Donkey Kong's Lost 3D Platformer & The Decay of Activision Blizzard

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  • čas přidán 3. 05. 2024
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    Today on Game History Secrets, Liam talks about his journey uncovering the development of a cancelled Donkey Kong 3D Platformer known online as Donkey Kong Freedom. Throughout his research, Liam also gains new insight into the dacy of Activision Blizzard.
    Liam Robertson is a video game researcher and archiver. In his spare time, Liam creates videos and articles for various outlets, and will also be contributing to the Did You Know Gaming channel.
    Follow DYKG on:
    Twitter: bit.ly/2oOavs2
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    Sources/Further Reading:
    DK Vine original article: dkvine.com/?p=news_body&post=...
    Professor chops Famiboards post: famiboards.com/threads/what-w...
    Zippo blog post: zippospeaks.blogspot.com/2023...
    NintendoPrime podcast: • Donkey Kong... is Back...
    famiboards.com/goto/post?id=6...
    famiboards.com/threads/donkey...
    Donkey Kong Freedom Dreams game: indreams.me/dream/mxQHJnFhvWQ
    investor.activision.com/news-...
    polygon.com/2014/4/16/5614716...
    investor.activision.com/news-...
    polygon.com/2016/4/5/11370024...
    venturebeat.com/games/the-bro...
    Gamesindustry.biz Guha Bala interview: • Vicarious to Velan: Fr... &t=4s
    gamesindustry.biz/how-inventi...
    • GamesBeat's interview ...
    • Jeremy Russo over Skyl...
    polygon.com/2019/1/10/1817745...
    gamespot.com/articles/activis...
    • Coddy Johnson, Preside...
    bizjournals.com/albany/news/2...
    kotaku.com/activision-blizzar...
    humanrightsfirst.org/library/...
    kotaku.com/activision-blizzar...
    pbs.twimg.com/media/E6-QyOAXM...
    venturebeat.com/games/ex-bliz...
    news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizz...
    ign.com/articles/blizzard-jen...
    washingtonpost.com/video-game...
    gamesindustry.biz/activision-...
    kotaku.com/activision-blizzar...
    cwa-union.org/news/releases/n...
    businessinsider.com/activisio...
    polygon.com/22891169/activisi...
    kotaku.com.au/2022/01/the-rea...
    sec.gov/news/press-release/20...
    calcivilrights.ca.gov/2023/12...
    polygon.com/23915636/bobby-ko...
    nme.com/news/gaming-news/acti...
    / 1740867338138955848
    wsj.com/articles/activision-v...
    kotaku.com/inside-blizzard-de...
    thegamer.com/activision-blizz...
    windowscentral.com/gaming/xbo...
    gamesindustry.biz/activision-...
    Black Girls Code Jen Oneal video: • Role Models: How I Lan...
    Albany Business Review video: • Vicarious Visions head...
    Tips & Tricks Mike Ybarra interview: • Mike Ybarra Interview ...
    #donkeykong #nintendo #dk #activision
  • Hry

Komentáře • 547

  • @BlueAizu_
    @BlueAizu_ Před 19 dny +42

    The tonal whiplash going from Shigeru Miyamoto being worried about Donkey Kong getting rope burn on his feet from grinding on vines in a game prototype to all of the evil things going on at Activision under Bobby Kotick's watch is pretty insane.

    • @BBWahoo
      @BBWahoo Před 8 dny +2

      It's tonal ropeburn since it took a while for you to really feel a painful sensation

  • @thetoongrump9801
    @thetoongrump9801 Před 21 dnem +435

    You know a video is a banger, when the story about a rejected DK pitch inexplicably features Bush-era war criminals by the end

    • @Zveebo
      @Zveebo Před 21 dnem +41

      And Bobby Kotick still manages to screw over even one of them…

    • @pianoman7753
      @pianoman7753 Před 19 dny +1

      You WHAT

    • @jamesmiller206
      @jamesmiller206 Před 19 dny +13

      And the fact that the cancelled dk game was the least interesting part of the story really shows how inept activision has become. The shit this studio had to go through further cements my decision to never buy a call of duty game.

    • @LiamRproductions
      @LiamRproductions Před 3 dny

      I love this comment.

  • @btd0ja
    @btd0ja Před 21 dnem +459

    It’s so disheartening to hear *just how* averse to risk Activision is. They will not do ANYTHING creative or challenging anymore because they only care about profit.

    • @Poever
      @Poever Před 21 dnem +29

      It’s the Call of Duty factory, what did you expect?

    • @HispanusCandor
      @HispanusCandor Před 21 dnem +36

      Replace Activision with any major game company and it still checks out

    • @mayday-tz4dv
      @mayday-tz4dv Před 21 dnem +1

      We just got 4 new crash games...

    • @lemon5000-tj6nv
      @lemon5000-tj6nv Před 21 dnem +14

      ​@@mayday-tz4dvand they only brought back crash cuz of sony

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST Před 21 dnem +20

      That's capitalism. Never make your company publicly traded if you want to avoid that.

  • @danielchaconlimon7666
    @danielchaconlimon7666 Před 21 dnem +170

    I hate so much that Kotick simply "resigned" and there was no consequences for his actions, he simply went to his mansion to relax and enjoy his Billions of dollars

  • @lizardlord4k
    @lizardlord4k Před 21 dnem +163

    Amazing how the longer the video goes on, the more evil Activision gets.

