Microsoft to buy Vivendi

[neomits]

This has been rumored before but is getting more and more likely acording to this article.


This would be a HUGE deal. Deal of the century. Vivendi owns Blizzard, Sierra, Black Label and others. This could mean Xbox exclusive Half Life 2, MS Warcraft and Diablo, Xbox Counter Strike!!!!

 

[DaveSimmons]

And waiting an extra year for PC versions of everything as MS tries to prop up xbox. :disgust:

 

[nord1899]

No biggie for me as I am right now addicted to Battlefield 1942, an Electronic Arts product.

 

[Storm]

If it happens whats to stop MS from buying anyone and everyone else out? Vivendi is huge and owns a lot of smaller companies. If they do thats just another step whether MS buys out the competition so there is no competition against them. Once there is no competition, whats to stop them from jacking prices?

 

[neomits]

I should specify its just their gaming division .... they own a lot of other stuff as well

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: Storm
If it happens whats to stop MS from buying anyone and everyone else out? Vivendi is huge and owns a lot of smaller companies. If they do thats just another step whether MS buys out the competition so there is no competition against them. Once there is no competition, whats to stop them from jacking prices?

The US Government will stop them with Anti-Trust lawsuits!!!

 

[Darein]

Should this happen I hope they don't make changes or interfer with the game makers.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
And waiting an extra year for PC versions of everything as MS tries to prop up xbox. :disgust:

Yeah, no kidding. I don't care if they make stuff xbox exclusives that was always intended to be on the xbox (ie: Metal Gear Starcraft aka Starcraft: Ghost), but I don't want them holding up pc games just because they need to sell more xboxes. If I wanted to play xbox exclusives, I'd just buy an xbox, but don't make me wait a year for HL2 just because your console isn't selling, damn it!

 

[ChrisIsBored]

/me is reminded of seeing the cartoon Bill Gates tell his cronies "Buy him out boys".

Homer: What are you doing?!

Bill Gates: I didn't get rich writing checks!

 

[rh71]

Just as long as they stay away from Macromedia...

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: rh71
Just as long as they stay away from Macromedia...

Macromedia doesn't have any technology competing with MS products. They don't need to buy them out yet.

Still, I would not be surprised at all if they tried to pick them up. Dreamweaver is competition with FrontPage and Fireworks would make a nice addition to the MS line of products.

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: MrBond

Originally posted by: rh71
Just as long as they stay away from Macromedia...

Macromedia doesn't have any technology competing with MS products. They don't need to buy them out yet.

Still, I would not be surprised at all if they tried to pick them up. Dreamweaver is competition with FrontPage and Fireworks would make a nice addition to the MS line of products.

Or they could kill Dreamweaver so Frontpage would have less competition. Both options are there.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Darein
Should this happen I hope they don't make changes or interfer with the game makers.

Played Halo on the PC yet? Oh that's right MS stopped Bungie from finishing the PC version so it could be xbox-only for the launch.

 

[DigDug]

Wow, the implications of such a merger are so monstrous, yet your first thoughts were about what games would migrate to the Xbox platform? Haha!

 

[SuperTool]

If MS wants to move gamers from the PC to the X-Box, than why the gamers need Windows? You can do Word processing and play mp3's on any other OS. The main reason I have Windows is for game compatibility

 

[Vortex22]

NOOOoooOOOOoooOoOo!!!

Not Blizzard!!

Damnit! I hope they keep making good PC games and not just crap for the Xbox.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Wow, the implications of such a merger are so monstrous, yet your first thoughts were about what games would migrate to the Xbox platform? Haha!

Hmm, what else might MS do besides kill off PC and Mac versions?

* All multiplayer PC games require paid "MSN Live" subscription
* must install .Net framework with all games
* All games include online updater for the weekly security patches
* Counter-Strike 2 the terrorists all wear Red Hats

Anyone else?

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
If MS wants to move gamers from the PC to the X-Box, than why the gamers need Windows? You can do Word processing and play mp3's on any other OS. The main reason I have Windows is for game compatibility

That's actually a very valid point. The only other reason I like Windows is easier hardware installation (I know nothing about how to do that in linux, I'm sure it's simple, I just never learned)

And the "terrorists wear red hats" comment has me cracking up

 

[WileCoyote]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Wow, the implications of such a merger are so monstrous, yet your first thoughts were about what games would migrate to the Xbox platform? Haha!

Hmm, what else might MS do besides kill off PC and Mac versions?

* All multiplayer PC games require paid "MSN Live" subscription
* must install .Net framework with all games
* All games include online updater for the weekly security patches
* Counter-Strike 2 the terrorists all wear Red Hats

Anyone else?

*all games automatically install Outlook Express
*all games require microsoft game controllers (ex. sidewinder joysticks)
*all multiplayer games require you to be a member of clan -={Bill Gates' Sluts}=-

 

[Martin]

crap...bye bye good PC games

 

[Lonyo]

If they get CS, then what might happen to any mod makers/map makers? Would Microsoft still allow source code/map editor to be shipped? Probably not knowing how much they suck a$$.

 

[Darein]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Darein
Should this happen I hope they don't make changes or interfer with the game makers.

Played Halo on the PC yet? Oh that's right MS stopped Bungie from finishing the PC version so it could be xbox-only for the launch.

June baby.

 

[DaveSimmons]

From the Computer and videogames arcticle an MS buyout might also mean killing off GBA games (in favor of PockePC? or just to hurt GBA sales?)

Furthermore, an email from Universal was accidentally sent out to developers last week stating that all work on GBA titles should be suspended. The email was promptly recalled and branded an error, but could it be that this was in some way tied in with this alleged deal?

 

[Dragnov]

Oh noooOOOOOoees!!!

Don't touch Blizzard!

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: nord1899

Originally posted by: MrBond

Originally posted by: rh71
Just as long as they stay away from Macromedia...

Macromedia doesn't have any technology competing with MS products. They don't need to buy them out yet.

Still, I would not be surprised at all if they tried to pick them up. Dreamweaver is competition with FrontPage and Fireworks would make a nice addition to the MS line of products.

Or they could kill Dreamweaver so Frontpage would have less competition. Both options are there.

Not widely known... Macromedia ColdFusion is now built on Java technology and we all know it's a Java vs. C++ / C# world out there. Oh how MS would love to see Java die. Also, CF is a competitor to MS' ASP web language... even though CF has the price disadvantage there already. :|