But while Activision holds off on the mobile and social markets in favor of pushing traditional franchises, competitor EA is laying all kinds of groundwork there. Opportunity, it seems, doesn't look the same to everyone.
Kotick: App Store and Facebook games not a 'big opportunity' for Activision
by Mike Schramm 
on Dec 2nd 2010 8:00AM
60
But while Activision holds off on the mobile and social markets in favor of pushing traditional franchises, competitor EA is laying all kinds of groundwork there. Opportunity, it seems, doesn't look the same to everyone.
Reader Comments (60)
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 8:04AM f1d said
Wow, Bobby Kotick has a fat face.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:31AM ShadowXIII said
@f1d
Ok, really....? Can we go a full month without seeing this smurf?
Thanx in advance.
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Ok, really....? Can we go a full month without seeing this smurf?
Thanx in advance.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:04AM RudyHuxtable said
@f1d
Scarier still, Wikileaks released the invoices from his plastic surgeon to have his double chin upgraded with a credit card swipe.
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Scarier still, Wikileaks released the invoices from his plastic surgeon to have his double chin upgraded with a credit card swipe.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 12:31PM Streeks1984 said
@f1d
I actually happen to agree with Bobby on this matter...those stores are really geared towards more indie developers...its not very lucrative for bit time publishers like activision....wow I actually agree with Bobby something must be wrong......but he is right in this case...hopefully he can continue this streak.
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I actually happen to agree with Bobby on this matter...those stores are really geared towards more indie developers...its not very lucrative for bit time publishers like activision....wow I actually agree with Bobby something must be wrong......but he is right in this case...hopefully he can continue this streak.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:27PM The Wicker Man said
@f1d Im interested in seeing him passaway whilst making love to his satan. (c'mon i'm sure they run in similar circles... :P)
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 8:16AM Teancum said
"The place where you have the opportunities for growth," he said, "is within the communities of franchises we control."
He really sticks his foot in his mouth a LOT.
He really sticks his foot in his mouth a LOT.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 8:49AM Juri said
That is the face of evil.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 8:55AM Hank Hill said
Compare that face to this: http://paradoxdgn.com/junk/avatars/trollface.jpg
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:06AM Padilla7921 said
This may sound crazy, but I agree with him. The majority of iOS games are nothing more than glorified time-wasters, and Facebook games are just as bad.
EA may be making headway into social games on FB, but they're not doing it with fun games. Games like FIFA Superstars and Madden on FB are nothing more than time-wasters designed to keep you addicted to procrastination with the hope of you paying money here and there to buy in-game credits so that you can stay even more addicted for even longer.
So, like I said, I agree with Kotick. Sure, I'm a fan of "gaming for everyone," but I see no problem with staying out of the mobile space until something truly compelling can happen. That, and buttons.
EA may be making headway into social games on FB, but they're not doing it with fun games. Games like FIFA Superstars and Madden on FB are nothing more than time-wasters designed to keep you addicted to procrastination with the hope of you paying money here and there to buy in-game credits so that you can stay even more addicted for even longer.
So, like I said, I agree with Kotick. Sure, I'm a fan of "gaming for everyone," but I see no problem with staying out of the mobile space until something truly compelling can happen. That, and buttons.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:20AM Kunikos said
@Padilla7921 Good thing nobody listens to you, because people LOVE time-wasters (myself included) if they are FUN. God help us when people dictate what is and isn't fun to everyone else, because that's when choice is lost. iOS/Android is or will be the most common platform in the Americas and Europe that can run games, surpassing DS, Wii, and everything else. Not selling people games when you are in the business is plainly stupid.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:32AM Architecture said
You're missing the point entirely. Gaming in the mobile space can be very lucrative and there's fast turnaround with minimal overhead. EA sees the amount of money Zynga's making off of college kids and soccer moms addicted to Farmville and they want a slice of that pie. EA's FaceBook offerings might not appeal to you, but you were never the core demographic anyway.
