A while ago, Brütal Legend developer Tim Schafer called Activision CEO Bobby Kotick a prick, following the former publishers attempts to block Electronic Arts from releasing his game. Today, the flame-maned demon prince of videogames has hit back, and he's hit Schafer where it hurts -- the work ethic.
"Tim Schafer. The guy comes out and says I'm a prick. I've never met him in my life -- I've never had anything to do with him," explains the nefarious businessman. "I never had any involvement in the Vivendi project that they were doing, Brütal Legend, other than I was in one meeting where the guys looked at it and said, 'He's late, he's missed every milestone, he's overspent the budget and it doesn't seem like a good game. We're going to cancel it.
"And do you know what? That seemed like a sensible thing to do. And it turns out, he was late, he missed every milestone, the game was not a particularly good game ..."
Oh Bobby, you're the only brutal legend we'll ever need.
Kotick Slams Tim Schafer [CVG, taken from Edge magazine]
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Contest:
10:20 AM on 09.27.2010 | 
Brutal Legend wasn't a good game.
That said, Kotick was a dick to try and block the game from getting published elsewhere after Activision canned it, so I guess it's double fail in this case.
PS
I liked the game.
That said Brutal Legend still rules in my book.
FIGHT!
Seriously though, Schaffer would have more of a leg to stand on if Brutal legend wasn't shit.
Up there with that Halo Wars - every kid thought it was a first person shooter until they got it home.
Obviously he didn't end up looking like a fool, just a jerk.
PS
I fucking hated that game.
pretty much yes
@Everyone who's agreeing with Bobby
why are you guys sell your soul to the devil
Brutal Legend wasn't the best game but it was still a good one
No it was bad, it was not good, terrible game.
So Schafer was late? This comment is what, like 6 months late?
Guess he was too busy snorting his chopped up $100 bills and killing innovation to realize he's been insulted.
I also think people who "hate" Kotick are immature punk ass little kids who don't know jack shit about responsibility and business.
So, this entire article is a big win. When you kids stop hating and grow up a little you'll see where I'm coming from.
And he definitely isn't finishing last. For now, at least.
Of course, Kotick is going on about professionalism while going back at Shafer two months after the fact.
And hell, let's face it... Artists are not businessmen. Shock and Awe, when Shafer got handed the keys he did go a little bit overboard and spent a little longer on the game than he needed to and spent a little more money than he should have. Fair statement? Yes. Unexpected? Not at all.
If Kotick was so worried about milestones and budget, he would have stipulated resource management in the contract.
This is really just Kotick playing the "I'm innocent" card. Maybe he is in this case, maybe he isn't. And even if he is? Doesn't stop him being a prick.
Ugh.