  • @hayterfan
    @hayterfan Před 21 dnem +236

    Come for the lost DK game, stay for the awful Studio politics of Bobby Kotick

  • @cheesewombatTV
    @cheesewombatTV Před 21 dnem +276

    This video just reminds me how underrated Vicarious Visions were even before the Crash and Tony Hawk remakes. They were never making the biggest games but you could tell they always gave 100% on every project, even if it was something as silly as Shrek 2 on GBA. You can tell the Bala brothers cared about the company and their quality of work until the very end.

    • @oftheBlazingNinjas
      @oftheBlazingNinjas Před 21 dnem +25

      Still pisses me off so much that Kotick did what he did to VV, because they were one of my favourite dev studios.

    • @jordanrose5558
      @jordanrose5558 Před 20 dny +10

      The OG Spider-Man games on the Playstation/PC were sick af

    • @Vendetta162X
      @Vendetta162X Před 19 dny +8

      They made Crash for GBA and it was still amazing. Yeah, they're really an ace of a company

  • @jimbob3332
    @jimbob3332 Před 19 dny +31

    The Vicarious Visions brothers are some underappreciated personalities in the industry. A genuine story of nobodies working up to sitting with the biggest names and largest companies.

  • @ClexYoshi
    @ClexYoshi Před 21 dnem +138

    It's Bobby. It's always Bobby 'devil horns' Kotick.

    • @LoliconSamalik
      @LoliconSamalik Před 21 dnem +9

      Man even lost a date because that's all the girl could see when she looked him up.

    • @paulakroy2635
      @paulakroy2635 Před 15 dny

      Suda51 literally had him be the main villain of the 2 no more heroes games because he hates him so much

  • @SinistralWolf
    @SinistralWolf Před 20 dny +40

    The worst part of the Activision Blizzard sale is Bobby Kotick getting away with a huge golden umbrella.

  • @okayemjay
    @okayemjay Před 21 dnem +265

    I knew Bobby Kotick was evil, but I didn't realize how far this went until today.

    • @TaliesinMyrddin
      @TaliesinMyrddin Před 21 dnem +25

      As a WoW fan, yes, the guy has been evil for a long time.
      I haven't watched the video yet but I'm sure it touches on him threatening to kill an employee.

    • @HarmanSmith
      @HarmanSmith Před 21 dnem +5

      Cool it with the anti-semitic remarks.

    • @SomeSprites
      @SomeSprites Před 21 dnem +24

      @@HarmanSmith ?????????????

    • @EnigmaticGentleman
      @EnigmaticGentleman Před 21 dnem +32

      @@HarmanSmith Obviously anti-semitism is a huge problem, but if people are immune to criticism due to them being in a marginalized religion, well all you have to do is read the current news to know how that turns out.

    • @TaliesinMyrddin
      @TaliesinMyrddin Před 21 dnem +26

      @@HarmanSmith You're the only one to bring up any kind of religion.

  • @nathonso_edits
    @nathonso_edits Před 21 dnem +21

    17:43 tbh that sounds EXACTLY like the kind of thing that Miyamoto would say 😭

    • @ComicCrossing
      @ComicCrossing Před 17 dny +2

      My first thought too. Like that anecdote made me convinced Miyamoto did have at least a consulting role in the game.

  • @Terotrous
    @Terotrous Před 21 dnem +59

    This video is like a case study into why the AAA developers are all dying out.

    • @maddestmike5791
      @maddestmike5791 Před 18 dny +1

      If only Bobby Kotick was dying with them.

    • @ZombieBatmanJesus
      @ZombieBatmanJesus Před 4 dny

      They are richer than they have ever been. The system is working as intended.

  • @Adam-jw3uz
    @Adam-jw3uz Před 21 dnem +64

    This video is the new Roblox_Oof.mp3. Started as a simple premise about Donkey Kong, ended as a hitpiece about everything wrong with Activision.

  • @lukemoonwalker8444
    @lukemoonwalker8444 Před 20 dny +12

    I audibly laughed when Bush was namedropped, did not see that one coming.

  • @brandondiaz9657
    @brandondiaz9657 Před 21 dnem +147

    If Nintendo needs to work with someone other than their own studios, they can phone up Toys for Bob since they're no longer part of the Activision Umbrella.

    • @EnigmaticGentleman
      @EnigmaticGentleman Před 21 dnem +37

      They do actually strike me as the type of company Nintendo would work with, they have very specific types.

    • @jvfacundo
      @jvfacundo Před 21 dnem +11

      Only by name, all of their workers were transferred to the Call of Duty mines before that happened.

    • @lemon5000-tj6nv
      @lemon5000-tj6nv Před 21 dnem +23

      ​@@jvfacundotoys for bob isnt even a part of activision anymore, they went indie and are now in a deal with microsoft to work on their own projects
      also crash team fumble was in development when they were in the cod mines

    • @LagoonKnight
      @LagoonKnight Před 21 dnem

      R.I.P. ​@@jvfacundo

    • @PeterDahu
      @PeterDahu Před 21 dnem +10

      Or Velen which is old Vicarious Visions.
      Or maybe Playtonic which is old Rare.

  • @goldglovegrappler1382
    @goldglovegrappler1382 Před 21 dnem +80

    RIP Vicarious Visions, "Blizzard Albany" is such a soul crushing name change.

    • @Zippy_Zolton
      @Zippy_Zolton Před 21 dnem +6

      Same with an indie studio I LOVED becoming "Epic Games Brasil"

    • @otooandoh9556
      @otooandoh9556 Před 18 dny

      ​@@Zippy_Zolton which studio are you referring to?

