Activision Responds To Schafer's Blasting Of Kotick
Brutal LegendAnybody else get a chuckle out of this? I mean, gamers have been calling Activision CEO Bobby Kotick such names for a while, but a respected developer...? It's just amusing, isn't it?
Okay, so, Tim Schafer went and called Kotick a "total pr***," a "di**," and perhaps worst of all, "a ball bearing enthusiast." Such comments made the Internet rounds awfully quickly; so quickly, in fact, that Activision has already responded. According to Kotaku, the publisher's Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Maryanne Lataif, defended her boss and makes one significant point:
"Tim Schafer's comment that Bobby Kotick 'makes a big deal about not liking games' just isn't true. Bobby has always been passionate about games, and loves the video game industry. But as CEO of a company that makes games enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, the demands on his time now make it difficult to play games as often as he'd like to or as much as he once did.
"As Schafer himself notes, he has never actually met Bobby Kotick."
That last bit there is a pretty big jab and all in all, we'd have to say Activision's response is relatively dignified in comparison to Schafer's blunt accusations. Also, let's not forget that Schafer and Activision don't have the rosiest history together; look it up if you're interested. And while we're sure many gamers will agree with Schafer, we should probably admit we don't know Kotick, either. ...doesn't stop us from guessing what he might be like, though.
Tags: tim schafer, activision, bobby kotick
7/14/2010 9:13:16 PM John Shepard
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Comments (43 posts)
eLLeJuss
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 12:36:34 AM
3 up, 0 down
Fatcat3788
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 9:35:22 PM
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Oh wait...
Last edited by Fatcat3788 on 7/14/2010 9:36:17 PM
6 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 9:51:13 PM
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So, still think he's on our side?
9 up, 0 down
phudge_supreemz
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:22:19 PM
0 up, 15 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:41:15 PM
14 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:44:31 PM
That goes with anything. Anything who hates their job and doesn't find it fun aren't going to be very good at it.
10 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:52:53 PM
And also that his employees should fear him.
Anyway, just more spin-doctoring on a blatant lie, as Kotex already stated in his interview that he didn't play video games & that he hated them.
In my opinion he's only at anti-vision to make as much anti-vision as cash as possible, so he snatch his last giant stock option check(he already cashed out for a cool $32 million cash so far)& then fly the coop when his anti-vision cash-cow starts to dry up.
Then he'll do the very same hit & run at the next big job offer too.
I'd love to see his prior work history records, I'll bet I'm right.
2 up, 0 down
phudge_supreemz
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:24:25 PM
1 up, 2 down
kraygen
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 9:55:39 PM
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Well he either doesn't like video games or he's a blatant liar in public. Either way, he's not my first choice for president of a game making company.
2 up, 0 down
Deleted User
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:05:21 PM
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2 up, 0 down
GuardianMode
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:17:03 PM
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2 up, 0 down
Gordo
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 10:44:37 PM
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He obviously wants to take the risks out of developing all these shoddy games that don't make a return for his shareholders.
Pretty responsible comment for a CEO of a large corporate company?
It's not the 80's anymore and AAA games can't be developed from someones bedroom or garage.
So love him or hate him you need companies like Activision and EA to be around to push the industry.
Yip, it's an industry and not a hobby. These companies aren't in it to make you happy, they are in it to make a profit.
He can't be too dumb. He's got more money than the lot of us!
Just playing devils advocate ;-)
1 up, 9 down
Fatcat3788
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 8:05:33 AM
EA has definately shown that they CARE about their fans. They have been proving themselves for about 2 years now. The funny thing about the entertainment industry is that what you are selling is supposed to make people happy. If you don't keep your customers happy then they will definately not buy your product. If you don't keep your workers happy then they will slack in any way possible. Lose lose situation.
