Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard

[Tacgnol]

Any suggestions on who to write at MS to beg for allowing an Arcanum source code release once it goes through?

Phil Spencer apparently responds to emails.

Worth a shot I guess.

I was thinking someone less prominent (and thus less emailed), but I guess I can try. Do we know of any other games where the source is preserved by a third party but the rights are owned by Activison-Blizzard?

On the less prominent side, you might have better luck getting in touch with someone within the M$ "family".

Chuck some tweets at Brian Fargo maybe for example.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

 

[deuxhero]

Any suggestions on who to write at MS to beg for allowing an Arcanum source code release once it goes through?

Phil Spencer apparently responds to emails.

Worth a shot I guess.

I was thinking someone less prominent (and thus less emailed), but I guess I can try. Do we know of any other games where the source is preserved by a third party but the rights are owned by Activison-Blizzard?

On the less prominent side, you might have better luck getting in touch with someone within the M$ "family".

Chuck some tweets at Brian Fargo maybe for example.

I don't have a Twitter though.

Any suggestions on this draft?

Dear Mr. Spencer

Now that Microsoft owns Activison-Blizzard, I would like to see Microsoft agree to modify Timothy Cain’s contract with Sierra (owned by Activison-Blizzard) for the 2001 game Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura so that he can publicly release the source code to his custom engine which powered the game. The cost to this would be essentially noting, as Mr. Cain still has the source code and believes th solee reason his contract prohibited the release of Arcanum’s source code was that this code would have allowed bypassing the DRM attached to the game. This DRM was already bypassed (without use of the source code) well over two decades ago and since 2010 the game has been officially been sold digitally, by Activison-Blizzard, without the DRM, making the contract’s original concern moot. Mr. Cain has worked for your company for several years and still contracts with you so he is already known to you. Mr. Cain is an old man with no children, and this game is his legacy and so should be preserved for the future.

As a secondary request, I would like to see Microsoft offer an amnesty to anyone who comes forward with recovered source code for older Activison-Blizzard products and promise to attempt to release such recovered code under an open source license where possible. Shoddy record keeping and poor backup policy have resulted in publishers losing the source code to much of their back catalog. It’s also no secret that developers often take assets home with them, despite policy against it, and that such unauthorized backups have saved many projects after data loss (Toy Story 2 would not have released if not for such). Such a program would be beneficial to Microsoft and gamers, as it would enable easy porting of these games to modern systems, allowing them to be playable (and sold) indefinitely: Doom (now owned by Microsoft) continues to sell three decades after its release almost entirely due to the public release of its source code in 1997, which has allowed it to be ported to almost anything with a processor. These sorts of releases would also give Microsoft an easy solution to any questions on how the acquisition of Activison-Blizzard benefits consumers.


Thank you for your time.

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Don't forget the THPS game that's still epic exclusive.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

Or Lost Vikings. I think even Blizzard forgot about it. Seeing it come to GOG would be welcome.
You know its forgotten when the last time its been referenced was in Starcraft 2. Like, 13 years ago.

 

[Blutwurstritter]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Has Microsoft ever put a game on GOG? Most notable games made or published by Microsoft are not on GOG. The whole Mechwarrior/Mechcommander series is missing, except the newest one that is not affiliated with MS. The same goes for all Age of Empires/Mythology games. Black and White, and Fable come to mind, also missing.
My guess is that they still stick to DRM in form of some sort of account or client, and won't put games on GOG. I hope they won't pull Warcraft and Diablo but I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to remove games that are currently available. I don't think that Microsoft is still as retarded as in the early XBox years when it comes to restrictions on games but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Does someone know titles by Microsoft that are on GOG?

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

Oh dear, you might be right. Searching for Microsoft on the GOG store yields nothing.
Searching for say, Obsidian, however, returns the Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, ect.
Searching for Blizzard gives you Diablo and Warcraft.

 

[Blutwurstritter]

There is a Dungeon Siege collection and I think Dungeon Siege 1&2 were published by Microsoft, but I don't know if MS still holds the rights or if someone else brought it to GOG. Its not clear where Microsoft stands exactly, but they certainly are not making much of an effort to bring games to GOG.

 

[Akachi]

Kotick is a sleazeball that abused workers, milked consumers and at worst ruined some game franchises. Microsoft is an empire built on monopolies and robbing poor countries through shady deals. It's nice you go for the lesser evil :D

I thought the milk belonged to an employee, not a consumer that Bobby Kotick personally milked.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Sounds like you are getting ready to sue them if they don't comply. Phil tries hard to be like a regular dude. Try talking to him like that.

