Maryanne Lataif, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Activision Blizzard has responded to Tim Schafer’s noise that, amongst other claims, Kotick is a ‘prick‘.
Mr. Schafer attacked Mr. Kotick whilst comparing games deveopment to producing soap, a previously unmade connection between coding and Lemon and Jasmine body wash. Ms. Lataif has stepped up to defend Mr. Kotick against any such allegations of disliking games;
“Tim Schafer’s comment that Bobby Kotick ‘makes a big deal about not liking games’ just isn’t true. Bobby has always been passionate about games, and loves the video game industry.
But as CEO of a company that makes games enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, the demands on his time now make it difficult to play games as often as he’d like to or as much as he once did. As Schafer himself notes, he has never actually met Bobby Kotick.”
Nice to hear that Bob does enjoy gaming, lets hope he find a few minutes to ‘tear up the funky house scene’ on DJ Hero.
Source: IndustryGamers
haz360
I like how the statement doesn’t mention him not being a prick :)
Bladesteel
I literally LOLed! Have a cookie.
And the problem is that while he may love games, he loves money even more, and hates gamers.
theDAZBOMEGATRON
Yeah monopoly!
td_rules
Bobby you can save time by buying Money Counting Machines.
Then you’ll have all the time in the world!
gazzagb
He probably plays “No Russian” over and over again.
cc_star
Although it goes along with current popular opinion, calling someone you’ve never met a prick is bad form and says as much about Tim Schafer as it does about anybody else.
Mike
How many people on TSA have met him though? A lot of people on here share the same view as Tim.
nofi
Tim hasn’t met him, has he?
cc_star
Yeah, that’s why I said about popular opinion.
Its a mixture of him making statements that sit better with shareholders than gamers and the hive mind of the internet (both writers & readers) but does anyone know he actually is a prick?
Tuffcub
Mr Kotick is a fine and upstanding business leader, I like him lots. We could all learn from his example.
Mike
People make prejudgements about other people all of the time without actually meeting them. However, due to him knowing this would be put out to the wider world, it probably wasn’t appropriate for him to say it.
cc_star
Exactly
seedaripper1973
Oh come on, he IS a prick (read any of his latest outbursts/money raking rants)
cc_star
He’s the CEO of the biggest gaming company in the world, and the only big company to turn a profit.
He’s CEO because the board/shareholders made him CEO because of his ability to grow the brand and make money, any statements he makes about making money just reinforce the fact he’s the right man for the job.
However I will say he should run more of his statements via his Communications Dept before opening his mouth.
seedaripper1973
I don’t dispute anything you’ve said there cc, and because of that it makes him a prick (yes i’m bitter)
*sits and sobs at lifes failings*
Severn2j
Its interesting that statements of wringing as much money as possible out of the industry come from Bobby himself, but when it comes to “Actually I do like games” statements, they come from “The Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications”.. Sounds like damage control to me and I reckon Bobby hasn’t had any input in this statement at all.
cc_star
I wonder where his communications team has been for the past 12 months? Every single company does it.
Look what happens to an MP who speaks off the cuff without going through their communications team first
Porcupine_I
Video says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHCVyllnck
newsky87
The “I hate Kotick bandwagon” is so crowded these days it’s not even funny.
At the end of the day, the guy is out to make money, not friends. And he is arguably the most successful money maker in the industry, good for him. I doubt there’s a successful CEO in any business that hasn’t had to make unpopular decisions at some point. But hey, they get to go home to a nice house in a nice car and don’t have to worry about paying the bills. Sounds good to me, if I could have 10% of his success I’d be a very happy person.
mugsybalone
Of course he likes games. He just likes a healthy profit even more!
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
Of course he likes games. thats where his money comes from
eirekun
I think calling him a prick in an industry article is a bit out of order, as accurate as it may or may not be. I don’t like what BK makes of the gaming industry but he’s meant to look for profits not pals. That said, the creation of Respawn & the coming lawsuits suggests he’s not the golden touch all the time. So he’ll get to retire with his millions & someone new will get to try out for ‘most disliked’ in the games industry. I’m sure they’ll try to McD the business for all it’s worth too.