And to the comment about him being smarter than all of us because of how much money he has. Go to google and type Paris Hilton. "'Nuff Said"
Last edited by Fatcat3788 on 7/15/2010 8:08:12 AM
5 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:02:11 PM
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Better off being that devil's right-hand minion maybe, but definitely not a DkEoVtIeLxS advocate
(read either the lower & higher case letters off first for the same names that mean the same thing lately)
1 up, 0 down
Gordo
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:14:01 PM
0 up, 4 down
Kangasfwa
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:30:05 PM
2 up, 0 down
Gordo
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:47:30 PM
It's just funny that he represents the "arty and quirky" creative type and Kotick represents the business "greed is good" corporate type.
Both in the same industry but with different persona's.
Gamers tend to put a lot of stock in the "ethics" and "artistic reasons" of the producers of their games.
A lot more I think than if they were at the movies or eating at a resturaunt or strolling round an art gallery.
It's excellent.
2 up, 1 down
NonProphet
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:15:53 PM
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7 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:19:51 PM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 1:38:36 AM
0 up, 0 down
NiteKrawler
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 12:51:56 AM
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7 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 3:43:58 AM
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though, the lady has a point how can you accuse someone of being a prick if you have not met the person?
0 up, 1 down
Shams
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 4:31:16 AM
And to Gordo: It's one thing to "take out all the fun" of making games, as in making it a business rather than just a "hobby". But it's quite another thing to confirm you have no interest (besides a financial one) in the very industry that you are working in.
0 up, 0 down
AMG
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 4:32:48 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Sithis
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 5:45:51 AM
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1 up, 0 down
tridon
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 5:58:52 AM
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Kotick is a big tool. That big stupid grin of his makes me want to throw feces at his face. I hope that one day, someone can give him what Ving "Marsellus Wallace" received near the end of Pulp Fiction.
Yes, I am clearly siding with Schafer on this.
0 up, 0 down
Sithis
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 6:37:18 AM
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0 up, 0 down
JackC8
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 6:52:34 AM
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Who does?
I love the comment about Kotick getting involved in an industry he has more passion for, like ball bearing manufacturing.
0 up, 0 down
Fatcat3788
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 3:07:26 PM
Last edited by Fatcat3788 on 7/15/2010 3:07:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
Sithis
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 8:05:30 AM
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-Not noticed by me. But by some dude at Kotaku Comments-
Last edited by Sithis on 7/15/2010 8:06:23 AM
1 up, 0 down
556pineapple
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 8:44:12 AM
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"The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games." (An instant classic)
Let's not forget
"If it was left to me, I would raise game prices even further."
And my personal favorite
"[Activison won't make games that] don't have the potential to be exploited every year on every platform with clear sequel potential and have the potential to become $100 million franchises."
There are some more, but I think my point is clear. Bobby boy has little to no respect for gaming, and the gaming community, and wants to suck as much cash out of us as possible. If anything, Schafer was being too kind.
3 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 1:59:06 PM
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When you have a company like EA who is giving me free map packs and extra content for a game like battlefield, meanwhile Activision charges and arm and a leg for each expansion they have. You start to see which company is there for the money and which is there for the Industry. Sure EA is going to make a profit but they don't nickel and dime you for everything thing with their name on it.
2 up, 0 down
Douchebaguette
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 2:53:35 PM
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I heard from a friend that Bobby Kotick mentioned something about much rather having a peripheral console solely dedicated to 1 type of game... Doesn't sound like being passionate about gaming to me.
2 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 3:32:47 PM
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The Creator of Sony's Fake Exec Hero Moves To Activision
http://kotaku.com/5586114/the-man-behind-sonys-fake-exec-hero-moves-to-activision
Last edited by BikerSaint on 7/15/2010 3:33:31 PM
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 3:36:42 PM
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but....
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/kotick-prick-comment-was-an-accident-says-schafer/
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 4:29:51 PM
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"Vuvuzela Hero: Blow That Horn"!
http://www.thealistdaily.com/news/vuvuzela-hero-blow-that-horn/
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 4:34:35 PM
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You say
"though, the lady has a point how can you accuse someone of being a prick if you have not met the person?"
Well after reading all your comments over the past few weeks and especially some of the things you said in today's topics.
Well how can you accuse someone you've never met of being a prick, well I've never met you,
but . . . . .
I think you see my point.
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Reply
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 9:24:45 PM