Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Square Enix reassessing Final Fantasy XIV server merges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/square-enix-reassessing-final-fantasy-xiv-server-merges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/square-enix-reassessing-final-fantasy-xiv-server-merges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/square-enix-reassessing-final-fantasy-xiv-server-merges/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Screenshot -- Final Fantasy XIV
Last week, Square-Enix announced that it would be performing a series of server merges on Final Fantasy XIV come this March, during which time the server roster was to be pruned from 18 servers to 10. Maybe you noticed our use of the past tense in the previous sentence. That's because a post on the official FFXIV website declares that Squenix is rethinking the merges in the wake of fan feedback on the matter. The studio isn't prepared to provide any further details but does state that "in order to ensure that the most desirable and effective outcome is achieved, [the company] will be reassessing the method of the merger process." Details will be made public on Lodestone as soon as they come to light, so if you're one of the many who would be affected by the merges, keep an eye on the Lodestone front page.

MassivelySquare Enix reassessing Final Fantasy XIV server merges originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmergermergesserver-mergeserver-mergerserver-mergersserver-mergessquaresquare-enixsquenixMon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Rethinking server transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-rethinking-server-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-rethinking-server-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-rethinking-server-transfers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week's big RIFT news was that free server transfers were on the way with the next major game update. Players who have been stuck on lower population servers have been clamoring for the ability to join up with higher population servers, and now they'll finally have the ability to do just that.

But any time things like free transfers and server mergers are brought up, the immediate conclusion is that it's a sign that a game is losing players, and as a result, is failing. Free transfers are usually only seen as an act of desperation, and they usually come on the heels of drastic server mergers, as we've seen in games like Vanguard, Warhammer Online, and Age of Conan. But if a game is believed (by the masses) to be doing OK, transfers are seen as a service that comes with a price, as in games like World of Warcraft or EverQuest II.

So how do we interpret the news of free weekly transfers in RIFT? Read on for a look at why it's actually great for the game and why they're more than just a shrewd marketing campaign.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Rethinking server transfers

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Rethinking server transfers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentccpccp-gamesdial-upenter-at-your-own-rifteqeveeve-onlineeverquestfacebookfeaturedmergemergeropinionriftrift-planes-of-telaraserverserver-mergesserver-transferserverssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldsWorld-of-WarcraftwowWed, 01 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth gets cozy with GamersFirst [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/fallen-earth-gets-cozy-with-gamersfirst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/fallen-earth-gets-cozy-with-gamersfirst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/fallen-earth-gets-cozy-with-gamersfirst/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a recent USTREAM announcement, the developers at Icarus studios explained that the post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth is on the move. GamersFirst, which is well-known for having purchased and resurrected third-person shooter MMO All Points Bulletin, is taking the sandbox MMO under its wing. The full video has not been posted as of yet, but we are prodding GamersFirst and Icarus for more information. Will this mean that Fallen Earth is moving to a free-to-play model? Or is GamersFirst just helping the indie studio gain industry exposure?

The Fallen Earth website is currently down and is due back online at 11 p.m. EDT. Hopefully, when the site comes back online everything will be revealed. Massively will stay on top of this story, and we will relay it all back to you as soon as more comes to light, so stay tuned!

[Update: As of 8 p.m. EDT, the Fallen Earth team is once again broadcasting live over USTREAM and answering questions about the game and the transition. We've also got the video from earlier in the day. Check out the embeds after the cut!]

Continue reading Fallen Earth gets cozy with GamersFirst [Updated]

MassivelyFallen Earth gets cozy with GamersFirst [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfree-to-playftpgamersfirsticarus-studiosmergerpartnershipustreamTue, 31 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One issue that every guild leader needs to face at some point is whether to consider merging with another guild. There are times when even the busiest recruiting guilds have a hard time fleshing out a roster that can achieve in-game goals. As a result, they turn to other guilds for outside help. But merging with another guild brings up a whole new set of issues and pitfalls, and if not handled well, it can lead to drama on a scale never before seen.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at the issue of joining forces with other guilds and discuss some ways to make it work. No, really, it can work! Don't run away!

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge?

