04-30-2003, 03:53 PM
Hi,
There have been a number of reports going back to late last Fall or early Winter of Vivendi negotiating with various groups for the sale of its entertainment branch (which includes the games division). What would indeed be news is the announcement that the devision was sold, and to whom.
However, it looks like they might just be in a panic mode. Thus, some company or individual might buy the whole package in order to get one specific division. Then that buyer might try to resell the groups they are not interested in. So, we're still a long ways from hearing the fat lady ;)
I have really mixed feelings on this issue. I don't think Vivendi was a good owner for the games division since they are not really interested in games, just in money. Don't get me wrong, all companies must have making money as an objective otherwise they don't survive to do anything else. It's just that in Vivendi's case, I don't think that "making good games" was even on their objectives list at all. So, someone else could be better. OTOH, Vivendi seems to have let the game division run itself (or, at least, I've never heard a rumor that they forced the release of a game or otherwise interfered with the internal workings of companies like Blizzard or Sierra). Offhand, I can't think of a likely buyer who would be as benign an "absentee landlord". The closest would be Microsoft, which by all reports to date helps the companies who's games they publish without too much interference. But that is scary for two reasons. First because it helps Microborg in its unending attempt to take over the universe of software, and second because it will invariably mean that games will be designed to fulfill the Microsquish "broadest possible appeal".
Ah, well. Stability is not a known concept in the gaming industry ;)
--Pete
There have been a number of reports going back to late last Fall or early Winter of Vivendi negotiating with various groups for the sale of its entertainment branch (which includes the games division). What would indeed be news is the announcement that the devision was sold, and to whom.
However, it looks like they might just be in a panic mode. Thus, some company or individual might buy the whole package in order to get one specific division. Then that buyer might try to resell the groups they are not interested in. So, we're still a long ways from hearing the fat lady ;)
I have really mixed feelings on this issue. I don't think Vivendi was a good owner for the games division since they are not really interested in games, just in money. Don't get me wrong, all companies must have making money as an objective otherwise they don't survive to do anything else. It's just that in Vivendi's case, I don't think that "making good games" was even on their objectives list at all. So, someone else could be better. OTOH, Vivendi seems to have let the game division run itself (or, at least, I've never heard a rumor that they forced the release of a game or otherwise interfered with the internal workings of companies like Blizzard or Sierra). Offhand, I can't think of a likely buyer who would be as benign an "absentee landlord". The closest would be Microsoft, which by all reports to date helps the companies who's games they publish without too much interference. But that is scary for two reasons. First because it helps Microborg in its unending attempt to take over the universe of software, and second because it will invariably mean that games will be designed to fulfill the Microsquish "broadest possible appeal".
Ah, well. Stability is not a known concept in the gaming industry ;)
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?