Activision Blizzard's Top Dog Blows Kisses to GTA's Houser Bros.
Activision Blizzard's Top Dog Blows Kisses to GTA's Houser Bros.
September 18, 2008
As GamePolitics reported earlier this week, Take-Two Interactive's deal with Grand Theft Auto creators Sam and Dan Houser expires in February.
The brothers' free agent status is likely to produce a bidding war for their services, and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick may have engaged in some advance recruiting, according to Silicon Valley Insider:
A second after telling Goldman Sachs’ Mark Wienkes at the company’s investor conference today that he couldn’t talk about the co-creators of the hit [GTA] franchise, Kotick had this to say:
We (Activision) really embrace the individual studio model. We know how to take studios and talented teams and appropriately incentivize them. We’ve definitely become the destination location for independently minded entrepreneurial talent.
Translation: Housers, come work for us
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Posted 03/19/10 at 01:50am
hayabusa75: Flamespeak: Shhh, the Dems might hear you ;)
hayabusa75: Flamespeak: Shhh, the Dems might hear you ;)
Posted 03/18/10 at 09:41pm
ZippyDSMlee: And not taxing the 30-500K bracket so much, sure you make 500K at the end of the year add in life thats minus 200K add in the company you made there's another 200K.
ZippyDSMlee: And not taxing the 30-500K bracket so much, sure you make 500K at the end of the year add in life thats minus 200K add in the company you made there's another 200K.
Posted 03/18/10 at 09:39pm
ZippyDSMlee: Flamespeak: we should be taxing the ultra rich alot more(those that have more than 10 million in wealth),.
ZippyDSMlee: Flamespeak: we should be taxing the ultra rich alot more(those that have more than 10 million in wealth),.
Posted 03/18/10 at 08:04pm
Flamespeak: I never understood why someone should work hard to get a lot of money, just to be punished with more taxes for doing so.
Flamespeak: I never understood why someone should work hard to get a lot of money, just to be punished with more taxes for doing so.
Posted 03/18/10 at 06:44pm
hayabusa75: Isn't the upper class supposed to be footing most of this bill?
hayabusa75: Isn't the upper class supposed to be footing most of this bill?
Posted 03/18/10 at 06:05pm
Austin_Lewis: Of course, that ignores the fact that for the next 4 years, the people will be taxed without 'benefit' from the bill.
Austin_Lewis: Of course, that ignores the fact that for the next 4 years, the people will be taxed without 'benefit' from the bill.
Posted 03/18/10 at 06:04pm
Austin_Lewis: If we go by the CBO's past estimation failures, they're about 300% short on the actual cost.
Austin_Lewis: If we go by the CBO's past estimation failures, they're about 300% short on the actual cost.
Posted 03/18/10 at 05:21pm
ZippyDSMlee: *punt*Roll call, whos on and how are you doing?
ZippyDSMlee: *punt*Roll call, whos on and how are you doing?
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:07pm
JDKJ: No, I did you the favor and said it for you.
JDKJ: No, I did you the favor and said it for you.
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:06pm
Valdearg: What I said was while I may have implied long term accuraccy, and that might have been incorrect, my greater point that the CBO report calculated reduced deficits, expanded coverage, and lower costs is still 100% accurate. :D
Valdearg: What I said was while I may have implied long term accuraccy, and that might have been incorrect, my greater point that the CBO report calculated reduced deficits, expanded coverage, and lower costs is still 100% accurate. :D
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:06pm
Valdearg: Like any good politician, I don't believe I said "I was incorrect." :P
Valdearg: Like any good politician, I don't believe I said "I was incorrect." :P
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:02pm
JDKJ: If you'd said "I was incorrect" 10 shouts ago, I'd have quit twisting your arm to get you see the obvious 10 shouts ago.
JDKJ: If you'd said "I was incorrect" 10 shouts ago, I'd have quit twisting your arm to get you see the obvious 10 shouts ago.
