Activision wants to be loved; they really do. New Activision Publishing boss Eric Hirshberg, who crafted the wonderfully entertaining Kevin Butler ads for Sony, will likely lead the charge in attempting to change the company's perception among gamers and fellow developers in the industry.
They've got a ways to go, however. The Infinity Ward mess and comments from CEO Bobby Kotick about taking the fun out of making games really doesn't help matters. And just yesterday, Double Fine's Tim Schafer called Kotick a "total prick" and noted that Kotick doesn't like games. Activision has now responded to these comments and is attempting to set the record straight.
Maryanne Lataif, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Activision Blizzard, commented to IndustryGamers, "Tim Schafer’s comment that Bobby Kotick 'makes a big deal about not liking games' just isn’t true. Bobby has always been passionate about games, and loves the video game industry. But as CEO of a company that makes games enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, the demands on his time now make it difficult to play games as often as he’d like to or as much as he once did."
And she added, "As Schafer himself notes, he has never actually met Bobby Kotick."
7 Comments
July 15, 2010
Hi there, I understand fully that he is passionate about gaming.
July 15, 2010
He'd look less the prick if he shaved his head, maybe. What's with the hair in that stock PR photo?
Or maybe wear shades indoors like the MSFT Kinect douche-bag.
Douche >> Prick, right?
July 15, 2010
Activision might gain a little respect back if they kicked Kodick to the curb.
July 15, 2010
Actually, I think BK would make an excellent replacement for Heath Ledger in the next Dark Knight. He's got the Joker look down cold.
July 15, 2010
Kotick once claimed that he himself didn't even play his own companies games because of a lack of time. So I think that Schafer was trying to relay that message as well, but it came out as "he doesn't like games/gaming".
July 16, 2010
I'm sorry. Just read a few interviews that Kotick has done. His comments are inane.
He is not passionate about games.
He said that he wants to take the fun out of making video games. 'Nuff said, but here's one more.
He said he wants to make CoD, an FPS with little progression other than perks, a subscription. He's clueless, a buffoon, and I hope he gets canned.
Activision's shareholders should be concerned with the consequences of some of the revenue-generating "innovations" that he is implementing.
July 17, 2010
Kotick has no soul