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-mergersguildsleadershipmanagementmergemergerplane-of-hateThu, 28 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joymax merges with WeMade Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/joymax-merges-with-wemade-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/joymax-merges-with-wemade-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/joymax-merges-with-wemade-entertainment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Free-to-play MMO gamers are probably familiar with Joymax, or more specifically, the company's flagship Silkroad Online MMORPG. In a press release earlier today, the Korean gaming firm announced that it has joined forces with WeMade Entertainment (a dev house responsible for The Legend of Mir 2 and 3, the latter of which boasts 350,000 concurrent users).

The new entity will retain the Joymax name, and CEO Kwan Ho Park says the merger is a shot in the arm for the Joymax brand. "Together with WeMade's development team and the recent partnership with Dragonfly, the co-developer of QuakeWars Online, we now have all the components to create the best and most compelling games for players across North America, Europe and Asia."

Silkroad Online, launched in 2004, is just the beginning for Joymax. The company has also announced that it plans to leverage WeMade's development expertise to launch a new global gaming portal in the spring.

MassivelyJoymax merges with WeMade Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessf2pfantasyfree-to-playgaming-portaljoymaxmergermmo-industrysilkroad-onlinewemade-entertainmentTue, 22 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/gamigo-buys-black-prophecy-buys-into-reakktor-media/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/gamigo-buys-black-prophecy-buys-into-reakktor-media/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/gamigo-buys-black-prophecy-buys-into-reakktor-media/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When it comes to free-to-play games, we don't often see the licensing companies buying titles outright. Normally, we're prone to seeing licensing agreements until a game has launched or when two companies have a history of working together quite a lot. Nonetheless, today gamigo proved that it really believes in how much players are going to enjoy its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, by buying all rights and trademarks related to the game from Reakktor Media.

The other interesting piece of news is that at the same time as the Black Prophecy acquisition, gamigo also opted to pick up nearly 20% of Reakktor Media. All remaining shares of Reakktor Media remain under the control of the company's CEO, Kirk Lenke, which effectively puts all development control moving forward between Reakktor and gamigo.

If you really don't care about corporate merges and buyouts, then there's still a nugget of news to be gleaned for you. In amongst all the happy congratulations and notes about how this will make things better and easier for the two companies was a note that we should "[look] forward to seeing Black Prophecy go live in the very near future." (Emphasis theirs.) Whether it will simply mark open beta or something more, we'll have to wait and see.

MassivelyGamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAA-Capital-Game-Production-and-Sales-GmbH-and-Coblack-prophecybuyoutcopyrightf2pfree-to-playgamigogamigo-agmergemergerpurchasereakktorreakktor-mediaReakktor-Media-GmbHtrademarkThu, 27 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Merge this!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-tattered-notebook-merge-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-tattered-notebook-merge-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/the-tattered-notebook-merge-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Server mergers are coming this week to EverQuest II, and with it come some serious questions about what stays, what goes, and who gets stuck with a name with a lousy X at the end. But sometimes mergers are a good thing, and I think since we're on the subject, it's worth looking at what else could be merged in the world of Norrath.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, I'll consider how merging tokens, towns, classes, gods, guild halls and more could benefit EQII. Join me past the cut!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Merge this!

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Merge this! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-advancementclassesdeitiesEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedguild-hallguild-hallsLevelslootmergemergermergersopinionracesSOESony-Online-Entertainmentspellsthe-tattered-notebooktokensMon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: It's the end of the world as we know it...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/wings-over-atreia-its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/wings-over-atreia-its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/wings-over-atreia-its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Do you feel fine?

In the final days of the countdown to server merges in Aion this Wednesday, a mixture of emotions are on display on both sides of the battle. While some are feeling excitement, others are cautious, yet bridled with apprehension, and others still are simmering with discontent about the upcoming changes in Atreia. Some apathy has even reared up, as participation in fortress battles wane and the Balaur slowly re-establish their grip of power. Many simply feel a mixture of different emotions at different times (depending which side of the most recent ganking they came out on).

Although the physical make-up of the land is not going to change like it will when patch 2.0 goes live and the Balaur homeland is introduced, the landscape will still be changed. The player base -- the very atmosphere -- of each new server will be markedly different. The population explosion, the economy, abyss rankings, and even tracking reputations will all be affected by the merges. No question about it, life in Aion is going to be altered for every player -- though for better or for worse may be more at the discretion of each individual player, their own attitudes, and preparation.

