Activision's biggest pre-merger franchises are all (GASP!) getting sequel treatment. In a fact sheet concerning the Activision Blizzard deal (PDF file), the publisher lists Guitar Hero 4, Call of Duty 5, a new Tony Hawk title (which would be its 11th iteration), a James Bond game and a racing title with the recently-acquired Bizarre Creations, as well as licensed titles with Dreamworks and Marvel.
None of these sequels come as a surprise, as they are all critical and commercial successes, but this is the first official confirmation of their existence. According to Activision Blizzard's earlier conference call, 50% of Activision's revenues are derived from franchises it owns outright, including Guitar Hero and Call of Duty. It should be noted that as well that all three franchises also have competition from rival Electronic Arts in the form of Rock Band, Medal of Honor and Skate. No word on project release dates for any of the sequels.
Read - Fact sheet [Warning: PDF file]
Reader Comments (95)
Posted: Jan 25th 2008 12:08PM (Unverified) said
i think guitar hero 4 is gonna be practicaly the same as guitar hero 3
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Posted: Jan 26th 2008 5:53PM (Unverified) said
bloody Tony Hawks games SUCK ther is too many skate kills them all over and cant wait for the new guitar hero number III was quite good but half the songs were oldies hope number IIII has some good heavy metal shit on em
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Posted: Jan 28th 2008 9:03AM (Unverified) said
COD5 : Over 80's battle for a Bannana
Guitar Hero IV : Still no AC\DC
Tony Hawks 11 : Now With Zimmer frames
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Guitar Hero IV : Still no AC\DC
Tony Hawks 11 : Now With Zimmer frames
Posted: Jan 31st 2008 9:34PM (Unverified) said
I hope they make hour of victory 2 or feeding freezy 3 or Two Worlds 2
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 7:49PM (Unverified) said
Rock band is trash compared to Guitar Hero 3 if you're wanting to play the Guitar. I'm a pro at Guitar Hero 3 and I tried Rock Band and thought, the songs on this game aren't nearly as challenging as on Guitar Hero 3 for the most part. Rock Band is a good game though, I like playing it with my friends. You have singing, drums, and the two guitarists, which makes it fun to do multi-player with. Drums and singing are also fun on solo, but as far as the guitar goes, you may as well stick with GH3.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 3:02PM Hirsbrunner said
I can just see it....
Tony Hawk 60: Wheelchair Edition
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Tony Hawk 60: Wheelchair Edition
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 4:05PM modifiedbears said
Tony Hawk has changed and evolved with each iteration more so than games like Zelda have. I know this statement won't be popular, but we all know it's true.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 4:15PM (Unverified) said
has there been more than 1 tony hawk game a year or can it possibly be 10+ years since the first tony hawk?! if so, i feel suddenly very old
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 4:29PM (Unverified) said
Well actually the first one came out in 1999 so it's pretty close to 10 years.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 1:59PM spin cycle said
Rock Band is not an EA property, they just distribute it.
Activision better work their asses off on GH4, because GH3 just feels like crap compared to GH2 or Rock Band. Until proven otherwise, Activision has lost my rhythm game business.
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Activision better work their asses off on GH4, because GH3 just feels like crap compared to GH2 or Rock Band. Until proven otherwise, Activision has lost my rhythm game business.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:01PM micheal82 said
I hope that they keep the modern war theme because after COD4 I can't go back to WWII. D-day has happened too many times in WWII games the Germans should have caught on by now and take them out before the D-Day invasion.
Tony hawk gmes has became Madden a minor update and few gameplay tweaks.
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Tony hawk gmes has became Madden a minor update and few gameplay tweaks.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:34PM The Artist Formerly known as Jes said
call of duty 5 needs more nukes
(omg spoiler)
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(omg spoiler)
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 3:28PM (Unverified) said
COD5: Sticks and Stones. Hunt for food, club a mate, discover fire.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 6:45PM (Unverified) said
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 7:22PM GenBanks said
I disagree, imo the fact that the WW2 FPS genre seems stale is due to lack of innovation. They found a formula with Medal of Honor and Call of Duty which has been milked repeatedly. I would welcome a WW2 game in a fresh setting (e.g. far east/japan).
Alternatively, a WW1 CoD game could potential be AMAZING. CoD is great at the epic battle scenes, so some massive charges across no-man's-land, capturing trenches, being forced to withdraw, etc. could create some awesome ebb-and-flow gameplay.
