Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick yesterday explained the possibility of non-console versions of the Guitar Hero franchise during a 45-minute presentation at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco.
Kotich said that without being tether to a specific console version, Activison would have “some leverage with first parties when it comes to downloadable content and the business model” and a promise that the industry can ”expect many of our products to be playable independent of a console.”
Kotick didn’t explain his comments further, leaving many to surmise that Kotick intends on having plug-and-play “Guitar Hero” games sold along with Proactiv and knock-off iPhone cases at Mall kiosks. Kotick also said Activision hasn’t received any indication of new hardware from the big three console makers.
Normally pre-development specs make their way to developers roughly two years before a new console launch. If Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are playing things close to the chest we are in for a long console generation.
Kotick’s presentation also talked about the general mood at his company. Kotick said he has tried to instill into the company culture “skepticism, pessimism, and fear” during the current/waning/all-your-opposing-political-party’s-fault global recession.”We are very good at keeping people focused on the deep depression.”
Perhaps that’s why Activision sees the need to charge full price for an expansion and extra player models for games like “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” and “Guitar Hero: Van Halen.”
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