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Wait?? Why did they pull the TRANSFORMERS team.. from Transformers, and put them on a SUPERHERO game... and put the new team, that has done a superhero game BEFORE...... onto Transformers???? answer me Activision??? please/????????

OPERATION: DEPRESSION

Normal Studios: “We May have had a flop but we can come back! We’ve had 2 hits and one miss!” Activision Studios: “You made a game that didn’t give us all the money in the world? *D I E*

“You’re Optimus Prime fighting...Megatron?” -A very confused man

“Metroplex heads the call of the last Prime...” “Metroplex did not die for this...”

I love how photoshopping Bobby's face became an internet pasttime because it ruins his dates when they google him.

"such a sad and disappointing end to what was going to be a promising storyline" is basically transformers media in a nutshell

This one always hurts, especially since you cant get them digitally anymore. The fact 3rd party companies are still makeing toys of the Cybertron designs show how much it was loved by fans.

I'm still devastated by this game. If Activision was gonna tie the Cybertron gameverse with anything why not do it with TF Prime? Although they're technically in the same continuity the show runners didn't really care if they contradicted pre-established elements. So this would've been the perfect opportunity to fix some of those errors.

Rise of the Dark Spark is like having a cousin who’s related to you and you hate the fact that he is.

Studio: Exists Activision: Proceed your way to oblivion.

I don't think a single person on the planet, Transformers fan or otherwise, wanted to see the universe of the High Moon TF games crossover with the Micheal Bay TF movies

Peter Cullen sounds like a someone in one of those hostage videos, where the terrorists force the person to read their ransom letter

"You're... Optimus Prime, fighting Megatron?" ~ The dude that literally played OP since the franchise started

Also fun fact: I was the one who discovered the "We made this game in 6 months" texture within the game. I did not know it was being circulated around and found it's way to some corners of the internet. Color me surprised, and still shocks me that it was made in that length. I fee bad for the developers for this mess.

I still to this day, dare say that Activision is a worse publisher than EA.

highmoon was also dumped on destiny for a bit, real shame that theey couldn't hang onto their baby, esspecially considering it was by far one of the best takes on the transformers

Imagine what could've been if the trilogy had maintained consistent quality

Fun fact about how rushed this game is, movie Grimlock carries a mace, while FOC Grimlock has a sword. Despite this Movie Grimlock still uses all of FOC Grimlock's stabbing and decapitation animations from FOC.

Hilariously Hasbro made this huge info bible on the Fall of Cybertron/War For Cybertron universe to be used as the prime continuity from then on out that was pretty much totally forgotten about by everyone within a few years.

I remember buying this knowing i wouldn't like it. I didn't like it.

When you succeed on dire straights, and then STILL get put through the ringer, only to get shut down, it could only be one of the big publishers like Activision.

There is actually a sequel: The Transformers Prime animated series is technically in the same universe, things don't line up exactly but it's as close we're gonna get

Dammit Matt, was it necessary to show “that scene” from the G1 Transformers Movie at the end? I was just starting to cope with it after 30 years of absolute heartbreak.

I love how everytime Activision closes down a studio they say it's a "cost saving measure" to "adjust costs with revenue" after doing things that prevent said revenue from coming in, management 101 right there write that down kids

The two universes don't even meet in this "crossover". Literally, what was even the point!?

Activision: *takes transformers away from high moon and gives them deadpool* *dark spark fails* Activision: but the last transformers games were a success. How could this have failed?

“Devastator from Revenge of the Fallen testicles sold separately”

The fact that they digitally delisted the Transformers games was just the final kick in the nads. Here's hoping both Hollywood and the games industry takes a que from Bumblebee and gives Transformers the chance it deserves.

Activision is more evil than the Decepticons, damn

Optimus Prime: "One shall stand, one shall fall." Activision: "Why throw away your license so recklessly?!"

Loved War for Cybertron. Loved Fall of Cybertron. Had no, freaking, IDEA that Dark Spark was a thing, and I’m kind of glad. The 2nd game was a good ending.

"You're Optimus Prime... fighting... Megatron?" Bro, you're in the game and asking ME?

It was around this time that Hasbro was attempting to create an 'aligned continuity', that is having all their major then in production Transformers media occuring in a single consistent universe. It was a terrible idea and lasted exactly long enough to fuck up a couple novels and the games.

1:06 Eww... Greed, apathy, pork and arrogance with a dash of corporate slime and a hint of evil. The taste of Bobby Kotick. 🤮

The Deadpool videogame is probably my favorite 7/10 I ever played.

As a heads up, High Moon actually did take a break from CoD and helped to make the Destiny 2 PC port and it’s first DLC/Raid along with the Tangled Shore destination and the Season of the Forge DLC before Bungie split with activision.

Oh baby. I wonder if we'll ever get a good Transformers game in the future.

High Moon: WAIT! I still function! Activision: Wanna bet?

0:48 You really need to add Blizzard to those gravestones.

