Tavern of the Blue Hand

Threshold · 01-23-2003, 11:08 PM

This is very, very disturbing news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by

If insider speculation is to be believed, Microsoft has bought US publisher Vivendi, with an announcement to that effect due soon. Take a deep breath and reflect on the implications of that, if true.
Half-Life 2, Warcraft, Counter-Strike, Crash, Spyro, Lord of the Rings... Vivendi has an enormous portfolio boasting some of the biggest titles on all formats, and it would be an ultra-smart move on Microsoft's part to snap them up. Such a buyout, of course, would come at a terrifically high price, making the 365 million acquisition of Rare look like peanuts. But if anyone has the necessary funds, it's Microsoft.

Links:

Original article, you can only view it once.

Extra link to another location.

Slashdot story.

This is all bad imho. I really do not want to see MSFT forcing Blizzard to move their focus towards the console just to help the XBOX.

Eternal · 01-24-2003, 12:32 AM

The rumors continue to fly about a potential MS purchase of the Vivendi gaming division, which includes Blizzard. Emails about the articles on SlashDot and this one on Megagames are appearing in our inboxes every five minutes. It seems that Microsoft is at least negotiating the purchase, but so is or has every other big gaming company, and Vivendi is looking to sell, if the price is right. MS certainly has deep enough pockets, but all the news is just speculation thus far.

Threshold · 01-24-2003, 01:34 AM

I wish Blizzard could just "buy itself" and not have to languish under the rotten influence of just about ANY "publisher/producer."

MSFT makes a lot of good PC games, so that isn't my concern. I just do not like the way they want to buy every good game company up and force them to switch to making XBOX games.

This is part of MSFT's strategy to have the XBOX2 be this massive all encompassing set-top box that does everything: games, movies, satellite tv, PVR technology (TiVO), music, home security, everything!

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01-24-2003, 12:32 AM	#2
Eternal New Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sun Valley, ID Posts: 28	The rumors continue to fly about a potential MS purchase of the Vivendi gaming division, which includes Blizzard. Emails about the articles on SlashDot and this one on Megagames are appearing in our inboxes every five minutes. It seems that Microsoft is at least negotiating the purchase, but so is or has every other big gaming company, and Vivendi is looking to sell, if the price is right. MS certainly has deep enough pockets, but all the news is just speculation thus far.

01-24-2003, 01:34 AM	#3
Threshold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Home MUD: Threshold RPG Posts: 752	I wish Blizzard could just "buy itself" and not have to languish under the rotten influence of just about ANY "publisher/producer." MSFT makes a lot of good PC games, so that isn't my concern. I just do not like the way they want to buy every good game company up and force them to switch to making XBOX games. This is part of MSFT's strategy to have the XBOX2 be this massive all encompassing set-top box that does everything: games, movies, satellite tv, PVR technology (TiVO), music, home security, everything!

Tavern of the Blue Hand

Microsoft to Buy Vivendi Games Division?