have calls out to try and find out more about the future of these projects and developers and will hopefully have more reporting to share soon.
Chris Morris reports on the business and culture of video games and offers analysis of recent events and industry trends.
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I can't believe that they wouldn't pick up the Ghostbusters game. I have to agree with Quirk - going with a new IP like Prototype over something with a major known IP that's been hyped like Ghostbusters has makes zero sense to me.
I suppose it's possible Activision may retcon that decision if Sony presses them enough - or it's possible Sony and Terminal Reality may simply walk away with the game and sell it to another publisher. It has to be so close to being ready to go gold that I can't see why other publishers wouldn't be salivating to snap this up.
I just hope Sony doesn't decide to publish it in-house as a PS3 exclusive... though I will admit that that could be the impetus I need to finally buy one of those things.
Posted by: Hardcover | August 02, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Brutal Legend is the thing that makes me really sad, and I'm sincerely hoping that due to the little bit of hype that was starting up someone will grab it to cash in.
Posted by: GeorgeR | July 29, 2008 at 08:32 PM
yes. Suck indeed. Corporations suck because they have nothing to do with love, heart, passion, art, and are always about the banal bottom line. That being said, this is a STUPID move, given that GB will probably set records in sales, and is due to be released in a few months. What do I tell my six year old? I've been telling people for months about it. Hopefully the Dollar will persuade them to change their minds, and it will be released on time. Waiting a year is not a good idea since 1.you lose momentum and 2. people will be non-plused about it, afraid that the rug will be pulled out from under them. I pre-ordered it, but I will probably pass on it just to show how pissed off I am. Activion sucks!
Posted by: Brad Bosshart | July 29, 2008 at 06:09 AM
I hate this. I hate that they are dropping games. Why not finish what they started. As one person said, Chronicles of Riddick was coming out. I was waiting for that game. I wanted next gen graphics and basically a second episode to continue the game where it left off on the xbox title Butcher's Bay (i think that's the title). However, if they drop the Ghostbusters game I will be so angry. I love a lot of the activision games for their movie recreations and shooters, but I wanted Ghostbusters. It is the third movie in game form, the graphics are amazing, and I am a huge fan of Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters was about the only game I was really looking forward to this fall and that is with games like Motorstorm 2, Resistance 2, Gears of War 2, and etc coming out. I still like those games, but I would sit and play the Ghostbusters game for hours. They better keep the Ghostbusters game. I would boycott activision if they cancelled it, but that won't happen since activision makes about a 1/3 of all the games I buy.
Posted by: Adam | July 29, 2008 at 04:03 AM
God dam Activison, I hate being almost right most of those cut were my guesses.
I'm honestly surprised they chose Prototype a new IP over the Ghostbusters game given the mixed previews and the buzz around the new Ghostbuster title not to mention it's on way more platforms than Prototype will be.
Brutal Legend everyone new that was going to be cut, Double Fine have rotten luck here's hoping someone like EA can swoop in and save the day with a publishing deal as EA Partners program is looking very promising.
The Bourne licence was dead in the water all right no interest among gamers and it took forever to get the Tom Clancy license to where it is now so any desires they have on that are a waste of time.
There was another Chronicles of Riddick game in development as well not sure if it was by Starbreeze the original devs or not, I guess thats been cut loose as well.
Also World in Conflict the great strategy game from Massive that had an expansion coming out plus a console port in the works looks dead ?. No one expected them to survive with Blizzard in the fold though I half expected Blizzard to have stepped in and scoop them up as Massive do have a talent for games and technology. I really hope they find a new publisher or it will be another loss to PC gaming.
Posted by: Quirk | July 29, 2008 at 01:57 AM