Activision is closing down Bizarre

[Sho Nuff]

This is my fault because I didn't buy Blur.

[Bebpo]

but if you'd bought blur you would have sent a message that you wanted them to keep making mario kart wipeout sequels for years instead of a normal racing game.

it was a lose/lose situation.


Activision sucks

[Trent Dole]

LAME

[Cravis]

Bungie take note.

[cool breeze]

It's a shame.  Bizarre made games I really liked, including the best racing game series (which includes THE best racing game: PGR2).  The Club was really fun too.  Their games with Activision didn't seem as good, but at least with the one I played, Blur, I thought it was a lot of fun.  Oh, and the Geo Wars games are awesome.

[Sho Nuff]

Seriously, that team's been together forever and they're a proven quality developer. I'm baffled as to why they'd dump them.

[ferrarimanf355]

Seriously, that team's been together forever and they're a proven quality developer. I'm baffled as to why they'd dump them.

It's Activision.  :'(

Hopefully, Microsoft hires them all and gets them working on PGR5.

[archie4208]

http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/11/16/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/

Budcat (PS2 Guitar Hero farm) is being shut down too.

Activision. 

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Seriously, that team's been together forever and they're a proven quality developer. I'm baffled as to why they'd dump them.

The games don't sell

no, that can't be it

[Cravis]

Bungie wouldn't be owned by Activision and unlike Bizzare, probably any company would pick them up if they should ever fall to the point of closing. Even Microsoft would swoop in before that studio were to break apart.

Ah didn't realize it was just a 10 year publishing deal.

[Diunx]

Who?

[EmCeeGrammar]

EVERYONE saw this coming. I fear for anyone who even works in conjunction with Activision at this point.

[tiesto]

Sucks, only games I played from them were the Geometry Wars games but those were still cool.

When will the mighty Activision empire crumble? They're on track to becoming even worse than back-in-the-day EA (though they have a ways to go before doing anything as heinous as what EA did when they bought out and systematically destroyed Origin)

[chronovore]

Sucks, only games I played from them were the Geometry Wars games but those were still cool.

When will the mighty Activision empire crumble? They're on track to becoming even worse than back-in-the-day EA (though they have a ways to go before doing anything as heinous as what EA did when they bought out and systematically destroyed Origin)

...and Bullfrog...

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Blur wasn't that great of a game.

The problem is that their games sold like ass.  If you're owned by a publisher who is more financially driven than others, then studios who aren't raking in the cash will get axed.  Pretty straightforward.

[Stoney Mason]

Blur wasn't that great of a game.

The problem is that their games sold like ass.  If you're owned by a publisher who is more financially driven than others, then studios who aren't raking in the cash will get axed.  Pretty straightforward.

While I agree there is something to be said for being able to use a developer correctly to their strengths. I don't think that bond game plays to their strengths as a dev. And I don't think one crack at a racing IP is a good effort at really creating a racing franchise.

I simply think it was a bad fit. I'm not one of those people who automatically jumps to evil Activision but I also believe Bizarre would have been better suited with a different publisher. Their work honestly seems more fit for XBLA fare. 

[Joe Molotov]

Damn, that sucks. I was really hoping for a sequel to...

*checking, checking*

...hm, nevermind.

[pilonv1]

Wasn't Microsoft looking for someone to do a new Project Gotham game?

[Cravis]

Their most enjoyable game IMO was Fur Fighter's.

[demi]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHa

WHERE U AT FERRARIMAN

SPLIT SECOND > BLUR

[demi]

where's that fucking i called it gif

here it is

[Eel O'Brian]

at what price point would boodstone be worth it?  i've never played a james bond game before and it looked a little interesting

[WrikaWrek]

Well that sucks for them.

I liked their James Bond game.

[AdmiralViscen]

The Club was really good too. For $20-30

[ferrarimanf355]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHa

WHERE U AT FERRARIMAN

SPLIT SECOND > BLUR

You're gloating over a studio closing down and 200 people losing jobs.

You really are an asshole.

And you still have Hanna Montana: The Movie on your fucking gamercard. Go eat a dick.

[maxy]

Handful of firms declare interest in the Liverpool-based Blur studio, sources tell Develop

Staff at renowned Liverpool studio Bizarre Creations have spoken of a twenty-four-hour emotional rollercoaster as, as of this evening, it has emerged that several companies have shown interest in buying the Blur developer.

Last night Activision put Bizarre Creations up for sale – in a move that put the job security of 200 developers at serious risk.

This morning, one source from inside the studio told Develop that job cuts were highly likely.

That was the mood at the company until this afternoon, when studio management (and possibly Activision execs) held a second major meeting with staff.

“That meeting really lifted the mood here, I think, because we’ve been told that there’s multiple parties interested in buying us,” the anonymous source said.


“We are still on consultation for ninety days,” he added, “but things look much better than they did last night or this morning.”

“Things here are changing at such a quick pace.”
 
The source declined to name the interested parties, because – by his own admission – he doesn’t want to take risks by naming companies that seem eager to step in and save the studio.

Earlier today, in a separate conversation, a source at the studio was understood that Microsoft was already showing an interest in the company.

“Microsoft aren’t stupid,” he said, “they know we’re talented and have spoken to Activision about us.”

It is unclear, for now, whether Microsoft’s interest in the studio extends beyond hiring staff.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/36404/Bizarre-mood-lifts-with-several-keen-to-buy

[iconoclast]

Would be awesome if MS bought them and brought PGR back. Specially since MS is in dire need of good first party studios.

[Mupepe]

Would be awesome if MS bought them and brought PGR back. Specially since MS is in dire need of good first party studios.

This.  I fucking love the PGR series

[ferrarimanf355]

Would be awesome if MS bought them and brought PGR back. Specially since MS is in dire need of good first party studios.

... but would it be necessary with Turn 10 as well?

[Akala]

Rare needs company in kinect hell.

[ferrarimanf355]

Rare needs company in kinect hell.

[Stoney Mason]

Funny how the world works. When they were sold to Activision I remember reading a few articles about how they were chafing under the control of Microsoft and how now they were in a better situation. That MS was making them rush out PGR games and that they were favoring Turn 10. The grass is always greener. 

[chronovore]

The grass /is/ always greener. It's crazy.

I'll be waiting to hear how Bungie likes working with Bobby Kotick, particularly when their title doesn't sell like HALO, or at the end of their tenure (read: ten-year) when they're ready to move on.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Funny how the world works. When they were sold to Activision I remember reading a few articles about how they were chafing under the control of Microsoft and how now they were in a better situation. That MS was making them rush out PGR games and that they were favoring Turn 10. The grass is always greener. 

Well, their options are:

1) Getting bought by Microsoft
2) Going on food stamps

[TripleA]

Microsoft won't buy Bizarre.

[TripleA]

Yeah, they'll probably absorb some Bizarre guys into Turn10.

[TripleA]

"Some".