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Activision: We May, In Fact, Be Afraid of Some Ghosts

Activision Blizzard spits out a combined release list and... hey wait, aren't you guys missing something?

(and Blizzard, too!)
(and Blizzard, too!)
Here's a spooky tale: Phil Elliott over at gamesindustry.biz is reporting that Activision Blizzard has submitted a release schedule that contains some of the Vivendi/Sierra games that it picked up in its recent merger, like Prototype, but somewhat major entries in the Vivendi lineup are missing. Games like Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, Ghostbusters, and Brutal Legend.

Dude.

The rest of the story goes on to talk about "non-strategic business units" and the sort of restructuring you'd expect when two big companies merge. Sadly, the combined company probably doesn't need as many studios as it currently has, and some of them may cease to exist. The statement from Activision's CEO, Mike Griffith, says...

"We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy. We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

Others have speculated that the absence of these games must be oversights. Personally, I'm hoping that's the case. And I'm having a hard time believing that Activision--the same company that brought us the very first Ghostbusters game--doesn't see any potential in that product. I've heard nothing but nice things about it. Pack in an emulated version of the original game and the cycle would be complete.

50 Cent, rapping.
50 Cent, rapping.
And Brutal Legend? Can you possibly imagine any other publisher in a better spot to publish a rock-themed game than the company that brings you Guitar Hero? Hell, they should just call it "Guitar Hero Gaiden: Brutal Legend: Jack Black Is In This Game" and ship it.

As for Blood on the Sand? Well... yeah, I don't know. Whatevs, I guess. 50 Cent is past his prime and getting staler by the moment.

Of course, you shouldn't panic just yet. None of this seems to be officially official quite yet, and it's probable that at least some of these projects could get spun out to other publishers if Activision is, in fact, pulling out.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

129 Comments

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HibiscusExplosion

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They can't drop Ghostbusters. THEY JUST CAN'T!

I HATE YOU ALL!

this guy thinks that Activision Blizzard should publish Ghostbusters
this guy thinks that Activision Blizzard should publish Ghostbusters
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romeoinc

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Edited By romeoinc

But 50 Cent is ayo with technology!

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hermes

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Edited By hermes

I don't thing they are going to drop the Ghostbusters title...

I mean, the game was demoed at E3 a week ago, and it was also shown in Comic Con. It seems like a lot of attention for something that was going to be nuked a few days later.

One can only hope

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Mourne

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Edited By Mourne

"Guitar Hero Gaiden: Brutal Legend: Jack Black Is In This Game"

You just made my morning, Jeff. Bravo.

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NorthernAvengeR

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Edited By NorthernAvengeR

Do want Brütal Legend

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vilhelmnielsen

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Edited By vilhelmnielsen

Wow, what a great move on their part. The really know what sells, and what doesn't...
[sarcasm off]

Activision are definately on their way to take the place from EA, as the most hated company in the industry. I never really liked them...

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SlimDogg

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Edited By SlimDogg

Crash , and Spyro have been on decline longer then 50 Cents career .  So what makes them able to be kept ? People still buy them ?

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poser

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Edited By poser

wtf? I don't get it the Ghosbuster game looked good...

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Rually

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Edited By Rually

Just don't muck up WoW....

I was looking forward to Blood on the Sand, it would be worth a few laughs.

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bingbangboom

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Edited By bingbangboom

Just very odd to hear these games being "cut" from the team right after E3 which they were not participating in. Ghostbusters I think got alot of hype behind it after E3 and people want Brutal Legend. 50 Cent's game actually got some praise of looking very good but we have not seen much of WET besides a hot chick. I loved the Xbox Riddick game and this looks to be more of the same but better. I think all of these titles will find homes though with possibly the exception of Riddick because we havn't seen much of it lately. Microsoft would be a great fit for Brutal Legend. Ghostbusters would fit with either EA or Microsoft, EA seems to be handling alot of movie licenses and can market them very well. Take 2 could be a nice fit for 50 Cent also.

