Hey
Apparently, Vivendi Games has launched a new division called "Sierra Online" (Not On-Line) which will, in the words of VG head Bruce Hack, in an article from this May:
''On a going forward basis, we are becoming much clearer about how our divisions operate - and you can see that in our E3 booth as you walk through. There is Blizzard Entertainment, you know them, you know what they're purposed to do. There is Sierra Entertainment, and that entity is an umbrella over a series of different types of "traditional" console and PC products.
There's a Sierra Online division, which we've just launched, that is aimed at the big - we feel - online opportunity that exists beyond the long-form online game that Blizzard Entertainment has exploited so well for experienced gamers. There are little experienced gamers and entirely new gamers, there are gamers that are interested in playing for an hour or an hour and a half, and there are those that are interested in playing for twenty minutes. That whole pool of opportunities - and we think there's a lot of money in that - is being addressed by this third division called Sierra Online.''
I find this very interesting, seeing the fact that TSL is an online game, basically, and Sierra Online is an online game developer/distributor and publisher. Just seems odd that they'd reinstate Sierra in this form, what with the rise of online Sierra games.
Hmmm...
Well, as long as they don't butcher anything I say go team.
Actually, by online game I think he's referring to multi-player games that use the Internet (i.e. WoW, Diablo, F.E.A.R., etc).
Still though, it's nice that they're looking into reviving the Sierra division again. :)
Bad move IMHO. People might jump to conclusions when they see the name, and there'd be all sorts of misunderstandings and disappointments to be quelled by Vivendi.
I'm glad they're going with the elde name and reviving it, although I agree: It could lead to misunderstandings.
I don't think I can have a true opinion until I see some actual products, but I have high hopes for it.
Something is weird. I went to Sierra's site, it's redesigned. When I went to check out VG's site, the link (on the main internet) to it sent me directly back to Sierra's site. It's new corporate info section reads:
''Sierra Entertainment (www.sierra.com), a Vivendi Games studio, is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is the leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPG) category, holds leading positions in the PC, console, handheld and mobile games markets, and is an emerging player in casual online games. Sierra Entertainment’s development studios include Radical Entertainment, Swordfish Studios, High Moon Studios, and Massive Entertainment. Sierra’s IPs include Crash Bandicoot®, Spyro The Dragon®, Empire Earth®, SWAT®, Darkwatchâ,,¢, Timeshiftâ,,¢, Ground Control® and Leisure Suit Larry®. Vivendi Games is also home to Vivendi Games Mobile, publishing games for the emerging mobile market, and Sierra Online, dedicated to publishing casual games for online play and distribution on all platforms. Sierra Entertainment maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including Universal Music Group, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, and Ludlum Entertainment.''
It's not officially Sierra until they split Action/Adventure in the genre pulldown menu. :P Who the heck decided that those two should be merged into one genre anyway? >.< The "action/adventure" genre has been around for a while now...
It's kinda like how they mix fantasy and sci-fi in bookstores... granted sometimes they merge but most of the time it's pretty clear cut. :P
The "Sierra Online" brand was recently used for the Xbox Live Arcade title Assault Heroes (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/assaultheroes/index.html). It will also be used in upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title Carcassonne (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/carcassonne/index.html) (apparently based on a board game) and for the western release of Korean MMO PC basketball sim Freestyle Street Basketball (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/freestyle/index.html).