    • @Zippy_Zolton
      @Zippy_Zolton Před 17 dny

      @@otooandoh9556 Aquiris, most notably the owners/creators of the Horizon Chase franchise which Epic has killed in a subtle way by stopping its development for updates and new games after they re-released Horizon Chase 2 outside of Apple Arcade on EGS and consoles

    • @lucavalente6620
      @lucavalente6620 Před 14 dny +1

      ​@@otooandoh9556I believe he is referring to Acquiris

  • @kirkvandewalker3574
    @kirkvandewalker3574 Před 20 dny +12

    I was expecting something about the lost history of a DK platformer, which I got. I did not expect it to cover about the history of another company and it's former CEO's vile practices. Bravo!

  • @NintyPrime
    @NintyPrime Před 21 dnem +55

    Really glad someone dug more into this since I had extremely limited resources and connections with which to verify/dig more into it back when I started covering it and a few people came forward.
    I do not know 1000% if the one person who claimed to be a developer actually was one there, and it was a single source. The rest was me just digging into DK Vine's stuff and some of the journalists that were said to have known about the project. Reaching out to journalists was easy enough, but none of them seem to know enough to ever run a story, even as two of them confirmed to me they had heard about it, but wasn't worth reporting due to lack of evidence and multiple sources.
    Liam Robertson, as much as we unfortunately do not talk anymore, I know is well researched and can look much deeper into these things than I can. I am very glad this video exists and we at least know a project did exist and was pitched to Nintendo. I was very dubious of the people I had talked to, but I did believe there was truly SOMETHING to the rumors.
    Glad to finally know what that something is! Thanks Liam, and the DYKG crew!

  • @infernoflash
    @infernoflash Před 21 dnem +109

    ”For a long time, there has been rumours out there about a game.”
    Holy shit.

    • @ZulaCrash
      @ZulaCrash Před 21 dnem +32

      I heard that Game will release in year and probably have graphics.

    • @gregoryberrycone
      @gregoryberrycone Před 21 dnem +23

      completely unfounded. i have it on good authority there are no plans to make any more games in the future. the entire industry is shifting to arms production

    • @Vulpas
      @Vulpas Před 21 dnem +1

      1 hour edition

    • @ethanbrown5253
      @ethanbrown5253 Před 21 dnem +9

      When it finally comes out, it would be the game of all time

    • @PhenomUprising
      @PhenomUprising Před 14 dny

      @@gregoryberrycone The entire industry will work on Arms 2?! Whoa, maybe there will be a story mode this time around!

  • @EnigmaticGentleman
    @EnigmaticGentleman Před 21 dnem +54

    Thank you for going over the lawsuits, people just magically forgot about it because Microsoft will totally fix it i guess.

    • @rin_reverie
      @rin_reverie Před 21 dnem +2

      What’s saddening is that Microsoft becoming even more of a monopoly might end up as a net positive for Activision-Blizzard’s staff overall, considering how wretched the old leadership was. When Microsoft entrenching itself is a *good thing*, things are utterly screwed.

    • @mrshmuga9
      @mrshmuga9 Před 21 dnem +2

      He didn’t say anything new other than the outcome of the California lawsuit. Everything else was publicly detailed thoroughly. If you used the internet, you were aware.

    • @LoliconSamalik
      @LoliconSamalik Před 21 dnem +7

      @@rin_reverie Hard to call Microsoft a monopoly for buying Activision when there are still hundreds of competing publishers in the US alone.

    • @PeterDahu
      @PeterDahu Před 21 dnem

      ​@LoliconSamalik Not when that publisher is massive and owns a masdive on top of other massive brands.

    • @ComicCrossing
      @ComicCrossing Před 17 dny

      @@rin_reverie Microsoft is nowhere close to a monopoly. They are literally in 3rd place this gen.

  • @abdelali9279
    @abdelali9279 Před 21 dnem +12

    Reading the comments without finishing the second half of the video is a bit wild

  • @ankd956
    @ankd956 Před 21 dnem +19

    Man.. this video started with a hopeful and interesting feel, and it becomes really fucking depressing in the end

  • @Skyfighter070
    @Skyfighter070 Před 21 dnem +11

    Incredibly put together, Liam. Didn't expect you to dive so deeply into Activison's crimes. The pacing and stakes just kept building, didn't feel like an hour at all.

  • @BensyBens
    @BensyBens Před 21 dnem +20

    We in a time that it’s nostalgic to talk about Vicarious Visions. Damn.

  • @zackwoods5077
    @zackwoods5077 Před 20 dny +7

    Considering how badly their flagship franchises were treated, I'd say maybe this was a good thing. CoD and WoW were the undisputed best sellers of their genres before Bobby took over and they became hollow shells of their former glory when he eventually left.

  • @lowpolysunrise
    @lowpolysunrise Před 21 dnem +35

    Hope we get another DK game in the next couple of years.

    • @AustinMSmall
      @AustinMSmall Před 18 dny

      There's nothing Nintendo can do with Donkey Kong outside of the theme parks.

  • @kennytvn
    @kennytvn Před 18 dny +7

    These full length documentaries are insane, well done

  • @misterzygarde6431
    @misterzygarde6431 Před 21 dnem +65

    After Retro is done with Prime 4, I’d be down for another Country game. Especially considering how they wanted to do Tropical Freeze after Returns
    Heck since Toys for Bob is independent. I’d love to see them do a 3D DK game

    • @SunoAi-vf5hv
      @SunoAi-vf5hv Před 21 dnem +9

      TfB is woke, no way. Get Rare to do it, Nintendo is on good terms with Microsoft lately, they can probably swing a deal.

    • @DaNintendude
      @DaNintendude Před 21 dnem +5

      I think even if Retro just remastered Donkey Kong Country Returns with a new, short 3 world campaign or something. That would be great. Final hurrah for Retro studios' DK while they decide who should take the reigns for DK's future.

