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Activsion is an American video game developer and publisher. Most of the company is now owned by Vivendi SA. Activision was founded on the 1st of October, 1979 and it was the first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles.
Activision’s first games, Dragster, Boxing, Fishing Derby, and Checkers hit the shelves in 1980. These products were cartridges for the Atari 2600 console.
In 1981, David Crane's Freeway, Larry Kaplan's Kaboom!, Bob Whitehead's Stampede and Alan Miller's Ice Hockey .
In 1982, Activision released Starmaster and Barnstorming
The Crash
With Activision being one of the best, there was a lot of 'copy-cat' companies, companies that would produce low-quality games for a lower price than Activison. 1983 Failing to sell their low-quality games, the companies were picked off and shut down, leaving warehouses full of games. And retailers bought these games for $3 each, selling to shops at $4 each, with a retail price of $5. This happened right before Christmas of 1983, so as Activision released their high-quality $40 games, sales of top quality games fell to almost zero.
Getting Through the Crash
Activision began to focus on creating PC games. 1984 saw the release of Crane’s well-regarded movie game Ghostbusters as well as his Pitfall II: Lost Caverns. The latter was published across a variety of platforms including the VCS, Commodore 64, Apple, and Atari's 8-bit computers.
Unfortunately, the video game market continued to decline and Activision’s stock plummeted. With nowhere to go, Alan Miller and Bob Whitehead left the company to form Accolade.
In 1988, Activision changed its name to Mediagenic. The CEO was Bruce Davis. The company established itself as a producer of business software by publishing Danny Goodman's Focal Point and Business Class as well as Paintworks and Reports. However, Mediagenic continued to release games under the Activision brand names. In 1989, it published a CD-ROM version of The Manhole – one of the first games available for PC CD drives.
Death of Mediagenic
The BHK Corporation acquired Mediagenic, with Robert Kotick replacing Bruce Davis as the CEO. The company was completely restructured, and the company re-branded itself as Activision in 1992. The headquarters were moved to Los Angeles.
Back on its Feet
With its focus completely on games, Activision got back on its feet in 1994 with the game Return to Zork. Over the next ten years, Activison published a string of titles like Mechwarrior 2. Quake II, Interstate '76, Spycraft: The Great Game, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Tony Hawk Pro Skater
With the coming of the new century, Activison managed to restore itself, creating franchises like Call of Duty, Doom 3, Guitar Hero[/i] and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
On the 2nd of December, 2007, it was announced that Activision would be acquired by Vivendi, with Vivendi contributing to its gaming division and supplying cash, in exchange for a majority stake in the company. The merge took place on the 9th of July, 2008, the newly formed company is known as Activision Blizzard. Activision still exists as a subsidiary owned by Activision Blizzard.
On the 19th of June, 2009, Activision stated the company was considering dropping development support for Sony's Playstation 3. Because “The PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they [Sony] don't make it easy for us [Activison] to support the platform. It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better.” This statement aligns with the company's statements made last year, which asked for price cuts for all major seventh generation home consoles by 2009.
Software Highlights from Credited Titles
Activision's first work that SPOnG is aware of is the 1981 title, "Dragster" (Atari 2600/VCS).
The company has been involved titles released on the PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, 3DS/2DS, PSVita, Wii U, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, DS/DSi, iPad, iPhone, Android, PS2, Power Mac, PSP, Xbox, GameCube, GBA, N-Gage, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, N64, Nuon, Game Boy, Saturn, Jaguar, Sega Megadrive, SNES, Amiga, Amiga AGA, ST, Sega Master System, NES, C64, Spectrum 48K, Sinclair Spectrum 128K, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari 5200, Atari 400/800/XL/XE, Atari 2600/VCS, Intellivision and Colecovision. Of these, "Kung Fu Panda" (Xbox 360), "Spider-Man" (PlayStation), "Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro" (PlayStation), "Tony Hawk's Skateboarding" (PlayStation), "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" (PS3) has been a best selling title.
The company's most recent involvement was on the 2019 release "Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare" (Xbox One).
