- Jaleco closes (IP and $7.736m/$17.68m loan sold to Game Yarou for $0.01)
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21930 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21930)
- MS ACES (Flight Simulator team gone)
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21981 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21981)
- MS cuts 30% of testers at MGS + unspecified GFW team
http://kotaku.com/5138389/more-micro...-windows-group (http://kotaku.com/5138389/more-microsoft-layoffs-hit-game-testers-games-for-windows-group)
- Sega cuts 30 in San Francisco
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21942 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21942)
- Eidos cuts 30 people at Crystal Dynamics
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21809 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21809)
- Eidos closes Rockpool Games (Manchester) [mobile]
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...chester-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/eidos-closes-manchester-studio)
- Seta Corp (Super Entertainment & Total Amusement) closed
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21943 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21943)
- EA to cut 10% of staff and 9 studios consolidated/closed by March
---- unspecifed # @ Tiburon (Madden and Tiger Woods divisions confirmed hit)
---- Blackbox (200 out of 350 jobs cut, remainder absorbed into EA Burnaby [Vancouver])
---- 21 customer service, half of QA, all of playtest group @ Mythic
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21974 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21974)
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21931 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21931)
- unspecified cuts at Sony and MS (kotaku sez bulk of the current 1400 cut from MS are from Entertainment & Devices)
Nexon closes Humanature studio (Vancouver) 90 Jobs lost
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...anature-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nexon-closes-humanature-studio)
Unspecified layoffs at Kuju in US and UK
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...across-studios (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/kuju-confirms-redundancies-across-studios)
Ensemble closes
http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs...nd-thanks.aspx (http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2009/01/29/goodbye-and-thanks.aspx)
Disney Interactive Studios layoff ~70 at Propoganda, confirms plans to"consolidate a handful of its studios, including Avalanche Software andthe Fall Line studio."
http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/01/...unced-tur.html (http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/01/unannounced-tur.html)
Brighter Minds (World of Goo) goes Bankrupt
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-goes-bankrupt (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/world-of-goo-publisher-goes-bankrupt)
THQ Mobile shuts down in San Diego, Germany and UK (~100 jobs)
http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/02/...be-bomber.html (http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/02/would-be-bomber.html)
Action Pants (British-Columbia) acquired by Ubisoft
http://kotaku.com/5145390/ubisoft-acquires-action-pants (http://kotaku.com/5145390/ubisoft-acquires-action-pants)
Free Radical acquired by Crytek
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22156 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22156)
EA to close 12 facilities + 1100 jobs
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...g-USD641m-loss (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-to-close-12-facilities-following-USD641m-loss)
Snowblind Studios acquired by Warner Bros
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22178 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22178)
Eidos drops casual studio (Gimme5games)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...l-games-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/eidos-drops-casual-games-studio)
Sega cuts 18% of workforce (560 jobs)
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22239 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22239)
NCSoft cuts 55 at NC West (Europe)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...uropean-office (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nc-west-cuts-dow-european-office)
Midway files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
http://www.midway.com/us/pr/mpr_5591.html (http://www.midway.com/us/pr/mpr_5591.html)
Rare cuts artist and engineer positions (12 known)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...neer-positions (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/rare-axes-artist-and-engineer-positions)
Popcap acquires Gastronaut Studios
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...es-xbla-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/popcap-acquires-xbla-studio)
Fillpoint acquires Crave Entertainment and SVG Distribution
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-crave-and-svg (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/fillpoint-acquires-crave-and-svg)
THQ cuts majority of Volition's (Saint's Row) QA staff - 86 of 102
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22562 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22562)
THQ to sell or close Big HUge Games, Heavy Iron and Incinerator becoming independent.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...r-close-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/thq-to-sell-big-huge-games-or-close-studio)
Namco to buy all branches of D3 publisher, including studio Vicious Cycle
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-d3p-businesse (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/namco-to-acquire-complete-d3p-businesse)
