first

o_O wow, i didn't see this one coming personally

o_O wow

um.... What? Why?

Have to admit I sort of did. EA is eating all developer studios and game related things they can get their hands on. It was either this or wait until EA could put a bid in Vivendi could not refuse.

well.. good for ya. personally i thought Activision was dieing xP

Me neither, I do hope that the games aren't effected, even though Blizzard said they wouldn't.

This is a time to really step up their game with accumulated resources and team power to really make these games such as World of Warcraft, the best in the business.

Vivendi to Contribute Vivendi Games Valued at $8.1 Billion, Plus $1.7 Billion in Cash in Exchange for Approximately 52% Stake in Activision Blizzard at Closing;

Total Transaction Valued at $18.9 Billion

activision is not really dying, they still have a ton of stuff under them. I am surprised still by the merger, when you look at the revenue WoW is bringing in and if they had done similar projects with both starcraft and diablo universes, you would be looking at roughly what, a potential half a billion revenue a month...

this just goes to show you what "resources" mean...meaning the 1 percent of profit we put back into development while the other 99 percent goes into the pockets of investors. Blizzards revenue exceeds most companies because of WoW alone...they did not need this for "better resources"...its all a money game

Whatever happens, I hope that Activision will not be "in charge" of Blizzard. Look what they did to their own company! If anything, Blizzard should have bought out Activision instead of joining with them.

It could be worse, Blizzard could have been bought out by Electronic Arts.

Activision were far from dying... as were Blizzard. I think this was the only way they think they can compete with EA.

What I want to know is if this means that Activision Blizzard may start working on SC: Ghost? :o

personally i am glad vivendi games is looking out for one another instead of letting EA games buy out their vivendi game affiliates. this shows that vivendi games is strong together. something that i like to see every now and then team work solidarity

I don't buy solidarity for one second. I agree with FallenIbis that its a money game. I don't think Vivendi has shown Blizzard the love it has deserved, and I doubt this merger will improve things. In fact, given time and the inevitable progression of the bought, I fear for Blizzard and its trust of pure power hitters. Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo universes. Glad I would be if I were wrong, I just don't think the chances are high enough.

Activision is definitely far from "dying" by any stretch of the imagination. With staple quality games like Guitar Hero and Call of Duty chugging along, selling hundreds of thousands of copies a month, this is great timing for the merger with Vivendi Games.

I find it somewhat strange they would call it Activision Blizzard.. the damn name doesn't even make sense and I also think Blizzard is a better game studio. They really should come up with a name that doesn't suck. Putting Activision first also makes me think they will have more control of the new entity.

I can't really see what good or bad this would even bring to Blizzard. Smells like a Vivendi deal to me. Typical moneybags thinking... one good game studio + one great game studio = the new halo 3! .. shame game development is actually more of a creative process than anything else. Let's just hope the soup doesn't taste as bad as the name :)

oh joy....another merger....... -_-

Buy all the stocks and vote NO!!!! lol

It's Activision Blizzard since blizzard is a division and it seems like a minority in the whole merger. Hopefully this does not effect greatly the power and creativity of Blizzard and its games.

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