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Related Press Releases
23 Sep 2015
02 Sep 2015
09 Jul 2015
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People
| Rob Letts | Executive Producer | 98 | - | ... | |
| Nick Goldsworthy | Associate/Assistant Producer | 1 Jan 89 | - | 30 Sept 92 | |
| Nick Pelling | Programmer | 85 | - | 87 | |
| Jonathan Dean | Production Management | 86 | - | 88 | |
| Nina Jenkins | Marketing/PR |
Related Press Releases
Details announced
23 Sep 2015
Details announced
02 Sep 2015
New All-Star Zombies Cast Features Jeff Goldblum, Heather Graham, Neal McDonough, Ron Perlman and Robert Picardo
09 Jul 2015
Fans get chance to play new Tony Hawk PS5 ahead of launch on Birdhouse Tour
09 Jul 2015
In-Game Adventure and Rewards Available on Custom-Designed Destiny Red Bull Cans
24 Jun 2015
Sequel to the Most Played Series in Call of Duty History Arrives on Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 system and PC Friday, 6th November
27 Apr 2015
32 Professional Teams From Around the Globe Compete for $1 Million Playing Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
27 Mar 2015
Teams from across Europe will battle it out for a place in LA and a shot at the $1million prize
10 Feb 2015
DLC details announced
14 Jan 2015
Power Changes Everything on November 4 - Starring Academy Award® Winning Actor Kevin Spacey, New Call of Duty Delivers a Stunning Vision of the Future
06 May 2014
Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced TRANSFORMERS™: RISE OF THE DARK SPARK™
17 Feb 2014
Activision Blizzard remains committed to the transaction and is exploring the steps it will take to complete the transaction as expeditiously as possible
19 Sep 2013
On 26th September, the epic season of Downloadable Content (DLC) for Call of Duty®: Black Ops II culminates with the release of Apocalypse for PlayStation®3 and PC fans.
05 Sep 2013
Unveil Angry Birds™ Star Wars for gaming systems
18 Jul 2013
Third Downloadable Content Pack Coming First, Exclusively on Xbox Live, Fully Loaded with Four All-New Multiplayer Maps, Including a Re-Imagined Classic, and the Epic, New Zombies Experience, "Buried"
19 Jun 2013
A Volcanic Town Overflown with Hot Lava. A Reimagining of Call of Duty®: Black Ops' "Firing Range" Map. And Zombie Mobsters in Alcatraz. Yep…
05 Apr 2013
Pre-Order Incentives Announced
07 Feb 2013
Players to Compete for $1 Million Purse in Worldwide Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Tournament Taking Place in Hollywood, CA April 5-7
01 Feb 2013
Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, Most Anticipated Entertainment Release of the Year, Now Available Worldwide Follow-up to Best-Selling Game Ever on Xbox 360® and PlayStation ® 3 Shatters Global Pre-Orders;
14 Nov 2012
WHAT: Midnight official launch event - WHERE: HMV London, 150 Oxford Street, W1 - WHEN: Mon 12th November 2012 from 22.00 hrs/ for official sale at 00.01 hrs Tues 13th Nov.
05 Nov 2012
Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC to be Sold Separately via the Discounted Season Pass Bundle or a la carte as Individual Map Packs - Call of Duty Elite Service Set to Unite Fans with New Features
16 Oct 2012
Blizzard Entertainment today unveiled plans for several official global launch events celebrating the upcoming release of World of Warcraft®: Mists of Pandaria™
05 Sep 2012
Activision and High Moon Studios Bring the Hasbro Canon Story to Life in the Epic Wars that Lead to the TRANSFORMERS Exodus from Cybertron
24 Aug 2012
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that all parties to the litigation have reached a settlement of the dispute, the terms of which are strictly confidential.
01 Jun 2012
All-New Face Off Distills Call of Duty® Multiplayer Into One-on-One and Two-on-Two Gameplay
23 May 2012
The game takes a hybrid approach combining military strategy and fast-paced first-person action gaming as players take control of a powerful naval fleet and experience the cinematic action of war at sea
15 May 2012
Near Future Setting, Branching Storylines, Advanced Weaponry and New Graphics Technology Combine to Deliver the Most Ambitious Call of Duty to Date THE FUTURE IS BLACK™ on November 13, 2012
03 May 2012
The Prehistoric Pals Compete in Ice Age: Continental Drift – Arctic Games this Summer
25 Apr 2012
To celebrate the James Bond franchise's 50th anniversary, Activision Publishing, Inc will launch gamers back through time to relive a selection of Bond's most iconic and intense undercover missions from the popular Bond film franchise with 007™ Legends
18 Apr 2012
New Action Brawler Game Planned to Launch this Year Exclusively on Nintendo Platforms
15 Mar 2012
Microsoft Veteran To Join Company's Senior Management Team
06 Mar 2012
Tactical Naval Warfare, Combined with First-Person, Boots-on-the-Ground Gameplay, Lands this Spring
08 Feb 2012
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3’s Content Season for Call of Duty® Elite continues with the release of the brand new map Overwatch, available on 21st February for Premium Members on Xbox 360
08 Feb 2012
All-New Multiplayer Levels Liberation and Piazza Available Today for Call of Duty® Elite Premium Members on Xbox LIVE
27 Jan 2012
Already Pegged A Holiday Hit By Consumers And Industry, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure™ Spreads Its Wings At universe.skylanders.com
14 Dec 2011
Fans worldwide are rejoicing today as they embark on a discovery of an entirely different side of Moshi Monsters, as a new type of gameplay within the Moshi Universe
07 Nov 2011
Details of Successor to the Critically Acclaimed War for Cybertron Game Revealed in Upcoming Game Informer Magazine Cover Story
07 Oct 2011
Win the privilege of representing Britain’s best at the first ever Call of Duty® XP fan celebration in Los Angeles, California on 2nd-3rd September, 2011
29 Jul 2011
"Dstroyd" by Peter Angstadt takes First Place while "Rigonauts: Broadside" by Engient Receives Second Place
27 Jul 2011
Online Service for the Call of Duty Community Opens Worldwide Xbox 360® Beta on Call of Duty®: Black Ops
15 Jul 2011
Global Battle.net® Invitational and GSL October Final Set to Take Place Before Sell-Out Crowd at Blizzard Entertainment's Upcoming Gaming Festival
12 Jul 2011
All-New Map Pack and Gripping Zombies Experience Set to Annihilate Xbox Gamers Today
28 Jun 2011
Activision publish Little Leage world series baseball 2010, for PS3 and XB360
15 Jul 2010
Hand-Picked Roster of World-Renowned Musicians Featured in the Game’s Exclusive Mixes Highlight the Biggest Names in Pop, Dance and Hip Hop Music.
