Many commentators were quick to predict the demise of the publisher following the advent of digital marketplaces, with many of the logistical elements of the business now able to be tackled by studios in house.
According to one indie, however, there are still major players out there willing to give indies their creative freedom as well as providing them with much needed support.
'Hands-off'
That's the view of indie developer Slant Six Games, which has come out in support of Activision's adeptness as a mobile publisher, in particular commending the company's hands-off approach.
The Vancouver-based studio best known for its work on console games such as SOCOM: Confrontation and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City has just made its iOS debut with The Bowling Dead, which is distributed by Activision's mobile publishing arm.
In an interview with Inside Mobile Apps, Slant Six game director Tuomas Prinen characterised the publishing behemoth as a knowledgeable partner, explaining that "it was just good to talk to somebody that had gone through all the hoops."
And despite Activision's reputation for favouring the bottom line over creativity, Prinen claimed that the company also "let us be creative without insisting on creative control."
Moving markets
Slant Six Games isn't leaving behind the world of console development, but the team is certainly gearing up its mobile output.
Currently, the studio is collaborating with Microsoft on Galactic Reign for Windows Phone 8, and it has at least one other mobile title in active development, too.
"The biggest challenge is that for many many years we've been in the console world," Prinen said of the company's new direction.
"Mobile is like the Wild West. Rules are being written as we go along," he explained. "We are in charge of our own destiny here."
[source: Inside Mobile Apps]
