Infocom takeover

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2 total messages Started by Rob DeMillo Tue, 08 Apr 1986 15:28

#2470

Author: Rob DeMillo
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 1986 15:28

30 lines
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Roughly quoting from PC Products magazine regarding Infocom, Inc. and
its venture into the business community with a DB product called
"Cornerstone:"
   "...although Cornerstone was received favorably in the trade press,
    the $495 package failed to attract enough attention to survive in
    the tough and un-gamely business software market. The result:
    Infocom reduced the price of its software to $99. A few days later,
    it was announced that the firm was acquired by Activision...for
    a reported $7.5 million stock swap."

The article goes on to say that the development - and flop - of Cornerstone
drained enough of Infocom's resources that they had to let 65 employees
go, and this is part of what made it an easy target for a takeover.

This may explain why I haven't received my "New Zork Times" lately. Also, does
this mean that all future "Infocom" games are actually coming from the
"Mind of Activision"?

Depressing news always makes me thirsty...


-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center
                               ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo


          "If you can't trust wimp lawyers anymore,
                 who can you trust...?"
                        -- Mildred Crebs

Re: Infocom takeover

#2471

Author: John Purbrick
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1986 04:36

16 lines
1327 bytes

> Does [buyout of InfoCom by ActiVision]
> mean that all future "Infocom" games are actually coming from the
> "Mind of Activision"?
> 
> Depressing news always makes me thirsty...
>                            --- Rob DeMillo 

I know enough people at InfoCom to feel able reply to this. Yes, they took
a beating on Cornerstone. Supposedly sales have picked up a fair bit since
the price reduction. ActiVision has (so far) not been very intrusive, but 
that may change. The best game-writers are still with InfoCom.

Basically, InfoCom's problem was in not saving its pennies. They had a very
bad habit of profliigacy--like renting their expensive new headquarters, just
in time to lay off half the staff and have to let a good bit of it sit empty.
Hacker-entrepreneurs take warning!

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