Tag Archives: activision

Analysis: When Will The Law Of Gravity Apply To Call Of Duty?

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With the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 looking to set new industry sales records when it launches later this year, Gamasutra’s Chris Morris questions whether Activision’s behemoth franchise can keep it up.

Even if you slept through your high school physics courses, you’re probably pretty familiar with the concept of what goes up, must come down. And given how high up the Call of Duty franchise has gotten in the past few years, there’s a very vocal segment of the gaming world waiting for it to fall.

Part of that is this industry’s insatiable need to declare the leading publisher evil and wish them harm. Part of it is rooting for an underdog. But whatever the reason, it looks like despite all the bellyaching by Activision opponents, gravity’s not going to be pulling the franchise from orbit this year either.

Read more at Gamasutra

Activision digital revenues jump 37 percent in two years

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The digital transition is going pretty well at Activision-Blizzard.

The video game publisher, in an Analyst Day presentation, notes that its digital revenue over the past 12 months hit $1.7 billion, topping last year’s $1.4 billion and 2009’s $1.2 billion. That’s a 37 percent increase in just 24 months.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Director Ridley Scott answers Activison’s Call of Duty

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Activision is bringing in some Hollywood heavyweights to help it entertain the Call of Duty social community.

Director Ridley Scott, whose hits include “Alien,” “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” is leading the charge on “episodic entertainment” that will be available exclusively to Call of Duty: Elite subscribers. Included among the other contributors are actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Maroon 5 frontman sues Activision

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Add Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine to the list of musicians who are angry with Activision.

The singer and co-star of NBC’s hit series “The Voice” has sued the publisher over the use of his likeness in 2009’s Band Hero, saying he did not authorize many of the ways his image is used in the game. Sound familiar? It should. Levine’s complaints are virtual carbon copies of the ones made by No Doubt and the former members of Nirvana.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Opinion: Why The Diablo III Backlash Got Overheated

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[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris examines the backlash from this week’s controversial Diablo III news, stating Blizzard “doesn’t make decisions rashly” and those vowing boycotts “are blowing smoke.”]

Amid all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over Monday’s Diablo III announcement, I have to admit I saw things a bit differently.

Between the kerfuffle over the always-connected DRM, the decision to disallow modding and the real money auctions, players didn’t even blink when the company all but announced that the game wouldn’t be out this year. Those same people were the ones who just a week ago were seriously jonesing for the chance to get repetitive stress injuries from the non-stop clicking.

Read more at Gamasutra

GoldenEye remake on the way — again

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James Bond might be in a holding pattern on the big screen, but 007’s getting quite a workout in the gaming world.

With its remake of the seminal shooter GoldenEye 007 proving a hit on the Wii last winter, Activision is sprucing up the game for high definition consoles, with plans to release it later this year.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Now open: The World of Warcraft/Starcraft theme park

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Mickey Mouse may have two theme parks under his belt, but The Horde is getting ready to rush his castle.

What seemed like the stuff of a fanboy fantasy – a theme park dedicated to mega-hits World of Warcraft and Starcraft – has opened its gates in China. Dubbed “World Joyland,” the park is located just north of Shanghai and brings new meaning to the term “E ticket.”

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Call of Duty fans get their own convention

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World of Warcraft fans have an annual get-together. So do EverQuest players, and Quake aficionados.

Now the biggest game in the industry is launching its own shindig — and you’re invited.

Call of Duty XP, a convention for fans of the wildly popular shooter series, will have its inaugural gathering this September 2 and 3 in Los Angeles. Roughly 6,000 fans are expected to pay $150 per ticket to attend the event. Tickets go on sale July 19.

The weirdest casting news of the day – possibly year

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Brad Pitt is an A-list celebrity. Actors clamor to share screen time with him, since it’s an almost certain chance to get screen time in front of a huge audience.

So what the heck is the CEO of Activision doing in Pitt’s latest film?

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Gaming Companies Search for Next Big Thing

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As the video game industry prepares for its annual trade show, known as E3, it’s carrying a lot of baggage.

Social networking and mobile games continue to eat away at the market share of traditional publishers. A crucial Supreme Court decision, which could fundamentally change the way the industry operates, looms over its head. And many companies find themselves at a critical juncture in their evolution.

Read more at CNBC.com