Being owned by Activision should not mean that VV forfeits all opportunities to create their own original IPs. Those IPs will just (probably) be owned by Activision. The problem, I'm sure, is getting a risk-averse mega-publisher to green light such a project.
Also, I noticed upon listening to the show that I called it Ep. 103. Whoops! After hearing teases about the real 103, I really can't wait to hear what happened with Karl and Stan joining the crew.