    • @misterzygarde6431
      @misterzygarde6431 Před 21 dnem

      @@SunoAi-vf5hv You didn’t have to make this shit political. GTFO

    • @misterzygarde6431
      @misterzygarde6431 Před 21 dnem +33

      @@SunoAi-vf5hv You didn’t have to bring politics into this. Shut up about wokeness.

    • @polycube868
      @polycube868 Před 21 dnem +3

      ​@SunoAi-vf5hv what did Toys For Bob do? Only game by them I have is the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and I bought it used.

  • @ToasterRepairUnit
    @ToasterRepairUnit Před 21 dnem +24

    it's kinda surreal watching this video, I was working on QA for Skylanders Superchargers right when this was going on (and also later for Imaginators)

    • @thatonecookie242
      @thatonecookie242 Před 21 dnem +7

      any interesting stories? i loved those games as a kid

    • @ToasterRepairUnit
      @ToasterRepairUnit Před 21 dnem +3

      @@thatonecookie242 Oops, do comments get hidden if they're too long? Mine seems to not show up for some reason

    • @wilbo_baggins
      @wilbo_baggins Před 21 dnem +2

      ​@@ToasterRepairUnitCZcams is very picky with comments. I doubt its length since I've seen huge comments.

    • @zynux8252
      @zynux8252 Před 21 dnem +1

      @@ToasterRepairUnit A ton of my comments get hidden because they are too long. But it seems random because other people can comment long sometimes. Depends on words/terms you use too.

    • @ToasterRepairUnit
      @ToasterRepairUnit Před 21 dnem +1

      @@zynux8252 Oh, maybe it was because I mentioned the D word in reference to a poor translation. oops

  • @Johnjohnson2695
    @Johnjohnson2695 Před 20 dny +17

    It's crazy that a brand new studio's first project was a Mario Kart game. Big respect to the brothers, they sound like good guys

    • @CyberDragon10K
      @CyberDragon10K Před 19 dny +2

      This honestly surprised me the most. I shrugged like most people when Live Home Circuit became a thing, but knowing it's the Bala Bros. that worked with the House of Mario Bros. to make it happen?
      I need to pay more attention to Velan Studios.

    • @PikaPhantom_
      @PikaPhantom_ Před 19 dny

      ​@@CyberDragon10KThey're in a weird spot right now where they had a major partner cancel a project with them and they had to scramble to try and avoid as many layoffs as possible, but it's unclear if they had to let go of all the people affected. They do apparently have new games scheduled for this year, and some guy allegedly unearthed a LinkedIn post from their HR director about working with a major beloved IP, so it'll be curious to see what they do next. Maybe they'll partner with Nintendo on a new project?

  • @stephen2624
    @stephen2624 Před 20 dny +8

    Thank you for this video. Unlike others who won't be named, you never fail to remind us that the publisher, that owned Crash and Spyro, was run by a man who openly said he wanted to suck the joy out of making games. That's one thing Bobby Kotick made a reality.

  • @500werewolf
    @500werewolf Před 21 dnem +19

    Activision not interested in making anything except COD? Let me put on my shocked face. --_--
    34:35 Yeah, pretty much hits the nail on the head. Sounds like a fun Spyro up until the point it starts appealing to Activision for "LiVe SeRvIcE" elements

  • @donkeykongfreedom
    @donkeykongfreedom Před 15 dny +3

    Cheers Liam!! You've done an outstanding job. It was my pleasure being able to reach out to you and keep up on the daily basis , right up until the end. Thanks a banana bunch my friend :)
    - Gothic Teddy Bear

  • @mrgabos
    @mrgabos Před 20 dny +6

    5:10 quote: "my uncle works at nintendo"

  • @Sam_T2000
    @Sam_T2000 Před 19 dny +3

    the _Donkey Kong Country_ franchise (or sub-franchise?) had one of the best track records in all of video gaming, and _DKC2_ & _Tropical Freeze_ are two of the the very best 2D platformers ever… it’s a shame we never got a third game in the _Returns_ trilogy.
    ideally, I’d have hoped for:
    - _DKC Returns 3,_ featuring the return of K. Rool and the Kremlings, released in 2017-18 for Switch.
    - a _DKC Returns_ trilogy HD collection for Switch, released circa 2020.
    - a 3D platforming _Donkey Kong Country_ -esque game a-la _Sonic Frontiers_ and the _Dreams_ creation, released right about now as a swan song for the Switch 👌

  • @emildubas6766
    @emildubas6766 Před 21 dnem +12

    I am very much curious then how Toys For Bob faired during its tumultuous tenure at Activision before going indie.

    • @lemon5000-tj6nv
      @lemon5000-tj6nv Před 21 dnem +2

      they got sent to the cod mines after crash 4, then after the cod mines they made crash team fumble, a game nobody asked for or wanted

    • @LiamRproductions
      @LiamRproductions Před 21 dnem +12

      That’s the next video I am doing.

    • @emildubas6766
      @emildubas6766 Před 21 dnem +1

      @@LiamRproductions Great! Thanks for your work!

    • @BBWahoo
      @BBWahoo Před 8 dny

      ​@@LiamRproductions
      Dude I love you

  • @OtakuUnitedStudio
    @OtakuUnitedStudio Před 19 dny +7

    The irony that Activision was originally founded due to Atari employees walking out for being mistreated, and then ended up doing far, far worse.

