Nuestro amado y respetado Bobby Kotick le ha dado un buen ataque a EA y su nuevo MMO basado en Star Wars. "Lucas va a ser el principal beneficiario del éxito de Star Wars, dijo Kotick. "Hemos hecho negocios con Lucas durante mucho tiempo y los acuerdos económicos siempre favorecen a Lucas, así que no entiendo a qué acuerdos han llegado Electronic Arts". "Si miras a la historia de gente invirtiendo en un MMO y consiguiendo el éxito, es un número pequeño."

Ea no ha respondido, pero ha dicho que el juego será rentable si llega al medio millón de subscriptores.

"[url Reuters[/url]"](Reuters) - Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) Chief Executive Bobby Kotick told Reuters that stores may face a shortage of its new children's game this holiday season and tried to cast doubt on a rival's upcoming game that analysts say could eat into Activision's user base.

Activision, the biggest U.S. video game publisher by market capitalization, has been riding the success of its top franchises, "Call of Duty" and "World of Warcraft," but now analysts and investors are concerned about its lack of diversification.

Investors are closely watching the company's new franchise investments for the next hit it can cash in on over coming years.

Shares of Activision are down 5.5 percent year-to-date while shares of its main rival, Electronic Arts (ERTS.O), are up 27.2 percent. On Monday, Activision Blizzard shares closed trading 41 cents higher at $12.16 per share on the Nasdaq.

Speaking at the Reuters Media Summit on Monday, Kotick took subtle digs at rival EA, continuing the trash talking between the two companies that began after EA said its "Battlefield 3," game would challenge the latest "Call of Duty" installment in the fall.

Not unlike with "Battlefield 3," EA is trying to steal market share from one of Activision's big games by releasing its own multiplayer game based on the "Star Wars" movies on December 20. "World of Warcraft," Activision's most profitable franchise, generated $1 billion in revenue for the company last year.

Kotick not only downplayed the notion that EA could steal users from "World of Warcraft" but also questioned whether his rival would make money off the "Star Wars" game since it has to pay Lucas Arts for the licensing rights.

"Lucas is going to be the principal beneficiary of the success of Star Wars," Kotick said. "We've been in business with Lucas for a long time and the economics will always accrue to the benefit of Lucas, so I don't really understand how the economics work for Electronic Arts."

EA declined to comment but has said previously that the game would become profitable if it reaches 500,000 subscribers.

Kotick also emphasized how hard it is for a company to pull off a successful multiplayer game, which involves sophisticated technology that allows thousands of people play together at one time.

"If you look at the history of the people investing in an MMO and achieving success, it's a small number," Kotick said.

But analysts do not necessarily share Kotick's viewpoint.

According to a research note by Lazard analyst Atul Bagga,

"Star Wars: The Old Republic," which EA has reportedly spent $100 million on, could attract 1.5 million to 2 million subscribers, which would qualify as a major success for EA.

Moreover, Bagga added in the recent note that between 3 million to 4 million "World of Warcraft" players may buy EA's new game.

Declines in "World of Warcraft" subscribers have worried investors. In November, the company raised its earnings forecast but its shares fell after the company said it had lost 800,000 "Warcraft" subscribers.