Activision on Bizarre shocker: Some "wallowing in the worst possible outcome"

Activision staffer Dan Amrich has carpet-bombed Twitter about the reporting of news that Activision is "exploring options" related to Bizarre Creations, claiming the studio has not "closed," and that some are "wallowing in the worst possible outcome".

"I guess it's the difference between accepting reality or wallowing in the worst possible outcome," said the Activision-employed blogger, in response to criticism on Twitter of a blog post in which he claimed the studio is merely "going to go through some sort of change".

"Consider firstly that the studio is not dead, so there's no demise -- let's get the facts straight, lest we see hysteria," he said.

When it was highlighted by VG247 that he had picked a Gamasutra piece on the matter specifically because it wasn't "hysterical" - with the obvious assumption being that other reports were - Amrich added, "You have twisted my words. I'm not cheering this news, but I also think that some people have reported it too strongly."

Activision has confirmed that it is "exploring options" regarding Project Gotham Racing developer Bizarre Creations.

Multiple reports - including Amrich's own, although he's since said on Twitter he was "following Gamasutra's lead" on the subject - have said the studio's staff been put on a 90-day redundancy notice.

As the steadfastly non-hysterical Gamasutra notes, the 90-day notice is a legal requirement in the UK.

Activision released a statement in the wake of rumour of up to 200 staff being let go, saying, "Blur did not find a commercial audience" and the publisher is now "exploring options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business."

Amrich said the move gives time for Bizarre staff to "prepare".

"Well, a buyer could keep everything as is," he said. "It's certainly not good news, but at least folks can prepare for change."

He went on: "Is it possible the studio will close? Is it possible the studio will change? Is it possible the studio will be sold as is? Yes."

And added further: "When some people hear bad news, they want to focus on it. I'm not in that camp. I hate bad news but I'd rather think critically."

One more for luck: "I am prepared for the worst but hoping for the best -- that's all. There are a lot of talented people there; not giving up on them."

Don't give up on them, Dan. And the rest of you; stop wallowing, will you?