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:00pm
JDKJ: You were they one assuming 100% accuracy. In all caps, no less.
JDKJ: You were they one assuming 100% accuracy. In all caps, no less.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:59am
Valdearg: Yes, my implication that the long term estimates were facts was incorrect, but the short term calculations are absolutely facts, and even the long term estimates are still useful in attempting to determine exactly what will happen with the bill.
Valdearg: Yes, my implication that the long term estimates were facts was incorrect, but the short term calculations are absolutely facts, and even the long term estimates are still useful in attempting to determine exactly what will happen with the bill.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:58am
Valdearg: I do. The Short term costs are actually calculated facts. The long term estimates aren't necessarily 100% accurate, but to assume that they can't possibly be accurate because someone said they might not be 100% accurate is also wrong.
Valdearg: I do. The Short term costs are actually calculated facts. The long term estimates aren't necessarily 100% accurate, but to assume that they can't possibly be accurate because someone said they might not be 100% accurate is also wrong.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:57am
JDKJ: When someone says, "I could be wrong but, as best as I can tell, X," X ain't a fact.
JDKJ: When someone says, "I could be wrong but, as best as I can tell, X," X ain't a fact.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:53am
JDKJ: It's too early in the morning for you to be deaf, blind, and dumb drunk. A "my best guestimate" can't be a fact. Don't you understand the difference between the two?
JDKJ: It's too early in the morning for you to be deaf, blind, and dumb drunk. A "my best guestimate" can't be a fact. Don't you understand the difference between the two?
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:41am
Valdearg: By how much depends on variables that can't necessarily be predicted at this point in time. And yes, those Facts are accurate only so far into the future, but those estimates can certainly be used to support this measure.
Valdearg: By how much depends on variables that can't necessarily be predicted at this point in time. And yes, those Facts are accurate only so far into the future, but those estimates can certainly be used to support this measure.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:40am
Valdearg: And I'm saying, as far as the CBO report goes, the facts that it does put forward are deficit reduction, reducing costs, and expanding costs. Those ARE facts.
Valdearg: And I'm saying, as far as the CBO report goes, the facts that it does put forward are deficit reduction, reducing costs, and expanding costs. Those ARE facts.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:30am
JDKJ: You were the one championing a qualified estimate as an indisputable fact. I'm merely pointing out that it's far from indisputable. So says the estimator.
JDKJ: You were the one championing a qualified estimate as an indisputable fact. I'm merely pointing out that it's far from indisputable. So says the estimator.
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Comments
Looks like Activision have decided who their Valentines card is going to next year...
That. Would. Rule.
Would it though?
Absolutely. Picture the kind of scenarios one might encounter in further expansions of WoW (or, perhaps, even a sequel?) with those guys on the Blizzard team. Or other kinds of fantasy games filled with factions out to utterly ruin each other with heavy magical artillery.
*now drooling*
I think you need to re-read what he said. That wont happen.
I disagree. The Housers have balls. That much is obvious. They won't be "used", at least not a way they disapprove of.
I could only hope :D
Sure beats EA... but will the main R* North contracts also be up around that time (ie: Leslie Benzies and Aaron Garbut)? I doubt the Housers would depart the GTA franchise without taking those individuals with them. Besides, I'm pretty sure Sam likes sitting on top of a whole branch of T2 that he'd built, known as Rockstar Games.
Gee, maybe Strauss Zelnick can explain to his shareholders (I'm not one, as I sold when the stock was at $27, because I knew what was coming), just how he managed to blow the EA deal and then lose the Housers, at which point the stock will fall to $12.
What a total MORON! Jack Thompson
PS: Told ya!
Umm, the Housers have yet to even comment on the possibility at all. And who let you out of your cage?
Sean Stodern, Sane and you're not.
What, so you sold your one share that you bought just to be part of the shareholders? Congratu-fucking-lations, nice to see you finally contributing to your family's income.
Schmuck.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
I know this may be asking too much for an ego of your size, but read the article first. The Houser brothers haven't responded yet in any way shape or form.
ie: You're jumping the gun. AGAIN. How many legal double-faults is that now?