Take a moment of silence then wander past the cut to see what the last days look like, and prepare yourself for a smoother transition into the morning after.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: It's the end of the world as we know it...

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: It's the end of the world as we know it... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0abyssaionatreiabrokercampaignsfeaturedmergemergername changencsoftpatch-2.0pvpserver-mergeServerMergerWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 12 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warner Bros. appoints Turbine's new boss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/warner-bros-appoints-turbines-new-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/warner-bros-appoints-turbines-new-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/warner-bros-appoints-turbines-new-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ever since hearing the news of Turbine's acquisition by Warner Bros. last month, players have been anxiously awaiting a sign of how this might affect Asheron's Call, Dungeons & Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. While answers are still in short supply, now we know who Turbine answers to: Jeff Junge.

Junge was named Senior Vice President of Online Games and Digital Games Platforms by Warner Bros., a new position for the company. He was a key player in the purchase of Turbine, and will now be Turbine's direct boss. Junge has had a lot of influence within Warner Bros. as they moved into the games industry -- he convinced them to invest in OnLive, and led the initiative to purchase other game studios, such as Rocksteady Games and Midway Games.

As one of the largest independent MMO studios is folded into the WB umbrella, we will continue to keep a close eye on the direction Junge and WB will take Turbine in the future. You can read the full press release here.

MassivelyWarner Bros. appoints Turbine's new boss originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acacquisitionasherons-callddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinejeff-jungejudge-jeff-junge-would-be-an-awesome-crossoverlordlotromergermidway-gamesonliverocksteady-studiosturbinewarner-brosWarner-Bros-Interactivewarner-bros-interactive-entertainmentThu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon acquires NDOORS Interactive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/nexon-acquires-ndoors-interactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/nexon-acquires-ndoors-interactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/nexon-acquires-ndoors-interactive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's not quite as stunning as the earlier announcement regarding Turbine and Warner Bros, but for the free-to-play world a big shakeup has taken place. Nexon, known for MapleStory, Mabinogi, and the upcoming Vindictus among others, has acquired a controlling share of NDOORS Interactive, known principally for Atlantica Online. The deal was announced in Korea late Monday evening, with Nexon explaining that they had acquired 67% of the company's shares including those of the former chairman, Seung-Mun Kwon.

Nexon CEO Su-Min was quite pleased about the acquisition, stating that the addition of the technical expertise and experience of the NDOORS team would help with the company's long-term plans and global expansion. There's no word yet on what this will mean for the operation of Atlantica Online in the US and elsewhere, although it's reasonable to assume that Nexon would likely consolidate their operations. We'll have more for you on this story as it develops and as further details come to light.

MassivelyNexon acquires NDOORS Interactive originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionatlantica-onlinebreakingbusinessf2pfree-to-playlegalmabinogimaplestorymergermergersnexonoperationsvindictusTue, 04 May 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Artix Entertainment acquires EpicDuel, starts test of master account system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/artix-entertainment-acquires-epicduel-starts-test-of-master-acc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/artix-entertainment-acquires-epicduel-starts-test-of-master-acc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/artix-entertainment-acquires-epicduel-starts-test-of-master-acc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Artix Entertainment (soon to be Battle On Games), the team behind the easily addicting AdventureQuest series of games and the AQ Worlds flash MMO, has recently announced their acquisition of another flash-based pseudo-MMO -- EpicDuel.

The EpicDuel team has been completely integrated into the Artix Entertainment staff, keeping them in charge of their own game while still allowing them the expanded resources and technology that drives the Artix Entertainment products. To celebrate, EpicDuel is getting a complete overhaul, including adding hips (which was a whopping 3,500 frames of animation changes alone), a new player housing system, changes to the battle system, and more.

All of this comes with the new test of the Artix master account system, which will unify accounts across all Artix Entertainment games with a master login. This will, of course, include AdventureQuest Worlds, our specific title of interest here on Massively.

MassivelyArtix Entertainment acquires EpicDuel, starts test of master account system originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionadventurequestaq-worldsartixartix-entertainmentbattle-on-gamesbattlefield-bad-companyepicduellegalmergerupdateSat, 05 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft failed at courting Cryptic before the Atari takeover]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-failed-at-courting-cryptic-before-the-atari-takeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-failed-at-courting-cryptic-before-the-atari-takeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-failed-at-courting-cryptic-before-the-atari-takeover/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to CFO Alain Martinez, Ubisoft was also looking into acquiring Cryptic before Atari stepped in and inked a deal. Though they are disappointed at having missed this opportunity, there seems to be no shortage of acquisition options. Martinez states that they are looking at taking over two to three small companies in the next few months, but details of what products this may involve are unknown.