9:56 The most accurate depiction of Activision's business model ever made.

00:34 "Ah, there you are. You were right at my side, all along." - Matt found the Moonlight Greatsword, good job

Playing as a scientist in the WoCT MP was some of the coolest experiences I've ever had in an MP game. - Played as a Scientist, which for some context...was the transformer class who turn into a jets. They were generally geared and meant for tactical uses like debuffing, support, and reconnaissance rather than attack, BUT...there were ways to make one a literal dive-assassin and it was hard because you had to use double barreled shotgun they could alternatively get, at point blank range, and from behind the head, and do it fast because Scientists were made of paper. - It took so much practice and patience, but once you got it you could get experiences like flying in, transforming, one shotting even Soldier or Titan classes if the shot is successful, laying down a turret to disrupt or even kill their team mates around them, then transform again and fly off in seconds before a team has enough time to know what happened. It was just so sick. - Reciting that whole story just to emphasize how hard this video hits me since I loved the first two games. The Cybertron games were just assassinated in the same way, and it's such a damn shame.

We need a War of Cybertron remake.

Man just yesterday I searched for these games on steam as I loved the first one. When I saw them delisted I was left thinking what the hell happened. Your video came just on time lol.

I've been a tf fan my whole life and I'm *still* mad about this.

It's criminal that so many people will pretty much never get to experience the greatness that was War For Cybertron and Fall Of Cybertron, and infuriating that Activision screwed High Moon Studios over like they did. Also, I'm sad Luxoflux is no longer around. I loved Vigilante 8.

One of the worst things was just how it was supposed to unite the continuity of the movies and the cybertron games but didnt actually fit into the continuity of either so ended up being pointless . This means it just sits on its own which i guess that part is good.

13:05 "actvision consistenly works to align its costs with its revenues...we are taking a reduction in staff at high moon studios" says the company with one of the most overpaid CEOs ever. Seriously, Bobby Kotick salary is so insanely huge that even shareholders think he earns too much. The absolute nerve that those AAA companies have saying "we need microtransaction because games are expensive" or "we need to cut content and staff" like they are some indie dev that had to sell his only car to buy a better computer.

Fun fact the war for and fall of cybertron series was connected to the Aligned continuity a prequel to TF Prime, Rescue bots, and RID 2015, the right of the dark spark is considered not cannon to the story

High Moon clearly loved Transformers. This was a colossal betrayal to both them and fans.

Oh cool a Transformers Wut Happen

I feel like ‘Rise of the Dark Spark’ is like ‘Metroid: Other M’, the games are there but the fans agree that it either doesn’t count or just straight up ignored.

I love the little bit of James Rolfe love thrown in this episode. With his review of the transformer games on The Angry Video Game Nerd series on Cinemassacre.

Me: I hope someone like ea picks it up EA: pay 10.95 to get the ability to transform Me: Nevermind it had a good run

So if you're doing more Activision games, are you interested in Call of duty: Ghosts?

I haven't heard anyone in my 20 years of being alive mention Dark Watch and know it

I found your series a few days ago and I gota say I LOVE "What Happened?" Great job man!

"Big Bobby is back in the news again" God, that aged in a how shall we say special way

Somehow, I'm upset you forgot the name of the second movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, But considering what the movie was, well....I'm also kind of glad you forgot Revenge of the Fallen.

I loved that 2004 Transformers game when I was really young first game I got on ps2, it be pretty cool if you played it on the channel

I love this show, idk how you find all the research that goes into these but they're amazing! And thanks for posting on a Sunday, when there's nothing new on!!

Can I just say I really appreciate all of the Bobby kotick edits? They're brilliant.

I played the high moon Cybertron games so much in their "Prime". It's legitimately depressing to get a post mortem and knowing that the servers are down now. I needed the closure though so thank you.

High moon transformers are the best transformers games.

Yesss!!!!!!!! Thank you Matt. I did a rise of the dark spark episode last year and I was waiting for you to talk about it. Thank you!!!!

Oh man, don't forget that not only did they cram the Cybertron into the Bay movies, they were also crammed into both Transformers Prime and Rescue Bots continuity. Leaving some very confusing plotholes. Example: Megatron in War for Cybertron knew what Dark Energon was and went to where the Autobots were hiding it. While in the first episode of Prime, Megatron flies into the Decepticon base with Dark Energon and literally goes: "Check this shit out! I've only heard rumors that it exists and never seen it before!!!!" Like wut?

I'd know that voice anywhere..... HE'S GONNA TAKE YOU BACK TO THE PAST.....