 

[Tacgnol]

Any suggestions on this draft?

I'd make the tone a little bit less formal and try to make it a little more concise. If you're emailing Spencer he's gonna be busy so whilst there is nothing inaccurate with what you are saying, I'd try to cut it down a bit.

 

[deuxhero]

Any suggestions on this draft?

I'd make the tone a little bit less formal and try to make it a little more concise. If you're emailing Spencer he's gonna be busy so whilst there is nothing inaccurate with what you are saying, I'd try to cut it down a bit.

Any suggestions on where it comes off as overly formal and unconsice?

 

[Tacgnol]

Any suggestions on this draft?

I'd make the tone a little bit less formal and try to make it a little more concise. If you're emailing Spencer he's gonna be busy so whilst there is nothing inaccurate with what you are saying, I'd try to cut it down a bit.

Any suggestions on where it comes off as overly formal and unconsice?

Maybe something like:

Hi Phil,

Tim Cain, the legendary designer of Fallout, recently stated he has the source code to the Activision-published game, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. Tim would like to release the source code to this but is unable to due to requiring permission from Activision. As a gamer and someone that understands the importance of retaining access to legacy titles, is there any chance you could find out what is going on with the license in this case and whether it would be possible to get Tim permission to release it.

Thanks,
X

Short and to the point. Phil prides himself on being an approachable Gabe Newell type so a more casual tone would be fine.

 

[Abu Antar]

Hi, Phil,

Please, dear God in heaven; do not defile Arcanum. There is this Czechoslovakian interior decorator, I mean Serbian indie rpg developer. Lend him the IP, to work with a studio named Iron Tower Studio. Also contact the übermench Cleveland Mark Blakemore and give him a leading role. These three developers will together create the sequel to Arcanum.

PS: Also hire Cristobal Avalonio, not to be confused with Chris Avellone

Thanks,
X

 

[J1M]

Kotick is a sleazeball that abused workers, milked consumers and at worst ruined some game franchises. Microsoft is an empire built on monopolies and robbing poor countries through shady deals. It's nice you go for the lesser evil :D

You think his chances of being executive VP of Microsoft Games are zero?

 

[Atlantico]

Kotick is a sleazeball that abused workers, milked consumers and at worst ruined some game franchises. Microsoft is an empire built on monopolies and robbing poor countries through shady deals. It's nice you go for the lesser evil :D

You think his chances of being executive VP of Microsoft Games are zero?

I don't expect to see Bobby again. He's cashing out.

 

[deuxhero]

There's also the fact that he's a PR nightmare. Letting him retire after the merger lets the blame all the stolen breast milk (etc.) fall on him, even if they don't say anything (at most "The effected offices are under new management.").

 

[abija]

Or Lost Vikings. I think even Blizzard forgot about it. Seeing it come to GOG would be welcome.
You know its forgotten when the last time its been referenced was in Starcraft 2. Like, 13 years ago.

They are in a "new" dungeon in current WoW expansion.

You think his chances of being executive VP of Microsoft Games are zero?

I think given the opportunity he would do Billy proud but gaming division is not the place to showcase that kind of skillset.

 

[Russia is over. The end.]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

 

[Mise]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

There are currently thousands of MMOs on Steam, as well as another tens of thousands multiplayer games, having the same needs as WoW. Blizzard doesn't want to give up their 30%(which I'm sure Microsoft can get it down to ~10-15% sort of like EA did). But Blizzard is being smart, why pay a company milions of dollars (of lost revenue) when a somewhat better client won't do their games much difference.

 

[Russia is over. The end.]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

There are currently thousands of MMOs on Steam, as well as another tens of thousands multiplayer games, having the same needs as WoW. Blizzard doesn't want to give up their 30%(which I'm sure Microsoft can get it down to ~10-15% sort of like EA did). But Blizzard is being smart, why pay a company milions of dollars (of lost revenue) when a somewhat better client won't do their games much difference.

Which mmo is on steam without a third party updater? How does that work?

 

[Mise]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

There are currently thousands of MMOs on Steam, as well as another tens of thousands multiplayer games, having the same needs as WoW. Blizzard doesn't want to give up their 30%(which I'm sure Microsoft can get it down to ~10-15% sort of like EA did). But Blizzard is being smart, why pay a company milions of dollars (of lost revenue) when a somewhat better client won't do their games much difference.

