Author Topic: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America  (Read 12548 times)

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Offline Flames_of_chaos

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Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« on: May 14, 2009, 03:00:38 PM »
The German branch of Factor 5 officially confirmed the closure of the US branch.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18432

 Today on the official website of Factor 5 GmbH, Achim Moller, the CEO of the German studio, confirmed that San Rafeal-based Factor 5, Inc. has officially closed down. The studio, responsible for the popular Rogue Squadron series, fell on hard times after the bankruptcy of business partner Brash Entertainment. That combined with the tough economic climate made it impossible for the studio to survive.    


Moller has confirmed that Factor 5 GmbH, which is based in Cologne, Germany, is not affected by Factor 5, Inc.'s closure.  The company will reveal their upcoming projects in a couple of months.

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Offline Flames_of_chaos

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2009, 02:23:49 PM »
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/achim/moller  their upcoming game is definitely a Wii title.
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Offline BlackNMild2k1

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2009, 02:34:28 PM »
well that settles the 2 rumors sorta.

Factor 5 is still alive & they are currently working on a Wii title.

time to go update the rumor thread.

Offline Pale

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2009, 02:56:39 PM »
What is the relationship between the two companies exactly? I'm confused.

Also, in before the "hah! they failed because they spent too much money on the HD generation" comment.
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Offline Luigi Dude

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2009, 03:13:27 PM »
Oh no, who will make Kid Icarus for Matt now.  :'(
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Offline TJ Spyke

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2009, 03:32:06 PM »
What is the relationship between the two companies exactly? I'm confused.


According to http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21435, Factor 5 had been working on some games for Brash Entertainment when Brash went bankrupt. Factor 5 basically got screwed out of money they were owed (and they weren't the only ones, at least two development studios plan to sue Brash for unpaid work). Factor 5 was already in tough financial situations after Lair bombed, so losing money and resources from Brash going bankrupt really hurt them.
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Offline NinGurl69 *huggles

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2009, 03:55:09 PM »
So does the German branch have the talent of the California branch?

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It's like wondering if New Rare could come up with Goldeneye on their own.
« Last Edit: May 14, 2009, 04:00:08 PM by NinGurl69 *huggles »
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Offline BlackNMild2k1

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2009, 04:07:31 PM »
Well last I heard everyone at the Cali branch was let go unless they were specifically working on the Wii title(s).
So maybe while the branch is officially closing, some people will be moving to a smaller satellite location to continue their work.
No need to pay for big office space if you only have a fraction of the people to fill it now.

Offline KDR_11k

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2009, 04:11:33 PM »
So does the German branch have the talent of the California branch?

It was their starting branch, depends on how much talent remained there and how much migrated to the US.

Offline Stratos

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2009, 04:24:30 PM »
Couldn't those key members also travel back to Germany to work with the main studio?
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Offline NinGurl69 *huggles

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2009, 04:26:32 PM »
Depends if they ever picked "new" key members who were West Coast natives.
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Offline Stratos

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2009, 04:29:25 PM »
Even if they were US native, wouldn't moving to Germany for a job beat being jobless in a poor economy?
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Offline BlackNMild2k1

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #12 on: May 14, 2009, 04:37:26 PM »
Depends, do you have a family that is deep rooted in its community? Friends, job, school, extended family?
But on the other hand school is almost out, and Summer is almost here, so making a move in a month might not be all the hard, unless the spouse has a really great job that they love and don't want to quit.

Offline Stratos

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2009, 05:07:39 PM »
Well, if spouse has a good job then there wouldn't be the worry about being jobless in a poor economic climate.

Language might also be a barrier as well because you would have to learn German.
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Offline Peachylala

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2009, 05:21:33 PM »
Oh no, who will make Kid Icarus for Matt now.  :'(
Matt isn't that deserving. =)
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Offline BlackNMild2k1

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #15 on: May 14, 2009, 05:29:03 PM »
Oh no, who will make Kid Icarus for Matt now.  :'(
Matt isn't that deserving. =)
What about the rest of us, are we deserving?

Offline NinGurl69 *huggles

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2009, 05:32:54 PM »
psssshh naw
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Offline ThePerm

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #17 on: May 14, 2009, 05:53:28 PM »
nows a good time for nintendo to pull out its pocketbook and open a new studio
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Offline Invincible Donkey Kong

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2009, 10:14:46 PM »
Here at Nintendo, we move to the beat of a different drum.  So while our competitors throw large sums of money in exchange for diminishing returns, we aim to grow new ideas into quality products by seeking talent.

We didn't find it in San Rafael. :reggie:
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Offline BlackNMild2k1

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #19 on: May 14, 2009, 10:40:01 PM »
Here at Nintendo, we move to the beat of a different drum.  So while our competitors throw large sums of money in exchange for diminishing returns, we aim to grow new ideas into quality products by seeking talent.

We didn't find it in San Rafael. :reggie:
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Offline Smash_Brother

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #20 on: May 15, 2009, 12:46:13 AM »
Why isn't anyone blaming the REAL cause of this?

Lair and the PS3 being expensive as all hell to develop for.
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Offline NWR_pap64

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2009, 01:14:25 AM »
What is the relationship between the two companies exactly? I'm confused.

Also, in before the "hah! they failed because they spent too much money on the HD generation" comment.

Why isn't anyone blaming the REAL cause of this?

Lair and the PS3 being expensive as all hell to develop for.

Pale wins.  :D
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Offline Deguello

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2009, 01:56:19 AM »
I dunno pap.  It certainly seems to be the purple elephant in the room nobody wants to consider or see.  I mean, somehow the economic climate is to blame for their money troubles, right?  A downturn economy forced them to make Lair for the PS3?

I mean this is like hearing news of Kurt Cobain's death and going "First!  In before drug-addled suicide!"  But that IS what happened, right? 

The fact that it was even in Pale's mind and he was the first to bring it up sort of legitimizes the issue, now doesn't it?
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Offline Infernal Monkey

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #23 on: May 15, 2009, 02:00:40 AM »
Lair will save the PS3.

Offline NWR_pap64

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Re: Factor 5, Inc. Shuts Down in America
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2009, 02:01:42 AM »
I dunno pap.  It certainly seems to be the purple elephant in the room nobody wants to consider or see.  I mean, somehow the economic climate is to blame for their money troubles, right?  A downturn economy forced them to make Lair for the PS3?

I mean this is like hearing news of Kurt Cobain's death and going "First!  In before drug-addled suicide!"  But that IS what happened, right? 

The fact that it was even in Pale's mind and he was the first to bring it up sort of legitimizes the issue, now doesn't it?

I was kidding when I made that post. I thought Pale was making fun of people blaming HD gaming on the closure of some gaming studios, and the minute I saw S_B's post I had to bring that up.

I do agree that the high costs of development played a part in Factor's 5's closure.
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