We all know the end of the story. Activision today is one of the biggest and most successful publishers in the world and owns the rights to some of the most popular gaming franchises, including 2009’s blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

But Kotick said that his high-level management style has proven costly on occasion. For instance, when Activision had the chance to buy Maxis, the developer of SimCity 2000. He visited their offices and spent an entire day looking at SimCity 2000, which was said to be buggy and unpolished. He thought the only reason to buy the company would be for the game and the franchise so he didn’t even bother to look at another title codenamed Jefferson in one of the back offices. It was being worked on by Will Wright and it turned into The Sims. 

I don’t know what would have been better – the way it is now or if Activision had bought the company.  Personally I’m kind of glad it’s at EA…It’s been a pretty good run all the way up until 2007 when EA switched CEOs.  Bobby Kotick of Activision probably would have ran the Sims series into the ground faster than what EA could ever do.  I mean how many Guitar Hero games did they produce last year?  7?  I used to love that series, now I despise seeing the game in stores…

IGN – Activision passed on The Sims

Related posts:

1. Analysts states Game Developers more inclined to work with EA
2. Lucy Bradshaw: Most Influential Woman in Technology 2010 & Maxis’ future project
3. Walrus Magazine – Let’s All Be Neighbours on Will Wright Street
4. Will we ever get a true SimCity 5? Shacknews asks Maxis
5. Links to the Maxis Community

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