According to Variety, the publisher has laid off 20 employees and is seeking to raise funds by pairing with other companies, returning some of the licenses it holds, or selling them to another publisher. Only two of the company's many planned games are still confirmed for release: Six Flags Fun Park and Saw.
While the Superman game was unannounced, Brash previously confirmed a development partnership with Factor 5. Other games in danger are Prison Break, Night at the Museum 2, 300, Clash of the Titans and Tale of Desperaux. The report further claims that Brash has stopped paying developers for their work.
Upon its formation last year, Alvin and the Chipmunks publisher Brash announced that it has raised over $400 million in funding. But not all of that money was delivered upfront, with Variety reporting that most of the undelivered cash has "dried up" in the current credit crisis.
I never would of imagined that Factor 5 would team up with Brash of all publishers. And I am surprised that Brash is even with business after the colossal pile of turd that Alvin and the Chipmunks and Jumper were. Maybe this is a good thing because we might not see those crappy movie to game adaptations.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: BranDonk Kong on November 07, 2008, 11:11:28 PM
Man, Factor 5 has been making a lot of great decisions lately. First they rushed Rogue Squadron 3 and canceled all their other GameCube games, then they left Nintendo for Sony and released the ****-fest known as Lair, and now this. Way to go Factor 5, way to go.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 07, 2008, 11:25:46 PM
Glorious.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: user0x7D on November 08, 2008, 11:18:58 AM
The more I watch this industry the more I see that the only company that has even half a brain is Nintendo. No matter what they do they always seem to come out on top somehow. Everyone else, eh... They may enjoy limited success but in the end what they did to get there always comes back to bite them in the ass. Especially when it's ditching the company that made you (Nintendo) for a more sexy looking but completely whore-tastic partner (Sony/MS).
Square, Rare, Silicon Knights, and now Factor 5. Who's next?
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Spak-Spang on November 08, 2008, 12:19:48 PM
You know. Nintendo and Microsoft both have half a brain...just Nintendo seems to have 3/4 a brain.
You also forgot Sega in that list, Namco as well.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 08, 2008, 12:54:24 PM
It's arguable Sega and Namco are growing the missing portions of their brains.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on November 08, 2008, 01:21:15 PM
It's arguable Sega and Namco are growing the missing portions of their brains.
Well Namco is still churning out 360 RPGs and they aren't selling that well in the US while the main reason to make 360 RPGs for them is the potential western market. But I suppose the explosion of Wii support from them makes it up I guess. I think Marvelous, Sega, Capcom are Nintendo's best friends this gen.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Peachylala on November 24, 2008, 01:31:59 PM
Quote
I think Marvelous, Sega, Capcom are Nintendo's best friends this gen.
First one: Hmm...
Second one: Highly likely, though they are thinking they are Nintendo's saviors due to the all the core vs. casual bullshit that seems to be flinging around.
Third one: I want my Zack and Wiki sequal, plz thk u.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on November 25, 2008, 01:36:01 AM
I think Marvelous, Sega, Capcom are Nintendo's best friends this gen.
Second one: Highly likely, though they are thinking they are Nintendo's saviors due to the all the core vs. casual bullshit that seems to be flinging around.
No Nintendo is Marvelous' savior because the games they are releasing on Wii there isn't much competition so Marvelous can position themselves as a small publisher thats the big fish for the types of games they will be releasing and in business a small publisher would want every opportunity to become the big fish.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on November 25, 2008, 04:13:53 AM
Thoe who ride the wave will reach unequalled heights, those who fight the wave will drown (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Electronic-Arts-losses-grow-earnings/story.aspx?guid=%7B9FFD01F5-8B9A-4B33-944F-507A5FD155CF%7D).
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Urkel on November 25, 2008, 04:47:57 AM
Looks like Midway will be the first to drown.
You'd think that after all the money they lost on Area 51 and Stranglehold, they would at least consider shifting more towards the Wii. Instead they made Cruis'n and Target Terror and two Game Party games.
I wont feel sorry any of these companies that go under this generation since they willingly ignore the obvious.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 25, 2008, 05:04:40 AM
You'd think that after all the money they lost on Area 51 and Stranglehold, they would at least consider shifting more towards the Wii. Instead they made Cruis'n and Target Terror and two Game Party games.
I wont feel sorry any of these companies that go under this generation since they willingly ignore the obvious.