Furthermore, mobile games do their best with simple, fun gameplay that can be stopped and started at a moment's notice. That is exactly what you want when stuck at the airport when a business call comes in. Leave the truly compelling games to the consoles that sit in your living room.
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Furthermore, mobile games do their best with simple, fun gameplay that can be stopped and started at a moment's notice. That is exactly what you want when stuck at the airport when a business call comes in. Leave the truly compelling games to the consoles that sit in your living room.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:37AM Padilla7921 said
I play Brickbreaker on my BlackBerry like it's going out of style. I'm not saying that "casual" or "time-waster" games shouldn't be made, I'm saying that I understand Kotick's decision not to do so. EA is spending hundreds of millions on the casual gaming market, and a lot of their FB games are simply *not fun*. If a game is fun, I can see it. But making casual games for the sake of making casual games is pointless, which is why I said that compelling experiences need to be offered.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:45AM chrisredfield31 said
@Padilla7921 you don't know what the hell you're talking about. That's because you don't own any of the iOS devices. How do you know there is no compelling content? You don't cause you don't have the device to play it on. Read my post a bit further down.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:41AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@chrisredfield31
Honestly? You think you need the device to know whats going on? You really don't, there are sales charts and game listings for a reason, that would be like saying you need a Wii to truly understand that hardcore games on Wii sell like hotcakes......no, they really don't, unless they are made by Nintendo, very few make it out of that 'tried but failed' bracket. Come to think about it, apart from the like of Monster Hunter, I can't think of any other none casual, none Nintendo hardcore games that sold amazingly well on Wii.
Sales don't determine the quality of games obviously, but they do determine whether or not the company should make a sequel to the game on that platform or whether or not other companies should bother. If Activision is not interested in changing thier development style to focus on casuals on the iPhone, then they won't develop for iPhone. Why bother with the effort of making COD games for iPhone if you have no guarantee it will sell as well as the Xbox and PS3 versions, heck, even the Wii version.
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Honestly? You think you need the device to know whats going on? You really don't, there are sales charts and game listings for a reason, that would be like saying you need a Wii to truly understand that hardcore games on Wii sell like hotcakes......no, they really don't, unless they are made by Nintendo, very few make it out of that 'tried but failed' bracket. Come to think about it, apart from the like of Monster Hunter, I can't think of any other none casual, none Nintendo hardcore games that sold amazingly well on Wii.
Sales don't determine the quality of games obviously, but they do determine whether or not the company should make a sequel to the game on that platform or whether or not other companies should bother. If Activision is not interested in changing thier development style to focus on casuals on the iPhone, then they won't develop for iPhone. Why bother with the effort of making COD games for iPhone if you have no guarantee it will sell as well as the Xbox and PS3 versions, heck, even the Wii version.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:46AM Padilla7921 said
@chrisredfield31
I recommend that, if you want to be taken seriously, you stop making judgments and baseless assumptions, such as stating that I (and/or others) don't own iOS devices. For your information, I used to own an 2nd-gen iPod touch and had a few games for it (Zenonia was my favorite).
Again, let me reiterate that I am not saying that making mobile/"casual" games is a bad thing, or that their existence waters down the industry, or anything like that (because, really, the industry was built on these types of games). What I am saying is that I understand Kotick's decision to keep Activision out of the casual/mobile game market, as he wants his company to focus on bigger console/PC games, such as the Call of Duty franchise and WoW, among others.
Yeah, the casual and mobile markets are lucrative, but when you're making hundreds of millions of dollars off of a single game each year (Call of Duty), why not focus your resources on that, at least for the time being? Sure, Activision is going to have to expand at some point, and they should do it sooner rather than later, but "expansion" doesn't necessarily mean "enter into casual game market."
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I recommend that, if you want to be taken seriously, you stop making judgments and baseless assumptions, such as stating that I (and/or others) don't own iOS devices. For your information, I used to own an 2nd-gen iPod touch and had a few games for it (Zenonia was my favorite).