THQ confirms unspecified layoffs at BigHugeGames, still looking for sale
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...big-huge-games (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/thq-confirms-lay-offs-at-big-huge-games)
3D Realms closes
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...s-closes-doors (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/3d-realms-closes-doors)
Microsoft Game Studios acquires BigPark
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...cquire-bigpark (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-to-acquire-bigpark)
38 Studios acquires BigHugeGames from THQ
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...big-huge-games (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/38-studios-acquires-big-huge-games)
Grin Studios cuts 160 people
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthre...?f=59&t=768094 (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=59&t=768094)
Factor 5 closes
http://www.edge-online.com/news/lair...actor-5-closes (http://www.edge-online.com/news/lair-dev-factor-5-closes)
Management Buy-Out/Closure of Chemistry (Kuju)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...emistry-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/mbo-or-closure-for-kujus-chemistry-studio)
Deadline Games (Watchman Game) files for bankruptcy
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...for-bankruptcy (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/deadline-games-files-for-bankruptcy)
Crystal Dynamics cuts 25 more people
http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23989 (http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23989)
Midway San Diego and Newcastle face closure by end of June.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...by-end-of-june (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/midway-newcastle-san-diego-face-closure-by-end-of-june)
America's Army studio closes
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...o-closes-doors (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/americas-army-studio-closes-doors)
Rockstar lays of 10% of New England staff
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...d-staff-report (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/rockstar-lays-off-10-percent-of-new-england-staff-report)
ZeniMax (owner of Bethsoft) acquires id Software
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...es-id-software (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zenimax-acquires-id-software)
Heavy Hammer lays off Blue Omega team
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...damnation-team (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blue-omega-lays-off-damnation-team)
Sony Online Entertainment lays off 5% of staff
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=24483 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24483)
Midway Closes Chicago Corporate Headquarters and Newcastle Studio
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...rporate-office (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/60-jobs-go-as-midway-closes-chicago-corporate-office)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...studio-closure (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/midway-confirms-newcastle-studio-closure)
Grin shuts down
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ompany-closure (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/grin-confirms-company-closure)
THQ Buys Midway San Diego
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...n-diego-studio (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/thq-buys-midway-san-diego-studio)
EA cuts back staff at Maxis
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...staff-at-maxis (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-cuts-back-staff-at-maxis)
Raven lays off 30-35
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...of-wolfenstein (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/raven-lays-off-staff-following-release-of-wolfenstein)
Bottlerocket closes
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...oses-its-doors (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/bottlerocket-closes-its-doors)
Disney acquires Wideload Games
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-to-games-team (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/disney-adds-bungie-co-founder-wideload-to-games-team)
Funcom to cut 20% of workforce
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...t-of-workforce (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/funcom-to-cut-20-percent-of-workforce)
Transmission Games lays off 20
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-staff-members (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/transmission-games-lays-off-over-20-staff-members)
Ubisoft acquires Trackmania developer Nadeo
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...eveloper-nadeo (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ubisoft-acquires-trackmania-developer-nadeo)
Activision lays off 30 from 7 studios
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ased-7-studios (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-lays-off-30-from-newly-purchased-7-studios)
Activision closes Shaba Studios
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...tudios-closure (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-confirms-shaba-studios-closure)
Optimus acquires Witcher developer in CD Projekt takeover
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ojekt-takeover (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/optimus-finalises-cd-projekt-takeover)
Idol Minds lays off ~26
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...it-by-lay-offs (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/pain-developer-hit-by-lay-offs)
Transmission Games closes