15 Jul 2010
Experience pro tournament fishing action like never before!
15 Jul 2010
Liverpool-based production services company announces collaboration on Activision title.
12 Jul 2010
Availability for Playstation 3 System and Windows PC
06 Jul 2010
For the First Time Control Towering Bakugan, Completely Customizable With Devastating Attacks
09 Jun 2010
Multi-Title, Multi-Year Agreement for Blockbuster Franchise Extends Through 2012
14 May 2010
A new single-player level for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is available for download now for PlayStation 3 owners through the PlayStation Network.
19 Feb 2010
DJ Hero Offers Budding Musicians the Chance to Have One of Their Tracks Mixed and Appear in a Future Version of the Popular Music Videogame
15 Jan 2010
Activision to Showcase Several of the Most Anticipated Games of the Year at the 2009 E3 Expo
28 May 2009
Incubus, Wings, Bob Seger, The Shins and Ryan Adams To Bolster The Roster
27 Jan 2009
Dick and Dom review 11 games in 30minutes
28 Nov 2008
Guitar Hero® to Feature Two Exclusive Versions of "Suicide and Redemption" / Downloadable Death Magnetic
11 Sep 2008
Game Set to Deliver Most Authentic Rock and Roll Experience Yet
27 Aug 2008
System 3 and Activision Publishing Ship Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in North America for PlayStation3, PlayStation2, Wii, and Nintendo DS
26 Aug 2008
Tell Your Mum You've Played Donington; Pre-book Your Space On The Third Stage Now; Prizes Awarded To The Day's Best Rocker
29 May 2007
Remember, remember: It'll be out in November.
22 Aug 2006
Move Establishes Unprecedented Level of Collaboration Between Video Game Company and a Hollywood Studio
10 May 2006
Activision Establishes Leadership Position in Music-Based Gaming
09 May 2006
Available Now at Retail Stores Nationwide
09 May 2006
Activision Debuts New Game and Kicks-Off 'Play with the Big Boys Sweepstakes' at Electronic Entertainment Expo
08 May 2006
PSP RPG coming to Europe via Activision.
18 Apr 2005
Individuals within the UK computer and video games industry recognised for excellence.
08 Apr 2005
The Game Initiative announces the keynote speakers for the first annual Women’s Game Conference (WGC) taking place September 9-10 in Austin, Texas.
18 Aug 2004
For students and professionals looking to break into the game industry.
12 Aug 2004
Activision buys Luxoflux, developer of Vigilante 8 series and True Crimes: Streets of LA
08 Mar 2004
Leading adventure game developer Infocom, famed for Zork series, is acquired by Activision.
08 Mar 2004
Leading Action Sports Console Developer Further Strengthens Activision’s Market Position
08 Mar 2004
Acquisition enhances company’s ability to create games for next generation consoles.
08 Mar 2004
Activision acquires exclusive worldwide interactive entertainment rights to columbia picture's multi-million dollar feature film "Spider-Man"
08 Mar 2004
Activision takes on the Russian and Chinese mobs with the announcement of True Crime: Streets of L.A.
27 Oct 2003
LucasArts Teams with Activision and Luxoflux to Develop Demolition-Style Star Wars Game.
27 Oct 2003
Highly Anticipated Action Drama Features Over 50 Original Music Tracks Largest Collection Ever Showcased in a Video Game
28 Sep 2003
True Crime: Streets of L.A.
15 May 2003
Gray Matter Interactive Studios Set to Develop New Wolfenstein Game Using Quake III Arena Engine.
