Activision Blizzard CEO, Bobby Kotick, discusses the companys split with the ESA in an upcoming interview with Variety. The full interview has yet to be published, however a few short quotes pertaining to Activision’s involvement with the ESA were transformed into a write up.

When asked specifically about their break up, Kotick attempted to clarify stating:

“… don’t view it as anything but time off …”

The logic, explained by Kotick below, revolves around the merger, controlling expendatures, and interum decision making.

“With the combined companies, the dues went up enough that I said for it to make sense [to spend that money], we have to make a strategic plan … We don’t have that because nobody owns it for us right now.”

I will attempt to predict the collective reaction by ESA upon hearing this news. “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.” – Lloyd, Dumb & Dumber. If no one owns strategic planning and company expendature, why is Activision going to be present at Comic-Con? Maybe the “time off” would better be described as “time off to see other people”.

Source: Variety

Like it or not, with a reported shareholders vote of 92%, the merger first announced back in December 2007, is finally complete. All last minute hopes of a creative name for the new company are officially squashed, as the new name, “Activsion Blizzard”, proves that compromise is often boring as hell.

In exchange for 295.3 new shares of Activision stock, Vivendi, and all associated properties, become subsidiaries of Activision. However, an additional purchase of 62.9 shares at the tune of $1.7 billion put Vivendi in the drivers seat with nearly 52% ownership in the new entity.

Full details after the jump. Take a deep breath, you’re going to need it.

Activision Stockholders Approve Combination with Vivendi Games

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that, at a special meeting of stockholders held earlier today, it received the stockholder approval necessary to consummate the company’s agreement with Vivendi, S.A. to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi’s interactive entertainment business, with Activision’s businesses. All of the proposals required to effect the transaction received more than 92 percent of the shares voted. The transaction is expected to close on or around July 9, 2008.

Activision and Vivendi Games will combine their businesses through the merger of a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision with and into Vivendi Games. As a result of the merger, Vivendi Games, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment and Sierra, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision. Vivendi will receive approximately 295.3 million newly issued shares of Activision common stock. Concurrently with the merger, Vivendi will purchase approximately 62.9 million newly issued shares of Activision common stock at a price of $27.50 per share for a total of approximately $1.7 billion in cash, resulting in a total Vivendi ownership stake in Activision Blizzard of approximately 52% on a fully diluted basis and approximately 54% of shares outstanding. As of the closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide pure-play online and console game publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.

Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, Chile, India, Japan China, the region of Taiwan and South Korea. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activisionblizzard.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Blizzard’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this release, they are identified by references to dates after the date of this release and words such as “outlook”, “will,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes”, “may”, “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause Activision Blizzard’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision Blizzard’s titles in its fiscal year 2009, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Blizzard’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Blizzard’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, , the Activision Blizzard’s success in integrating the operations of Activision and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated. Other such factors include the further implementation, acceptance and effectiveness of the remedial measures recommended or adopted by the special sub-committee of independent directors established in July 2006 to review historical stock option granting practices by Activision Blizzard and its board of directors, the finalization of the tentative settlement of the SEC’s formal investigation and final court approval of the proposed settlement of the derivative litigation filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of Activision Blizzard relating to Activision Blizzard’s stock option granting practices, and the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional action by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies, and other litigation unrelated to stock option granting practices and any additional risk factors identified in Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the definitive proxy statement filed on June 6, 2008 in connection with the proposed transaction with Vivendi. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and Activision Blizzard assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Modern day marriages often end with the bride keeping her last name, so why the look of awe on so many faces when two large corporations exchange vows, swap a little ink, and walk away bowlegged and smiling with the same brand recognition they had going into the deal?

This is true for Activision Blizzard, who after one final share holder vote on July 8th, will forever merge the world of warcraft with the world of modern warfare.

So bust out your mud covered food rations, and fill your gnomish hands with as many mana pots as you can stuff into a twenty slot bag, because gaming as we know it is about to change — for better, for worse, till poor sales do they part.

Only a few shorts weeks have passed since Activision and Vivendi announced their departure from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and their disassociation with this year’s E3. Following in their wake, the ESA confirmed yesterday LucasArts has also separated from the organization.

After the announcement, LucasArts PR director Margaret Grohne went on the record by clarifying the company’s stance on the issue. Grohne said, “As a company we are still committed to bringing consumers the best interactive experience possible and support the ESA’s mission in the industry.”

Unlike the soon-to-be Activision Blizzard, LucasArts will be attending E3 this July in full force as they showcase their newest game line-up, including the long-awaited Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Source: Joystiq

Say hello to Activision Blizzard, the result of a Sunday-morning announcement between Activision and Vivendi Games that they’ve agreed to combine their resources. The new company results in about $3.8 billion of pro forma and the greatest operating margins of any current third party publisher. Stick that in your craw, Electronic Arts!

Instead of culling the name of their partner, Activision instead chose to draw power from the company’s most influential subsidiary, Blizzard Entertainment, clearly banking on the hit-maker’s more established pedigree. For Vivendi at large, already an entertainment powerhouse in other key areas of the media, this provides an excellent opportunity for them to continue expanding their games business. The company’s CEO, Jean-Bernard Lévy, had the following to say:

“This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector. By combining Vivendi’s games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry. We are excited about the opportunities for Activision Blizzard as a broader entertainment software platform.”

It’s highly unlikely that the partnership will affect Blizzard’s current or future development plans. After all, who would want to mess with the formula of a company that’s produced nine hit games in a row? As cited above, it does bode very well for Vivendi Games, though, whose only other major acquisition has been Sierra Entertainment.

Activision Blizzard now holds the rights to one of the most diverse gaming portfolios in the business, spanning everything from Guitar Hero to MMO darling World of Warcraft. Now, if only this alliance would result in such awesome things as “I Am Murloc” DLC for Guitar Hero III or Call of Duty 5: Terran Warfare.

Click here for the full (not to mention lengthy) press release.