Robert Kotick is the CEO of Activision, Blizzard's corporate owner/partner.
Controversy
Kotick is a controversial figure in the press and gaming community. This is partially due to a perception that he is only interested in creating sequels to popular franchises, rather than developing new ones.[1] In responding to why Activision Blizzard chose not to publish certain games, he implied the company is not interested in 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".[2]
Some members of the press openly criticize Kotick. Ars Technica editor Ben Kuchera wrote, "Kotick doesn't play his games, and it shows."[3]
Kotick threatened to pull support from Sony's Playstation 3 console if the company didn't lower its price. Kotick also created a stir when commenting on the financial success of the Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft franchises. Following news that the Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition will cost $149.99, the Tony Hawk: Ride bundle will cost $119.99 and DJ Hero will cost $119.99, Kotick stated to a reporter, "if it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further."[4]- ↑ "Activision: if we can't run a game into the ground, we don't want it". arstechnica.com. Condé Nast Publications. 2008-11-06. http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/11/06/activision-if-we-cant-run-a-game-into-the-ground-we-dont-want-it. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ↑ "Why Activision Let Go Of ‘Ghostbusters’ And ‘50 Cent’ Games". mtv.com. MTV. 2008-11-05. http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/11/05/why-activision-let-go-of-ghostbusters-and-50-cent-games/. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ↑ "Activision's Bobby Kotick brings cash, but not heart". arstechnica.com. Condé Nast Publications. 2009-01-21. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/01/activisions-bobby-kotick-brings-cash-but-not-heart.ars. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ↑ "Activision's Kotick: I'd Raise Game Prices Even More". SPOnG.com. spong. 2009-08-06. http://news.spong.com/article/18838/Activisions-Kotick-Id-Raise-Game-Prices-Even-More. Retrieved 2009-09-15.