by Rainier on Sept. 30, 2008 @ 7:45 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
IGA Worldwide announced a multi-year agreement with Activision to deliver dynamic in-game advertising into multiple video game titles on PS3, starting with integrated ads in Guitar Hero World Tour.
by Rainier on Sept. 15, 2008 @ 3:40 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
During Activision's Analyst Day conference CEO Mike Griffith confirmed what most of us already knew, while Treyarch is currently finishing up Call of Duty World at War, Infinity Ward is already developing the next installment in the Call of Duty series, which is expected next year. Griffith also revealed that Activision Blizzard plans to triple the amount of Guitar Hero retail titles and downloadable content by 2010, which was already hinted at with the FreeStyleGames acquisition last week. The music royalty debate got a little bit more interesting as Universal Music Group CEO Zach Horowitz stated that it has seen on average a 200-300% retail sales boost of material which is included in the Guitar Hero titles.
by Rainier on Sept. 12, 2008 @ 12:22 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Relive the eighties with Intellivision Lives! Play more than 60 classic Intellivision games all in one package. In Destroy All Humans! you are Crypto, an alien warrior sent to Earth to clear the way for the Furon invasion force. Your mission is to infiltrate humanity, control them, harvest their brain stems, and ultimately destroy them. Both titles will be available through Xbox Live on Sept. 15th, 2008 for 1200 Microsoft Points.
by Rainier on Sept. 12, 2008 @ 3:33 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision has acquired music-based games developer FreeStyleGames, currently developing localized downloadable content for the Guitar Hero franchise, as well as a yet to be announced new, intellectual property in the music genre.
by Judy on Aug. 21, 2008 @ 12:55 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Check out the following new screens & trailers from Activision's GC 2008 lineup:
by Rainier on Aug. 13, 2008 @ 4:17 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Scarface is a 3rd person action game set in a complex world filled with excess and greed, where you take on the role of ruthless gangster Tony Montana. Even though the original sold more than
two million copies Activision Blizzard didn't like that license either, so the rights
reverted back to Universal, who will most likely shop it around or with its new found "Wanted" developing initiative might keep it in-house.
by Rainier on July 31, 2008 @ 2:55 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
During Activision's Q1 2009, net revenues increased 32%, and with the newly combined forces, Activision Blizzard's calender year '08 financial outlook already exceeds the '09 targets. During the follow-up conference call, Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith revealed next year will see "multiple" new Guitar Hero titles that will broaden the franchise's impact, as well as an all-new Call of Duty using leapfrog studio strategy, meaning it will be developed by Infinity Ward. Also expected are an unannounced racing game from Bizzare Creations, Madagascar 2, the re-invented Tony Hawk, Marvel's Wolverine, Monsters vs. Aliens, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Transformers 2, the previously revealed Singularity, Prototype, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and others.
by Rainier on July 28, 2008 @ 5:43 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision will broaden its portfolio by adding Vivendi's Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro to its lineup, as well as retain two new IPs that are currently in development, Prototype and a second, yet unannounced, game. On the flipside it will realign staffing at Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios and is exploring options regarding Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios, including the possibility of sale or close. Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, Riddick, 50 Cent, World in Conflict, WET are all MIA.
by Rainier on July 16, 2008 @ 4:04 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Check out the following new screens from Activision's unofficial E3 2008 lineup:
by Rainier on July 15, 2008 @ 7:23 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision’s fall 2008 game lineup includes CoD: World at War, Guitar Hero World Tour, Quantum of Solace and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. In addition it is currently in development on id Software's Wolfenstein; Vicarious Visions' RPG sequel Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion; Raven Software' new first person action game Singularity; a game based on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; and Raven Software's X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
by Rainier on July 10, 2008 @ 1:19 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Vivendi and Activision announced the completion of the transaction announced on Dec. 2, 2007 to create Activision Blizzard, as the world's most profitable pure-play online and console game publisher.
by Rainier on July 9, 2008 @ 9:56 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
GErman based 3D Game Engine developer Trinigy announced a license deal with Ubisoft studio Blue Byte, giving The Settlers developer access to Trinigy’s latest Vision Engine 7.0 which has been unveiled quite recently.
by Rainier on July 9, 2008 @ 5:40 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Wee 1st is Activision's a new consumer initiative to expand the company’s Wii portfolio, promoting games that were developed specifically with the Wii in mind, such as Little League World Series 2008, Rapala Fishing Frenzy and Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On.