    • @greatsageclok-roo9013
      @greatsageclok-roo9013 Před 18 dny +2

      Thank you for pointing this out.
      It really highlights how things come full circle, and that this is more or less a cycle that will go on.
      I can almost guarantee anyone reading this that if the current AAA publishers all die out, the first Indie studio to take over will become corrupt in 20-30 years.
      As another example, just look at Telltale Games and what happened there.

  • @axelprino
    @axelprino Před 21 dnem +9

    Wow, Activision leadership was downright evil. I was aware that they routinely absorbed studios just to send them into the COD mines and that their work culture was pretty much criminal but I didn't know just how heartless they were in their every move, they legit don't see games as art or a creative endeavor and instead just milk what they know will make them money for sure, it's the worst parts of capitalism on crack.
    I really hope that now that they're under the MS umbrella the whole company will get some sort of restructuring, it's not like MS is good but at least they're not that evil.

  • @supersonicsjm
    @supersonicsjm Před 18 dny +3

    My biggest disappointment with the Microsoft buyout of Activision is that Bobby Kotick gets to ride off into the sunset with a massive payout and not answering for his misconduct, the poor treatment of his staff and the borderline, if not, outright illegal actions he undertook whilst working at Activision. The sad part is, Activision is not the only company where this kind of thing happens and a lot of it goes unsaid and therefore the wider public is unaware of it.

  • @BanjoGeek
    @BanjoGeek Před 20 dny +5

    Cool to see DK Vine get recognition. They made their website in excitement for when DK64 was coming out and have stayed open ever since. Hyle is also a really cool, really knowledgable person. Hope you guys can collaborate more in the future!

    • @polycube868
      @polycube868 Před 18 dny +1

      I've been trying to create a DK Vine account...is it like NEOGAF where you need a paid email account? I'm having trouble with it.

  • @Shmeve0
    @Shmeve0 Před 21 dnem +9

    A new 3D Donkey Kong is all I want in the world now

    • @alexbuechergames
      @alexbuechergames Před 20 dny +1

      yeah! why don't people see the way greater movement potential than with Mario? Oh, the verticality!

    • @Shmeve0
      @Shmeve0 Před 17 dny +1

      ​@@alexbuechergamesand DK just has way more of the cool factor

  • @wileywood1523
    @wileywood1523 Před 21 dnem +14

    I had no clue velan made mk home circuit! That’s really cook

    • @ConculusHydro
      @ConculusHydro Před 20 dny +4

      very cook

    • @SylverstoneKhandr
      @SylverstoneKhandr Před 20 dny +3

      Knockout City was legit one of my favorite games of the last 5 years, and is one of the only live service games that ended up having a life post-development after the official servers shut down. That game had the spirit of old VV.

    • @ethanbuckley1942
      @ethanbuckley1942 Před 20 dny +3

      @@SylverstoneKhandrthey made that one too? Dang, I really liked that game -- now I really want Velan to get to make some more projects with Nintendo

  • @DeadAsmodean
    @DeadAsmodean Před 20 dny +6

    Eat the rich, and start with Bobby Kotick. The meat's a bit gamey but it's good for sausage.

  • @vixxito
    @vixxito Před 20 dny +6

    This started as a Donkey Kong tale and ended up being a damming expose on how shit Acti Blizzard is. Thanks for bringing all of this up Liam.

  • @beau-urns
    @beau-urns Před 19 dny +6

    This video is a summary why stock markets are the bane of society

  • @mattwo7
    @mattwo7 Před 20 dny +3

    To think there could have been a reality when the studio that worked on Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero and Skylanders made a Donkey Kong game.

  • @ScrewlooseStudios
    @ScrewlooseStudios Před 20 dny +3

    Big ups to Karthik Bala for finally getting to work with Nintendo on a big project.

  • @DaNintendude
    @DaNintendude Před 21 dnem +11

    It's fascinating to know the project did exist, and I can definutelt believe it knowing that a lot of the more dubious details were likely fabricated.
    The whole pollution plot and Pauline involvement felt very weird, and I couldn't see Nintendo being super involved in that.
    Learning that it was VV who pitched it (rather than Nintendo coming to them), that it was just gameplay, and that the artstyle was pretty different-- yeah that's more what I would expect.
    I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo would've shut down the project, or made them change the artstyle at some point if it continued. But we could've had another Mario + Rabbids situation here. Outside western developer making their own Mario (DK) game with innovative gameplay.

    • @PeterDahu
      @PeterDahu Před 21 dnem +1

      Nintendo would only shut down a project if something goes wrong and it has to gone terribly wrong.
      I agree about the art style though.

    • @DaNintendude
      @DaNintendude Před 21 dnem

      @@PeterDahu I should've said "backed out" instead of "shut it down"
      They hadn't fully decided if they wanted to go through with it yet. If they greenlit it-- yeah, they wouldn't shut it down unless stuff went really wrong. But since the project hadn't turned into a real game being developed yet, I could see them getting cold feet or changing their mind.

    • @kekcrocgod6731
      @kekcrocgod6731 Před 3 hodinami

      @@PeterDahuidk I think if activision didn’t end the project the art style could’ve stayed, art styles in Nintendo games aren’t really that consistent (paper Mario and the Mario and Luigi games for example, along with almost every Zelda). I think donkey Kong could’ve gone down a similar road

  • @suluturnip
    @suluturnip Před 19 dny +2

    Activision destroying Vicarious Visions is one of the greatest tragedies in gaming.