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Alternatively, a WW1 CoD game could potential be AMAZING. CoD is great at the epic battle scenes, so some massive charges across no-man's-land, capturing trenches, being forced to withdraw, etc. could create some awesome ebb-and-flow gameplay.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 7:43PM Mr Khan said
I would think World War I (the Western Front, at least) would be boring, because while World War II was about fast-moving campaigns across many different territories, the Western Front was about fighting over the same 100 meters of ground for years on end, and the terrain was all the same anyway
Now a Vietnam War game could be fun. Potentially offensive (but offensiveness comes with war), but fun, bring the full stealth genre into war games
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Now a Vietnam War game could be fun. Potentially offensive (but offensiveness comes with war), but fun, bring the full stealth genre into war games
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 8:16PM micheal82 said
The problem with realistic war games is that there hasn't been a good war since WWII. Korea and Veitnam wasn't all that popular on the world or on the home front. Both Iraq wars sucked. WWI was all about trench warfare so that won't work in a game. Muskets and early rifles also don't make for an exciting shooter game so the Civil War and the American Revolution won't work and the game won't be popular in the UK just as a Civil War game in the south.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:05PM leobebes said
You better hope Activision keeps Infinity Ward for 5 because Call of Duty 3 was utter crap. I really like the infinity ward engine for consoles. It just feels so smooth when applied to their shooters. They should look into distributing like Epic does with the Unreal Engine.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 3:45PM SheppyReturns said
Maybe, but then they'd have the problem with some asshat who discovers the API doesn't sport a "make game work" command and then they'd get sued too.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 7:42PM (Unverified) said
Look, Call of Duty 3 sucks for a reason. Treyarch is the same company that made Spiderman 3 (the game). Enough said.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:08PM CarpeD1em500 said
Maybe its just me, but it is rather surprising to me that GH4 is confirmed already.
I know its made a lot of money but with the whole Rock Band thing, I'm curious to see if the GH format is altered any?
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I know its made a lot of money but with the whole Rock Band thing, I'm curious to see if the GH format is altered any?
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:16PM Demon G Sides said
I've found more Rock Band bundles than I have Guitar Hero III, FWIW.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:23PM CarpeD1em500 said
I've had the same experience. However, once Rock Band allows easier access to its product (i.e., they have a 100 dollar Guitar/Game combo, or a 100 dollar Drum/Game combo), I think you'll see a shift away from this.
The reality is that for 60 dollars, you can buy GH 3 and get one complete solo guitar career, as well as a co-op career. For 60 dollars, you can also buy Rock Band, get a complete solo guitar career, a complete drum career, a complete vocal career, and any "band" career combo you want (featuring those instruments, as well as Bass guitar).
You do the math. Sure, some people might not like the interface, some people might think its slightly easier, etc. etc. I see those points, but to the average consumer, when you tell them GH3 gives you 2 things for 60 dollars, vs. RB giving you like 8 (or more) ways to play (including the 2 ways GH offers), what are they gonna choose? Esp. when the same prices and bundles are offered?
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The reality is that for 60 dollars, you can buy GH 3 and get one complete solo guitar career, as well as a co-op career. For 60 dollars, you can also buy Rock Band, get a complete solo guitar career, a complete drum career, a complete vocal career, and any "band" career combo you want (featuring those instruments, as well as Bass guitar).
You do the math. Sure, some people might not like the interface, some people might think its slightly easier, etc. etc. I see those points, but to the average consumer, when you tell them GH3 gives you 2 things for 60 dollars, vs. RB giving you like 8 (or more) ways to play (including the 2 ways GH offers), what are they gonna choose? Esp. when the same prices and bundles are offered?
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:23PM (Unverified) said
Call of duty 5: Future
Call of duty 5: Animal Kingdom
Call of duty 5: Ghetto lands
:D
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Call of duty 5: Animal Kingdom
Call of duty 5: Ghetto lands
:D
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:09PM FrankTheCrank said
Milk those teets baby...milk'em good. Because a known franchise is money in the bank.
Sometimes I wish 1983 happened all over again.
E.T. phone home!
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Sometimes I wish 1983 happened all over again.
E.T. phone home!
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:29PM Vegeta has a ps3 said
So what you're telling me is that you want thousands of talented developers losing their jobs, industry crowded with shitty ass games, and declining interest in gaming in general?
That better be sarcasm.
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That better be sarcasm.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:21PM (Unverified) said
I can't wait for Tony Hawk 12. Seriously though, I haven't bothered to play a Tony Hawk game since #5 (Underground).
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:24PM (Unverified) said
An this is the reason why i stopped playing videogames and hung up my controller.
Videogames are no longer exciting, their just predictable. Developers refuse to grow up and try/explore new things. (They all make the same excuse, but gamers don't help either, because they don't buy it and support it)
It's all about the money.
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Videogames are no longer exciting, their just predictable. Developers refuse to grow up and try/explore new things. (They all make the same excuse, but gamers don't help either, because they don't buy it and support it)
It's all about the money.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2007 2:30PM Vegeta has a ps3 said
tis a shame really. But who the fuck cares? If the game is good, I'll still buy it. Regardless of whether it's a sequel of a game or not.
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