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Yossarian

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Edited By Yossarian

A world without Brütal Legend in not a world in which I wish to live.

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HazyDai

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Edited By HazyDai

Please don't kill my Brutal Legends *SOB*

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AlexIsStillAThreat

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They can't do this to us....We Are International Businessmen! - haha - no but seriously i was looking forward to Ghostbusters and Brutal Legend in particular and really hope it's just an oversight (a MAJOR OVERSIGHT)

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TheGTAvaccine

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Edited By TheGTAvaccine

I saw a bunch of Ghostbusters popups and stuff when I went to Gamestop the other day, so I dont know.

But if they drop Riddick, Ghostbusters, and Brutal Legend I'm gonna be angry.

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Windex

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Edited By Windex

I really want to play Brutal Legend, and if Ghostbusters has co-op I'll be all over it.

I'm actually sort of upset about the 50 cent game too. My co-workers and I are always joking around about the game, and how ridiculous it all is.  I was sort of looking forward to playing it co-op for irony's sake alone.

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deactivated-597fb42f4841d

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The real news here is that they are considering closing Massive Entertainment, makers of the fantastic World in Conflict. I will hate everybody forevers if that really happens :(

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albedos_shadow

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Edited By albedos_shadow

If Brutal Legend is cancelled, sohelp me god....

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BurningChimaera

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Edited By BurningChimaera

Darnit, I was looking forward to sucking up those slimers. If they decide to cancel, someone's gotta start a petition.

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BennytheDroid

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Edited By BennytheDroid

Leave it to Activision to play it safe.  Go with dead mascots Spyro and Crash and drop Brutal Legend, a game which combined with the talents of Tim Schafer and the current mass market appeal of Jack Black is almost certain to both review and sell well.  What a bunch of retards, no offense intended to retarded people; I wouldn't want to be associated with Activision either.

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superfriend

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Edited By superfriend

The moment I saw the announcement for Brutal Legend, I thought: "Oh, well this is never going to be released. Just sounds too weird and no publisher would want to release a second Psychonauts."

So, yeah there´s still hope for a lot of these games, but I honestly doubt that Brutal Legend is ever coming out, which is a shame.

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sizu

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Edited By sizu

I can understand the 50cent game being dropped.  But why would Activision not consider Ghostbusters to be a viable product?  Its been getting good press from previews, the Ghostbuster team are doing the dialogue, and there is a genuine market for it.  Hopefully this is an oversight.

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TheToecutter

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Edited By TheToecutter

awwwwww dick(about brutal legend and ghostbusters)

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stokes

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Edited By stokes

I don't know, that 50 Cent game looks pretty sweet as much as it pains me to say.  No intrest in Brutal Legends, a bit of intrest in Ghostbusters, and I'm looking foward to Chronicles of Riddick.

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Al3xand3r

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Edited By Al3xand3r

As far as I understand this, they simply won't self publish these titles. They're still up for grabs by other publishers. Of course, we probably should be suspicious over the quality of the games they don't want to publish for themselves, but perhaps there are reasons that go beyond quality assurance...

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Drakulla

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Edited By Drakulla

I don't care who published ghostbusters, as long as it hits store shelves.

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Crono

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Edited By Crono

Ghostbusters does look interesting, but I don't think it could possibly be a great game by any means...  Hopefully I am wrong though, as I would love to have a killer Ghostbusters game with physics driven gameplay.

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vunna

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Edited By vunna

We really have no proof that any of the released games listed here are going to be good except for the possibility of Riddick since the XBox game was above average.  Ghostbusters needs a good game to revive it since no younger ppl even know or care about it.  Brutal Legends looks like it could be good but we can be almost sure that 50 Cent part 2 will be unplayable.

