What Was It Like to Create Activision?

Activision Co-Founder David Crane talks about starting the company and what he thinks of today's juggernaut.

[Toosimoo]

Guys from his era were the true pioneers of gaming.

[BluefoxOOO]

I know the company now isn't that great but this guy deserves respect

[Strospiteri]

I look at the comment section and have mixed feelings about our community. Some here are cultured enough to know who this man is and respect him, yet the rest throw all their bottled hatred at a man who has nothing to do with Activision's current affairs simply because of a glowing logo in the background.

This is what I hate the most about this community the most, you make one bad move and then your suddenly space satan in the eyes of the 'community'.

[Venomcreed]

Im never forgiving Activision for what they did to crash bandicoot

[Bart]

I wonder what David Crane really thinks about the Kotick-era Activision. I'd like to treat the pre-Kotick one as an entirely different company.

[DelbertStinkfester]

Activision games on the Atari 2600 were the best

[shantygaming]

People are comparing the Activision of today. With the Activision this guy founded.

[Hologhoul]

Some of those Activision games were pretty amazing. Compared to what came before, it seemed like a new, much more powerful console. River Raid, as one example, is still great fun and really challenging to play even now.

[Successgether]

Activision breathed new life into the 2600. CBS and Coleco helped also.

[BlackMasamuneX]

Always fascinating to see how an Evil Empire began.

[gcemjie]

Some of my greatest video game memories were made possible by Activision: 
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998) - When this game came out I would spend hours trying to get the "Grand Master Ninja" Title on all the levels. I still think this was a better stealth game than Metal Gear Solid and Syphon Filter
Tony Hawk Pro Skater (1999) - This game was SO revolutionary when it came out. I always thought skateboarding games were boring until I started playing THIS game. Made skateboarding games fun in video games and accessible. 
Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006) - THE BEST Marvel game that ever came out.

[JohnHadfieldjcs]

Call of Duty would be nothing without this guy. Pitfall was my favorite though I never played it.

[FPoelje]

I'm feeling OLD like Mr. Crane. Back in those days, I was fond of Pitfall and liked, but not good at River Raid and Seaquest. Since then, and still, I am intrigued by video games. Looking back at the fun moments I had with Atari 2600, CBM VIC20 and CBM 64, Amiga 500, Atari 800 XL, Atari 1040 ST, Vectrex...aaah...maybe I'll visit my good old attic one of these days...

[Darthadios]

After EA, my least favourite gaming company.

[charliebockover]

David Crane is a super guy !!!
I had no idea who he was . He would come to my work, and
I got to know him . He would
Come in and find me and tell
Me the corniest jokes ! How corny ? " What's Irish that you
Can find around the pool ?
Paddy O ' Furniture
Mahveloussss !

[RetroGameCrusader]

Tony Hawks Pro Staker 2 just one of the best games ever. =D plus spider-man was awesome to use

[SinceSpacies]

David Crane was the first developer I knew about during the Atari days. I also knew this because I found out as a kid that Pitfall takes place in the land of "Enarc" which is Crane backwards. This blew my fragile little 8 year old mind!

[ThunderDragonRandy]

My favorite Activision franchises (made or published) are:
- Guitar Hero
- Tony Hawk

[bugsfrickingbunny]

All the company is today is a then it was the best game publisher in the world

[zerosuitfan]

Crane and his co-founders must be ashamed to see the once great company they made nothing more than a soulless greedy shell of a company that was made to give developers the recognition they deserved.