Report: Bizarre Creations staff morale boosted by buyer talks

by Griffin McElroy on Nov 17th 2010 2:01PM

Develop reports that anonymous staffers at recently put-on-the-market development studio Bizarre Creations have claimed that morale around the offices has received a boost following a company meeting earlier today. According to Develop's sources, that meeting brought word that a number of interested parties have surfaced who could possibly acquire Bizarre -- though the source didn't name any of those parties, for fear of scaring them away. See, big corporations? They're like baby deer when it comes to acquisitions.

One of Develop's sources mentioned Microsoft as one of Bizarre's potential suitors. That might not be the smoothest transition, considering some of the harsh words Bizarre's higher-ups have said about their former relationship. You know whose loving arms we think they should run back to? 1996-era Psygnosis. Now, that there? That was a match made in heaven.

Source: Develop

Tags: acquisition, activision, Bizarre-Creations, buyout, microsoft, report, xbox

Reader Comments (46)

Hopefully once they are out from under Activisions thumb they will get more creative again.

You are next Blizzard, you are next.

@Jack Kevorkian

Making every sinking developer into an underdog story is getting old.

You really have to go back to Project Gotham Racing on the original Xbox to find a certifiable hit from Bizarre. (An XBLA title like the amazing Geometry Wars isn't going to float a studio.) It's sad when people lose their jobs, but it happens in every field, not just video game development.

And for those posters who are hoping to get cred points for getting in the Activision dig, at least make sure the failure is because of Activision. For whatever reason, many of the developers that Activision buys are mediocre. It's as much because Activision is buying mediocre companies, as it is because Activision ruins companies like Infinity Ward. Blur was given good promotion, both at Gamestop and in the beta they had. If you can prove that Activision interfered with the development of Blur, and Bizarre was forced to create a lame game, then do it.

@i77ogical Activision buys IPs, takes what they can from the code and then disposes of the bloody carcass after they have fed.

The last thing I am doing is looking for joystiq cred or am interested in finding a list of activisions don'ts. I simply am going by what I have read over the past few years.

Once WoWs numbers start their inevitable decline my bet is they get rid of or absorb every day staff and keep core (if they are inertested anymore being very wealthy ) members as executives.

@i77ogical Good points made. I've like a few Bizarre Creations games over the years but just like Rare, you can't rest on your laurels in the video game business. You've got to keep pumping out quality. I would say Rare is about the best example of this. They had it and then they lost it and now they don't know where to find it.

@Milf Biggenson Except that Rare is better today than they were working with a nintendo. Everything other than what you said was a decent point though. I am talking about the stuff in your head you meant to say but couldn't find the words.

@Jack Kevorkian

Sorry to put cred-seeking comment below yours, as though to say you were doing that. I'm not pro-Activsion, either.

As to whether Activision would gain any valuable code from Bizarre, when the driving sequences in the new Bond game were panned for being too floaty, I'm not sure. Agree that when you sell your company to Activision, you definitely do not get much of a grace period for success. They want hits or they'll dump you faster than other companies might.

@i77ogical Im not even anti-activation I just hate when people lose their jobs. I realize Bizarre aren't A listers but they have put out some above average offerings over the years. Hate seeing them canned.

I am not sure how activation makes their games but it seems that if they green lit Blur they hold the majority of responsibility for it's sales failure. The game was a very solid offering at the least. On paper it seemed like a great idea. Kart racing for adults and Bizarre delivered. People didn't want it though.

@Jack Kevorkian

I liked the Blur demo OK, but it didn't feel "special" (sorry for such a broad word). It is likely that Activision's internal pressuring keeps developers from being able to make solid games into the polished experiences we want.

@Jack Kevorkian Blur was a very fun game. I wouldn't say it was uncreative at all.

hopefully they get bought up by zenimax they could use a good racing game.

@bargaingamer

"Fallout: Wasteland Racer"

Has a nice ring to it.

@bargaingamer

I don't know if ZeniMax would be interested but they seem to be treating their developers well so I would actually support this.

