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Activision Acting All Brutal Over EA's Publishing Deal

Depending on who you ask, the publishing rights to Double Fine's Brutal Legend are still up in the air.

This image says
This image says "Brutal Legend" in it.
Just when you thought that the saga of Brutal Legend's twisted path to retail shelves was nice and calm, Variety has filed a report claiming that Activision still hasn't let go of Double Fine's game. The company became the publisher of the game after merging with Vivendi Games last year, but subsequently dropped it, seemingly because it wasn't the sort of game that could be "exploited" on an annual basis. After dropping the game, EA picked it up through its EA Partners program, and the company is currently planning on releasing the Tim Schafer/Jack Black opus this fall.

According to the original article, Activision dropped a letter on Double Fine and Electronic Arts "informing them of its legal concerns." EA responded with this fantastic quote:
We doubt that Activision would try to sue. That would be like a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy.
Nice. Ben Fritz speculated in his Variety piece that Activision is looking for a payoff for the publishing rights, which seems reasonable. But considering how much time Activision probably spent last year preventing other publishing deals from going through--especially with companies it considers to be actual competition--this just sounds like one more step in a long-running process designed to keep Brutal Legend off shelves for as long as possible.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

82 Comments

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cspiffo

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Edited By cspiffo

LOL @ EA quote.  They've just became my new favorite publisher.  Whodathought!!! :^P

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dsplayer1010

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Edited By dsplayer1010

Ughh...

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megalowho

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Edited By megalowho

There better be some nice little digs at Activision in the game whenever it finally gets released.

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GreggD

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Edited By GreggD

Hee-larious. and by the way, it's not Activision as a whole, but the high-up corporate numbnuts of the company that are killing their reputation.

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Sarkhan

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Edited By Sarkhan

Haha! love how the kiddis cry that they hate activision now. And i love how kiddis cry about EA beeing the new MS. Do you kids(yeah, third time now!!) really thing that a company cares about the gamers in person? It's money. always have and always will be. Yeah, EA took a wrong turn somewhere and im hoping to see EA as the big giant publicer again(with awsome games)

Activision got a taste of gold, and went on with it. I like Activision and EA. Theire only problem is the milking.
And like 1 dude said up on the board: I loved Activision, now i hate them. Well, bufuckinghuu.

Go Activision. fight fire with fire and dont step down.

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turboman

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Edited By turboman

more props to EA now

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Shinedown220

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Edited By Shinedown220

I'm only mildly interseted in this game, but i really hate Activision

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ONEmileperhour

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Edited By ONEmileperhour

EA has turned into a cool little company

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cspiffo

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Edited By cspiffo

@Vortexus1981

Ahhhh don't be so cynical dude. While, yes, companies are in business to make money there are still people behind the company.  Those people could actually be passionate about the way their company is run.  I think John Riccitello really is passionate about how EA is run.  Why else would he come back.  I personally like the direction EA is going right now.  It shows they have been listening to the gamers rather than ignoring them and I think it will pay off for EA in the long run.   They are now making a concerted effort to improve it's reputation whereas Activision is just running its franchises into the ground (much like how EA once did).  It's only a matter of time before Activision will also have to wise up.  I think that's why you see these comments.  People are just reacting to the new leaders of these companies.  What side do you want to be on?  The milkers or the innovators?  I make it a point not to get too emotional about this stuff but I try to follow the passion and actions of the companies leaders.  It kind of tells you something about where your money should be going.

......On a side note.  Right now there is a hilarious SNL skit about the Wii on right now...LOL

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Jesus_Juice

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Edited By Jesus_Juice

So do people hate Activision now just because it's the new EA?

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penguindust

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Edited By penguindust

Yep.  Activision is the new EA...now with more douche-bagginess.  EA has tried hard to regain the rep it had with gamers until they decided to focus on commercial licensed games.  Activision seems to have taken up those old reins.  On the other hand, EA may be taking a financial hit because of their new idealism.  It's hard to tell if that is due to the crappy economy or because of their focus on original IPs with (potentially) limited mass-market appeal.  

I wonder if Activison looked at what FOX did with Warner Brothers and the "WATCHMEN" movie, and thought, maybe we can squeeze EA for some loose change, too?

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

We doubt that Activision would try to sue. That would be like a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy.


Best statement EA has ever made.

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

this is not good

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kenzo287

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Edited By kenzo287

remember when activision were the guys to like and EA were the guys to hate? oh how the tables have turned.

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DukeTogo

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Edited By DukeTogo

Ironic that the once loved Activision and the often hated EA are actively working on switching roles.

This is going to get worse since the game is rumored to have a Guitar mode so then the whole "We created Guitar games" that Activision has heinously touted before will come into play.  As much as I'm looking forward to the game, I'm getting annoyed with the whole soap opera behind it, which is probably what Activision is hoping for.  What a bunch of dicks.

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darkjester74

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Edited By darkjester74

Amusing anecdotes aside, this does not bode well for the game itself.  I hope it lives to see the light of day...

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End_Boss

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Edited By End_Boss

Activision's claim is ridiculous, but I'm actually a little disappointed with how EA decided to respond. Trash-talking does not become a large (and assumedly professional) developer like EA, and this whole story belies a childishness within both of these companies that I find greatly disturbing. I don't have a "favorite" between the two because I try not to commit myself to that kind of fanboyism (flame shield activate), but I do hope that this immaturity does not spread throughout the company and from there inexorably into their games.

Boo Activision.
Boo EA.
Someone needs to be the grown up.

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Tolkienfanatic

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Edited By Tolkienfanatic

Activision is trying really hard to siphon all the hate away from EA, aren't they.

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Shabs

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Edited By Shabs

The idea of seeing an Activision logo show up after I load up a game is starting to make me feel a little sick.

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HeroicDrinkingSong

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And in the news today ;

I F 'ing swear Activision, if you screw up this games release I'm gonna personally lead the mob that burns down your corporate HQ.  (I might even throw a pitchfork at Blizzard just for associating with you.)

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WholeFunShow

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Edited By WholeFunShow
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flaminghobo

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Edited By flaminghobo

I used to like Activision, but this is just too low.

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Hairydutchman

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Edited By Hairydutchman

Ugh, fuck you activision.

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CL60

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Edited By CL60

bwhahaha

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Luke

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RedSox8933

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Ineedaname

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Edited By Ineedaname

This was months ago guys....we'd know if they were going to do anything.

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neoepoch

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Edited By neoepoch
@Ineedaname: They actually filed a lawsuit yesterday to stop the game. This is new and they are actively trying to prevent Brutal Legend to come out.
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Edited By TheKidNixon

I'm completely perplexed by this. "We don't think this game can succeed or be franchised. But don't you dare try to release it with someone else." I also wonder if this is connected to the attachment of big-name voice actors. That might make it more "marketable" and Activision doesn't want to get outdone.

I'm just curious if Schafer were to say "Fine, you guys can release it instead," if Activision would still just sit on it.

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Ineedaname

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Edited By Ineedaname
@neoepoch: Wo, I should completely read links. I just read the last bump, and having not read any news related to gaming I thought he'd just dug it up. My bad.
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mordukai

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Edited By mordukai

Activision are seeing all the buzz this game is creating and now they want it back. What a burn from EA.

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Kazona

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Edited By Kazona

I have never resorted to boycotting a publisher, but I think I can honestly say that this way of doing bussiness leaves such an incredibly bad taste in my mouth that I will not be buying any Activision published titles for the forseable future.