Bizarre explains Activision deal

By Games Industry.biz Published 28 September, 2007

Can finally refocus on games.

UK developer Bizarre Creations spoken out about its surprise acquisition by Activision from earlier in the week.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, commercial director Sarah Chudley explained that Bizarre needed to be bought so it could focus itself back on making very good games.

"Our success is linked to why we were looking for a long-term partner," said Chudley.

"All we want to concentrate on is making great games, rather than the pressures of running a pretty large development studio, searching out deals, [and] spending months and months on legal and due diligence procedures that are the norm for signing up a game nowadays.

"We want to be doing what we love, in the way that we enjoy, without having to think about being big business people. It was a long and hard path coming to this decision, but we were driven by our desire to continue being able to deliver great games, and to enjoy doing it," she said.

Chudley said that Activision was the right partner because it has a hands-off approach to its internal studios, which include Tony Hawk's developer Neversoft, Call of Duty team Infinity Ward and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance studio Ravensoft.

"They are an extremely successful publisher who has a big passion for games, and who have great respect for all of our teams," offered Chudley.

"They have a hands-off approach to game development, meaning we're left to do what we're good at, and can ask for support from their strong development network should we need it. One of the most important reasons from our point of view is that Activision has an independent studio model, meaning that we can continue to be Bizarre," she said.

Although it's too early to be talking about future titles, Activision has said that Bizarre will be creating two new IPs due to arrive in 2009, as it seeks to establish a foothold in the lucrative racing market.

But Bizarre has more immediate plans such as next month's release of Project Gotham Racing 4, the Xbox 360 exclusive racer for long-time business partner Microsoft.

"PGR has been a big part of our development life, so of course we're very fond of it," added Chudley.

"We've got some great friends at Microsoft, and it's been a great partnership. But after four iterations, it's time to let someone else bring something new to the franchise. It's sad to move on, but great to tackle something new."

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Comments (16) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • souljacker2000 #1 4 years ago

    Im sure to buy PGR4 then, if anothers made, it will be sure to be shite... if it ever is

  • Willum #2 4 years ago

    I wonder if they will pick up the Formula One licence that Sony dropped? They developed the classic games Formula 1 and Formula 1 '97 on PSX, it would be quite a lucrative deal... hopfully Activision see that.

  • Dan_LXIX #3 4 years ago

    "meaning that we can continue to be Bizarre"

    Made me smile :)

    /gets coat

  • dog2_99 #4 4 years ago

    by the sounds of reviews PGR4 will be a good place to leave the game...ie on a high!

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #5 4 years ago

    They could just go back to MSR or another 3 inital game ending in R, but whatever it is im glad its multiplatform, they make great racers and more people should get to play them
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/07 @ 16:24

  • DjFlex52 #6 4 years ago

    I think Sega has the rights to MSR and thats why Bizarre created PGR :)

  • Brogan #7 4 years ago

    think they have worked on PRG and MSR before that long enough. hope their future project are just as top as those games have been

  • Frumper #8 4 years ago

    "All we want to concentrate on is making great games, rather than the pressures of running a pretty large development studio, searching out deals, [and] spending months and months on legal and due diligence procedures that are the norm for signing up a game nowadays."

    I don't quite believe/understand their reasoning. How much of the above have they actually had to in the past 6 years making PGR, Geometry wars and Boom Boom rocket? And how much will they need to do to get new IP up and running? Or are they saying Activision are going to handle all of that for them?
    Edited by 2 at 28/09/07 @ 17:48

  • GamesConnoisseur #9 4 years ago

    the end of the era that crossed Dreamcast, Xbox and X360 after PGR4. I cannot see they will continue the same kudo based MSR/PGR style. The five iterations (MSR, PGR, PGR2, PGR3 and PGR4) have certainly been one of the favourite racing series of mine. I loved the skid marks on MSR and the slides for me were better than Ridge Racer series which relied on the sliding style.

    Yes good to let go and do something new, will look forward to whatever Bizarre produce and for whatever platform.

  • Calgon #10 4 years ago

    Talking to GamerMayown today, Bizarre were asked which platforms you can look forward to seeing their new games appearing on. Sarah Chudley replied: "Well speaking to the team earlier last week, we came to the decision to support anything but the PS3. We would have liked to support all platforms ideally but market research tells us the common PS3 gamer says of our games: "overrated crap, wouldnt play them even if they were on on the PS3, not worth £40."

    "Cell is a disappointment and we beleive the console isn't as powerfull as what we are used to so getting those versions up to par will just be too time consuming and not worth it given the small install base which thinks our games are crap." She concluded.

    So yeah PS3 fanboys shouldn't get their filthy hands on any Bizarre games.
    Edited by 3 at 28/09/07 @ 18:48

  • kendoguk #11 4 years ago

    They made pretty good games before this and MS owns the rights to PGR so i can see that not being made anymore sadly, now we will get crap like The Club

  • Ghettomurph #12 4 years ago

    Sounds like Activison waved a massive cheque under the noses of the money men at Bizarre to me.

    Bye, bye decent games, hello multiplatform shite. Every game they mentioned in that news article was multiplatform so you can probably kiss goodbye games being tailored to a specific system like Bizarre did with MSR and the PGR games.

    Cant wait to play The Club.........honest.

  • Xerx3s #13 4 years ago

    Meh. :/

  • Freek #14 4 years ago

    Mutliplatform games have been good for a while one, it's pretty much the standard way of releasing games. Just look at Bioshock, Assassins Creed, Stranglehold and Half Life Orange box.
    It doesn't really matter that much anymore.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/07 @ 12:25

  • The-Bodybuilder #15 4 years ago

    TRAITORS.

  • kangarootoo #16 4 years ago

    "TRAITORS"

    I hope that was sarcasm.