Activision sues Double Fine over Brutal Legend
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jun 4th 2009 at 1:49PM } 
Last February, Electronic Arts responded to Activision's saber rattling saying, "We doubt that Activision would try to sue. That would be like a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy." Yeah ...
So, to recap:
- Sierra is subsumed into Activision, following the Activision Blizzard merger
- Activision drops much of Sierra's lineup, including Brütal Legend
- Brütal Legend looks for another publisher, but Activision is "blocking the process"
- EA Partners swoops in as the game's new publisher
- Activision sues Double Fine (that's this post)
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
time @ Jun 4th 2009 1:52PM
fuck activision
Rumor of Boz @ Jun 4th 2009 1:54PM
^^^^ Yeah basically. Bunch of tools at best. So wish blizzard had not merged with these losers...=(
Lars @ Jun 4th 2009 3:24PM
Well, Blizzard didn't. The company that owns Blizzard did. But supposedly there's a clause in the contract saying Activision can't interfere with Blizzard.
Mazrael @ Jun 4th 2009 3:33PM
Activision dropped the game by choice, so they have no right to sue.
Wii60 @ Jun 4th 2009 4:07PM
I still hate EA more.
Sure, they might not be justified in the action, but look at like I do- it hurts EA. That's ALWAYS a good thing.
I want NFL 2K back damnit.
time @ Jun 4th 2009 4:59PM
"I still hate EA more.
Sure, they might not be justified in the action, but look at like I do- it hurts EA. That's ALWAYS a good thing."
John Kerry may have lost in 2004 because of his flip flops, but when walk onto the beach you gotta wear the proper footwear. If you look at the number of quality games that EA has been pumping out lately, you'll realize how dumb your comments sound.
And also, it doesn't just hurt EA... it hurts all the gamers who are interested in this game.
KillaChaos @ Jun 4th 2009 7:45PM
@Wii60
Don't blame EA for exclusivity, blame the NFL. They were practically begging developers to buy the exclusivity, EA couldn't care less.
Duke @ Jun 4th 2009 1:52PM
Oh that's Brutal!
abelpc @ Jun 4th 2009 1:53PM
F**K Activision.. They don't need anything but their Music Games apparently. When is Harmonica Hero coming?
Mabui @ Jun 4th 2009 3:14PM
I would buy that.
cmo4ever @ Jun 4th 2009 1:54PM
What kind of fucked up world do we live in, where Activision is the aggressive publisher, and EA has become the positive force saving good games and publishing them?
Activision ..... I am really starting to dislike this company. Does anyone recall the EA Nazi logo from a couple years back? I think we need a redux of that for Activision.
Dr. @ Jun 4th 2009 2:11PM
I'm worried. What if Activision wins the suit, and then proceeds to publish Brutal Legend? I can't support Doublefine and boycott Activision at the same time!
cmo4ever @ Jun 4th 2009 2:14PM
If Activision won this the only thing they would do is keep it from releasing, because they are evil incarnate, and are out to squash anything cool and original that doesn't have Warcraft or Hero in it's name.
It's just nuts, 4 years ago I would have been rooting against EA on these kinds of lawsuits, and now I'm in there corner. Things DO change so much. I'm happy they decided to start being a great company again, but it still feels so odd.
NoughtSoClever @ Jun 4th 2009 2:35PM
I do think that the scenario you propose is the most likely to occur should they win the lawsuit, that they will simply prevent the game from being published. Unless they have a financial stake to claim from the lawsuit, it does seem strange that they would even bother just to block the game from coming out because their bitch asses were too penny pinching to bother publishing it themselves.
Nickytetlow @ Jun 4th 2009 3:33PM
Achtungvision
redjack @ Jun 4th 2009 1:54PM
Sounds a lot like the Watchmen drama.
meist3r @ Jun 4th 2009 2:15PM
And I expect the corporate protest to be equally effective in stopping the launch ...
joeybeast @ Jun 4th 2009 2:37PM
Make no mistake, Brutal legend will be published either way.
Activision is just looking for money.
Snake Robot Podium @ Jun 4th 2009 2:40PM
If Activision screamed "save us", i would totally whisper "no".
charlie b. @ Jun 4th 2009 3:01PM
@Snake Robot Podium: *groaning segways into laughter*
spirit1969 @ Jun 4th 2009 3:15PM
Exactly the feeling I was getting.
azuravian @ Jun 4th 2009 4:42PM
@charlie b. -- Not trying to be a grammar nazi, because I honestly don't care. When I read your post, however, I was trying to make sense of "groaning segways" thinking, "Are these some sort of frustrated personal vehicle that I can ride down the sidewalk?" Then I realized that you meant segues. I do, however, agree that the original pun was groan-worthy.
dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 4th 2009 1:54PM
Original no, sufficient yes.