David "DavCube" Gagnon, Literate, and You're Not.
Maybe you can explain to your family just how you managed to lose your license to practice law permanently when they were willing to suspend you for just 90 days...
Meh go ahead and cheer Jack. At least Take Two is doing better than you are :)
Go play a disbarment simulator and get real good at it...wait you have? Oh oops it wasn't a simulator, huh? Well...I hear Best Buy is hiring! :)
"(I'm not one, as I sold when the stock was at $27, because I knew what was coming)"
You sold stock because you knew the stock would go down beforehand... you knew ? Is that legal?
No, actually, you didn 't see it coming.
I think you sold it because you had it in your tiny brain that if you sold your share it would start some kidn of landslide.
It didn't and now you're all "Oh I knew this was going to happen" to cover your own ass.
Ha Jack probably bought when it was $27 or more. Probably only had one share too :P
Or, you know, there is the possibility that Mr. Zelnick didn't want to get bought out and succeeded in keeping EA at bay.
Ha, they WISH they could get me, but I have standards.
Here's two responses for you. Pick whichever one you feel is justified in the context.
a) fake, just as bad as people who pretend to be JT.
b) you make great games man, hurry up on the PC ports though.
What. the. hell.
In any cas,e Thompson just revealed that this is less about GTA. I'm guess Zelnick gave hi ma wedgie in high school or osemthing.
And Activision better be prepared to set aside money for a server dedicated ot Thompson's mail and a budget for new fax machines.
I know It seens like I have been trucking the EA fanboy bandwagon so far but no. Don't do it Houser's, If you go to Activision instead of EA, instead of having a probeble annual franchise contract from EA, you will have a DEFINATE annual contract with Activison. They take whatever sells 8 million copies and spin it out into a yearly franchise. Dont belive me? Look at Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty. I think the Houser's should opt for a EA partners program where they have full control over the game, the only thing is that EA publishes them. Other then that MTV would make a fine publisher but I don't think they do retail as they also rely on EA. Atari could work if the weather is right so is Ubisoft. But if I were the Houser's shopping for a 3rd party publisher I would go to EA for the partners program so I could stay independent while the second biggest publisher helps put my games on stores. Either that go first party.
Activision doesen't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Just look at the way they took over Sierra and suddenly dropped high profile games like Brutal Legend and Ghostbusters.
From what I understand Ghostbusters hasn't been dropped. It is still in development and still will be released. Just not the Fall 08 we were originally told.
Didn't Brutal Legend manage to find another publisher? I hope so.
Jack, four words. Ess. Tea. Eff. You.
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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
The only game that I heard that has found a publisher is F.E.A.R. But the others are still up in the air. Ghostbuster I just heard might either go to EA or Sony might just release it as a PS3 exclusive. Either would be ok with me. Brutal Legands I thought was going to go to MTV games, but word is that they decided not to go with it and that that might also go to EA. It still pisses me off to all hell that Activision dropped games that will most likely be gaurenteed gold. Bunch of idiots
Don't do it Houser's, If you go to Activision instead of EA, instead of having a probeble annual franchise contract from EA, you will have a DEFINATE annual contract with Activison. They take whatever sells 8 million copies and spin it out into a yearly franchise. Tiffany JewelleryDont belive me? go to EA or Sony might just release it as a PS3 exclusive. Either would be ok with me. Brutal Legands I thought was going to go to MTV gamesLook at Tiffany Jewellery Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty. I think the Houser's should opt for a EA partners program where they have full control over the game, the only thing is that EA publishes them. Other then that MTV would make a fine publisher but I don't think they do retail as they also rely on EA. Atari could work if the weather is right so is Ubisoft. But if I were the Houser's shopping for a 3rd party publisher I would go to EA for the partners program so I could stay independent while the second biggest publisher helps put my games on stores. Either that go first party.
I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?
Thanks good job;
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.