06 Feb 2003
The list of official nominations for this year’s Golden Joystick Awards is announced.
17 Sep 2002
Experience a new dimension in rally driving. Engine screaming, hair-raising action and super-realistic features put you in the driving seat.
03 Jul 2002
Activision set to distribute highly anticipated game worldwide.
07 May 2002
Activision’s Star Trek Elite Force II for the PC.
05 Apr 2002
Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 Were #1 and #2 Best-Selling Third-Party Titles For Week of March 18-24, 2002.
03 Apr 2002
Activision takes control of software developer Treyarch Invention LLC.
28 Dec 2001
Blueyonder multiplayer gaming welcomes Return to Castle Wolfenstein with its first ever ‘credit-free weekend’.
10 Dec 2001
After securing the interactive rights for the BBC TV game show hit, The Weakest Link, Activision confirms the game's U.K. release date.
28 Sep 2001
Enter Electro exits...at least for the time being.
17 Sep 2001
Latest Lara Croft adventure for Nintendo’s Game Boy Color timed to ship in the US the week of June 25th.
21 Jun 2001
Activision Among First Wave of Third-Party Publishers to Support Nintendo's Highly Anticipated Platform
29 May 2001
"You're a truck driver and you know nothing about lemons, goodbye. "
29 May 2001
Activision O2 Action Sports Brand Reinforces Company's Heritage of Fun, Gravity Defying Games That Feature the Most Legendary Athletes of the Sport.
29 May 2001
A press release that releases information to the press.
29 May 2001
Lucas Arts have taken the lead on Sony's next generation platform once again with the release of the fourth chapter in their Monkey Island series.
21 May 2001
Truck on! Well, that's what an old fart like myself would say. Does anyone around here remember Stacy Peralta?
17 May 2001
BBC Multimedia signs interactive publishing deal for Weakest Link with Activision.
17 Apr 2001
Lucasarts to release acclaimed Escape From Monkey Island on Sony's next generation platform, Spring 2001.
16 Mar 2001
There's no time for Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre' as the ultimate Disney cart racing game (PSX & GBC) is unleashed on the streets on March 7th.
28 Feb 2001
HotGen Studios has completed work on BXS Stunt Biking, a stunning Game Boy Color title due for release via Activision.
28 Oct 2000
Activision announces music tracks featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
31 Jul 2000
Activision's X-Men: Mutant Academy Positioned to Become Summer Smash.
21 Jul 2000
Gray Matter Interactive Studios set to develop new Wolfenstein game using Quake III Arena Engine.
20 Jul 2000
Gamers get the chance to take command of the sprawlers in their battle for independence.
30 Jun 2000
Activision takes strategy gamers to the internet and beyond in Star Trek Conquest Online.
28 Jun 2000
New Television Series Inspires Video Game for the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation Game Console and Game Boy® Color Systems.
28 May 2000
Id And Activision Showcase Quake III: Team Arena at This Years E3.
28 May 2000
Squad-Based Strategy Title Boldly Goes Where No Star Trek® Game Has Gone Before.
28 May 2000
Activision Showcases Orphen for the PlayStation 2! Computer Entertainment System at E3.
11 May 2000
Activision And Acclaimed Developer Totally Games Team Up To Deliver The First Space Sim Based On Star Trek: The Next Generation®.
28 Mar 2000
Activision Takes RPG Gamers To A New Realm Populated With Dragons And Mystics In Wizards & Warriors.
28 Feb 2000
Activision to Create Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX for the PlayStation Game Console.
28 Feb 2000
Sequel to the smash hit Tony Hawk's Skateboarding To Deliver the Most Advanced Skateboarding Experience Ever.
22 Feb 2000
Call to Power II Prepares to Conquer the PC Landscape.
15 Feb 2000
In a pilot study, twelve frequently angry young men were taught to lose their cool.
21 Jan 2000
Activision buys low budget software company Elsinor, makers of best-selling value-priced Cabela's Big Game Hunting series.
28 Dec 1999
Activision acquires Neversoft Entertainment, developer of the Tony Hawk's series and the first MDK title.
28 Dec 1999
Agreement Marks Marvel's First Umbrella Deal With Independent Software Publisher.
28 Oct 1999
Activision To Bring The First Star Trek Game To The Playstation Game Console.
21 Jul 1999
Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life lets players run, fly and slide through an incredible interactive journey.
28 Jun 1999
ACTIVISION RAISES THE BAR IN THE AUTO-COMBAT CATEGORY WITH VIGILANTE 8: SECOND OFFENCE
22 Jan 1999
Renowned Marvel Comic's Super Hero Will Bring Swift Action and Adventure to Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 Game Consoles.
28 Dec 1998
Activision completes its initial public offering, becoming a leading international developer/publisher of video games for console systems.
28 Dec 1983