Ghostbusters will be the greatest loss since it looked like it was shaping up nicely and many of the original people that worked with the movie series were involved.  That franchise alone can be used to create such a compelling game that it would be a sin to leave it on the table.  The movies had everything a video game should: great writting, great story, amazing special effects (for the time) and smarts to not take itself so seriously.

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felixlighter

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Edited By felixlighter

If either Ghostbusters or Brutal Legends do not end up seeing the light of day it would be tragic. 

Statements like these:

"We are focused on improving efficiency across the combined organisation and are concentrating on businesses where we have leadership positions that are aligned with Activision Publishing's long-term corporate objectives."

and...

"We are very excited to add such recognizable and successful brands as Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, which reinforce our leadership position in movie-based and family entertainment video games."

Give me the chills. 

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ThomasP

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Edited By ThomasP

Let there be ghost busting. :)

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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

its ok ghostbusters will in fact be coming, it wont be cut...

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christilton

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Edited By christilton

I think there's been way too much money pumped into the development of 50 cent 2, Brutal Legend, and Ghostbusters for them not to find a home and come out, though it would be very disappointing if Activision passed on publishing these titles (well maybe not for 50 cent 2). We haven't heard a word on the Riddick remake since its announcement, so I wonder if that is even still happening. Perhaps it is a side project by a small team at Starbreeze, and that's why it is taking so long.

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kraznor

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Edited By kraznor

Activision better not upset the release of Brutal Legend by a single day or there is going to be hell to pay.

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Hef

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Edited By Hef

A guy from sierra already confirmed that there is no chance of ghostbusters being dropped. Most of the games they're cutting are the shit ones that vivendi was making.

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pandorasbox

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Edited By pandorasbox

Check out kotaku, they confirmed that ghostbusters is not canceled. I sure hope they didn't cancel the COR remake.

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Gavinn

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Edited By Gavinn
pandorasbox
on July 29, 2008
Check out kotaku, they confirmed that ghostbusters is not canceled. I sure hope they didn't cancel the COR remake.


QFT
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MRBOND93

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Edited By MRBOND93

If world in conflict disappears in this mess I willflip cause my PC is garbage I want to play it on the 360

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Mjolnir

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Edited By Mjolnir

If they drop Ghostbusters, I'm gonna be pissed. I'd forgotten about the Riddick remake, but now that you mention it, I'm kind of excited.

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PLWolf

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Edited By PLWolf

Sierra has released a statement letting everyone know Ghostbusters is not canceled.

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The_Icon

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Edited By The_Icon

I hope Riddick is still on track, dont care much about the others though.

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blizzvalve

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Edited By blizzvalve

If you can only get rid of one game, get rid of 50 Cent. We wouldn't mind

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RedSox8933

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Edited By RedSox8933

this is very sad. i was looking forward to ghostbusters and brutal legend. i don't give a crap about 50 cent though.

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SpiredCrescent7

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Edited By SpiredCrescent7

just make 50 cent an unlockable ghost buster instead of giving him a game

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howNowBrownSow

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Edited By howNowBrownSow

Must...have...Brutal...Legend...

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Phillipo2932

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Edited By Phillipo2932

Hopefully a company will finance and publish theses projects soon. At least get Ghostbusters that game looks awesome, that could bring in a lot of money for a company!

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El_Dom

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Edited By El_Dom

No i was so looking forward to chronicles of riddick. Thats one of the best games ever.

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skywing

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Edited By skywing

great article even better name

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killerkahuna

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Edited By killerkahuna

Man I was looking forward to that Riddick game being remade (with extra levels).

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thomasvdh

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Edited By thomasvdh

Brutal Legend, great game, or THE GREATEST game? It looks soooo good.

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thelastguy

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Edited By thelastguy

Does anybody still care about 50 Cent....

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Blacknight

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Edited By Blacknight

all i can say is there seems to be alot of neg reaction to the fact that ghosbuters may not come out. That in itself may make activivsion change its mind about ghostbusters if they didnt over look it in that list