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...s-doors-report (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/transmission-games-closes-doors-report)
Slipgate Ironworks lays off ~50
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...gate-ironworks (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gazillion-lays-off-staff-at-romeros-slipgate-ironworks)
Square-Enix/Taito/Eidos cuts 10% globally
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...und-10-percent (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/square-enix-global-headcount-reduction-around-10-percent)
EA Acquires Playfish
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...sh-acquisition (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-confirms-USD300m-playfish-acquisition)
EA to layoff 1,500 by April 2010, including "several studio closures"
Tiburon, Blackbox, Redwood Shores, Mythic reportedly affected
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=25999 (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25999)
Playdom acquires Green Path and Trippert Labs
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-trippert-labs (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/playdom-acquires-green-patch-and-trippert-labs)
Pandemic closes
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-studios-today (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/report-ea-will-close-pandemic-studios-today)
Krome faces unspecified number of layoffs
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...e-studio-krome (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/staff-layed-off-at-aussie-studio-krome)
Fuzzeyes lays off majority of staff
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ority-of-staff (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/fuzzyeyes-studio-lays-off-majority-of-staff)
Threewave studio enters reorganization
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...nisation-phase (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/threewave-enters-reorganisation-phase)
Rumor: Apsyr cuts staff by over 50%
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ver-50-percent (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/rumour-aspyr-media-cuts-staff-by-over-50-percent)
SCEA drops 30 QA jobs
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...dates-qa-group (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/scea-consolidates-qa-group)
Paradox Interactive acquires AGEOD
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...eveloper-ageod (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/paradox-interactive-acquires-strategy-developer-ageod)
Oberon Media lays off 100
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-off-100-staff (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/casual-games-firm-oberon-media-lays-off-100-staff)/quote]
Compiled by Dr. Mario Kart of Penny-Arcade Forums (http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showpost.php?p=13038018&postcount=1677)
Must be all the overstuffed egos.Sounds much better.
I wouldn't mind at all if all the listed companies completely disappeared.
Doesn't EA work in cycles though? It seems like they've been firing-and-rehiring every year for the past couple years, but I might not have been paying close attention.
I wouldn't mind at all if all the listed companies completely disappeared.
Given that those companies make up most of the 3rd parties (certainly the major players, anyway), that's a foolish sentiment.
I wouldn't mind at all if all the listed companies completely disappeared.
Given that those companies make up most of the 3rd parties (certainly the major players, anyway), that's a foolish sentiment. As I stated in another topic, there needs to be healthy competition in the industry to keep it fresh and interesting. You don't want the entire industry consolidated into a couple companies that never have to evolve their craft because there's no one challenging them.
Fresh and interesting? Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports Resort, No More Heroes.I wouldn't mind at all if all the listed companies completely disappeared.
Given that those companies make up most of the 3rd parties (certainly the major players, anyway), that's a foolish sentiment. As I stated in another topic, there needs to be healthy competition in the industry to keep it fresh and interesting.
Ignoring the market leader is a terrible policy, and when they die off it will be thanks to gaming Darwinism.
Ignoring the market leader is a terrible policy, and when they die off it will be thanks to gaming Darwinism.
It isn't a terrible policy when core Wii gamers largely don't buy games on the console that aren't Nintendo-made, and the expanded audience don't buy games more than once or twice a year at all. Somewhere along the line, 3rd parties have to cut their losses and just stop attempting to throw games at the wall that is the fickle Nintendo fanbase in the faint hope of finding something that satisfies their unsatisfiable wishes. We can quibble about the 3rd party games not necessarily being what we want on Wii (which is a perfectly valid complaint), but Nintendo gamers not buying 3rd party games is a problem going back to the N64 era.
I suspect the PS3/360 would reject rail shooters too.
Why does it seem Suda 51 is the only company that can actually make a decent game with a low budget.
He is making a sequel to a game that had sales many other games would consider bad, especially HD games. He was extremely happy with the sales and I was extremely happy with the game.
I really want to know why anyone can't copy his production method. They don't have to make a niche game like him but they could really use the ability to make a decent game cheap.
Apparently Grasshopper studios has a lot of experience making their games on a cheap budget. I heard somewhere that they supplement their income by contributing work to other games and studios too, like in music.
