Activision CEO talks console-less Guitar Hero, turning fear into profit

When he's not predicting the downfall of all forms of entertainment at the hands of video games, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is talking about how his company's bottom line is more important than folks having fun making the games we play. That's just one of the things GameSpot reports he touched on at today's Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco, Calif.
The talk included hints at a future Guitar Hero that doesn't require a console (thus, as he explained, giving the company "some leverage with first parties when it comes to downloadable content and the business model) and a promise that the industry can "expect many of [Activision's] products to be playable independent of a console." Kotick didn't explain his comments further, leaving us to wonder if he means something along the lines of the specialized plug-and-play "TV Games" found in the toy department at Target.
Before delving into the strange and disturbing, Kotick remarked on the likelihood of next-generation consoles coming anytime soon, saying that Activision hasn't received any indication of new hardware from the big three console makers -- something it usually sees roughly two years before a new console launch.
Now for the promised strange and, yes, disturbing comments on Kotick's part. What may have been music to bean counters' ears still has ours ringing, as he described tailoring developer bonuses to "really [reward] profit and nothing else" and how an air of "skepticism, pessimism, and fear" is promoted within the company with the goal of "keeping people focused on the deep depression." You know, so they focus on profit and nothing else. It's all to plan, though, seeing as Kotick confided that, "The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games."
The talk included hints at a future Guitar Hero that doesn't require a console (thus, as he explained, giving the company "some leverage with first parties when it comes to downloadable content and the business model) and a promise that the industry can "expect many of [Activision's] products to be playable independent of a console." Kotick didn't explain his comments further, leaving us to wonder if he means something along the lines of the specialized plug-and-play "TV Games" found in the toy department at Target.
Before delving into the strange and disturbing, Kotick remarked on the likelihood of next-generation consoles coming anytime soon, saying that Activision hasn't received any indication of new hardware from the big three console makers -- something it usually sees roughly two years before a new console launch.
Now for the promised strange and, yes, disturbing comments on Kotick's part. What may have been music to bean counters' ears still has ours ringing, as he described tailoring developer bonuses to "really [reward] profit and nothing else" and how an air of "skepticism, pessimism, and fear" is promoted within the company with the goal of "keeping people focused on the deep depression." You know, so they focus on profit and nothing else. It's all to plan, though, seeing as Kotick confided that, "The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games."











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Apollo @ Sep 14th 2009 9:23PM
Bobby Kotick's a fucking douchebag and all but...............
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 14th 2009 9:55PM
but... he's still a fucking douche.
Plastic Rat @ Sep 14th 2009 11:09PM
As much of a dick as Bobby Kotick is, people hate him because it's currently cool to hate Bobby Kotick. A year from now it will probably be out of fashion and comments ripping into this creep will get downvoted.
I called it first.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Sep 14th 2009 11:39PM
It's okay guys, I got Serena Williams on it...
Plastic Rat @ Sep 14th 2009 11:45PM
Ouchies with the downvotes...
I didn't say the guy WASN'T a pustulent douchebag, I just said people are complete sheep too. Who do you think buys this guy's shit anyway?
The majority of people hating on this guy have no idea WHY they're hating on him really, other than that everyone else is doing it.
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Sep 15th 2009 12:05AM
... Rat... Let me see if I understand it...
It's cool to hate petulant douche bags?...
No... crap?
Bobby Kotick @ Sep 15th 2009 12:06AM
Your intelligence is below average, asshole.
Guinea Rabbit @ Sep 15th 2009 1:19AM
"The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games."
Congratulations Kotick, not only have you done that, but you've also taken all the fun out of purchasing and playing video games (at least as far as Activision is concerned).
bulletsmakepeace @ Sep 15th 2009 9:40AM
100+ dollars for a plastic toy or 100 dollars for a real guitar.
hmm.. One of them removes women's clothes, the other...
I 100% admit. I do not get it. Guitar hero is really nothing more then playing with an old Simon with music.
For ref. for the younger ones..
http://www.digitalrendezvous.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/simonextreme.png
deaftly @ Sep 15th 2009 9:57AM
"He's a douchebag and all..."
but you'll still keep buying Call of Duty
rickjamess04 @ Sep 15th 2009 10:51AM
I'm just waiting for the newspaper headline that says "Kotick's Birthday today, credits long life to Satan"
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Sep 15th 2009 11:37AM
and yet we will all still rush to buy COD:MW2!
Whatever, the massive implosion of Activision will be a wonderful site. It's not far off, as Guitar Hero has reached critical mass. Just a shame they will take Harmonix/Rock Band with them...
Durden @ Sep 14th 2009 9:23PM
Ass Clown.
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Sep 14th 2009 9:23PM
WHY DO WE KEEP BUYING GAMES FROM THIS MAN!?
Complex @ Sep 14th 2009 9:32PM
let him make it but when he fail dramatically please fire him, he thinks people are going to pay for music games every time he wants.