Ubisoft has been busy advertising their latest console-and-PC title, Prince of Persia, for the holiday season and working on Assassin's Creed 2 - currently expected to be released in fiscal year 2010. CEO Yves Guillemot states they are planning to launch online game products in 2009, but says the experience will be more casual than the expansive Cryptic titles like Champions Online and Star Trek Online. This would have been one giant leap in moving to the MMO model.

MassivelyUbisoft failed at courting Cryptic before the Atari takeover originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionacquisitionsataricrypticcryptic-studiosmergermergersubisoftThu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vivendi UK sees cuts as part of ActiBlizz merger]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/vivendi-uk-sees-cuts-as-part-of-actiblizz-merger/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/vivendi-uk-sees-cuts-as-part-of-actiblizz-merger/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/vivendi-uk-sees-cuts-as-part-of-actiblizz-merger/#commentsFiled under: ,

While much of the coverage of the union between Activision and Vivendi Universal has focused on the people reaping the benefits--including those indirectly affected by Blizzard's rockstar status as well as those who saw direct monetary advantage--little attention has been paid as yet to the victims of this mega merger. According to recent reports, Activision Blizzard will be making cost-saving staffing cuts in Vivendi's UK divisions. Several Sierra titles are also reportedly getting the axe as part of the merger.

Just in case any Massively readers in the UK were wondering, this won't affect your World of Warcraft experience at all, as Blizzard's European division is being left to its own devices. This seems to only reaffirm the long-espoused notion that Blizzard was really the only prize in which Activision was actually interested. If Vivendi's other games fall by the wayside, we doubt the ActiBlizz senior management would bat an eyelash. Still, our hearts go out to the folks who have lost their jobs, and we wish them a fruitful and speedy job hunt!

MassivelyVivendi UK sees cuts as part of ActiBlizz merger originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardfiringsmergerukvivendi-ukvivendi-universalworld-of-warcraftWed, 23 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision tried to buy Blizzard before merging with Vivendi]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-tried-to-buy-blizzard-before-merging-with-vivendi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-tried-to-buy-blizzard-before-merging-with-vivendi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-tried-to-buy-blizzard-before-merging-with-vivendi/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you can't beat em', join em', appears to be the logic used by Activision in the recently confirmed merger. The website for industry rag Variety is reporting that before the idea of a copacetic merger of two gaming giants was pitched, Activision was interested in just buying Blizzard outright from the Vivendi folks. Bobby Kotick was very interested in Vivendi's crown jewel and the possible revenues from the sparkle inside: World of Warcraft.

The article notes how different that tone was than just a few years ago, when Vivendi tried to sell their games business off to pay down debt. At the time no-one was willing to bite, a state of affairs the company is probably now very grateful for. Ubisoft's CEO Yves Guillaume will apparently be one of the individuals quoted in an upcoming story on the site about the merger, and offered up this pithy insight about the deal.

Originally, Activision wanted to buy Blizzard. "'One game, World of Warcraft,' bought Activision."

MassivelyActivision tried to buy Blizzard before merging with Vivendi originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actiblizzactivision-blizzardblizzardbusinessbuyoutmergerFri, 11 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shareholders officially approve Activision-Blizzard merger]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/shareholders-vote-on-activision-blizzard-merger-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/shareholders-vote-on-activision-blizzard-merger-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/shareholders-vote-on-activision-blizzard-merger-today/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Like a storied Hollywood romance, the landmark merger of Activision and Vivendi Universal first took us by surprise; then garnered approval over time; and finally comes to fruition today as Activision's shareholders have approved the buy-out, with a whopping 92% voting in favor of the deal. When you consider EA, their biggest rival, is reporting losses and both Activision and Vivendi Universal riding high on the backs of Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft respectively, this deal will have as much resonance on the stock market as it does within the game industry proper.

We've heard many a detail on the stormy courtship between the two publishers, with hints at who sought out who and to what ends for some time now. Even as much as we've written about it, this whole affair has had a sense of unreality since the beginning, and it's bizarre to think that the deal is finally complete. This blogger, for one, welcomes our new Activision-Blizzard overlords.