  • @M_Alexander
    @M_Alexander Před 20 dny +4

    It's wild how companies will pay wild sums to everyone except the workers

  • @BR-jw7pm
    @BR-jw7pm Před 21 dnem +35

    (Reads title)
    Me: now I have to see how these two things are related

    • @mokarokas-1727
      @mokarokas-1727 Před 21 dnem +11

      Very loosely, as it turns out. Could've been two separate videos. Granted I skipped through this video, but there was a clear spot where they dropped DK completely and only talked about Activision. The segue was that Activision had acquired Vicarious Visions, possibly shelfing DK Freedom. Not related to the Blizzard allegations and Kotick which take up the latter half, though.

    • @gigastrike2
      @gigastrike2 Před 21 dnem +3

      @@mokarokas-1727 It's true. I listened to the whole thing, and it seems like the "lost 3d platformer" headline was just a clickbait title they believed would appeal to their viewerbase, when they really wanted to talk about the Activision Blizzard controversies.

    • @Gabo2oo
      @Gabo2oo Před 21 dnem +6

      @@gigastrike2 He went a lot in-depth about the DK platformer though; it took a little over half the video and most of the original research relates to it (as opposed to the Blizzard stuff which is more of a summary). The video title doesn't feel disingenuous at all.

    • @mrshmuga9
      @mrshmuga9 Před 21 dnem

      @@Gabo2oo99% of the DK stuff was just reiterating what DK Vine already said and some minor clarifications. Activision turning it down, despite being a big name IP isn’t exactly new as that’s observable to everyone with their releases and studio mergers/closures. And the Activision stuff was also just reiterating what was widely reported on already, outside maybe the result of the California lawsuit that ended a few months ago.

    • @Gabo2oo
      @Gabo2oo Před 21 dnem +2

      @@mrshmuga9 Still, most resources to compile and inquire for this video went to the DK side of things, even if there weren't THAT many new stuff uncovered. If they had rushed through DK to get to the Activision side I'd agree that the title was clickbait, but as things actually stand I think it's pretty straightforward.

  • @GigaMan91
    @GigaMan91 Před 21 dnem +6

    Link and Samus crossing over with Marvel could have been a big deal!

    • @kingcheerio8558
      @kingcheerio8558 Před 21 dnem

      I desperately need someone to start working on a mod to add them back in

  • @flamesmystic
    @flamesmystic Před 20 dny +4

    This was a roller coaster ride of a video

  • @monopolyrubix1875
    @monopolyrubix1875 Před 21 dnem +32

    Sounds like yet another sad story of big buisiness crushing dreams and creativity.
    EDIT: Jesus Christ, second half of this video is horrific and sadly too common.

  • @1234_Flux
    @1234_Flux Před 21 dnem +29

    So basically Activision is the worst company of all time.

    • @GreyWolfLeaderTW
      @GreyWolfLeaderTW Před 21 dnem +4

      The Soviet Union (functionally a company given it merged state with economics and business) makes this look like child's play. Look no further than the fustercluck that was Chernobyl, Stalin, and Stalin's head of secret police Lavrentiy Beria. Beria would eat Kotick's heart for breakfast.

    • @PeterDahu
      @PeterDahu Před 21 dnem +8

      ​@@GreyWolfLeaderTWUSSR wasn't a company.
      It's hilarious when capitalism clowns say stuff like this?

    • @jesusramirezromo2037
      @jesusramirezromo2037 Před 20 dny +5

      ​@@GreyWolfLeaderTW Who's talking about the USSR? Dude, that's not comparable at all
      You could literally say the same thing about any country

    • @Gigaheart
      @Gigaheart Před 20 dny +1

      @@GreyWolfLeaderTW No I think that goes to Enron.

    • @gregorydezoete3601
      @gregorydezoete3601 Před 19 dny

      Activision is Not Worst Video Game Company, Is Neutral Video Game Company

  • @spiderwithay6679
    @spiderwithay6679 Před 20 dny +7

    I genuinely appreciate this videos heal turn into a searing indictment of the horrible abuse workers (women in particular) suffered under Activision and Blizzard.

  • @Sientir
    @Sientir Před 20 dny +4

    Dang, this was a whole journey. o_O

  • @crummylion
    @crummylion Před 19 dny +2

    Yeah... if the Crash levels in Skylanders Imaginators hinted at Vicarious Visions working on the N Sane Trilogy, the Nintendo exclusive DK Skylander hinted at a DK game that never got made.
    I can see that company or Toys for Bob making a DK game tbh

  • @fuzzysham88
    @fuzzysham88 Před 21 dnem +12

    what started out as a fun little trivia on a lost, abandoned game ended with yet another reason to shid on butthead bobby and i'm all for it.

  • @AlterBridgeJericho
    @AlterBridgeJericho Před 20 dny +7

    Bobby Kotick will not see heaven

    • @fearlessjoebanzai
      @fearlessjoebanzai Před 18 dny +1

      That's unfortunate!
      If you believe that heaven and hell literally exist, then surely those who get sent to Hell will see Heaven - always! And be reminded as to what could have been!
      If it's metaphorical, then unfortunately he probably sees heaven every day when he gets served gourmet breakfast in bed on his mega yacht, anchored in Monaco or the Bahamas or somewhere just as swell!

  • @Ihartwalrusguy
    @Ihartwalrusguy Před 21 dnem +33

    Really sucks that Microsoft is doing nothing with any of the IPs and Studios after buying Activision-Blizzard, not even prying Vicarious Visions from Blizzard’s coal mines

    • @jumponeverything
      @jumponeverything Před 21 dnem +12

      I mean they only got control about a year ago, you aren't going to see any games come from that for at least a couple more years

    • @EnigmaticGentleman
      @EnigmaticGentleman Před 21 dnem +11

      I mean Microsofts shtick over caring about creative games is just surface level, at the end of the day they're just another soulless company.