JXCgunrunna @ Sep 15th 2009 12:09AM
Because like it or not, there are other people in the company that work hard and produce high quality IP. IW for one.
OR
Valve should buy Infinity Ward and i wouldnt care what happens to that PoS greedy company.
mahouneko @ Sep 15th 2009 2:11AM
I don't. >_>
deaftly @ Sep 15th 2009 9:49AM
Between GH, COD and the Marvel license. Activision will keep on getting my money for years to come.
Jrod @ Sep 15th 2009 10:06AM
Because the games are GOOD?
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 14th 2009 9:24PM
Bobby Kotick is a gay fish.
Young_Nastyman @ Sep 14th 2009 9:25PM
his wife is a cross-dressing Cod named Trish
WINterfang @ Sep 14th 2009 9:51PM
When Kotick grab your ass he always goes deep.
RANDOM G [XBL: NYMZ777, PSN: NYMALICIOUS] @ Sep 14th 2009 9:52PM
He takes it in the ass from his Uncle Knish.
RANDOM G [XBL: NYMZ777, PSN: NYMALICIOUS] @ Sep 14th 2009 11:16PM
Damn you Winterfang, and your fancy rhyme pattern.
WINterfang @ Sep 14th 2009 11:29PM
I wasn't trying to rhyme, it was a reply fail.
just downvoted.
WINterfang @ Sep 14th 2009 11:30PM
...kapish.
Bobby Kotick @ Sep 15th 2009 12:08AM
Fuck you! I don't see you trying to run one of the most successful industries in the world!
tr1cky tpr @ Sep 15th 2009 9:55AM
I don't see you running it either you fat fuck! You're just killing it!
HighFiveJesus @ Sep 14th 2009 9:25PM
Bobby there are 6 hero games releasing in my country this year. And then there's DJ hero, which is going to be really cool for the songs and possibly stupid for everything else. I don't know what to think anymore.
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 14th 2009 9:25PM
Focused on the deep depression? The deep depression that keeps this fuck taking a bath in money? God, fuck this guy. I dont usually make Hitler comparisons lightly, but fuck, enforcing an air of fear, pessimism and skepticism? Sounds like this fuck is drinking the kool aid
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 14th 2009 9:34PM
Kool-Aid is delicious when not laced with deadly or hallucinogenic substances.
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 14th 2009 9:34PM
i do enjoy kool aid, especially when made into little ice cube Popsicles. But seriously fuck this guy
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 14th 2009 9:37PM
Oh, those ice cube things are the best!
But you know what? If Bobby Kotick is allowed to drink Kool-Aid, we should boycott Kool-Aid! WHO WANTS SUNNY-D?
Avatar @ Sep 14th 2009 9:45PM
I'd rather have some of that purple stuff.
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 14th 2009 9:48PM
That Purple Drank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_MwlANhBo
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Sep 14th 2009 10:10PM
Kotick is the prime example of a stereotypical capitalist executive. Arrogant, abrasive, and greedy. I detest this man and wish he would leave actiblizzard to helm gamestop. Extra ten during a depression for CODMOD2? F**k you Kotick.
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 14th 2009 10:48PM
i know right? He's like a modern version of those steel and railroad barons from the 1910s
Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Sep 15th 2009 8:25AM
@The Dark Wayne
http://img199.yfrog.com/img199/6479/bobbykotickexaggeratedb.jpg
deaftly @ Sep 15th 2009 9:22AM
OHHHHHHHHH YEEEEEEEAAAAAH!
Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Sep 15th 2009 10:15AM
Ooh! Wait, wait! I made a better one!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6479/bobbykotickexaggeratedb.jpg
Akronon @ Sep 17th 2009 3:58PM
Cheers to Kool-aid Man.
Jeers to Bobby Kotick.
AmIdoinitright?
Lekko @ Sep 14th 2009 9:26PM
So that's how they plan to force you to buy a new guitar for every single game they make.
Misframed @ Sep 15th 2009 9:26AM
And that way they don't have to share profit for DLC...
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 9:26PM
Wow, he actually is the devil, isn't he? Congrats Bobby K, you've managed to make EA look like a decent company, even when they were at their very worst compared to the direction you've been steering Activision in the last few years.
Neo Senku(PSN:Neo-Senku) @ Sep 14th 2009 10:13PM
Agreed his villainly reminds me of every thing a cartoon villain says or acts like or is.
Michael T [Planeteer | Power of Mr. T] @ Sep 15th 2009 3:04PM
I wouldn't say he's the Devil, but he definitely needs a moustache to twirl and a virginal young girl to tie to some train tracks.
Ashkental @ Sep 14th 2009 9:28PM
He thinks it was his face that made sony scream in fear and announce a price drop?
Yeah... in your world mr. Fucktard
Ashkental @ Sep 14th 2009 9:31PM
wow... that guy is devil in person...
horngreen @ Sep 14th 2009 9:31PM
Surely GH is a dying franchise. How long can people FAKE play a song?
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 14th 2009 9:35PM
as long as we can fake kill people?