I didn't make the list, but I'd argue that if id was doing better they could have built their own publishing and not needed to be bought out to take advantage of someone else's.
Too bad Nintendo didn't buy them out. I'm sure they would have been happy to handle all the publishing and business details.
Why does it seem Suda 51 is the only company that can actually make a decent game with a low budget.
The world would be happier if no one competed.
The world would be happier if no one competed.
I believe what you are suggesting is called Communism. From a video game point of view, that did give the world Tetris.
Why does it seem Suda 51 is the only company that can actually make a decent game with a low budget.
Suda 51 has yet to make a decent game on any budget, but that's just my opinion. ;)
Obviously he's not seeing much of a profit considering all his complaints that the Wii audience wasn't buying his games (which in this case I blame on Suda 51 being an incompetent video game director of a niche company more than I do the Wii audience), so he's defecting to the HD consoles from here on out after NMH2 comes out.
Why does it seem Suda 51 is the only company that can actually make a decent game with a low budget.
Suda 51 has yet to make a decent game on any budget, but that's just my opinion. ;)
Obviously he's not seeing much of a profit considering all his complaints that the Wii audience wasn't buying his games (which in this case I blame on Suda 51 being an incompetent video game director of a niche company more than I do the Wii audience), so he's defecting to the HD consoles from here on out after NMH2 comes out.
I thought that article turned out to be mistranslated? Or was the core message still intact after corrections?
Well he asked some of the questions I would have asked and I like Suda's answers.Quote from: 1up1UP:You mentioned once that No More Heroes 2 would be the last game in theseries on Wii. Have you done any experiments on what it might be likeon another platform, especially with the new motion controllers thathave been announced for other systems?
GS: Actually,I answered differently, and it may have been misinterpreted. What Iwanted to say was, looking at the Wii, I think No More Heroes 2 willprobably be the last iteration for this current platform. But there'sprobably going to be a "Wii 2" or other next-gen system from Nintendoat some point, so I was saying that I would want to do another game inthe series on the next Nintendo platform.
Hooray! I was worried, this is great news! ;D
Study: Industry hit by 11,500 layoffs since 2008
by Rob Crossley
New research also tallies ‘record number of studio closures’
The global game industry has been hit by as many as 11,500 job losses since late 2008, a new study suggests.
Research by entertainment analyst group M2 Research says that “the final count for layoffs since the economic meltdown in late 2008 reached 11,488 worldwide, with the majority of the losses coming in 2009.”
The study has identified staff redundancies from 95 individual studios, adding that 52 of the affected studios were situated in the US.
M2 adds that the majority of layoffs come at “studio level”, with QA staff often being the first to go.
The analysis group adds that 2009 saw a ‘record number’ of studio closures, including 3D Realms (pictured), various Midway studios and EA’s Pandemic Studios.
Specifically, the research claims that it found 18 studio closures last year – a total number which, on appearance, suggests that the study may have missed a few closures.
The study adds, however, that more studios had filed for bankruptcy and went up for sale.
A large portion of layoffs seems to have come from projects and companies that had difficulty ‘retooling’ for current-gen consoles, the study adds.
“Aside from the cost of retooling, others were so focused on their retooling efforts they weren't able to see the changes in the market and the impact things like digital distribution, casual, and social gaming was starting to have on the market.”
Things were getting too expensive too quickly and Nintendo decided to do what was sensible and slow the escalation of cost vs benefit down. Most of these developers decided to ignore that gesture and are now they're either closing their doors or putting someone else's logo on it.
Warner Bros. has cut an unspecified number of staff at three of its studios in the US.
F.E.A.R. 2 team Monolith, The Suffering developer Surreal Software and Snowblind Studios are all affected by the cuts.
"We are committed to growing Warner Bros. in the game space and will be retaining robust teams in our Seattle studios," said the company in a prepared statement.