by Rainier on July 8, 2008 @ 1:32 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision announced that, at a special meeting of stockholders held earlier today, it received a 92% stockholder approval necessary to consummate the company's agreement with Vivendi, S.A. to combine Vivendi Games with Activision's businesses.
by Rainier on July 7, 2008 @ 9:44 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Infinity Ward announced that it has decided to reup on their contract with Activision publishing. The recently renegotiated deal may not seem like much of an impact from the outside perspective, but it has laid the ground work and kick started IW's future project, as well as the possibility of a unique new IP, that they’ll have complete control over. Don't expect any details soon as IW's director of comm. Robert Bowling says "it’s going to be quite a while before I can share any details on exactly what that project is."
by Rainier on July 3, 2008 @ 2:15 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Online multiplayer middleware developer Quazal, known for Net-Z, Rendez-Vous and Spark!, has signed an agreement with Trinigy, makers of the Vision Engine, to integrate Quazal’s online technologies with Vision 7.
by Rainier on July 2, 2008 @ 4:53 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
When Activision announced last year that it would merge with Vivendi Games not all its shareholders were in agreement with the $18.9 billion deal. Wayne County Employees' Retirement System filed a preliminary injunction which has now been denied by the Delaware Court of Chancery, so the merger can move forward.
by Rainier on June 17, 2008 @ 1:07 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
To provide its audiences with more innovative gaming and virtual world experiences, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group has formed new Games and Virtual Worlds Groups that will encompass gaming initiatives across all relevant platforms including: online and PC games; handheld and console games; and will include the company’s casual games sites.
by Rainier on June 17, 2008 @ 5:12 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
NecroVisioN is a next-gen First Person Shooter that starts in the rage battlefields of World Word I and leads player to much darker and brutal underground world of vampires and demons.
by Rainier on June 9, 2008 @ 9:34 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision announced that it has filed the definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed combination of Activision with Vivendi with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and has begun mailing it to its stockholders. A special meeting of Activision stockholders will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, to consider and vote on proposals to approve the transaction and related matters.
by Rainier on May 8, 2008 @ 6:52 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Activision's Q4 and fiscal year 2008 result reveals its 16th consecutive year of revenue growth with an increase of 92% compared to last year, mainly driven by Call of Duty 4, Guitar Hero III, Spider-Man 3, Shrek The Third and Transformers. The subsequent conference call revealed that CoD 5 will also be coming to the Wii/PS2 and set in a 'new military theater.' Apart from a standalone game, Guitar Hero On Tour will also be bundled with the NDS according to Activision president Mike Griffith who also teased by saying that the company is about two weeks away from making a big announcement in regard to the next installment in the console edition, which will be a "leap forward." The New James Bond, expected this fall, will be powered by the CoD4 engine.
by Rainier on May 1, 2008 @ 7:03 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
The ESA has sent out the invites for the E3 Media & Business Summit will be held July 15-17, 2008, but has once again moved from last year's Santa Monica location to good old Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). While certain companies could still be in negotiations, the exhibitors list is blatantly missing various high-profile companies, such as Activision/Blizzard, Bethesda and Warner Bros. NCSoft had already announced last year they would not be present.
by Rainier on April 19, 2008 @ 12:38 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Following this week's Enemy Territory: Quake Wars preview event, Activision has confirmed that it is shutting down its internal Underground Development studio. Acquired by Activision in 2002, the studio previously known as Z-Axis, known for titles such as Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX and Aggressive Inline, is finishing up the PS3 port of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The 45 employees are being given the opportunity to work at other Activision studios.
by Rainier on April 15, 2008 @ 11:31 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
ET: QW pits the armies of Earth against the invading alien Strogg in this team-based online strategic shooter. Splash Damage
revealed that Activision is no longer supporting the PC edition of ET:QW but that the v1.5 patch (
a beta version was released earlier) is still in development internally and is scheduled for release later this month.
by Nathan Grayson on March 27, 2008 @ 3:28 a.m. PDT | Filed under
Reviews
Featuring an exciting mix of intense mecha combat, hand to hand combat, and aerial board racing, Eureka Seven: Vol. 2 is the second installment of the flying aerial combat series and serves as a prequel to the popular animated show, currently airing.