Activision really is trying to out douche EA.

[noble]

More from Activision boss Bobby Kotick's address at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference: Activision are waking up to just how much money artists can make by appearing on Guitar Hero (HINT: it's a lot). So, they figure, if artists are making money off Guitar Hero, then Activision can start making money off those artists. And their labels.

Kotick claims that, shortly after the game's release, "every single artist" who appears in Guitar Hero III saw their featured tracks become their most-downloaded on iTunes. Which is making the artist money. And every time a kid boots up the game and is introduced to an artist like Aerosmith or Van Halen for the first time, that's more money an artist - and their label - will make.

Which has Activision in a unique position. Kotick says that if artists and labels are making money off Guitar Hero, they want to be making money off the artists and labels, in terms of both straight profits and in things like advertising and marketing presence (presumably on tours, via endorsements, etc). And if Universal (yes, he mentions their new labelmates by name) don't cough up, well, they'll just go and find another label who will.

[DAVE]

When you say "out douche" do you mean to say, "trying to make money for his corporation"?

[noble]

If you've been following the bullshit they've been pulling with Guitar Hero 3 compared to Rock Band, then add this strong arm shit, you'll know what I mean.

[Ryudo]

If you've been following the bullshit they've been pulling with Guitar Hero 3 compared to Rock Band, then add this strong arm shit, you'll know what I mean.

At least they're not buying out every fucking game maker in an attempt to have the gaming industry in the grip of a monopoly.

[noble]

At least they're not buying out every fucking game maker in an attempt to have the gaming industry in the grip of a monopoly.

Not yet :scared:

In the future there will be two companies.

EA and Activision.

And huge wars will be fought and many will die.

And no one will remember why. :D

[Akira]

At least they're not buying out every fucking game maker in an attempt to have the gaming industry in the grip of a monopoly.

Yeah, fuck EA!


Wait EA makes Rock Band.


And Burnout.

I'm confused about who I'm supposed to hate now! :Panic:

[noble]

Yeah, fuck EA!


Wait EA makes Rock Band.


And Burnout.

I'm confused about who I'm supposed to hate now! :Panic:

Don't hate the players hate the game!

Wait, that doesn't make any sense in this context :crazy:

[Ryudo]

Not yet :scared:

In the future there will be two companies.

EA and Activision.

And huge wars will be fought and many will die.

And no one will remember why. :D

I can see it happening, but that shit just makes me sad.

I honestly think that if there is no competition, companies will just sit on their heels and push out shovelware title after shovelware title, and gamers will get dejected, and the market will crash again.

You heard it here first.

[noble]

I can see it happening, but that shit just makes me sad.

I honestly think that if there is no competition, companies will just sit on their heels and push out shovelware title after shovelware title, and gamers will get dejected, and the market will crash again.

You heard it here first.

Oh like the last time Activision was the biggest publisher outside of the console makers anything bad happened.


Oh-uh. :scared:

[Akira]

Oh like the last time Activision was the biggest publisher outside of the console makers anything bad happened.


Oh-uh. :scared:


You want me on that wall! You need me on that wall!

EA will save us all.

[Ryudo]

EA will save us all.

Fuck, man. Madden has no competition and it blows. NCAA Football has no competition and the last good version was '06.

As both a member of the gaming industry and a gamer, I'm skurred.

[ClintP]

That is funny. And lame. They should be happy their little fad is as hot as it is and be grateful.

[JoeE]

Rock Band is a great game in spite of the fact that EA owns Harmonix, not because of it.

[Ryudo]

Rock Band is a great game in spite of the fact that EA owns Harmonix, not because of it.

I think I wrapped my head around your post, and I agree.

[WinterRose]

And this is the business I'll be looking to join when I go west. I know Activision was giving a friend of mine headaches last week. I'll learn about all that in-biz drama soon enough i suppose.

[Bryan H]

I think I'm done with Guitar Hero as it is.

This gives me more incentive to do so.

[The Stig]

At least they're not buying out every fucking game maker in an attempt to have the gaming industry in the grip of a monopoly.

They did just buy Vivendi. It was probably the biggest game industry merger ever, until this EA/Take-Two shit.

I wonder how Activision is going to top EA now. Maybe they'll buy up Ubisoft or Eidos.



Yeah, fuck EA!


Wait EA makes Rock Band.


EA publishes Rock Band, they don't make it.

[Ryudo]

They did just buy Vivendi. It was probably the biggest game industry merger ever, until this EA/Take-Two shit.

I wonder how Activision is going to top EA now. Maybe they'll buy up Ubisoft or Eidos.


It was a merger, not a buyout.

Vivendi has more money than Activision. ;)

[JABSEN]

At least they're not buying out every fucking game maker in an attempt to have the gaming industry in the grip of a monopoly.But they are out there acquiring.:-?

[Akira]

EA publishes Rock Band, they don't make it.

I know. Some people don't. Didn''t feel like differenciating for those who didn't.

[Finncognito]

Rock Band is a great game in spite of the fact that EA owns Harmonix, not because of it.
MTV owns Harmonix, not EA.

[Boris the Blade]

I think I'm done with Guitar Hero as it is.

This gives me more incentive to do so.
Yeah. Rock Band makes GH feel irrelevant.

[Rosdower 3.0]

If you've been following the bullshit they've been pulling with Guitar Hero 3 compared to Rock Band, then add this strong arm shit, you'll know what I mean.

I don't. Why don't you explain? :)

[Thomas Mauer]

So they're trying to change how licensing works? Good luck with that.