Firstly, yes there is. Secondly, they're far from down. Much more kicking is needed before they're floored.

Well i'm not so sure about that, unless Activison can come up with another wildly successful franchise to rape into the ground, they seem to be on something of a downer, with all their big name franchises reaching (or already far surpassed) saturation point.
Having said that, let me find my steel toe-capped boots.

That's the spirit!
But yes, I don't see much longevity in their peripheral games. They've released too many in too short a space of time, drowning the market entirely. COD has obviously peaked. According to their new organisation that just leaves licensed games, and I haven't seen many of those from Activision compared to EA and Take Two.

EA's execs must really be feeling happy these days.
Everyone hated them not that long ago, and it only took them behaving slightly better and Activision screwing up for people to forget that and start loving them.
Still, despite the fact that both companies are actually just as bad, seeing them at each other's throats is rather fun.
Plus, while they're doing that, they're not busy imagining new ways to screw up their customers or smaller companies, hopefully.

Activision is far from being down. Bobby Kotick is the most talented manager the gaming business has seen in decades. They only one who will get slaughtered is EA. Mark my words.
And just to be clear, I don't like what Kotick did to Infinity Ward. It's really sad. I do hate EA much more, however.

Kinda reminds me of the fall of a former console generation...

Substitute talented for arrogant, lying, dickhead and you would be close.

That's why I really wanted Kotick to go ahead with his console-less games idea. The fall would be so hard it would leave an impact crater. But that doesn't seem quite so likely now.

Hey, in some people's eyes those can all be things that make someone talented. After all, could you behave that way without feeling absolutely disgusted with yourself? ;)

Probably not and thats why I am not earning $14 Million a year.

Apart from the 'take fun out of making video games' quote, what did Bobby Kotick do to piss everyone off? How can anyone who looks a bit like Ralph Malph be THAT evil.

Yes, more kicking... and baseball bats, we need to hit them with baseball bats... and... and large, heavy rocks or maybe smaller ones, thrown with great accuracy... yesss.

isn't it true tough?
Activision: "The golden eggs were sold for big money! We are richer now and happier"
Everyone: "Didn't they just kill the chicken?"
It is not beating the horse down. What EA said is completely true. Activision is proud that they make a bit more money but at the same time source of that money is falling apart.
Really no need to sugercoat it.

dropping tens of games, turning gaming into franchise to milk it every year (not exact words but exact meaning)
i personally find that approach very dangerous to the industry.

A golem made out of small rocks, symbollic of the masses rising as one to defeat the common enemy