"We have been moving towards sharing certain resources across the studios and have also been reallocating resources to align talent with our development needs. Unfortunately, we had a few too many resources in certain functions and some positions were eliminated in this process. Our plan is to continually review staffing needs and as future projects evolve we would expect to see the studios grow."
Warner acquired Snowblind just under a year ago adding it to its in-house development team. Surreal Software was picked up as part of the acquisition of bankrupt publisher Midway.
No layoffs yet, but for a look into the future:Damn. they better smear some vaseline on that and release it on the Wii.
Red Dead Redemption will need to sell 5 million copies to break even (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/sources-red-dead-redemption-development-in-trouble)
Wow.
Industry Death Watch 2010 Starts Here:
Our first story of 2010?
Warner lays off staff at three studios (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/warner-lays-off-staff-at-three-studios)QuoteWarner Bros. has cut an unspecified number of staff at three of its studios in the US.
F.E.A.R. 2 team Monolith, The Suffering developer Surreal Software and Snowblind Studios are all affected by the cuts.
"We are committed to growing Warner Bros. in the game space and will be retaining robust teams in our Seattle studios," said the company in a prepared statement.
"We have been moving towards sharing certain resources across the studios and have also been reallocating resources to align talent with our development needs. Unfortunately, we had a few too many resources in certain functions and some positions were eliminated in this process. Our plan is to continually review staffing needs and as future projects evolve we would expect to see the studios grow."
Warner acquired Snowblind just under a year ago adding it to its in-house development team. Surreal Software was picked up as part of the acquisition of bankrupt publisher Midway.
Industry Death Watch 2010 Starts Here:
Our first story of 2010?
Warner lays off staff at three studios (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/warner-lays-off-staff-at-three-studios)QuoteWarner Bros. has cut an unspecified number of staff at three of its studios in the US.
F.E.A.R. 2 team Monolith, The Suffering developer Surreal Software and Snowblind Studios are all affected by the cuts.
"We are committed to growing Warner Bros. in the game space and will be retaining robust teams in our Seattle studios," said the company in a prepared statement.
"We have been moving towards sharing certain resources across the studios and have also been reallocating resources to align talent with our development needs. Unfortunately, we had a few too many resources in certain functions and some positions were eliminated in this process. Our plan is to continually review staffing needs and as future projects evolve we would expect to see the studios grow."
Warner acquired Snowblind just under a year ago adding it to its in-house development team. Surreal Software was picked up as part of the acquisition of bankrupt publisher Midway.
"Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sesame Workshop Announce Exclusive Worldwide Publishing Agreement for Sesame Street Videogames"
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-and,1118391.shtml (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-and,1118391.shtml)
WARNER BROS.
-committed to growth-
Industry Death Watch 2010 Starts Here:
Our first story of 2010?
Warner lays off staff at three studios (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/warner-lays-off-staff-at-three-studios)QuoteWarner Bros. has cut an unspecified number of staff at three of its studios in the US.
F.E.A.R. 2 team Monolith, The Suffering developer Surreal Software and Snowblind Studios are all affected by the cuts.
"We are committed to growing Warner Bros. in the game space and will be retaining robust teams in our Seattle studios," said the company in a prepared statement.
"We have been moving towards sharing certain resources across the studios and have also been reallocating resources to align talent with our development needs. Unfortunately, we had a few too many resources in certain functions and some positions were eliminated in this process. Our plan is to continually review staffing needs and as future projects evolve we would expect to see the studios grow."
Warner acquired Snowblind just under a year ago adding it to its in-house development team. Surreal Software was picked up as part of the acquisition of bankrupt publisher Midway.
"Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sesame Workshop Announce Exclusive Worldwide Publishing Agreement for Sesame Street Videogames"
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-and,1118391.shtml (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-and,1118391.shtml)
WARNER BROS.
-committed to growth-
Hey now, no mocking the muppets (and the Sesame Street gang are muppets)! I was never big into Sesame Street, but there are certainly worse things for WB to work on than a game from that franchise. Best of all for some of you, that's practically guaranteed to show up on the Wii.
