Activision Sues To Halt Brütal Legend Release

[violent]

Activision has taken the next step to what will surely make them the most beloved company in this industry today. Seems they don't want us to play the upcoming Double Fine title. Yahoo News reports:

LOS ANGELES – A lawsuit filed by Activision may keep Jack Black from becoming a "Brutal Legend" later this year.

Activision Entertainment Holdings Inc. sued game developer Double Fine Productions Inc. on Wednesday to try to stop the release of "Brutal Legend" by rival Electronic Arts.

The lawsuit, filed in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, claims Double Fine failed to deliver "Brutal Legend" on time. The suit also claims the firm then offered the completed game to EA.

"Brutal Legend" is scheduled for release in October. It features Black as a heavy-metal roadie transported to a mythical ancient world to fight evil.

Will metal prevail? Dio says "yes."

Source

[Narradisall]

FUCK ME.

Acti-fuckers have officially taken the number cunt-fucker spot in the gaming industry.

Taking that golden crown in a literally short time is breathtaking, but COME ON with this bullshit?!?!?! Why didn't they sue months ago?

Sorry about the bad language, but fuck that noise.

[H.Bogard]

Pretty sure EA's lawyers are more experienced than anything Acti can bring. They'll be paying through their noses.

[torrefaction]

If this happens, I will never, ever, ever, ever buy an Activision game again. Ever.

[Ink Asylum]

Dickwads. Reminds me of the bullshit Fox pulled with Watchmen: "Nah, we don't want to do it, but if you find someone else who will and it looks like you'll actually be successful we'll find some legal loophole to cause you grief like a bitter, spiteful ex."

I'm not a huge metal fan but I'm really looking forward to this game. This better not screw that up.

[EternalGamer]

Originally Posted by torrefaction

If this happens, I will never, ever, ever, ever buy an Activision game again. Ever.

This is just big company blackmailing another. The game will get released. Activision just wants EA to send them bags of money first.

[EternalGamer]

Originally Posted by torrefaction

If this happens, I will never, ever, ever, ever buy an Activision game again. Ever.

Ok, you got me, I was trying to think of an upcoming Activision game that would make you regret such protestations, but I can't think of ANY. I'm sure you'll really regret not playing Tony Hawk: The Ride: The Game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Extra Modern 2, or Guitar Hero: Kid Rock.

Activision just sucks.

It's also no coincidence they are doing this E3. It's the best time for this type of story to get buried, though I'm not sure how they think such a story could ever be "buried" to begin with since Tim Schaefer is one of most beloved game designers.

[danhoo]

This is just a whole load of greedy horseshit going on here. What a bunch of jerks.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

Acti-fuckers have officially taken the number cunt-fucker spot in the gaming industry.

No they've had that for awhile now, helped by the fact EA has been cleaning up its act as of late.

Still, lets hope EA still has their cabal of demonic lawyers chained up in the dungeon hungry for souls.

[total]

Never thought I'd see the day when EA was considered the good guys on this site. They can both blow themselves in my book.

[CES]

Quite a dick move by Acti. Dammit, Metal fans don't get all that many games to focus on.

[Ink Asylum]

Originally Posted by EternalGamer

Activision just sucks.

That's pretty much true. If you ignore Blizzard, which does its own thing, about the only game I'm even mildly interested in coming out from Activision this year is Prototype. I also don't believe I've bought an Activision game since Guitar Hero II.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

That's pretty much true. If you ignore Blizzard, which does its own thing, about the only game I'm even mildly interested in coming out from Activision this year is Prototype. I also don't believe I've bought an Activision game since Guitar Hero II.

Hell, take Blizzard into account. WoW is creatively bankrupt, Starcraft 2 is being split in the stupidest way possible, Diablo 3... well it seems to still be ok so far, but going by Diablo 2's history it won't be playable until 2011 anyway.

[Klunka]

Fuck you Activision.

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by torrefaction

If this happens, I will never, ever, ever, ever buy an Activision game again. Ever.

I'm already there. GH: Metallica is officially my last Activision game.

Here's a funny bit of knowledge: Did you know Atari sued to keep Activision from making games for their console? Too bad Atari lost that lawsuit huh?

Edit: turns out Prototype is an Activision game... oh fate, you are a cruel bitch.

[danhoo]

Wait a second though. The Press Release says Activision is suing Double Fine (Tim's studio), not EA. Will EA really pony up the legal costs for Double Fine?

[crazyD]

Originally Posted by total

Never thought I'd see the day when EA was considered the good guys on this site. They can both blow themselves in my book.

EA has cleaned up recently, and has been putting out new and interesting games, like Brutal Legend. They've also provided good support to independent developers, like Valve and iD. I'm liking them more and more all the time.

Activision, on the other hand, are a group of fucking dicks. Dropping support for a game because it is not an exploitable franchise that can be released yearly, and then suing the publisher that picked up the pieces is fucking low. If Activision actually wanted Brutal Legend, they could have had it.

[AgtFox]

Originally Posted by danhoo

Wait a second though. The Press Release says Activision is suing Double Fine (Tim's studio), not EA. Will EA really pony up the legal costs for Double Fine?

I could see EA backing Double Fine on this. I think both EA and Activision have realized that Brutal Legend could be a really big game (EA did because they picked it up, Activision is now figuring out their mistake). I watched the hands-on with Schaefer on G4 and holy cow this game looks awesome! Activision was stupid to let it out of their grasp.

[DoctorFinger]

This is a shitty thing to do, but not unexpected.

As for everyone who says they'll never buy another Activision title if this delays/cancels Brutal Legend...

And before someone says "But Blizzard is separate from Activision" If that's true, can't you say the same thing about Infinity Ward, Radical and Bizarre Creations?

[Savok]

Originally Posted by danhoo

Wait a second though. The Press Release says Activision is suing Double Fine (Tim's studio), not EA. Will EA really pony up the legal costs for Double Fine?

EA's been pretty supportive of them so far, and this from some months back.

You can't pull that kind of burn then not defend them.

Also on the "yay EA" front, they've been scaling back their bullshit DRM at the behest of the public. The times they are a changin'.

EDIT: Hilariously I'd already given up on Blizzard anyway.

EDIT EDIT: I wonder what this is doing to the quality of the game? An abusive ex won't be doing much for morale.