From: Case Man <caseman457@gmail.com>
Subject: Armacham must be stopped!
Date: December 11, 2008 11:47:48 AM EST
To: tips@anigamers.com

---

Reliable sources have informed me that anigamers.com and its readers may soon be targeted by a mysterious corporation. Please help me.

Armacham has corrupted the FEAR 2 game module but it seems they are determined to unveil LEVEL 3 of their testing whatever the consequences. Despite disastrous results in the initial testing they are currently looking for 13 candidates to test the module in a device called the FEAR LAB in New York City.

I fear for the safety of anyone who becomes involved in this test and I'm determined to stop it all costs.

I've hidden additional evidence at http://www.armacham.com/rf3437, which I've had to encode for my safety. Once you unlock the files you will see what I'm talking about.

I'll be in touch

R

It seems that publisher Activision has been hard at work "restructuring" and "streamlining" the operations down at Vivendi studios. While Blizzard remains untouchable, GameSpot has reported that the staff at Radical Entertainment (Prototype) and High Moon Studios (The Bourne Conspiracy) are undergoing "realignment," while members of Massive Entertainment (World in Conflict) and Swordfish Studios (50 Cent: Blood on the Sand) might soon find themselves without a home.

GameSpot also had the scoop on Activision’s dropping of several Vivendi franchises. "Streamlining" apparently means that we’ll be seeing a lot more Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon titles in the future, as well as Ice Age, Prototype (thank goodness), and one yet-to-be-announced game. Those that aren’t so lucky include Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend, and the upcoming Ghostbusters game.

As far as Brutal Legend is concerned, the team over at Double Fine has stated that their game "is fine." It has also been reported by Variety that the wayward title might soon be finding itself in a "unique" deal with an unnamed publisher in the near future. Variety also reported that Sony Pictures is trying to work out a 2009 release deal for the Ghostbusters title, though there is no word yet on who will publish it.

[via GameSpot, Kotaku, Variety]

Okay, so a Vivendi and an Activision walk into a bar. And guess who walks out? That's right, An Activision Blizzard.

You see, there's a legitimate reason for that terrible bar joke. Activision, huge publisher and owner of such franchises as Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero, has announced a merger with none other than Vivendi Games, the company that owns--drumroll please--Blizzard, creators of World of WarCraft and StarCraft. (Note: If Blizzard=WoW is news to you, please hit "x" on your browser right now) We could try to sound intelligent and tell you this was completely predictable and a normal business move, but instead we'll stick with our gut reaction, namely "OMGWTFBBQ!!?"

In a deal of nearly $19 billion, Vivendi Games merges itself (and Blizzard) with Activision in exchange for a 52% stake in the newly-named company, the inspired "Activision Blizzard." The new company now controls the rights to a huge portfolio of games, including most importantly World of WarCraft, StarCraft, and Guitar Hero, but also Tony Hawk, Spiderman, and (like you still care) Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. Activision Blizzard will seemingly attempt to challenge EA's spot as the #1 games publisher on all platforms, and the battle of the monopolies should be a sight to see.

Blizzard has assured that World of WarCraft (and Blizzard's entire operating procedure) will be unaffected by the merger, but that won't stop the complaints of lot sof addicted girlfriend-less nerds. While many fear the use of in-game advertising in Blizzard's games, what I'm most interested in is a possible move to consoles. If Blizzard is pressured correctly by their new publishers as Activison Blizzard, the developer could end up making console games alongside its famous PC lineup. The effects of this change could be quite interesting. Just as Bungie, previously developing Marathon games on PC and Mac, created the prodigious Halo franchise after their acquisition by Microsoft, Blizzard just might create something extraordinary on consoles in the near future.

All that's left to do is wait and see. As industry consolidation looms ever-closer, we have seen things like Bungie jumping the MS ship and EA eating their fill of BioWare/Pandemic. While the implications of this merger have great potential, the problem remains that there is now one less game publisher out there, and one more massive mega-publisher. Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard: Let the games begin.
[via Joystiq and Business Wire]