I was largely indifferent towards Activision, even despite their wild franchise milking and orphaned Sierra projects, but this is ridiculous.
Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Jun 4th 2009 1:55PM
Activision is really making itself look bad. Between this and the whole DJ Hero fiasco it's obvious they are seriously lacking in people skills and leadership.
Dr. @ Jun 4th 2009 2:08PM
Yeah, this isn't exactly the same situation as Scratch, but it certainly seems to highlight Activision's strategy...
LatinoLA1 @ Jun 4th 2009 4:35PM
What's the DJ Hero fiasco?
but yea they are making themselves look bad.
Paul @ Jun 4th 2009 5:53PM
@Latino
i think he is simply referring to DJ Hero's existence....
MaRRODkez @ Jun 4th 2009 1:56PM
WHATS STEP 6 FOR GODSSAKES!?
Matt @ Jun 4th 2009 1:56PM
Wow I really hope they don't block the release of the game. What a bunch of bastards.
The Baron @ Jun 4th 2009 1:56PM
No, we don't want to help you make your genius game, Tim Schafer.
Wait, your genius game might actually make some money? Dibs!
ice~ @ Jun 4th 2009 2:59PM
isn't it funny how this happens RIGHT after E3 when they see such a positive reaction to the game? dam money grubbering douchebags
The Dark Wayne @ Jun 4th 2009 3:16PM
Hope they dont pull this shit with prototype when it only has a few days left. These greedy motherfuckers, if they wanted to publish the game, which they probably dont even want to, they shouldnt have fucking dropped it. I wish I could take the controller Bobby Kotick is holding in the photo of him and slam into his fucking face
Mr Khan @ Jun 4th 2009 4:58PM
The thing is, its been a long time since Tim Schafer's games have made any money, so it would have been hard to blame them.
Though Brutal Legend does seem incredibly marketable
xera077 @ Jun 4th 2009 1:56PM
What about bunch of lowlife pricks.
If they weren't spending enough time milking the GH franchise this would been a good IP for Actvision.
Fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you.
I bet if it was Guitar Hero: Legends they would of kept it.
bongoes @ Jun 4th 2009 3:02PM
They probably let it go in the first place because Double Fine wouldn't let them change the name to Guitar Hero: Heavy Metal Action Game.
Alan Strangis @ Jun 4th 2009 4:36PM
"Guitar Hero: Heavy Metal Action Game."
Nice!
PS: fuck Activision.
james @ Jun 4th 2009 1:56PM
pricks
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jun 4th 2009 3:57PM
They're to short to be considered pricks!
DBuck_Eye @ Jun 4th 2009 4:18PM
"Don't be fooled. Underneath all the swastikas, they are real pricks."
Young_Nastyman @ Jun 4th 2009 9:59PM
@F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu
"They're to short to be considered pricks!"
Concave pricks?
meth0dical @ Jun 5th 2009 10:58PM
@DBuck_eye
We should be cellmates. I don't snore, and I'm a quiet masturbator. Hell, I'll even give you the top bunk.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 4th 2009 1:59PM
Stupid Bastards......
ActiBlizzard is just being evil now....
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 4th 2009 2:29PM
Oh, ActiBlizzard is so much better than what I've been using which sounds like Black Division.
FAnchax @ Jun 4th 2009 1:59PM
O THE DRAMA
charlie b. @ Jun 4th 2009 2:30PM
your avatar is quite appropriate.
FAnchax @ Jun 5th 2009 7:15AM
lol it is
mexyik @ Jun 4th 2009 2:02PM
I have been saying this for over a year now to every one of my friends,
BOYCOTT ACTIVISION, fucking most evil company in video games.
-Big mergers
-Cutting good games
-Exploitation of franchises is the way, to paraphrase Bobby Kotick.
You want to SUPPORT INNOVATION, BUY UBISOFT and EA games!
FUCK ACTIVISION WITH ELK SHAPED DILDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vegnagun bwf @ Jun 4th 2009 2:05PM
A couple years ago I would have laughed if I heard EA and innovation in the same sentence. My, how things change.
PSN: John-Paul-Jones @ Jun 4th 2009 2:12PM
LOL! I remember a few years ago when us gamers were saying "FUCK EA!" all the time and now they're actually listening to gamers. Little did we know that Activision was lurking in its lair waiting to be the new asshole in gaming. As for Ubisoft, I'm not sure yet
LegendaryRedass @ Jun 4th 2009 2:00PM
It's time to boycott activision. At least until MW2 comes out.
Seriously though, I've been hoping Infinity Ward could find another publisher. They should have enough money off of MW1 to finance their own games, but we know who got most of it. Activision is the new EA.