Blizzard merges with Activision for $18.8 billion

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xdarkyrex

Vault Senior Citizen
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7123582.stm

The companies behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft are merging in a deal which could shake up the global video games industry.

Activision and Blizzard have said they will form "the world's most profitable games business" in a deal worth $18.8bn (£9.15bn).

US-based Activision also makes hit console games such as the Tony Hawk series and Guitar Hero.

Nine million people pay a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft.

'High-growth industry'

Blizzard is the biggest player in online gaming and Warcraft is the global market leader of what are known as massively multi-player online role-playing games, or MMORPGs.

It is currently owned by the French media group Vivendi.

As part of the merger plan, Blizzard will invest $2bn in the new company, while Activision is putting up $1bn.

The merged business will be called Activision Blizzard and its chief executive will be Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group.
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:| I don't know about this...
They aren't exactly similar companies.

I see a lot of hybrid style Blizzard world games coming out soon.

Starcraft fps? :crazy:
WoW on 360?
Diablo Pro Skater?

Let's just hope they are doing this to extend reach and still retain their own production philosophies and practices.
 
Bwhahahaha lmao Diablo pro skater. My guess is that it's a money thing i doubt they will merge the games together. kinda like when Ea bought out Westwood studios Ea makes money off Westwood .
 
Isn't this more like "Vivendi buys Activision, merges it with currently owned gamestudio"?

57124-activision-blizzard.jpg


Starcraft fps
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Didn't they already try that with Starcraft: Ghost?
 
That one realy came out of blue, alltough Starcraft games similar to Call Of Duty 4 would be nice.
 
Starcraft is already going to be an fps i just noticed that little joke. since SC2 is going to be in 3d like Tiberian sun 3
 
well, this falls in the wait & see category, really (if it's even real).

i'm sure Blizzard has some guarantees. right? RIGHT?
 
Vault 13 said:
Let's be Patient and wait for "Call of Warcraft : The wrath of the Tony hawk" :mrgreen:
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Ah, so you will be a World War 2 or Modern day soldier who travels in an extreme fantasy oriented world where you must find and destroy a probably undead pro skateboarder who has returned to conquer the realm.

Well its different, I give you that.
 
The Dutch Ghost said:
Vault 13 said:
Let's be Patient and wait for "Call of Warcraft : The wrath of the Tony hawk" :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

Ah, so you will be a World War 2 or Modern day soldier who travels in an extreme fantasy oriented world where you must find and destroy a probably undead pro skateboarder who has returned to conquer the realm.

Well its different, I give you that.
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I would actually play that game.
If you make a game (or movie or book or anything) stupid enough, it gains its own unique appeal.
 
Said Robert Kotick, Activision's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: "This is an outstanding transaction for Activision and our stockholders, as well as a pivotal event in the continuing transformation of the interactive entertainment industry. By combining leaders in mass-market entertainment and subscription-based online games, Activision Blizzard will be the only publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry and reach the broadest possible audiences. By joining forces with Vivendi Games, we will become the immediate leader in the highly profitable online games business and gain a large footprint in the rapidly growing Asian markets, including China and Korea, while maintaining our leading operating performance across North America and Europe. Activision stockholders will benefit from significantly increased earnings power and the recurring nature and predictability of subscription-based revenues, while also having the opportunity, if they choose, to receive $27.50 per share for a portion of their shares in the post-closing tender offer."
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Well, what did that sound like to you? Besides the corporate babble speak, it sounds like a merger for the sake of merger. Are they just trying to cut costs?
 
cdoublejj said:
Starcraft is already going to be an fps i just noticed that little joke. since SC2 is going to be in 3d like Tiberian sun 3
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I think you mean Command and Conquer 3.
 
The Dutch Ghost said:
Vault 13 said:
Let's be Patient and wait for "Call of Warcraft : The wrath of the Tony hawk" :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

Ah, so you will be a World War 2 or Modern day soldier who travels in an extreme fantasy oriented world where you must find and destroy a probably undead pro skateboarder who has returned to conquer the realm.

Well its different, I give you that.
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yup...that would be the Ultimate Shit ,or what they call it these days "teh Pawnge ?!!!" :mrgreen:
 
SuAside said:
xdarkyrex said:
If its real?
Its on BBC
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yeah, like the BBC never fell for a hoax or misinformation... :roll:
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Yeah, it's happened, but they also have the integrity to usually publish a formal redaction of anything they find to be wrong. Most fairly credible sources are like that.
 
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