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Activision Narrows Music Focus To Guitar And DJ Hero
Having released 25 different rhythm game SKUs in 2009, Activision narrows the focus in 2010, with only a new Guitar Hero and DJ Hero 2 slated for release in 2010. During Activision’s 2009 financial results conference call, Activision’s Mike Griffith explained that while 2009 saw Activision increasing its share in the rhythm genre to 51%,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 10, 2010 -
Activision Boasts $1.56 Billion, Better Than Expected Q4
Despite doing business in “difficult times,” super publisher Activision Blizzard had a better than expected holiday quarter, with $1.56 billion in revenue during the company’s Q4, bringing the yearly haul to $4.28 billion. How did Activision do so well? Activision Blizzard CEO gives props to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the “#1 best-selling title…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2010 -
Must Resist Adorable Hamster Baby
Resisting a Nintendo DS game about cute little robot hamsters might be possible, but when Activision packs in a tiny stuffed hamster baby into the collector’s edition of Zhu Zhu Pets, even the strongest man’s resolve begins to falter. Zhu Zhu Pets, announced back in December, is a game based on the mechanical hamster toys…
By Mike Fahey Published February 4, 2010 -
Meet The New Guitar Hero Boss, Not The Old Guitar Hero Boss
Say goodbye to the old Guitar Hero CEO Dan Rosensweig. He’s leaving the position at Activision after less than a year, a year in which the Guitar Hero (and DJ Hero and Band Hero) franchise didn’t do so well. And please welcome the new Guitar Hero boss, David Haddad, formerly the COO of the Guitar…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 2, 2010 -
Courtney Love Now Says Cobain Would’ve Been Cool With Guitar Hero 5
Professional widow Courtney Love, PO’d at Activision for how Kurt Cobain of Nirvana is presented in Guitar Hero 5, says Cobain probably would have found his game appearance amusing. But since he’s dead she gets to do all the suin’. Telling the U.K.’s NME magazine, Love characteristically spewed filth-flarn-flarn-filth when passing along this update. What…
By Owen Good Published January 30, 2010 -
Sierra Classics Live On Through GOG.com
Sierra might have closed down, but the company’s legacy lives on, as an agreement with parent company Activision brings classic titles Gabriel Knight and Arcanum to DRM-free PC game store Good Old Games. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers and Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura are the first two games available as part of…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2010 -
Rumor: DJ Hero Goes Mobile
Activision’s DJ Hero may have been a bit of a failure – at least, relative to its exposure and marketing budget – but the mega-publisher is sticking with the franchise, beginning with the upcoming DJ Hero Mobile. We’ve heard the game will be published by port specialists Glu Mobile, and one artist we know will…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2010 -
Pitfall Creator Honored With AIAS Pioneer Award
Activision co-founder and Pitfall! creator David Crane isn’t just a pioneer in the gaming industry. He’s also a pioneer award winner, having been named the first recipient of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ Pioneer Award. David Crane is more than just the father of the platforming genre. The creator of classic titles including…
By Mike Fahey Published January 27, 2010 -
Transformers: War For Cybertron Gets Its Own Toy Line (Update)
Transformers: War For Cybertron is an upcoming video game based on a toy line. There’s now going to be a toy line based on the game which is based on a toy line. Ah, cross-promotion. First hinted at via leaked prototype shots a few weeks back, there’s now been confirmation from Hasbro that a range…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2010 -
Even Activision’s CEO Knows Spider-Man Games Suck
We give Activision boss Bobby Kotick a ton of stick around here, mostly because he often says some pretty silly things. His latest comments on the Spider-Man series, however, ring as true as truth can ring. “Our Spider-Man games have sucked for the last five years”, he told Game Informer. “They are bad games. They…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 20, 2010 -
Blizzard Worth $7 Million In 1995, $7 Billion In 2007
What a difference a decade makes. Speaking with Game Informer magazine, Activision boss Bobby Kotick has spoken of the massive disparity between how much Blizzard was worth in 1995 compared to the price Kotick paid in 2007. In ’95, the Warcraft creators were purchased by Davidson & Associates. For a sum that, in 1995, Kotick…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 19, 2010 -
Activision Won’t Give Up On DJ Hero Just Yet
Last October, Activision’s turntable game DJ Hero tanked. Fret not those who shelled out for game and its peripheral, Activision won’t be ditching the series just yet. If you’re going to make a commitment to doing something original, the odds are that you’re not going to get it right on the first chance,” Activision boss…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 18, 2010 -
Megadeth Hints at Big Plans for Guitar Hero
Answering the fan mailbag on the band’s official site, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine says he’s had recent “high level meetings” with Activision and Neversoft to discuss an idea that is more attractive to the band than a dedicated box set. Here’s Mustaine’s reply to a fan’s query about a potential Guitar Hero: Megadeth, a very…
By Owen Good Published January 16, 2010 -
The Sims Beat Warcraft for Top PC Seller of ’09
June’s release of The Sims 3 bested World of Warcraft for the crown of 2009’s best selling PC game, according to numbers released today by the NPD Group. Modern Warfare 2, despite a November release, was a strong fifth. Dragon Age: Origins also saw a November release and also made the top 10, at No.…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 -
Survey: 82% Of “Gamer” Parents Are Hip To The ESRB
A survey conducted by The Harrison Group and Activision Publishing has found that a large percentage of parents with gaming children are familiar with the ESRB ratings system. As the popularity of video games continues to grow, so does parental awareness of the ratings system that governs the industry. The survey, which gathered the results…
By Mike Fahey Published January 14, 2010 -
You’ve Purchased $1 Billion Worth Of Modern Warfare 2
Proving once again that people really enjoy shooting virtual representations of other people, Activision announces that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed $1 billion in retail sales. According to Activision’s internal estimates, the second Modern Warfare game from Infinity Ward sold $550 million in the first five days of release. Now, two months…
By Mike Fahey Published January 13, 2010 -
But Is Infinity Ward Doing Modern Warfare 3? [Update]
With two games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its sequel, Infinity Ward brought shooters out of the World War II ghetto and into the modern era. Rumors are swirling that the developer won’t be developing the inevitable third MW. Each year, publisher Activision releases Call of Duty games like clockwork. Set during World War…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 8, 2010 -
Modern Warfare On Wii Hooks Players, If Not Big Sales… Yet
Modern Warfare usually is discussed as a major franchise for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and is subject for debate on the PC. By at least one measure, it’s significant on the Wii too. Those who follow our monthly tally of Wii playing time (the so-called “measure of pleasure,” as I’ve dubbed it) know that…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 5, 2010 -
Well, Guitar Hero: Van Halen Did Need Better Box Art
Guitar Hero: Van Halen couldn’t be more underwhelming as a product if it had “UNDERWHELMING!” as a bullet point on the back of the box. But with the right box art…hmm… Seizing upon a rare moment’s peace, a bored GameStop employee came up with this. Which is not only an amazingly life-like portrait of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 5, 2010