Again, let me reiterate that I am not saying that making mobile/"casual" games is a bad thing, or that their existence waters down the industry, or anything like that (because, really, the industry was built on these types of games). What I am saying is that I understand Kotick's decision to keep Activision out of the casual/mobile game market, as he wants his company to focus on bigger console/PC games, such as the Call of Duty franchise and WoW, among others.
Yeah, the casual and mobile markets are lucrative, but when you're making hundreds of millions of dollars off of a single game each year (Call of Duty), why not focus your resources on that, at least for the time being? Sure, Activision is going to have to expand at some point, and they should do it sooner rather than later, but "expansion" doesn't necessarily mean "enter into casual game market."
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:20PM chrisredfield31 said
@Spunky Monkey 190906 >>>Honestly? You think you need the device to know whats going on?
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:28PM chrisredfield31 said
@Spunky Monkey 190906 >>>Honestly? You think you need the device to know whats going on?
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:30PM chrisredfield31 said
@Padilla7921 judgments and baseless assumptions? You mean what you're doing? Because you got called out on it multiple times. Why should I take you seriously when you don't know what you're talking about?
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:09AM EvoHelix said
Came to comment on the face. You guys are way ahead of me.
I love the Joystiq community. You guys rock.
I love the Joystiq community. You guys rock.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:22AM chrisredfield31 said
Ugh, like Kotaku, nobody here even knows about iPhone/pod games because they're too busy hating and nobody posting even owns one. Glorified time wasters? What an ignorant moron. Then wtf is NOVA, Modern Combat 2, NFS Shift, Hot Pursuit, Madden NFL 11, SF4, Real Racing, Final Fantasy 1+2, Chaos Rings, Infinity Blade, Zenonia 1+2, Peggle, Let's Golf and more. These are real, worthy and high quality games and I haven't even listed all of them. Next time before you open your mouth, know wtf you are talking about.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:52AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@chrisredfield31
I don't think its what they've got, but instead how they are selling, only on an iPhone would angry birds sell more than most of those other titles you mentioned, few casuals are interested in FF games and Madden and such. What Activision wants is to rule the world, you can't rule the world with angry birds, you can only rule the world with COD, duh!
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I don't think its what they've got, but instead how they are selling, only on an iPhone would angry birds sell more than most of those other titles you mentioned, few casuals are interested in FF games and Madden and such. What Activision wants is to rule the world, you can't rule the world with angry birds, you can only rule the world with COD, duh!
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 10:12AM Jack Kevorkian said
@Spunky Monkey 190906 My guess is the profit margin on Angry Birds is ridiculous. Activision started with humble roots so might the guys who made birds.
EA's Bards Tale and Wasteland...NEVER FORGET
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EA's Bards Tale and Wasteland...NEVER FORGET
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:31AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@chrisredfield31
To be honest, most of those none casual titles probably sell better on PSP, DS or on XBL and PSN than then do on iPhone, simply because the typical iPhone owner can't be arsed with long games that require too much thinking process. Nearly everyone I know has an iPhone except me (because I have my blackberry and have absolutly no interest in iPhone, but thats besides the point), they all have angry birds, I don't know any of them who have Final Fantasy or Madden or most on that list you just gave me. The guys have football games and Street Fighter, that I know, but the girls don't.
Its unfortunate, but thats just how it is. Phone games are still considered games targeted for casuals.
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To be honest, most of those none casual titles probably sell better on PSP, DS or on XBL and PSN than then do on iPhone, simply because the typical iPhone owner can't be arsed with long games that require too much thinking process. Nearly everyone I know has an iPhone except me (because I have my blackberry and have absolutly no interest in iPhone, but thats besides the point), they all have angry birds, I don't know any of them who have Final Fantasy or Madden or most on that list you just gave me. The guys have football games and Street Fighter, that I know, but the girls don't.
