Former Bungie VP responds to Bobby Kotick’s comments

Comments made last week by Bobby Kotick, head of Activision, echoed across the Web as he declared Bungie to be the last true independent developer. Former Bungie boss responded to Kotick’s comments today.

According to Kotaku, Peter Tamte, former VP of Bungie and now president of Atomic Games, criticized Kotick’s comments in an open letter. Tamte stated that if Bungie was the last remaining high quality independent developer, Kotick would be “screwed.”

Tamte’s reasoning was that without new high quality developers making innovative and fresh games the industry would die out. He listed out several “high quality” titles by development houses such as EPIC Games, Valve and Gearbox.

He also challenges Kotick to put his money where his mouth is by selling just the online portion of Call of Duty: Black Ops as a separate game. This was in response to Kotick boasting how superior Activision’s online experience is. In exchange Tamte offered to star Kotick in Atomic’s new title, Breach.

See below for the full letter:

Mr. Kotick:

You were quoted saying that Bungie is the last remaining high quality independent developer. As a former executive vice president of Bungie, I need to tell you: If this is true, you’re screwed.

Activision and every other big publisher have grown by acquiring independent developers. The industry needs a constant supply of new independent developers to buy because they’re the ones creating innovative games that become franchises.

Gears of War. Portal. Borderlands. None of these games re-hashes the same old formulas. They innovate. And, they’re made by independent developers, of course.

So, we challenge you.

You’ve called Activision the industry’s online leader. If you think the newest Call of Duty online experience is that innovative, let players buy just the online part of Call of Duty Black Ops and charge them a fair price.

In fact, we’ll make you a deal. Let consumers buy just the online part of Call of Duty, and we’ll give you a starring role in our new online game, Breach. Trust me, starring in your own videogame would give you huge street cred. We’ve even mocked up a screenshot to show you how cool you’d look in Breach.

As an independent developer, Atomic can’t spend its way to big sales, like Activision can. We have to innovate. So, if you’re confident Activision can innovate without independent developers, this is your opportunity to prove it.

Sincerely,

Peter Tamte
President
Atomic Games

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