Ghostbusters drops off release schedule News
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Ellie Gibson
Activision Blizzard has issued a new release schedule with several key titles conspicuously absent.
The schedule does confirm the forthcoming release of Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant, The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and an Ice Age sequel. There are also references to Prototype and an unannounced title.
All these games were to be published by Sierra before the company was taken over by Activision as part of the recent merger.
Sierra (the artist previously known as Vivendi, by the way) was also set to published Ghostbusters, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Brutal Legend - but there's no mention of these on the release schedule. Nor is there any sign of Wet or Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust.
That doesn't mean the games won't ever be released; Activision Blizzard may have decided to sell the rights to other publishers. However, there's no word as yet.
The company has confirmed it will "realign" development staff at High Moon Studios and Radical Entertainment. Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios may be sold or closed.
Vivendi Games Mobile and Sierra Online have been declared "non-strategic business units", which doesn't suggest their future looks rosy.
"We are focused on improving efficiency across the combined organisation and are concentrating on businesses where we have leadership positions that are aligned with Activision Publishing's long-term corporate objectives," said Activision boss Mike Griffith. "We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy. We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."
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Comments: 1-27 of 27 in total
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DanWhitehead
29/07/08 @ 08:09
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I'm more worried about the fate of Brutal Legend. Nostalgia for Venkman and crew aside, the world doesn't really need another 3rd person action game film license. It does, however, need developers like Double Fine. After Psychonauts got shafted on release, I was really hoping this could be their breakout hit.
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most recently on 29/07/08 @ 09:10
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seasidebaz
29/07/08 @ 08:31
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Loving the Shopto ad for Ghostbusters on 360 on the right hand side there ;)
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monkey_man
29/07/08 @ 08:37
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No wonder the UK has a shortage of development staff, when every company seems to close or shift to the other side of the country at the drop of a hat. It's an unstable industry where 6 - 12 month delays are commonplace - which is astonishingly bad for both the companies and consumer confidence - and a single bad title can break a developer.
If Sierra and Activision need to "realign" their resources, then they're doing something seriously wrong - how long have they been in the industry? I have fond memories of the Sierra logo appearing just before the Lambda in Half-Life. Sorry if I sound angry, haven't played CoD4 in days. |
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i think its called catering to sales figures and company wallets rather than that. Unfortuantely its an increasingly corporate world out there in the games industry and proven licenses and recent movie tie ins are always a surefire way to fill the coffers not matter how shit the games are.
i say blame the stupid people who buy shit games just cos they are branded with somthing they recognise cos they cant be arsed to do any research. |
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Popa_Ramjet
29/07/08 @ 09:44
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No mention of Riddick....? or World in Conflict 360/PS3.....
Really sad for Swordfish and Massive...thats a whole load of people to 'let go'... |
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Inquisitor
[mod]
29/07/08 @ 10:46
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At least EA are taking some risks. Come on ActiBlizz, you can do better than this. Movie licenses, bland sequels and world of warcraft...how dull.
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Mr_Majestik
29/07/08 @ 10:56
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According to IGN the next Riddick and World in conflict have been binned as well.
Still Crash Bandicot and Spyro are safe! |
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Greychapter
29/07/08 @ 11:15
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To be fair, if I was running a big company and was charged with making a profit I know I would be looking at streamlining things to ensure this happens. As sad as I am to see Ghostbusters moved off the release schedule I am not shocked that it happened, or the other titles for that matter.
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Ghostbusters has to be released it just has to....It's been written by Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis and all ghostbuster actors have provided voices - which wouldn't have been cheap.
I'll be so dissapointed if this game is cancelled - I loved the films and the game was sure to be just as good since the same people are writing it. :( |
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Brutal Legend is the one I'll miss most. Mind you, I'm hoping they'll be able to find another publisher.
"We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy." Apparently, that long-term product strategy is based around producing (IMHO) shite games from mediocre franchises and movie tie-ins (and Prototype). Awesomeness. |
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More than likely they'll raise some extra revenue by selling the rights to a different publisher for an undisclosed sum.
I'm betting on all these games being released, and the company just trying to make more money out of a deal at a lucritive stage of development - practically finished products that at least one of which will sell by the million. I get the feeling the passion and love for the industry is slowly but surely being drained away by suits looking to get richer and richer in the current situation with major worldwide economies. What happy times we live in. |
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I don't know why people are so hyped over Ghostbusters, other than it being based on Ghostbusters. Haven't we learned from the shitloads of crappy licensed games to at least be a bit cautious. Sure the graphics are quite good, but I think the gameplay looks mediore & bland in the footage I've seen so far, I really can't tell what makes it so special. And it's not like Terminal Reality has made such great games in the past. I guess Blizzard noticed...
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most recently on 29/07/08 @ 22:46
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Comments: 1-27 of 27 in total
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