Activision Inc., currently #2 video game publisher in the US, mixes old and new in attempt to continually broaden its portfolio.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, Activision announced they have won world-wide rights to the beloved James Bond franchise, previously held by rival EA. Shortly after that, Activision announced they are set to acquire RedOctane Inc., maker of the highly popular Guitar Hero franchise.
Bond, James Bond
According to the agreement Activision has “non-exclusive” rights until September 2007, at which time they take over exclusive rights until 2014. These rights cover all platforms including PC games, hand-held games, next-generation and all current consoles.
Since the release of Goldeneye by Rare (1997) – widely considered one of the all-time best FPS and multi-player games – the “James Bond” franchise has been lukewarm at best. While EA had attempted to capture the magic of Goldeneye with noteworthy releases like Night Fire and Everything or Nothing, it could not grasp the golden ring.
Can Activision bring back or even raise the standard of James Bond games?
“Activision's track record of developing engaging and sophisticated games across all platforms makes it the ideal partner to introduce the Bond videogame experience to a new generation of game players, as well as to provide new thrills and excitement for the legions of people who are already fans of the Bond films and games,” says David Pope, CEO of EON Productions Ltd., maker of the James Bond films
Activision is currently ranked #1 in the Xbox 360 arena with Call of Duty 2. Although highly acclaimed, there have been some disappointments with the game’s online multiplayer component.
Could a successful FPS with online multiplayer capabilities be the next step for the Bond franchise? Neither EA nor Activision has announced a future game based on the next installment of 007 films, Casino Royale, due out in November.
If Activision can fine tune online multiplayer, create great FPS game play, and incorporate an interesting story line, they just may be able to dethrone Golden Eye. These attributes along with Activision’s ability to create games for all platforms could breathe new life into the secret agent.
Guitar Hero
RedOctane, publisher of the musical game Guitar Hero, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision by the end of the current fiscal quarter. RedOctane, Inc. publishes, develops and distributes entertainment software, hardware, and accessories.
Its current hit, Guitar Hero, is the fifth most popular teen-rated video game ever released on the PS2 console. The game comes with a guitar-shaped controller that allows players to simulate playing more than 30 popular songs. It gives new meaning to the air guitar. The game offers six venues and eight characters to choose from, different skill levels and multiplayer.
The move rockets Activision into a leadership position in the music-based gaming realm, a realm many believe will be one of the fastest growing in the coming years. Activision also feels this acquisition underscores its strategy to broaden its portfolio by entering new genres.
Director and Strategic Advisor for Activision, Ron Doornink says Guitar Hero integrates music and gaming in a unique and highly engaging way that delivers a compelling game experience for both the current- and next-generation consoles.
“The success we are seeing today is a strong indicator that Guitar Hero and the many potential extensions, new platform exploitations and international versions appear to be somewhat transition proof, as consumers are responding to this product on current-generation platforms in a manner that defies traditional late-cycle behavior,” says Doornick.
“We think the online capabilities of the next-generation platforms offer new and well differentiated opportunities to create additional revenues from downloadable music, which today represents one of the most popular downloadable content categories.”
Other Press Releases by Activision in May
More info here
Bond, James Bond
According to the agreement Activision has “non-exclusive” rights until September 2007, at which time they take over exclusive rights until 2014. These rights cover all platforms including PC games, hand-held games, next-generation and all current consoles.
Since the release of Goldeneye by Rare (1997) – widely considered one of the all-time best FPS and multi-player games – the “James Bond” franchise has been lukewarm at best. While EA had attempted to capture the magic of Goldeneye with noteworthy releases like Night Fire and Everything or Nothing, it could not grasp the golden ring.
Can Activision bring back or even raise the standard of James Bond games?
“Activision's track record of developing engaging and sophisticated games across all platforms makes it the ideal partner to introduce the Bond videogame experience to a new generation of game players, as well as to provide new thrills and excitement for the legions of people who are already fans of the Bond films and games,” says David Pope, CEO of EON Productions Ltd., maker of the James Bond films
Activision is currently ranked #1 in the Xbox 360 arena with Call of Duty 2. Although highly acclaimed, there have been some disappointments with the game’s online multiplayer component.
Could a successful FPS with online multiplayer capabilities be the next step for the Bond franchise? Neither EA nor Activision has announced a future game based on the next installment of 007 films, Casino Royale, due out in November.
If Activision can fine tune online multiplayer, create great FPS game play, and incorporate an interesting story line, they just may be able to dethrone Golden Eye. These attributes along with Activision’s ability to create games for all platforms could breathe new life into the secret agent.
Guitar Hero
RedOctane, publisher of the musical game Guitar Hero, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision by the end of the current fiscal quarter. RedOctane, Inc. publishes, develops and distributes entertainment software, hardware, and accessories.
Its current hit, Guitar Hero, is the fifth most popular teen-rated video game ever released on the PS2 console. The game comes with a guitar-shaped controller that allows players to simulate playing more than 30 popular songs. It gives new meaning to the air guitar. The game offers six venues and eight characters to choose from, different skill levels and multiplayer.
The move rockets Activision into a leadership position in the music-based gaming realm, a realm many believe will be one of the fastest growing in the coming years. Activision also feels this acquisition underscores its strategy to broaden its portfolio by entering new genres.
Director and Strategic Advisor for Activision, Ron Doornink says Guitar Hero integrates music and gaming in a unique and highly engaging way that delivers a compelling game experience for both the current- and next-generation consoles.
“The success we are seeing today is a strong indicator that Guitar Hero and the many potential extensions, new platform exploitations and international versions appear to be somewhat transition proof, as consumers are responding to this product on current-generation platforms in a manner that defies traditional late-cycle behavior,” says Doornick.
“We think the online capabilities of the next-generation platforms offer new and well differentiated opportunities to create additional revenues from downloadable music, which today represents one of the most popular downloadable content categories.”
Other Press Releases by Activision in May
- Activision to open studio on DreamWorks Animation Campus
- Ten next-gen titles announced
- The World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions Game due out this fall
More info here