Its unfortunate, but thats just how it is. Phone games are still considered games targeted for casuals.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:39AM chrisredfield31 said
@Spunky Monkey 190906 I'm not disagreeing with you but that wasn't my point. I was trying to prove that there ARE compelling games versus the comment made that there AREN'T any compelling games (that are non-casual)
Just because the non-casual games don' t make it into the top 25, doesn't mean they aren't best sellers in their class. If you go on your friend's App Store and browse by the category they are in, they will show up as best sellers in their category. They make plenty of money on these games, just not on the scale of games like Angry Birds.
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Just because the non-casual games don' t make it into the top 25, doesn't mean they aren't best sellers in their class. If you go on your friend's App Store and browse by the category they are in, they will show up as best sellers in their category. They make plenty of money on these games, just not on the scale of games like Angry Birds.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:49AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@chrisredfield31
Yeah, and I'm not trying to negate your opinion on compelling games, every platform has compelling games, but those compelling games are sometimes only worth releasing on platforms of which they do rake in cash. As there is the App store, there is also PSN and XBLA which are trying to do similar things, but for Microsoft and Sony devices. These networks too share the same battles as Apples App Store, casual games sell better. Braid, Splosion man, Dead Nation, these are the sorts of games people like from the store (although Dead Nation is slightly stepping into the hardcore realm) and so they keep being made.
Thats not to say hardcore games don't sell well, just like apples app store, they just don't sell AS well ALL the time, so the question you have to ask is, is it worth it?
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Yeah, and I'm not trying to negate your opinion on compelling games, every platform has compelling games, but those compelling games are sometimes only worth releasing on platforms of which they do rake in cash. As there is the App store, there is also PSN and XBLA which are trying to do similar things, but for Microsoft and Sony devices. These networks too share the same battles as Apples App Store, casual games sell better. Braid, Splosion man, Dead Nation, these are the sorts of games people like from the store (although Dead Nation is slightly stepping into the hardcore realm) and so they keep being made.
Thats not to say hardcore games don't sell well, just like apples app store, they just don't sell AS well ALL the time, so the question you have to ask is, is it worth it?
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:07PM JONNNathannn said
@chrisredfield31 I don't think there's much argument against the fact that iPhone has games. But we're on a hardcore gamer's blog. When it comes to iPhone games it's kind of like OnLive. Ok, it's proven that it can be done and some people like it...but why would I want it? There are much better options for me elsewhere and that is where I will go.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:19PM Invigilator said
@ironneko
207 apps does tell me something: that you have more time and money than sense.
Seriously, people who consider iPhone games to be anything other than something you would play when bored out of tears in a university lecture....you people are horrible for the future of gaming. Stick to Facebook and iPhone games and never bother real games again, thanks.
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207 apps does tell me something: that you have more time and money than sense.
Seriously, people who consider iPhone games to be anything other than something you would play when bored out of tears in a university lecture....you people are horrible for the future of gaming. Stick to Facebook and iPhone games and never bother real games again, thanks.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:20PM Chibi Chaingun said
I have a DS and had a PSP. I honestly haven't used my DS since I got an iPhone years ago. The PSP I sold as well. iOS gaming is actually what I want in portable games. Quick, fun, and most importantly accessible from a design stand point but also in regards to buying games on the go.
My biggest beef with the PSP was that it was basically just PSX games that weren't even taking into consideration they were on a mobile device. I ONLY played it at home, one reason being that the battery really only lasted about 90 min of continuous playing.