As someone who worked on this flop at EoR... this is pritty much the story. For the curious though, here's the answer to why were there two disconnected stories in one game: The original pitch for the game by EoR was that there would be a generation spanning story where Unicron is attempting to cross dimensions into the Cinematic universe. The Gen 1 Universe transformers (G1 cartoon), who beat their Unicron in The Transformers Movie, would actually be the first autobots to get word of this plan. Cell shaded G1 Transformers, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Grimlock, would follow Unicron to the Cybertron universe. After a bit of fun on Cybertron where the G1 team get split up and meet with the local Autobots, the reunited teams would then break through to the Earth of the cinematic universe. There they'd recruit the transformers from the movies (well the movie game made by High Moon using the same game engine). Then they'd all fight to stop, who else but Unicron's herald, a new Galvatron created from the Cybertron universe's megatron. The final battle concludes with the team stopping Galvatron from opening a portal in the Cinematic universe to allow Unicron to cross over and devour the earth. (To be clear, while there would be respect for cannon from each universe, this could not be cannon for any universe) In short the pitch was: Cell shaded cartoon Transformers with their silly characterizations, fighting beside the sci-fi war veterans of the Cybertron games, fighting beside the (im)mature bayformers. A massive crossover event to celebrate the anniversary! Then a month or so into development EoR get's the word that we're scrapping that whole storyline. Among other notes, there will be no G1 universe characters allowed in the game. Well, that was a big part of the story, so the team then has to rewrite everything into a new story that doesn't need the Gen 1 characters. Which we do. Fast forward a few months further on and EoR gets word again that the story needs to change. EoR's game also can't have any interactions between the worlds, and we can't use Unicron or Galvatron, among other notes. (I don't know who made these demands but they weren't driven by EoR) At this point development has been underway for a while, levels have already been built for the second pitched story. In order to get a game out in time the game must now be Re-re-written into two stories, one about (Cinematic) Earth's Transformers and one about (War for) Cybertron's Transformers. The only linking element being the macguffin of the "Dark Spark". And since development can't just start over, as much of the already developed levels as possible get cut into pieces, reshuffled, recontextualized, and glued back together to create the final storyline. All of this, from pitch, to story rewrite, to second story rewrite, to the final form of the single player game that's shipped, happened in a little over 6 months, and the second rewrite happened in the third month.

Your editing is incredible. Every time I watch your channel, I have a good time! Definitely heading to the flophouse after this.

10:10 to 10:24.... you are a genius, sir. You nailed the Soundwave voice and everything. GREAT STUFF.

Another masterpiece episode.

I loved highmoon's work on the first two Cybertron games so much. Those games where my immediate go to's after frustrating days at school and I would spend so many hours playing Multiplayer and Escalation with my friends. hearing how Activision tore Highmoon apart actually made me really sad. 😕

Im so glad you did this topic.

I've been watching a few of your videos lately, and this might be the best one I've seen! (Unfortunately the subject matter is upsetting to me, because Activision seems to ruin everything they touch) I can tell you and your editor have a lot of love for Transformers and High Moon Studios. The music choices were fantastic and hit at the perfect time throughout the video. Very nice work!

Fun fact,High Moon studios even helped out Bungie to make Destiny 2.

I was surprised that the beginning clip with the AVGN wasn't from Allie-RX, though I guess his channel was kinda left behind compared to others.

Fiiiiinally!!! I've been waiting for this one.

I’ve been waiting for this video to come out

Thank you Matt for a new wut happened I need to wash my eyes and brain with something good today thanks again

Anyone seen the Transformers Battleground trailer? If not, you’ll be even more disappointed.

Hearing the original Transformers transition sound effect thing that played like 2 minutes into the video was so nostalgic, I loved that show as a kid.

Oh yes, I have waited for an eternity for this

I know you’ve heard about it multiple times but I can’t wait to see a What Happened video about The Last of Us 2.

Well, that's just prime... It's executive meddling shenanigans like this, is why I have such a love-hate relation towards Activision.

Is it my birthday and I just didn't know? Seriously though, thanks for talking about High Moons Transformers a bit Matt, I love those games💜

I've been waiting for this episode.

So glad I skipped this flaming turd, the moment I saw High Moon wasn't involved I ignored it and almost forgot it existed. Thanks Matt.

The 3DS version both series never even meet each other.

Excellent video!

This was really good. I love Fall of Cybertron, War for Cybertron, and Devastation. and this answered all my questions. We need a rerelease of all 3 in a pack

0:39 I said it once and I’ll say it again CURSE you ACTIVISION!!!!!!!!! 2:12 all that stuff on the screen is why I hate Activision. Activision butchering franchises since the 1980s but here is the thing they did a few good things for the video game industry but the rest is shit.

I was really disappointed with this installment. I really love the high moon game's and they do something stupid like this.

Bloodborne reference less than a minute in makes this one of my favorite "wha happun" vids already

I'VE WAITED MILLENNIA FOR THIS VIDEO

The Last of Us Part 2 - What Happened?

You should do one on the last of us 2, lol

It’s been a while since I’ve watched, you’re such a good writer Matt :)

As a some obsessed transformers fan with no life, I feel you represented our love-hate relationship with hasbro well, and truly spoke from the heart of a fan, good job.