Konami published Target Terror, not Midway.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on November 25, 2008, 06:11:47 AM
Well, Game Party probably made money (it's cheap to dev and I guess some people bought it so that's pretty much guaranteed profit), it's the large projects that tend to eat it.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Urkel on December 07, 2008, 03:24:22 PM
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NWR_Neal on December 07, 2008, 04:20:12 PM
Supposedly Brash and Factor 5 were working on a Superman game, but that ain't happening now since, well, one of them no longer exists.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Mikintosh on December 07, 2008, 05:08:51 PM
Oh no, how can this world possibly survive without Six Flags Fun Park? I shudder to think.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: ShyGuy on December 07, 2008, 06:28:27 PM
Nintendo needs to go on a shopping spree and make Factor Five first party. Then make them develop Mario sports games. Buy Cyan while you're at it Nintendo, my friend got laid off thanks to Gamecock running themselves into the ground.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: RedBlue on December 21, 2008, 11:47:34 AM
Factor Five is no more (http://kotaku.com/5114990/rumor-factor-5-goes-ker+plop) Is this what Sony and Microsoft want?
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on December 21, 2008, 12:49:12 PM
Nintendo needs to go on a shopping spree and make Factor Five first party. Then make them develop Mario sports games. Buy Cyan while you're at it Nintendo, my friend got laid off thanks to Gamecock running themselves into the ground.
Gamecock ran themselves into the ground? They always wanted to be bought out just look at Mike Wilson's other game company before he founded Gamecock which is Gathering of Developers (GoD games) that got bought out fast by take 2.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: ShyGuy on December 21, 2008, 02:33:48 PM
Source on Mike Wilson saying he wanted to be bought out.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: nitsu niflheim on December 22, 2008, 12:32:02 AM
Well, can't say I am sorry to see them go. They chose to **** talk the Wii from the beginning and released a game that didn't live up to any expectations (consumer, critics, their legacy). And after the game failed, they tried to save face by sweet talking about the Wii, but in this case it was "too little, too late" to save themselves.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on December 22, 2008, 03:40:51 AM
Another one bites the dust. I remember when people said those who follow the HD route will make less money but that bankrupcy was just a fantasy of the disruption advocates. Now core gaming is imploding.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: oohhboy on December 22, 2008, 05:38:23 AM
Factor 5 did not deserve this. Neither did Free Radical. Sure Factor 5 left us with a few bad comments, but not this. They made some bloody good games.
Even if nintendo didn't (won't) buy them out, they can at least head hunt the core tech team. Getting them to work on tools and libraries would be invaluable to themselves and third parties developing on the Wii.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NWR_pap64 on December 22, 2008, 08:41:19 AM
Well, can't say I am sorry to see them go. They chose to **** talk the Wii from the beginning and released a game that didn't live up to any expectations (consumer, critics, their legacy). And after the game failed, they tried to save face by sweet talking about the Wii, but in this case it was "too little, too late" to save themselves.
Some call this "The Nintendo curse". Many of the developers that shunned Nintendo or the Wii either went bankrupt or closed completely.
This is karma at work, people.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Peachylala on December 22, 2008, 11:25:33 AM
In my personal opinion, Factor 5 got what they exactly deserved. You develop one of the best launch titles for the Gamecube, make a horrible sequal and then drop Nintendo like a rock after the Wii is revealed, so damn right you should get screwed over.
Now if only it would happen to Artoon...
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Ian Sane on December 22, 2008, 12:38:05 PM
Remember when Factor 5 was awesome? Then they go to the competition and they suck and it's good they went under. Now I'll admit that Lair was crap but overall Factor 5 was a very talented developer and true videogame fans should be upset about their demise. It just goes to show that too many Nintendo fans on this forum treat it like a sports team - all that matters is that Nintendo wins.
And I hate all this "well they should have supported the Wii" crap. When Factor 5 made the decision to go to Sony it seemed like a logical idea. Sony was the market leader, Nintendo was irrelevent nothing risking everything on an untapped part of the mainstream that may never show interest. The only people who were betting on the Wii were die-hard Nintendo fanboys and for most of them the only justification for that decision was "Nintendo is awesome and thus will win". There's very few people that I can look back on their ideas at the time and say they were right. Most of you just fluked out because you would have picked Nintendo no matter what.
So don't be all smug about being right and enjoying talented developers going under because of one bad game. You're as right as the devoted fan who picks his home team to win the title EVERY YEAR and then is all "I TOLD YOU SO" when they finally do, ignoring all the years he made the same prediction and they missed the playoffs completely.
What would have been good is if after a bust on the PS3 Factor 5 and Free Radical returned to Nintendo and started making Wii games. That is what we've lost because they went under.