MassivelyShareholders officially approve Activision-Blizzard merger originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardbreakingmergermmo-industryshareholdersvivendivivendi-universalwall-streetworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard to Activision: we choose you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We don't know if anybody has told you, but Blizzard is actually kind of a big deal. Not many companies can hold the attention of their target audience for an entire week with naught but a series of cryptic splash pages. They're such a big deal, in fact, that when it came time for Vivendi to choose a partner for their big merger, Blizzard's preference for Activision was instrumental in their ultimate decision. That is, if Blizzard COO Paul Sams is to be believed.

It was no secret that Blizzard was the real prize in the merger, having pulled in approximately $1.2 billion for Vivendi in 2007 alone. With the twin juggernauts of Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 looming on the horizon, and their "next-gen MMO" project still lurking in the shadows, it seems clear that Sams' comments are anything but idle boasting. According to Sams, the leverage they have in this arrangement is what is going to allow them to preserve their existing management structure that has proved so spectacularly successful. I think that's something we can all get behind.

MassivelyBlizzard to Activision: we choose you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzarddiablo-3interviewmergerpaul-samsstarcraft-2vivendivivendi-gamesworld-of-warcraftMon, 30 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney merges their internet and games groups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/disney-merges-their-internet-and-games-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/disney-merges-their-internet-and-games-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/disney-merges-their-internet-and-games-groups/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As we reported last month, Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom has closed up shop after several years of operation. This is said to be in anticipation of their upcoming virtual worlds, including one based on the movie Cars and one on Tinker Bell. Yet recently, we've heard a new piece of information in the Disney business plan puzzle.

What they're working on is a merger between the Walt Disney Internet Group and the Disney Interactive Studios, effective immediately. This new group, entitled the Disney Interactive Media Group will be led by Steve Wadsworth, previously the president of the Disney Internet Group. It will cover all of their gaming endeavors from console to virtual worlds, which seems to be a positive step towards the company's focus on online gaming for kids.

MassivelyDisney merges their internet and games groups originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneyinteractivekidsmergervirtual-magic-kingdomwalt-disneyFri, 06 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EU gives Activision-Blizzard a big thumbs up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/eu-gives-activision-blizzard-a-big-thumbs-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/eu-gives-activision-blizzard-a-big-thumbs-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/eu-gives-activision-blizzard-a-big-thumbs-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After reviewing Activision-Blizzard's case for a few weeks, the European Commission announced its approval of the huge merger yesterday. The EU had final say approving the merger because Vivendi is a French company. Officials decided the deal wouldn't threaten the fairness of the market.

The commission made a statement, saying that Activision Blizzard "would continue to face several strong, effective competitors, such as Electronic Arts, and the game console manufacturers, such as Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft." There were some concerns that the company could have an unfair advantage in licensing music for games because Vivendi owns Universal Music Group, but they were set aside because "competing game publishers would continue to have access to a sufficiently large portfolio of music rights from alternative suppliers."

The lesson: Activision Blizzard is officially not a monopoly, thanks to EA. We could go into extreme detail weighing the pluses and negatives of the decision, but we've analyzed this merger plenty enough already. At some point, you just have to decide to sit back and see what happens.

MassivelyEU gives Activision-Blizzard a big thumbs up originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've talked quite a bit about the merger of Vivendi's games unit and the publisher Activision, and what the newly formed Blizzard/Activision behemoth might mean for the industry. A proxy statement for the deal unearthed by the Wall Street Journal reveals that not once but twice did the deal come close to collapsing. It also reveals that there was a pretty clear winner in the talks - and it may not be who you think.

The two close calls were all about business gamesmanship, the article notes. The first, in June of last year, came when talks apparently stalled over the issue of price. Activision's stocks were initially valued at $23.38 a share and at one point that summer Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi's CEO, phoned Activision CEO Robert Kotick to let him know "he did not think it made sense to continue discussions concerning a possible transaction". Then, in September, Levy phoned Kotick to say essentially the same thing. There were apparently a number of open issues still to discuss at that point, only two months before the official announcement went across the wire.