    • @lemon5000-tj6nv
      @lemon5000-tj6nv Před 21 dnem +1

      toys for bob is working on a game with microsoft rn as we speak, i just hope its actually a brand new spyro game like everybody wanted

    • @TaliesinMyrddin
      @TaliesinMyrddin Před 21 dnem +2

      @@jumponeverything They only really officially got control like five months ago

    • @user-zx6jd8hv3t
      @user-zx6jd8hv3t Před 21 dnem +4

      Bro it’s been a few months you have no idea what the fuck their plans are yet.

  • @pizzagroom6221
    @pizzagroom6221 Před 21 dnem +4

    guitar hero was about 15 years before it's time. If it was released nowadays, I can see it being an "evergreen" title. Just releasing a few songs every couple months would do wounders to keep it relevant, instead of releasing a new game every year

    • @deltamaxxhomevideo
      @deltamaxxhomevideo Před 17 dny

      Metal is bigger than it’s been in a long time. Guys like Tim Henson and Tosin Abasi are pushing the guitar’s limits. Guitar Hero seems like a no-brainer right now.

  • @asmariamoon
    @asmariamoon Před 19 dny +1

    I still remember playing the GBA port of THPS 2 back in the mid-2000s. It was incredible how much VV included on the limited hardware. It's so sad that they got screwed over repeadedly by AB management.

  • @mrpinguimninja
    @mrpinguimninja Před 20 dny +4

    The lesson here is, whatever it is you love: games, books, movies, comics, you have to hate corporations.

  • @zixty_
    @zixty_ Před 21 dnem +2

    Awesome video, I learned a lot. I really love the direction DYKG is going. Thank you!!

  • @polycube868
    @polycube868 Před 18 dny +2

    'Member when this channel was just a facts and trivia channel? It's come a long way...and I liked the old content...this channel, Beta 64, The Easter Egg Hunter, Classic Game Room and AVGN were the first channels I remember watching on CZcams.

  • @NinBendo1
    @NinBendo1 Před 20 dny +3

    Starting this video: Cool! Donkey Kong game!
    Ending this video: My God, I forgot how *TERRIBLE* Activision is.

  • @mega3291
    @mega3291 Před 20 dny +3

    Man i truly truly hate Activision, they killed soo many studios by transforming them into support studios, truly sad. And that DK game sounds so fkn cool.

    • @maxkozak9702
      @maxkozak9702 Před 19 dny +1

      Blame the Call of Duty fandom, if not for all their money none of this would have been done.

  • @DJIVision
    @DJIVision Před 21 dnem +3

    Good work Liam, lotta legwork in this one

  • @theotherjared9824
    @theotherjared9824 Před 21 dnem +7

    Tldr: Call of Duty ruined everything.

  • @Ubylmoen
    @Ubylmoen Před 19 dny +1

    Hilarious for Zippo to bring up track records, when his track record is being wrong

  • @Juramaia-
    @Juramaia- Před 17 dny +1

    Something about the way this channel's thumbnails look tricks my brain into never clicking on their videos even though I like them. When it's in my subscription feed my eyes just pass right over them without a thought. I have to actively remind myself that they exist and that I would probably enjoy their new video. I'm not sure why I'm like this.

  • @NeonZeonis
    @NeonZeonis Před 19 dny +1

    You guys are inspirational in how you manage to find, research, and share your findings all the while making a moving and meaningful video that entertains, informs, and educates all at once.
    Thank you guys for the work you do!

    • @LiamRproductions
      @LiamRproductions Před 19 dny

      This one was all me and I thank you for your kind words.

  • @flyingfist4203
    @flyingfist4203 Před 21 dnem +3

    What an odd combination for a Title.

  • @LynRodriguez123
    @LynRodriguez123 Před 21 dnem +6

    Babe wake up new Liam video

  • @scrumptioushumanbeing2268
    @scrumptioushumanbeing2268 Před 21 dnem +4

    Activision is such an unhealthy company. You slowly see the most creative and passionate developers leave the company, first vicarious visions and then toys for bob. Now they are just pumping out call of duty.

    • @PeterDahu
      @PeterDahu Před 21 dnem

      Don't forget Infiniti Ward, Raven Software, and Treyarch.

    • @maxkozak9702
      @maxkozak9702 Před 19 dny +1

      Blame the Call of Duty fandom, if not for the money none of this would have been done.

  • @RooTUBEer
    @RooTUBEer Před 17 dny +2

    Thank you for the deep dive. A lot of great work was put into this. I'm from the Albany area and I've met a few Vicarious Visions employees over the years. All great people. They deserved better than this.

  • @jaccblacc8424
    @jaccblacc8424 Před 18 dny +2

    Now that Toys for Bob (devs behind the Spyro remakes and Crash 4) went indie, I hope the partner with Nintendo to make a new DK

    • @AustinMSmall
      @AustinMSmall Před 15 dny

      It's too late for Donkey Kong as their series doesn't have a dedicated team.

  • @F1ghtGam3r
    @F1ghtGam3r Před 20 dny +3

    This was a big left turn torards the end

  • @rept7
    @rept7 Před dnem +1

    If I had a nickel for every time a multiplayer focused Spyro game was shutdown, I'd have two nickels.
    Which isn't a lot, but it's weird it happened twice.

  • @jw1690
    @jw1690 Před 20 dny +3

    Activision is legitimately just a massive black hole where creativity and fun go to die. Also props for going into the allegations etc in this vid as well. People shouldn't forget about it and the people that participated should not be allowed to act like it didn't happen.

