Visceral Games general manager Glen Schofield and COO Michael Condrey are leaving EA to join forces with Activision. I can't help but feel like this is the latest move in the "War" Activision has with EA over the publishing rights of Brutal Legend. I really wonder what is going on internally with in Activision/Blizzard as they look like they are itching for a fight with Sony and EA. FIrst they treat Sony then they sue EA and now they are taking people away from EA. This is getting insane and its going to get very ugly. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest fights since the Microsoft/Netscape Browser Wars and I think it will get even uglier.
Activision shenanigans Recap;
- Activision and Vivendi Games announce that they are merging to create Activision/Blizzard, one of the biggest Development/Publishing company to date. Through that merger Activision/Blizzard picks up publishing rights to all Vivendi Games and Sierra Entertainment IP's.
- Activision/Blizzard announce that only five games will be publish under their umbrella, effectively dropping publishing support for all the other Vivendi Games and Sierra Entertainment IP's leaving their fate in limbo including a one Brutal Legend.
- EA picks up the publishing right of Brutal Legend under their EAP plan while the other games go to other publishing house. No word from Activision/Blizzard...YET.
- Activision/Blizzard assert that the deal EA made with Double FIne Production for the publishing of Brutal Legend is invalid as they believe that they were still in negotiation with Double Fine when the deal with EA was struck. It is widely believed that Activision/Blizzard are seeking monetary compensation like the one they got from Atari for the publishing rights of Ghostbusters: The Video Game and The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.
- In the midst of E3 2009 Activision/Blizzard announce that they have filed a law suit against EA in order to prevent the game to be published under EA. In their suit Activision/Blizzard claim that they have invested $15 million in the game and still have valid contract to publish the game. Furthermore Activision/Blizzard claims that Double FIne has missed a deadline last year and asked for an additional $7 million in development funds.
- EA respond to the Activision/Blizzard law suit by saying " ...Thats would be like a husband abandoning his family then suing them after the wife finds a better looking guy." while Tim Schafer had this to say "Hay, If Activision liked it, then they should have put a ring on it."
- Activision CEO Bobby Kotick openly threatens Sony by saying in the The Times that "They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. We might have to stop supporting Sony."
- Sony's head honcho Howard Stringer response to Bobby Koticks's remarks by saying "He likes to make a lot of noise."
- Infinity Ward's community manager Robert Bowling posts pictures of Modern Warfare PC and 360 copies "hot off the press". PS3 version "strangely" missing. Some time later Robert Bowling posts a video of the three different editions of the game, PS3 still no show.
- Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey of Visceral Games, Formally known as EA Redwood Shores, are leaving EA to join Activision. In al probability they will manage and operate Activision's newly formed San Francisco bay area studio.
Personally I really can't wait to see what's next in this saga.
*sorry for my bad grammar.