@finnith
well racing games seem to sell more than one million copies if advertise right, and if the buy the right to Blur they could get into the market easier.

Microsoft would make sense, and it would benefit both parties. Microsoft needs to re-establish the PGR franchise, and now is a great time. And who better than the company that worked on it before?

As far as past words? Water under the bridge. Bizarre prospered under Microsoft both in retail and XBLA releases. The last PGR not so much. You have a mistep... ok, everyone does. Move on.

@Starcade I think MS has their racing needs covered by Turn 10.

@Jack Kevorkian Yes and no depending on how you look at it. Forza is a great sim for more realistic racing. I think PGR fills the need for more arcade-type action. Turn 10 already said they weren't interested in making PGR for Microsoft. Yet Microsoft is interested in making another PGR.

Also I think Bizarre is capable of more than just racing. Geometry Wars and the Club come to mind.

Also, and I'm not sure anyone has mentioned this yet-- PGR on Windows 7 phone would be ideal for Microsoft.

If they're bought by Microsoft, I see a new Geometry Wars soon after. I have no problem with that.

This would be good news. Here's hoping something happens soon.

I hope Microsoft buys them back. It'll be like when you break up with a girlfriend and hook up with a girl who turns out to be a whore and then you look back and realize how good you had it before.

@Mister Servo Until you remember why you broke up in the first place...

@Mister Servo "I thought she was a whore with a heart of gold and instead she turned out to be a whore with a regular old whore heart."

- Kenny Powers

@Jack Kevorkian

some people say i'm a woman hater. that's not true i love women, every f$($ one of them, even the ugly as shit ones. but don't ask me to trust 'em, not even nuns, because every pair of tits comes with a gaping hole and need that even kenny powers can't fill.

I do hope things work out for them, I really do. But as for who could buy them... Nyehhh...

EA seems to be born-again, but I still can't quite trust them. Microsoft is practically out the window, they're never going to work together again. Zenimax... maybe. Ubisoft could sure do with some good new IPs (new to Ubisoft anyway, PGR being new to them). Bethesda, THQ... All of these are good potential buyers.

I wish the best to these guys, it's not fair that life shoveled shit into their face just behind this holiday season.

@Daruna

I wouldn't put it past Microsoft and Bizarre to put aside past feelings/relations and work together again. Honestly, do you see Bizarre turning down an opportunity to keep their jobs? Sometimes you just put aside your differences and get things done.

As a side note, whoever buys Bizarre doesn't receive the PGR franchise. That is owned by Microsoft (who is reportedly looking to reboot the franchise). Logically it would make sense for Microsoft to turn to Bizarre to pick up the franchise again and I'm sure Bizarre would love to work on their old baby once again.

@Xcrucio True, when crunch time rolls around, I'm sure Bizarre would love to simply keep working instead of being left out in the cold. The dealmaker would be what Microsoft has to say about it, though.

Also, I suppose I should have clarified a bit: I didn't mean the PGR IP would go to whoever buys Bizarre, I meant that the team who made the successful franchise would go. So the experience could be used to make another good racing series.

And wasn't MS just looking for a PGR developer? How convenient for them. Personally, I'd like to see then unter the wing of Take-Two. Those guys (well, 2K technically) published some of my favorite games ever.

I hope they certainly do get bought and that hopefully as few people as possible are let go. I also hope it's Microsoft who buys them, they need some more first party studios and I'm sure as first party studio they'll most likely get the resources they need.

Good luck Bizzare.

I hope they get back to Microsoft.

@GordoJones88

Even Microsoft isn't stupid enough to want a developer that hasn't made a successful full priced game in the better part of a decade. They already have Rare filling the spot of a developer that USED to make great games, why would they need another dud?

@Invigilator

hey you, you're a dick!!!

there's nothing really wrong with rare's games. simply because nostalgia tells you that they used to be better doesn't necessarily make it so. "even microsoft"...pff, assface.

I loved Blur, I wish them look!

@DeeZeee

Where!?

