The pundits at Market Watch have spoken, and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was named as one of the finalists for the title of CEO of the Year.
Activision's wanton exploitation of video game franchises might tick us off, but the key thing to remember here is that the man isn't beholden to us – he's at the mercy of shareholders. And as far as the shareholders are concerned, anything that boosts the bottom line is good business.
Kotick shared his all-too-familiar business plan with Market Watch: "If you constantly think about building an institutional business with lasting value, ultimately the market rewards you and your shareholders." While that mantra meant bilking gamers whenever an opportunity arose, and driving the Tony Hawk franchise into the ground (with the unending iterations of Guitar Hero and Call of Duty looming near that particular grave), the end result was unparalleled success, and the formation of the world's largest game publisher, Activision Blizzard.
While we might not like what he's done with the place, the house that Kotick built will be standing for a long time. But what does this success mean for the rest of the video game industry? My advice: Grudgingly salute his intelligence and business savvy, but think twice before dabbling in microtransactions, or plunking down pre-order money for yet another sequel.
Image courtesy Activision
Bobby Kotick Changes The Game At Activision [Market Watch]