An M rated seasame street platformer would be cool.
An M rated seasame street platformer would be cool.
No layoffs yet, but for a look into the future:
Red Dead Redemption will need to sell 5 million copies to break even (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/sources-red-dead-redemption-development-in-trouble)
Wow.
New research suggests development budgets are soaring dangerously fast
The average development budget for a multiplatform next-gen game is $18-$28 million, according to new data.
A study by entertainment analyst group M2 Research also puts development costs for single-platform projects at an average of $10 million.
The figures themselves may not be too surprising, with high-profile games often breaking the $40 million barrier.
Polyphony’s Gran Turismo 5 budget is said to be hovering around the $60 million mark, while Modern Warfare 2's budget was said to be as high as $50 million.
The new figures put into focus concerns often fired out by the development community.
Robert Walsh, the CEO of Australian outfit Krome, recently told Develop that game budgets are rising at a frightening pace.
“I think that’s one thing that the press, to a certain extent, is forgetting,” said Walsh in an interview.
“They’re saying sales have increased over ten percent since last year or whatever; I mean, dev costs have probably doubled or tripled in the console transition.”
Walsh’s Krome studio has recently announced layoffs across all three of its studios, citing poor sales that – presumably – failed to satisfy investments.
ROI is King
At a development level the video game industry has been in shakeup mode for some time, which is what ultimately triggered these layoffs. The overall cost of developing games for the current generation of hardware has become increasingly difficult to maintain, leaving most traditional game developers and publishers stretched well beyond their means.
Prior console generations had development costs ranging between $3-5 million per platform. M2 Research estimates more recent development costs for these 7th generation consoles to have soared, with the average costs running $10 million for one platform and $18-$28 million for multiple platforms.
Casual and social games on the other hand can range from $30k - $300k, taking only 6 months to develop. Since these games are online, they also don't incur the heavy costs associated with packaging and marketing materials that are necessary to reach the retail channels.
Mobile and iPhone games have much less production costs associated with them, ranging from $5k - $20K per title. Chris Ulm, CEO of Appy Entertainment, acknowledges, "Mobile game budgets depend on the game and the developers that are putting it together. The budget for a game can go from $5k to $100k. To put it in perspective, ports for full fledged iPhone games (like FaceFighter) can run anywhere from $15K to $22K. The average development time for a game like Zombie Pizza is about 4 months."
I honestly don't understand all the obsession and hype over HD. I have an HD tv and some channels are in HD, but I just watch whatever I'm interested in and don't really pay too much attention to the picture quality. HD does look better, but I only notice that if I'm paying attention to picture quality, otherwise I don't notice.
So why is everyone so obsessed with it? If we were talking about 3D TV, now that would be something to get excited over...
Jaggies are mitigated by sitting further from the monitor, as was the case for family TV watching since the mid-1900s. "Regular" people see content before seeing image quality. Making a judgement on image quality was usually a nerd thing or a sales/marketing thing.
As more nerds and sociopaths began growing the PC sector, sitting face-planted into their monitors, the outcry for better resolutions accelerated. They see too much and too little at the same time: staring at tree bark and not the nice canopies of the forest. You know they're nuts cuz they're not the people you'd play Wii with standing up.
i'm good at war
Jaggies are mitigated by sitting further from the monitor, as was the case for family TV watching since the mid-1900s. "Regular" people see content before seeing image quality. Making a judgement on image quality was usually a nerd thing or a sales/marketing thing.
As more nerds and sociopaths began growing the PC sector, sitting face-planted into their monitors, the outcry for better resolutions accelerated. They see too much and too little at the same time: staring at tree bark and not the nice canopies of the forest. You know they're nuts cuz they're not the people you'd play Wii with standing up.
i'm good at war
Wait a sec...
Aren't you a videophile yourself Pro?
...under shirt that says:
(http://i48.tinypic.com/ru5icp.jpg)
right on the front.