I hope they go back to Microsoft, I want a new PGR game from Bizarre as well. Hopefully they find a good new home though, Bizarre is a great studio.

Do it MicroSoft. You know theres nobody better to make a PGR game and that WILL be a hit.

Someone from Codemasters tweeted something about an even in Liverpool where they'll be speaking with people from Bizarre, which makes me excited.

@Assmar They were the first ones that came to my mind. They are #1 when it comes to racing games imo. Bizarre would fit right in.

@Assmar

Oh hell yeah, their next racing game would absolutely **** all over other racing games.

@Assmar

Via twitter.com/codies
"Codemasters will be in Liverpool on Wednesday 24th Nov to assist those affected at Bizarre Creations where we can. Venue to be confirmed."

Anyone else in the bone-zone?

:( I guess Activision keeps the Blur IP though? Would be awesome if Microsoft bought them and the Blur IP and we saw PGR5 in 2012 followed by Blur 2 in 2013 :P

Activision is so smart. Releasing Blur within days of Split Second was such a smart tactical thing to do for the new IP that they claim to have invested so much in....

If my company was owned by Activision, my morale would be boosted too.

Why are people surprised by this?

What was the last time Bizarre Creations made a profitable full priced retail game? 8 years ago with Project Gotham?

Bloodstone was a huge failure, Blur was a huge failure, they've now wasted tens of millions of shareholder dollars. Only a complete idiot of an executive would keep a moneypit like that around in their company.

These actually are businesses, you know. They're not subsidized by the government to provide jobs for developers who can't make games that people like.

@Invigilator

Ha, yeah. Don't you know that all gamers are socialists?

Games should cost $20, all DLC should be free, but every developer should keep their jobs-- in a down economy--even while gamers reserve the right to buy their games used and cut out the developer entirely.

Makes perfect sense.

LOL, yesterday we hear all the doom and gloom about Bizarre. I tell everyone to chill out, this might not be a bad thing (or anything at all) and I get downvoted to hell. 24 hours later and it sounds like this isn't really upseting Bizarre too much - they might be looking at it as a positive too.

Funny how that works...

Respectfully Griff, I hope that you're wrong about MGS. Harsh words can sometimes be difficult to overcome, but good business is one of the things that can do it. Turn 10 could certainly do a respectable job on a PGR game, but honestly, who's going to be able to do a better job on it than Bizarre? MGS needs to sock Bizarre away, get them the specs on the new hardware, and put them to work on making PGR 5 a AAA launch title for Xbox 3 in 2-3 years.

I guess you have to work for Bobby Kotick to appreciate to the fullest extent NOT working for Bobby Kotick.

Blur

Report: Bizarre Creations staff morale boosted by buyer talks

Reader Comments (46)

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:03PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:26PM i77ogical said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:40PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:48PM Milf Biggenson said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:56PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:05PM i77ogical said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:13PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:24PM i77ogical said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:39PM Trojan said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:10PM bargaingamer said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:22PM AltairArcanum said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:42PM finnith said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:58PM bargaingamer said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:13PM Starcade said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:41PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:06PM Starcade said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:14PM dudes113 said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:15PM Hong Dong said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:15PM Mister Servo said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:23PM Nikkinik said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:42PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 6:53PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:24PM Daruna said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:48PM Xcrucio said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:09PM Daruna said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:26PM Fuzunga said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:32PM Tapejara said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:40PM GordoJones88 said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:47PM Invigilator said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 7:03PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:40PM DeeZeee said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:22PM Shockwave said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:54PM Cody H said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 2:58PM Nintendo1983 said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:05PM Assmar said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 5:12PM SilverFireshot said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 7:04PM Wakkawipeout said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 8:30PM Assmar said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:06PM PeteRoyale said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:19PM EazySCT said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:23PM thelolotov said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 3:46PM Invigilator said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 4:53PM i77ogical said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 4:19PM Axcalibur said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 5:30PM Flakk said

Posted: Nov 17th 2010 7:40PM (Unverified) said

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