Nobody deserves to go broke because they dropped Nintendo. That's taking it way too personal. Only consistently lousy developers deserve to go broke and Factor 5 and Free Radical could have bounced back from a critical bomb.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 22, 2008, 12:58:00 PM
Rebel Strike was awesome, but you didn't think so. That's 2 duds in a row, so by your metric they deserved to go under.
UNDA DA SEA!
DOWN WHERE IT'S WETTA
DOWN WHERE IT'S BETTA
TAKE IT FROM MEEEEEE
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: King of Twitch on December 22, 2008, 01:38:31 PM
Did the stampeding masses at E3 06 mean nothing
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Plugabugz on December 22, 2008, 02:03:52 PM
Explain Data Design Interactive then, Ian. HOW MANY DUDS IN A ROW.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 22, 2008, 02:07:50 PM
Spectrum Holobyte, please come back!
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Spinnzilla on December 22, 2008, 02:12:00 PM
well this sucks.
the only one who misses out is us.
i'm curious as to where IGN (or just Matt) got that dreamy "Kid Icuras Wii" theory from? If factor five was honestly developing a Nintendo game, Nintendo would have attempted to save their asses.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on December 22, 2008, 02:16:48 PM
Ian, we're laughing because it's another bankrupcy in the age of HD. Not because the devs picked illogically back in the day but because people are still proclaiming that better graphics are the way forward and Nintendo's lower graphics were just used to prey on the ignorant masses. We don't cheer for the demise of a specific developer (though they were mostly a tech demo company, their gameplay was always the weak spot and the games were buggy), we cheer for the failure of the prediction that graphics are more important than improving the user interface and accessibility of gaming. We cheer for the implosion of the era of the cinematic epic with the hope of games becoming more focussed on interesting gameplay instead of crappy movies.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NWR_pap64 on December 22, 2008, 02:55:00 PM
Ian, we're laughing because it's another bankrupcy in the age of HD. Not because the devs picked illogically back in the day but because people are still proclaiming that better graphics are the way forward and Nintendo's lower graphics were just used to prey on the ignorant masses. We don't cheer for the demise of a specific developer (though they were mostly a tech demo company, their gameplay was always the weak spot and the games were buggy), we cheer for the failure of the prediction that graphics are more important than improving the user interface and accessibility of gaming. We cheer for the implosion of the era of the cinematic epic with the hope of games becoming more focussed on interesting gameplay instead of crappy movies.
You know, I was thinking about this last night.
There are far too many cases of studios shutting down and firing employees. I figured the reason why is that they are spending too much money making epic games for HD consoles and seeing very little profit, even if the game is considered a success. Then there's marketing, release and manufacturing. Combine all of this and gaming can be pretty damn expensive to make.
Before Ian comes in and says "Yeah, well developers can lose money on Wii too" its a proven fact that developing for the 360 or PS3 is expensive. Their development kits cost far more than the typical Wii kit, not to mention that they have to modify the textures in order to fit HD sets, and for that to happen they need to buy HD engines, which I take is also expensive. Add development time, payment for all the employees working on the game and the other stuff I mentioned and I can see how companies seem to be closing left and right. Too little profit being made, even if a game manages to sell millions.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Kairon on December 22, 2008, 03:26:35 PM
We cheer for the implosion of the era of the cinematic epic with the hope of games becoming more focussed on interesting gameplay instead of crappy movies.
I agree. It's not that I don't like epic games. Sure, bring 'em on! But for every Secret of Mana or Final Fantasy VI in my past, there was a Mario Paint, a Pieces, a Lemmings, a Tetris.
Companies need to learn: in the end I don't really want multi-billion dollar graphics. You can't spend money and expect to buy me as a consumer, to roll over like you deserve me as a customer.
I just want fun. And I don't care if it comes in the shape of a sword, a gun, a dragon, a paintbrush, or a pompom.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 22, 2008, 03:43:40 PM
This sucks. Factor 5 was supposed to come back and show everyone what the Wii could really do. They were like the prodigal son, lured away by false promises, and we were going to welcome them back with open arms.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 22, 2008, 04:06:14 PM
You'll have to settle for Sonic Unleashed, I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Kairon on December 22, 2008, 04:12:20 PM
This sucks. Factor 5 was supposed to come back and show everyone what the Wii could really do. They were like the prodigal son, lured away by false promises, and we were going to welcome them back with open arms.
It does suck.
