Hey guys! I’m here at DICE 2010 and Bobby Kotick’s session is about to start. The Activision exec is one of the most polarizing figures in gaming. Shareholders love him and gamers hate him. I’ll be commenting on Kotick’s talk in the comments section on my BlackBerry.
suck it bobby!
On ATVI being renamed Mediagenic for a time: "Who the fuck would rename a company Mediagenic from Activision"
Kotick was asked, " Why do you want to buy Mediagenic?"
He replied, "I don't want to buy Mediagenic. I want to buy Activision."
Says Kaboom for Atari 2600 was one of the first games he enjoyed. Loved Pitfall and River Raid.
Kotick was an art history major. I didn't know that.
Bobby Kotick has the same hair as Ronald McDonald. It's awesome to see live.
Bobby Kotick just jumped off the stage, stole my crutch, and ran out of the room. It'll be tough getting down the stairs.
Okay, none of that was true.
Bobby Kotick says he addicted to eating and has an addictive personality. He doesn't play games much because he'd easily be addicted.
Says he's passionate about the people, products, and technology.
art history huh? I guess his evil is inherent and not book learned. Interesting.
Says not being an "engaged" gamer cost him and his shareholders opportunities.
He viewed Harmonix as a "failed" developer of music games. Always wanted to hand GH5 to Neversoft. Said both companies missed an opportunity because it never occurred to him to visit Harmonix–viewed it as buying a property, not talent.
Could have bought Blizzard for 7 million. Thought WoW subscriptions were silly and wouldn't sell. Could have bought later for 700 million. Merged when Blizzard was worth 7 billion. Ha.
Positioning ATVI to creatives as passionate, rational, drama free, and collaborative. Says it's very team oriented. Points to most of its first-party studios still being run by their founders.
Says committment to excellence can sometimes make you look like a dick.
Honestly, Kotick doesn't seem like a dick on stage. He doesn't seem like someone I'd enjoy conversing with, but he…reminds me a bit of a cross between George Costanza and Woody Allen.
Thought WoW subscriptions wouldn't sell, now want to make CoD pay to play…..
I see where this is going….
Indicator that his future games will be sub.
When is piano hero coming out?
@Smartguy, they're actually talking about scaling back on the music games this year. Methinks they've started to realize that they've over-saturated the market on that one.
I'm sure they are, but he makes them turn in to sequel whores who pump out the same game
Kotick announces Activision indie games contest. Up to 500,000 bucks in prize money. Wants to spur indie development with a competition.
Session over. I was hoping he'd be a brash a-hole, but Kotick was likeable enough.
There is a difference between being a dick and committing to excellence. He doesn't know how to be excellent.
I think it's his glib comments that the gaming press are always quoting that make him seem like a dick. Frankly, as someone who's very sarcastic in nature, I know that that can sometimes come across as dickish even when it's not intentional.
Amendum to post #19
"…so he can buy them."
@21
my thoughts as well.
@Ray
I bet you are a bit sinister now.
Part of me wishes that part of his presentation would have been him beating Tony Hawk over the head with the board controller and screaming over and over again, "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" That would have been great.
He may be likable but I still hope he dies in a fiery plane crash….was that too harsh?
@jedirevan
considering some guy did just that in austin today against some innocent people…yeah.
Now I feel like a dick…