USA: Music and video game company Activision Blizzard sets its sights on bigger and better games

Record ID: 451938

  • Title: USA: Music and video game company Activision Blizzard sets its sights on bigger and better games
  • Date: 30th July 2008
  • Summary: IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT LOGO AND BUILDING NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE APPLE STORE IN NEW YORK CITY
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2DUBW6YE162DWWN29902Y4OSL
  • Story Text: Watch out iTunes here comes .... a video game company. Activision Blizzard is a gaming and music company now worth 19 billion U.S. dollars (USD). One of the new projects the newly-merged company is working on is challenging Apple's powerhouse music store. But what Activision Blizzard has on its side is cross-platform integration - World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero and Vivendi's music muscle.
    So, why not download the original track when you also order the Guitar Hero version? Even if this project doesn't get off the ground, Blizzard Entertainment co-founder Mike Morhaime thinks the merger will only be beneficial.
    "Really what this is taking these two businesses, both very successful, both leaders in different areas of the games business but very complimentary," says Morhaime. "And combining them to create something that's even better."
    A bigger company means more money and more ability to expand. World of Warcraft and Blizzard's other games are still only PC based - and Morhaime is okay with that. But he's not about to rule out taking on any new platforms.
    "At Blizzard when we go to create a new game we look at all available platforms, really every time and decide what are the most appropriate platforms for the game," says Morhaime. "And those are the platforms we put the game out on. I wouldn't rule out console games for the future but for the games we're working our focus and our priority is still on the PC."
    Whichever way Activision Blizzard flexes its new found strength - they aren't planning any major strategy changes. Morhaime has no plans of leaving World of Warcraft fans in the dust. Expect improvement on Blizzard's staple products and some new multi-player fare.
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