Poll: Activision destroying Blizzard?

[Cody211282]

It started out with me thinking about new PC games that are coming out and I decided to look up StarCraft 2. Now I have been on the fence for this game for a long time, at first when I heard it was going to be split up into 3 different games I felt that Activision had started to destroy the Blizzard I had grown up with, but after a while I started hearing good things about the game so i thought I might be able to put up with it and with my uncle talking about it like crazy when he was here this weekend I had finally just said screw it, the missions will be long so it will be fine.

That was until I got a look at the price and saw it was $60, and that was the main reason I didn't get MW2. It got me thinking that this was probably because of the merger with Activision or more to the point a merger with Activision's CEO AKA "the man who wants to take the fun out of games". So I was wondering what you guys and gals thought about all of this is Activision destroying what Blizzard used to be, or am I just some crazy cheap guy who is reading to much into a $10 mark up?

 

[Iwata]

Activision and Bobby Kotick destroy everything they touch. It's the digital Kiss of Death. So far, I don't see any changes in WoW, but then again, I'm not a player.

It's only a matter of time, though.

 

[Cody211282]

Activision and Bobby Kotick destroy everything they touch. It's the digital Kiss of Death. So far, I don't see any changes in WoW, but then again, I'm not a player.

It's only a matter of time, though.

Not playing WoW I wouldn't know if they had done anything to it yet, and this being the first new game they have coming out since the merger it should be interesting to see what happens. Sad thing is I was all for getting the game before I heard about the $60 price tag and now I don't want to touch it.

 

[inglioti]

i agree, i think for a game that is essentially the national past time of south korea and has a cult following rivalling that of christianity, big wigs hardly need to squeeze every dime out of fans, especially since they've already annoyed them enough by removing LAN support.

what's more, i've found recently that if companies are nice to their fans, providing, for example, value for money DLC, avenues for suggestions and criticisms, etc. then the fans love them for it. a lot of people have respect for gearbox for the value for money and relatively lengthy DLC they released for borderlands, and i think people have lost respect for MW2 after the horrible stimulus packaged rip off.

OT: it sucks. not going to change anything though - look at the MW2 boycott.

 

[sephiroth1991]

I know what you mean look how much COD6 is on Steam, it was 40 pounds what's up with that, most PC games are 30 pounds.

 

[CovertCell]

I haven't really noticed anything. I got WOTLK for £26 on day of release and thought that was a reasonable price, I joined WoW quite late so I'm not sure what Burning Crusade was upon release. Going to amazon uk SC2 is £30, £10 cheaper than my console games and seems to be the going rate for new PC titles over here.

 

[itari]

Well, the dark influence indeed seems to be spreading into wringing out more money sure. But at least activision doesn't seem to be pushing their noses into the actual game development part of Blizzard. And if Blizzard continues to make awesome titles, I don't think they would dare to.

 

[Mordwyl]

If they're the reason we don't have Warcraft 4, then yes.

 

[Tony2077]

i don't care about price as long as the game is good

 

[Omegatronacles]

Given the fact that even one third of Starcraft 2 offers more content than nearly any other RTS available. That alone would be worth the money.

Also, while your complaints about $60 dollar games may seem valid to you, keep in mind just how much we are being screwed here in Australia.

At the time of this writing, the exchange rate is approximately 92 Aus cents to a US dollar.

By that token, a $60 new release game should work out to be roughly $65. I got a price from my local EBGames cretin yesterday, and for the standard edition of the game it is $98. Even taking into account shipping charges, we're being screwed.

I would sing songs and do cartwheels if AAA games were released for $60 here.

[sub]Disclaimer - May not actually be physically capable of singing in tune or performing cartwheels at all.[/sub]

 

[Leviathan_]

I dislike both dev's so I don't really care/know

EDIT: wait a minutes... $60? so that's like ?42?

That's not expensive, most games around here(Belgium) cost about ?50 ($68)

 

[Danzaivar]

I think when Activision bought up Blizzard they realised that Blizzard is essentially a golden-goose, since EVERYTHING they make turns out to be a blockbuster. Hence them not messing with it.

 

[GothmogII]

Actually, it's only ?38.99/£29.88 on play.com (and free delivery to boot), same on Amazon.co.uk, comes out at about Eur to $53/UK Pounds to $46, so, not so much of a price difference going by the currency converter, still, it's less that $60.

Though it's a moot point since those really only apply to the EU and UK. Ah well.

 

[Cody211282]

Well, the dark influence indeed seems to be spreading into wringing out more money sure. But at least activision doesn't seem to be pushing their noses into the actual game development part of Blizzard. And if Blizzard continues to make awesome titles, I don't think they would dare to.

No they wont but they will milk the gamer for everything it's worth

If they're the reason we don't have Warcraft 4, then yes.

Sadly we don't have Warcraft 4 because Blizzard thinks it would take away from WoW, I think they want that too be the only thing that carry's Warcraft on.

i don't care about price as long as the game is good

Oh I'm damn sure it's going to be good but still $60 plus 2 expansions if you want to finish the game(I'm going to guess at $40-$50 each) is way more then I want to pay for entertainment.[

Given the fact that even one third of Starcraft 2 offers more content than nearly any other RTS available. That alone would be worth the money.

Also, while your complaints about $60 dollar games may seem valid to you, keep in mind just how much we are being screwed here in Australia.

At the time of this writing, the exchange rate is approximately 92 Aus cents to a US dollar.

By that token, a $60 new release game should work out to be roughly $65. I got a price from my local EBGames cretin yesterday, and for the standard edition of the game it is $98. Even taking into account shipping charges, we're being screwed.

I would sing songs and do cartwheels if AAA games were released for $60 here.

[sub]Disclaimer - May not actually be physically capable of singing in tune or performing cartwheels at all.[/sub]

It will defently be good but then again so are Biowear games, they usualy have more in them then almost any other RPGs and they are still only $50.

And I am no completely depressed about the gaming situation down under, you guys are screwed with crappy censorship laws and firkin expensive games? Damn I'm glad I don't live there and I feel very sorry for you.

 

[ffs-dontcare]

Games here in NZ cost at least $90, often up to $110, so you're lucky to get $60. I reckon SC2 is well worth that price.

I've personally yet to see if Activision starts nosing into Blizzard's work, but bloody hell, if they do so, don't think we won't notice.

 

[Cody211282]

Actually, it's only ?38.99/£29.88 on play.com (and free delivery to boot), same on Amazon.co.uk, comes out at about Eur to $53/UK Pounds to $46, so, not so much of a price difference going by the currency converter, still, it's less that $60.

Though it's a moot point since those really only apply to the EU and UK. Ah well.

Just checked and its $60 over here.

http://www.amazon.com/Starcraft-II-Wings-Liberty-Pc/dp/B000ZKA0J6

But that's awesome for you guys over there any chance a guy from the states could get that price?

 

[Liberaliter]

Well Blizzard has been going downhill, I guess Activision pushed them over the edge.

 

[Aeshi]

If Activision think they can push Blizzard around they have another thing coming.

 

[Cody211282]

If Activision think they can push Blizzard around they have another thing coming.

Sad thing is I'm sure they can get away with it, 90% of people who got the first starcraft will probably get the new one and the expansions, and as long as they get money they don't care