  • @LinkoVideo
    @LinkoVideo Před 18 dny +3

    Severance packages should be illegal

  • @CrystalFissure
    @CrystalFissure Před 20 dny +3

    The stuff about THPS just makes me irate. VV did such a great job with the game and it basically meant nothing.

  • @thecinematicbandicoot7280
    @thecinematicbandicoot7280 Před 21 dnem +2

    Thank you! Gonna add this to my list of sources for a college essay!

  • @gregneedham3795
    @gregneedham3795 Před 15 dny +1

    Thank you for going into the weeds with it when the DK story concluded. People should always be reminded when their money funds abuse

  • @mattwo7
    @mattwo7 Před 20 dny +5

    27:48 Huh, they made Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit as their first game instead of a new DK game. Wonder why that was?

    • @HairyOreo
      @HairyOreo Před 20 dny +4

      Never hurts to slowly build their trust back up with Nintendo with something smaller

    • @mattwo7
      @mattwo7 Před 18 dny +1

      @@HairyOreo I'm not sure how much it qualifies as "smaller" given the technology put into it. Toys-to-life had been done before but not using tracking technology to make custom RC car courses for a video game.

    • @HairyOreo
      @HairyOreo Před 18 dny

      @@mattwo7 True. I was more thinking about the software itself. Yes the cars are impressive but it's hard to not see them as drones with phone apps but with wheels.

    • @mattwo7
      @mattwo7 Před 18 dny

      @@HairyOreo I was also referring to the software... Including the software in the cars...

  • @Sekhmmett
    @Sekhmmett Před 21 dnem

    I came in here because of a small specific subject and was graced with an incredible amount of excellent content. I would like to thank you very much for the high quality video.

  • @aureliomercado9730
    @aureliomercado9730 Před 20 dny +2

    To sum it up, Mr. Money bags himself screwed the developers over. That really sucks because that Donkey Kong game seems interesting.

  • @AceBadguy
    @AceBadguy Před 21 dnem +2

    You guys are doing the Kong's work here.

  • @cupk8games
    @cupk8games Před 18 dny +2

    This was excellent, and solidifies my desire to support smaller studios over massive conglomerates - from the criminal behavior to the unwillingness to explore creatively.

  • @flamewave64
    @flamewave64 Před 7 dny +1

    This is an incredible piece of investigative journalism. It’s incredible seeing what this channel has grown into. Did you know that super Mario Bros two was originally a Japanese game? Called dunkey dunkey and the wizzard

  • @diegocalderon5190
    @diegocalderon5190 Před 17 dny +3

    In the end we can agree, Zippo is and always has been full of shit

  • @Caolan114
    @Caolan114 Před 20 dny +2

    Possible unpopular opinion
    remake DK64 with modern graphics and lighting
    then use what you have learned to create a sequel

    • @polycube868
      @polycube868 Před 18 dny +1

      Not really unpopular, a DK64 remake with quality of life upgrades such as a way to switch characters without going to a swap barrel alone that change would improve the game, then add in a map, and a banana checklist. I haven't beaten it but DK64 isn't a bad game at all, just not as good as Banjo Kazooie or Spyro the Dragon.

  • @FirithPanda
    @FirithPanda Před 20 dny +1

    2:20 - Somehow, some way, JoJo has managed to appear in this video.

  • @MagnusLegna
    @MagnusLegna Před 14 dny +2

    I came here for Donkey Kong but I ended with excellent coverage of how terrible Activision Blizzard is... I am not disappointed.

  • @SpongicX
    @SpongicX Před 18 dny +3

    Wow... ditching a new refreshing DK game in favor of the same repetitive COD games... Activision really f***ed over Nintendo fans...

  • @greatsageclok-roo9013
    @greatsageclok-roo9013 Před 21 dnem +2

    Wasn't really interested in the DK thing, but I loved the talk about Vicarious Visions... And how it flowed seamlessly into Activision's decline was another discussion in of itself.
    The way I see it, Bobby is probably comparable to those celebrities that became mega popular in their field for doing great things, but as soon as a serious allegation was thrown their way, people forgot about all the good they did and focused on the evil. People like OJ Simpson and Rolf Harris, for instance. Loved for a start - despised at the end.
    So in short, no-one will really care about the legacy Bobby made in bringing strength to Activision, and will instead focus on how he ended up destroying it.
    Pity it has to be that way, but he only has himself to blame for letting it be so.

    • @fearlessjoebanzai
      @fearlessjoebanzai Před 18 dny

      Woah!!!
      You got some great idols there buddy!
      Nobody takes away from OJ's football records or Rolfs artistic talent.
      They just don't like the stabby murder thing or the weird child grooming/horrible stuff.
      Do you know something about Kotek that we don't?
      Otherwise it's simply that he's just a vampire that has sucked the life, profit and ability for many to earn a living from their creative endeavours - while never creating anything himself, artistically or otherwise.
      *edit - I possibly misinterpreted your pov of Bobby, but there is no positive to these greedy vultures. They contribute nothing and take take take without empathy, simply to satiate their selfish desires.

    • @greatsageclok-roo9013
      @greatsageclok-roo9013 Před 18 dny

      @@fearlessjoebanzai I never said they were mine. But they *were* idols for people at some point.
      Then obviously shit went down, and they became nobodies.

  • @LayneSadler
    @LayneSadler Před 20 dny +1

    regarding ropeburn from vines, there is a history of surfboards in the DK/thrilla games, which feels untapped

  • @TramiNguyen-oi3kp
    @TramiNguyen-oi3kp Před 21 dnem

    Awesome video!