They didn't manage their resources efficiently and ran themselves into the ground. And the whole "we'll sell your old houses for you" relocation thing? I've never heard of such a thing.
I'm having a hard time understanding why they took out a $75 million loan they couldn't pay back, and where all the revenue they should've collected for Reckoning went.
Even if it sold 1.2 million units they'd have needed to see a per/unit return on investment of $62.50 in revenue just to cover the loan, before interest. Considering EA published the game, there's NO WAY they got full MSRP for each unit, much less MORE than that.
Looking at that, the loan had to be idiotic on some level, unless they had some other revenue stream.
Not sure the governor was right about it needing to turn 3 million units to be profitable, but Reckoning wasn't a huge title. That kind of debt shouldn't have been needed to turn the game out, and this whole thing reeks of poor business management.
Bleh, those emails aren't really that damning against Kotick at all.
Most of this trial is going to revolve around circumstantial evidence. I think Activision has plenty of resources and ammo to draw this out into a long, costly, appeal-laden process if needed. The difference is that they'll be able to afford it, and West/Zampella might not.
Activision isn't just going to give up the CoD franchise without putting everything they have behind it's defense. Literally, CoD is their lifeline at this point. Lose that and there's real trouble.
I'm actually curious to read Kotick's emails. I want to see if he's actually the bastard I think he is.
I wonder how different Activision would be without him. Seriously if this flares up enough, I wonder what the chances of it prompting the board to send him away in a golden parachute might be?
@James00715 Several people I've talked to online and elsewhere who actually did have the balls to go for a refund, and not make a bunch of noise like pansies, were able to get refunds from Blizzard.
I'm aware of several people going through retailers and through Blizzard directly. So if you anyone wants to come here and spout noise about how unhappy they are, be a man, back it up, and go get a refund.
@Mega_Loser "Wolkswagen?" I admit I screwed up on the "o" in place of the "e," but are you German by chance? Or just like mixing consonants that sound nothing alike?
PSS. It does doesn't it? Does that turn you on? Sometimes when people are lonely and desperate, sheep make a great alternative. If so, know that I'm here for you, in that way, if needed.
@BuiltForSin It's my pleasure kimosabe'! Everyone needs adequate consideration.
Actually, I paid all that money 3 times for me and a couple friends to "rent" Diablo 3. I suspect in 15 or so odd years we'll still be enjoying our rental.
So no worries! I figure a rental that last so long is well worth the investment!
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