Which mmo is on steam without a third party updater? How does that work?

Sorry, I might not have been clear enough. I was saying the client isn't a barrier for the game to be on Steam, but their business interest are, since they would've used their client anyways.

 

[Russia is over. The end.]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

There are currently thousands of MMOs on Steam, as well as another tens of thousands multiplayer games, having the same needs as WoW. Blizzard doesn't want to give up their 30%(which I'm sure Microsoft can get it down to ~10-15% sort of like EA did). But Blizzard is being smart, why pay a company milions of dollars (of lost revenue) when a somewhat better client won't do their games much difference.

Which mmo is on steam without a third party updater? How does that work?

Sorry, I might not have been clear enough. I was saying the client isn't a barrier for the game to be on Steam, but their business interest are, since they would've used their client anyways.

What business interests though? They have in-app purchases, and wow is a free game technically, at least until level 10. Steam doesn't support selling subscriptions anyway, even if it forbade in-app sales, which it doesn't.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/dea...pause-appeal-over-activision-deal-2023-07-17/

Microsoft granted two-month pause of UK appeal over Activision deal​

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - Microsoft's (MSFT.O) appeal against Britain's block on its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) was formally paused by a London tribunal on Monday, to give the parties more time to resolve the dispute.

Microsoft, Activision and Britain's competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), had all asked for a two-month stay of the case after the CMA said it would consider a modified deal put forward by Microsoft.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled on Monday that the full hearing of Microsoft's appeal, which was due to begin on July 28, should be adjourned.

Judge Marcus Smith said he was willing to adjourn next week's hearing if the CMA provided set out why it considers there has been a material change in circumstances or special reason justifying its adjournment application.

The judge also asked for the CMA to set out any new consultation process "so that everybody is clear as to how it will work".

The CMA in April became the first major regulator to block the acquisition of the "Call of Duty" maker, citing concerns about the impact on competition in cloud gaming.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also opposed the tie-up, but suffered a major defeat last week when a federal court rejected the FTC's application to temporarily halt the deal.

In Britain, the CMA's final report is usually the last word. Companies cannot offer remedies after its publication and their only recourse is to the CAT.

But last week, less than an hour after a U.S. federal court ruled the deal could go ahead, the CMA said it could look again at a modified proposal. It later said a restructured deal could satisfy its concerns subject to a new investigation.

All sides applied for a two-month pause of the case at the CAT, which the CMA's lawyers said in court filings will "allow the CMA and the parties to engage swiftly and constructively in relation to Microsoft's proposals".

David Bailey, a lawyer representing the CMA, told the tribunal that the FTC's initial defeat "formed no part of the CMA's thinking" when it decided it would look at a new deal.

He added: "Based upon the discussion to date, both sides - Microsoft and the CMA - have confidence that Microsoft notifying a restructured transaction is capable of addressing the concerns that the CMA has identified."

Microsoft's lawyer Daniel Beard said: "The UK is the only impediment to closing (the deal) and speed is of the essence."

 

[Atlantico]

Now that the Master has approved the deal, the Vassal will concede.

 

[Elttharion]

Hopefully this means that that shitty blizzard client gets retired and everything becomes available on Steam and GOG.

Can't release WoW on Steam just yet with the way Steam is. Steam polls for updates very infrequently and WoW needs to make sure the client is up to date before every launch.

There are currently thousands of MMOs on Steam, as well as another tens of thousands multiplayer games, having the same needs as WoW. Blizzard doesn't want to give up their 30%(which I'm sure Microsoft can get it down to ~10-15% sort of like EA did). But Blizzard is being smart, why pay a company milions of dollars (of lost revenue) when a somewhat better client won't do their games much difference.

Which mmo is on steam without a third party updater? How does that work?

Sorry, I might not have been clear enough. I was saying the client isn't a barrier for the game to be on Steam, but their business interest are, since they would've used their client anyways.

What business interests though? They have in-app purchases, and wow is a free game technically, at least until level 10. Steam doesn't support selling subscriptions anyway, even if it forbade in-app sales, which it doesn't.

Steam sells ESO plus subs and you can pay your FF14 sub with your Steam wallet if you bought the game on there. You go to the FF14 site and there is a Steam option to renew your sub, every 30 days the game will use your Steam default payment method to pay for your sub automatically.