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My biggest beef with the PSP was that it was basically just PSX games that weren't even taking into consideration they were on a mobile device. I ONLY played it at home, one reason being that the battery really only lasted about 90 min of continuous playing.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:25PM chrisredfield31 said
@Invigilator You're talking out of your ass, exactly the kind of people I mentioned on my post. If you do not have one and have not bought at least the list of compelling games I've posted then your opinion doesn't even matter. I mean, how can your opinion matter when it's based on NOTHING? You have no experience to draw on. It's worthless.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 10:03PM ironneko said
@Invigilator
Dude, you're funny. I've been playing games since I got the Nintendo when I was five. Yes, the original NES. I know a lot about "Real Games". It's people like you who don't acknowledge that gaming has evolved with the times. Besides (like most gamers I know) the vast majority of the apps I own are free. I'm guessing you consider handhelds to be "fake games" as well. Also, you say I have more money than I need and you admit to playing games while at class. Way to put those savings to good use.
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Dude, you're funny. I've been playing games since I got the Nintendo when I was five. Yes, the original NES. I know a lot about "Real Games". It's people like you who don't acknowledge that gaming has evolved with the times. Besides (like most gamers I know) the vast majority of the apps I own are free. I'm guessing you consider handhelds to be "fake games" as well. Also, you say I have more money than I need and you admit to playing games while at class. Way to put those savings to good use.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:29AM Lerkero said
In other words:
"We can't find a studio to buy (exploit) because Zynga is on Facebook and we don't want to share our profit with Apple."
"We can't find a studio to buy (exploit) because Zynga is on Facebook and we don't want to share our profit with Apple."
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:36AM RedViv said
So, what he's saying is that they'd rather go and squeeze as much money out of the customers who bought retail titles, rather than going the other way. Big news then.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:47AM Vaancor said
He's just mad they can't sell 15 dollar map packs or accessories through those channels, that's all.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 9:48AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Basically they want as much bang for thier buck.
That means the game itself which goes for a higher price on retail for consoles and PC than mobile, is more popular on pc and consoles than mobile and can be stuffed with tons of DLC continuously to make more money at at least half retail price which is still making them tons of money. So basically they want big games for big cash, not spending time making small games for small cash. You're more likely to stock up on activision games on console than on your phone anyway and no matter how you look at it, casual games sell best on Phones. Everyone is up for a little street fighter and angry birds, few are up for a fleshed out FF Game or such, you need that battery life in emergencies.
So to a certain degree they have a point, doesnt change the fact they are evil though :P
That means the game itself which goes for a higher price on retail for consoles and PC than mobile, is more popular on pc and consoles than mobile and can be stuffed with tons of DLC continuously to make more money at at least half retail price which is still making them tons of money. So basically they want big games for big cash, not spending time making small games for small cash. You're more likely to stock up on activision games on console than on your phone anyway and no matter how you look at it, casual games sell best on Phones. Everyone is up for a little street fighter and angry birds, few are up for a fleshed out FF Game or such, you need that battery life in emergencies.
So to a certain degree they have a point, doesnt change the fact they are evil though :P
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 10:21AM Whoppinberg said
You spelled Kodick wrong.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 10:34AM Pasty said
Anyone else think Kotick looks like Dick Tracy villian Littleface?
http://www.francescofrancavilla.com/images/blog/9_lombrose_st_lf_low.jpg
http://www.francescofrancavilla.com/images/blog/9_lombrose_st_lf_low.jpg
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 10:53AM ToolroomKnight said
He's right. Can't you see it?! You can't sell map packs and songs for Guitar Hero on the iOS for obscene amounts of money! I mean, look at the price for most games on the app store! Kotick doesn't wanna forfeit that little income to Apple!
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 11:16AM vaajtswv said
He didn't think much of Blizzard in the early 90's either.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 12:03PM whylekat said
This is good news to me. They'd probably just release some cheap version of Call of Duty and charge $10-20 for it.. Oh wait...
Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 1:31PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
@whylekat thats what I was thinking....Zombie W@W right?
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2010 2:52PM chrisredfield31 said
@whylekat COD WaW Zombies has horrendous controls but Gameloft did a ripoff of Modern Warfare 2 called Modern Combat 2 and it's actually an excellent game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SJ9WFdTUZQ
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