Both of these delays were nothing more than stalling tactics as obviously both companies were able to put aside their issues and come to an agreement. Still, the Journal notes, Activision came out ahead over the course of negotiations. Those $23 shares ballooned to $27.50 each, a price 31% above the stock price before the announcement. Additionally, Robert Kotick (formerly of Activision) gets to be the CEO of the new combined company. It's easy to get blinded by all that Blizzard gold sometimes, but Vivendi (in this case) looks like it just didn't have all the cards.

[Via FiringSquad]

MassivelyThe stormy courtship of Blizzard/Activision originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-activisionbusinessmergerrelationshipFri, 01 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Businessweek chimes in on Activision Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/businessweek-chimes-in-on-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/businessweek-chimes-in-on-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/businessweek-chimes-in-on-activision-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now that the dust is settling from the Activision/Vivendi merger announced over the weekend, the numbers fans are starting to chime in on the epic moneymaking potential of this merger. Sure, we knew Blizzard was making a great deal of money from World of Warcraft -- anyone with half a clue who paid the recurring $15 a month bill for the last three years knew that. But to many it came as a shock that in regards to 2007, WoW is expected to produce $520 million of pure unadulterated profit -- yes, that's after paying the bills. We suspect that even Donald Trump must be drooling at those numbers right about now.

If you're curious about just how this merger changes the financial landscape, Matt Vella from Businessweek has done a fairly good job with an overview of the potential impact. His story covers some familiar ground, but also compares EA against the proposed Activision Blizzard corporate monster. The only thing we'd have to take issue with is the claim that Sony (SOE) and NCsoft are "scrambling to get a piece" of the MMO market. The last time we checked, SOE have had their hands in the MMO pie for almost as long as there's been an MMO market. There's also the point that NCsoft has highly successful titles in the Eastern MMO market with Lineage/Lineage II -- and where's the love for CoX, GW, TR, etc? Do they want a larger piece or the market? Sure. But with name recognition in the industry already, they're well ahead of many others just jumping into the game. Nonetheless, it's an interesting read if you are curious how the business end of all this gameplaying is expected to shape up.

[Thanks, Matt]

MassivelyBusinessweek chimes in on Activision Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild site hosting is an interesting business-- on the one hand, it's really an ISP function, where you've got to keep the site up and running and make sure it has enough power to take on all that traffic. But on the other hand, it's also a community building venture-- it's your job to put the tools in place to keep guilds together and progressing in game. I have no idea what kind of money is going through it (from my experience, it's mostly an ad-based business-- you provide free hosting in exchange for ad views), but as online games get more and more popular, there's bound to be larger and larger companies coming out of the mix.

And here's two now-- Guildcafe has announced on their blog that they've acquired Uberguilds. Guildcafe, from the press release, is apparently going to handle that technical side of things, and Uberguilds, with their broad reach of the community, is going to act as the "Guildcafe Alliance," and use Guildcafe's application to connect guilds and players together.

I don't have a lot of experience with either (my WoW guild uses Guildportal, and while it's super ugly, it gets the job done connecting us out of game), but this could be the start of something big-- an ISP/application site combining with known community builders might be just what this "guild hosting" industry needs to become even more widespread.

[Via Virgin Worlds]

MassivelyGuildcafe merges with Uberguilds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocker! Huge videogame publisher EA purchased a company called VG Holding Corp. this afternoon, which suddenly means that the company that makes Madden and the company that made Knights of the Old Republic and Neverwinter Nights are now one and the same! Both BioWare and Pandemic Studios are apparently held by VG Holding Corp, which means EA now owns them both.

And while it means we don't quite know what's happening to BioWare's Mass Effect (one hopes it doesn't become Mass Effect 2008, with new TrueTouch roleplaying), it also means BioWare's planned MMO is being pushed back. While EA plans to get 10 titles out of the two game makers (the BioWare we know couldn't make 5 titles in 4 years if their life depended on it), the MMO is being pushed to "more towards the back end of the schedule," which puts it around 2011.

Personally, for the sake of my sanity, I'm going to have a little more faith in EA than I would if you'd hypothesized this to me yesterday. I love BioWare and their games (all the way back to Baldur's Gate), and I can only hope that they'll stand strong against EA, and choose quality over quantity, a choice that EA seems to make wrongly time and time again. BioWare will still be BioWare, right? Right?

... Right?

MassivelyEA buys Bioware, their MMO delayed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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