Activision+Blizzard=Trouble for ERTS

In what would be called a pretty stunning announcement it looks like Vivendi is buying out Activision and adding it to their gaming arm which includes Blizzard.

Paris-based Vivendi SA and Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision Inc.
said Sunday that their respective board members had approved a plan to combine
Activision with the French company's game unit, Vivendi Games, which includes
Blizzard and three other divisions.

This really makes a well rounded company that has consoles covered on the Activision side and MMORPGs covered on the Blizzard side. Hmm, we might even see a Starcraft 2 for console that comes out at about the same time as the computer version. I would be willing to bet that it would come with a USB keyboard like thing with hotkeys for various attacking and grouping functions.

This might even be a game changer when it comes to the console and PC converging. This is because most of the newer consoles are essentially gaming rigs stripped down with a controller attached. So I wouldn't be surprised if Sony connects their Gaming Service to a web browser and lets people connect to the internet on their PS3s. All you would need would be a USB keyboard (like the one that came with the potential StarCraft for console) and a copy of Firefox and you would essentially have a new computer for the price of a console. You could even attach a productivity suite and kids could do their homework, connect to MySpace, and play Assassins Creed all from the same box. It would actually be a truly seperate selling point that the PS3 would have over the Xbox360.

In any case I think EA should really fear this company because EA is so very weak when it comes to MMORPGs. Blizzard could come out with that Starcraft 2 for console and then an MMORPG based on the StarCraft universe and it would clean EAs clock. A StarCraft MMORPG that would be available both on console and PC sounds like the next World of Warcraft but with an even greater reach and a built in fan base.

I would be willing to bet even money that the Korean Star Craft MMORPG market may even dwarf the US one in a few years since that game is an insane hit over there. So this new Activision Blizzard would have a broadened international revenue base, carry continued strength in consoles, have established million seller franchises under their belt, and could create a PC/console convergence. I would be willing to call that a game changer.