Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick held an investor call after this weeks earnings announcements and this is one of his statements:

With respect to the franchises that don’t have the potential to be exploited every year across every platform with clear sequel potential that can meet our objectives of over time becoming $100 million plus franchises, that’s a strategy that has worked very well for us.

Lets examine the construct of this statement:

“..franchises..”  – I think it’s really cool to have a quality franchise or great series like Fallout, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, Warcraft, Halo, etc. if you acknowledge all of these titles started out as original IP’s.  There has been a lot of really cool IP’s in the past 2 generations of gaming, but it is really sad when a quality IP or story gets driven into the ground.  I seriously doubt Guitar Hero has many more miles left in it and I will be a very upset consumer if I see a Halo 15.  If there is a great game I’m definitely fan of a sequel, but remember Trends come and go, Fads fade, let it go, give me something new.  A good story has a beginning, middle, and end, not an eternal series of episodes.

“…exploited…”  – Is that what you think when you provide product to your customer base?  Be careful with your words Bobby, that can be easily misinterpreted and upset some of your core customers.

“…every year across every platform…”  – I’m not interested in a game that is released across every platform.  I’m happier with a game that is focused, polished and delivered on time.  I would rather 1 great game on 1 system than 1 decent, possibly buggy game and have my option of 3 systems.

If I put all this together then at this point I’m thinking Bobby is just a factory churning out game after game as long as it carries the label of the last big title it will be fine (COD4 and COD5 anyone?).  Franchises are great but they started as an original title that opened enough people’s minds to make it a good idea to improve, not do the same thing again.  If every year I can expect a Title+1 it makes me wonder if the Big Bad Evil EA has a new name, Activision Blizzard?  I hope not.  Anyone else afraid of the big guy getting bigger and giving you the same old love?  I’m hoping for some little guys and some quality new IP’s (LittleBigPlanet anyone?).