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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 -
This Guy Says He’s Working On DJ Hero 2
A DJ Hero sequel? Hard to believe, given publisher Activision’s fear of sequelizing its games, but one man, French DJ David Guetta has recently said that, yes, DJ Hero 2 is on his plate. Guetta says in a recent report, spotted by Destructoid, that he’s “going to work on the No. 2 version” of DJ…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 30, 2009 -
What’s With All The War Video Games?
In the 1940s, 1950s and right on through the 1960s, Hollywood churned out war epic after war epic. Sure, we still get war movies, but Hollywood isn’t exactly popping them out bam bam bam. Video game developers are. But why? Let’s get the obvious out of the way — these games make serious dough. “Business…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 23, 2009 -
World At War Map Packs Bundled Up For The Winter
Save five dollars on nine multiplayer maps and three zombie wonderlands with the Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack Bundle, available today on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Surely someone hasn’t bought these yet, right? The World at War Map Pack Bundle collects all three of Treyarch’s expansion packs for the latest…
By Mike Fahey Published December 22, 2009 -
Some Artwork From Transformers: War For Cybertron
I am daring to be excited by Transformers: War For Cybertron. Why? Because I love any Transformers not involving Michael Bay, and I especially love the War Within comic series. Which is kinda what this game is like! Though, sadly, not exactly like; as this artwork shows, cues have been taken from the fan-favourite prequel…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 21, 2009 -
Reviews
Jurassic: The Hunted Review: Punch a Velociraptor in the Face
In their “other” recently released first-person shooter, Jurassic: The Hunted, Activision forgoes over-used antagonists such as aliens, zombies, demons, and Nazis, and puts dinosaurs back where they belong-right in our cross hairs! Remember when dinosaurs were cool? You know, when Jurassic Park ruled the box office, Dino Crisis wasn’t set on a spaceship, and Turok…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 21, 2009 -
Reviews
2009 In Review: The Controversies
Looking back on 2009’s many kerfuffles and foofaraws, it may not have been the most contentious year the gaming industry has ever seen. But it certainly was among the most entertaining. Kicking off Kotaku’s review of 2009 are the headlines that generated the most heat, if not light, from the preceding year. The conflicts fracture…
By Owen Good Published December 21, 2009 -
High Moon Clears Up All This Gears of War Talk About Transformers
Images of the upcoming Transformers: War for Cybertron have stoked chatter that it will draw heavily on Gears of War motifs. Transformers World 2005 got a talk with Matt Tieger of High Moon Studios and put the question to him. I think a lot of that comes from the fact that we are using the…
By Owen Good Published December 18, 2009 -
Modern Warfare 2 Fixes “In Test” For These Problems
With a few million people playing and actively trying to exploit your game, some issue are going to crop up. And Modern Warfare 2 has had some issues. But Infinity Ward is tackling them, including that recent infinite ammo thing. IW’s Robert Bowling updated the Modern Warfare 2 masses on the developer’s current plans to…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 16, 2009 -
Latest Transformers Title Officially Rolling Out for Wii, DS Too
We’ve known about it for a week, but today Activision officially announced Transformers: War for Cybertron (planet pictured above) and confirmed that versions for Wii and the Nintendo DS are in development as well. That makes it five platforms for the game – including the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions we already knew about.…
By Owen Good Published December 16, 2009 -
Robotic Hamsters Get Real Activision Games
Activision takes on EA’s Littlest Pet Shop with games based on Zhu Zhu Pets, robotic hamster toys with a life of their own. How was I unaware of robotic hamster toys? Zhu Zhu Pets are, apparently, one of the hottest toys of the holiday season, and I should probably count myself fortunate that I was…
By Mike Fahey Published December 15, 2009