I mean, I wasn't too keen on them after the mess that Rebel Strike was (best part about Rogue Squadron 3 was Rogue Squadron 2), but they're amazing technical workers, and that's always a key attraction to Nintendo's second party lineup. On the N64 they had Rare, on the GC they had Factor 5, but the Wii lacks significantly in this area.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: King of Twitch on December 22, 2008, 04:44:05 PM
Quote
They were like the prodigal son, lured away by false promises, and we were going to welcome them back with open arms.
Instead, they are like the farmer who sows seeds in the brush, and his profits are choked up by the THORNS OF HD.
Or... are we the Good Samaritan who arrives too late to help the guy that gets mugged and beaten by HD, and then dies of his injuries?
Or is the Wii a mustard seed? "What is the kingdom of Wii like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his living room. It grew and became a moneytree, and the third parties of the air perched in its branches."
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Kairon on December 22, 2008, 04:50:29 PM
They're like Jonah. Except the great fish actually chewed this time.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Plugabugz on December 22, 2008, 05:41:19 PM
You'll have to settle for Sonic Unleashed, I'm afraid.
WHAT NEXT? KEANU REAVES FORSEEING DOOM AND DESTRUCTION?
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 22, 2008, 05:49:00 PM
"This is not YOUR planet. I know Kung Fu."
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on December 22, 2008, 05:52:32 PM
pap, no offense but that's really not what makes HD games cost. "HD" is the wrong term actually, they'd be just as expensive in SD. More power means more possible detail means more mandatory detail and detail costs money. Especially when that detail is so complex to make like a normalmap (which is standard for "HD" games). Not just the objects need more detail, the levels too. Whereas Quake and Descent got away with pretty much straight cubes nowadays everything has to be populated with tons of auxiliary objects that all have to be designed and then placed well. This also impacts game length, when it takes a month to make a piece of corridor that takes 10 minutes to play through you're obviously not getting a very long game. Often levels need custom objects to give unique sights rather than copypasta from other parts and that takes work too. Players don't even look at all these expensive details much but it has to be there because it's expected to be there.
And for all the visual variety most games fail to make different levels actually play different so it still feels repetitive even though millions were spent on avioding the look.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Ian Sane on December 22, 2008, 07:35:28 PM
Quote
Rebel Strike was awesome, but you didn't think so.
Rebel Strike was HALF awesome or maybe two thirds. ;)
Quote
Ian, we're laughing because it's another bankrupcy in the age of HD. Not because the devs picked illogically back in the day but because people are still proclaiming that better graphics are the way forward and Nintendo's lower graphics were just used to prey on the ignorant masses.
Better graphics isn't all that better hardware can accomplish but then I argued that to death years ago. I don't think Nintendo's method has any more substance at least from the perspective of making games better. The only difference is their method is financially successful and Sony's isn't.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: KDR_11k on December 23, 2008, 06:00:39 AM
But it seems that better graphics is what people expect from games on the "HD" systems and thus games must spend more and more money on that.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: vudu on December 23, 2008, 11:39:00 AM
[Factor 5 was] like the prodigal son, lured away by false promises, and we were going to welcome them back with open arms.
Anyone else getting Episode III flashbacks?
You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.
/boo hoo
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on December 23, 2008, 12:42:36 PM
When was Factor 5 ever a "good" developer outside of visuals? They could really only do one thing, and even that formula grew stale fast and that was the Rogue Squadron series.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: Arbok on December 23, 2008, 02:10:09 PM
When was Factor 5 ever a "good" developer outside of visuals? They could really only do one thing, and even that formula grew stale fast and that was the Rogue Squadron series.
Factor 5 was a one trick pony... but they did that trick really, really well.
As mediocre as the third Rogue Squadron was, at least the flying levels were still a blast. Regardless of their limited scope in terms of success... the second Rogue Squadron was easily one of my favorite Gamecube games and I'm really sad that they won't get to make another one for the Wii, as I feel one made from the ground up with two player co-op in it (rather than the way it was shoe-horned into the third) could have been awesome.
Title: Re: Rumor: Factor 5's new game is in limbo
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 23, 2008, 03:05:19 PM
[Factor 5 was] like the prodigal son, lured away by false promises, and we were going to welcome them back with open arms.
Anyone else getting Episode III flashbacks?
You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.
/boo hoo
Don't cry, vudu. I'm sure you're not the only one who has flashbacks to that movie. It's called PTSD, and I urge you to call a counselor before you or your family suffer through any more attempts at quoting George Lucas dialog. You don't have to face this alone.