Sony closes Studio Liverpool. (http://www.wipeoutzone.com/index.php)
Has Sucker Punch and Insomniac lost any staff?Sony closes Studio Liverpool. (http://www.wipeoutzone.com/index.php)
Looking over their list of games on Wikipedia, the only notable games they ever made were the Lemmings and Wipeout games. No big loss there.
Has Sucker Punch and Insomniac lost any staff?Sony closes Studio Liverpool. (http://www.wipeoutzone.com/index.php)
Looking over their list of games on Wikipedia, the only notable games they ever made were the Lemmings and Wipeout games. No big loss there.
Lemmings and Wipeout games
As a matter of fairness, might as well report any Wii centric devs that go under, however rare that may be.
Deep Silver Vienna (developer of Cursed Mountain) goes under. (http://aussie-nintendo.com/news/21355)
As a matter of fairness, might as well report any Wii centric devs that go under, however rare that may be.
Deep Silver Vienna (developer of Cursed Mountain) goes under. (http://aussie-nintendo.com/news/21355)
Besides Cursed Mountain, what else have they developed?
Sony closes Studio Liverpool. (http://www.wipeoutzone.com/index.php)
Looking over their list of games on Wikipedia, the only notable games they ever made were the Lemmings and Wipeout games. No big loss there.
Would Cursed Mountain really have saved the studio if it had been for the HD systems?
And please, no more comments on what "can" and "can't" sell on the Wii. RE4 is just like Cursed Mountain and it's a Million seller so...
And please, no more comments on what "can" and "can't" sell on the Wii. RE4 is just like Cursed Mountain and it's a Million seller so...
Except that RE4 is not only part of a very well-known franchise (Resident Evil), but also a port of an exceptionally popular game on 2 other platforms. I wouldn't use it as a basis for determining anything on Wii.
And please, no more comments on what "can" and "can't" sell on the Wii. RE4 is just like Cursed Mountain and it's a Million seller so...
Except that RE4 is not only part of a very well-known franchise (Resident Evil), but also a port of an exceptionally popular game on 2 other platforms. I wouldn't use it as a basis for determining anything on Wii.
But it shows that thereiswas an audience for that type of game. They might have moved on since then since Cursed Mountain is only other game released that is similar and no one really knew about it. But there was 1million potential customers that would have been interested in this had someone bothered to let them know it existed.
The majority of consumers are not educated buyers, they are impulse and that is why advertising is necessary if you want to be on the minds of those going out to spend the money.
But then again, I see Cursed Mountain on Amazon for only $19.99 so what's the deal? It has great reviews, and it has a great price, so why aren't people buying this? It looks like a great impulse buy.
As for owning Namco-Bandai, there's enough valuable IP in there that it would be worth it for any company that can afford to do so. Though I have a feeling if Nintendo bought them Namco would lose it's identity. Some of Namco's best games feel pretty much NOTHING like a Nintendo game. I get a feeling instead of Soul Calibur we would get "Nintendo's Soul Calibur" which would not feel right. Namco reminds me more of Konami, Capcom and Sega.
I'd only be happy with Nintendo buying Namco-Bandai if it meant they got to keep a relative amount of autonomy ala Activision and Blizzard.You want Nintendo to purchase a company that just posted a huge loss and then let them keep doing what they've been doing? That makes no sense.
I'd only be happy with Nintendo buying Namco-Bandai if it meant they got to keep a relative amount of autonomy ala Activision and Blizzard.You want Nintendo to purchase a company that just posted a huge loss and then let them keep doing what they've been doing? That makes no sense.
Publisher THQ announced it would be refocusing its Juice Games and Rainbow Studios on digital distribution -- and cutting 60 jobs as part of the strategy.
Juice Games will now be known as THQ Digital Studios Warrington, while Rainbow will be re-titled THQ Digital Studios Phoenix. According to the publisher, the studios' core mandate will now be to create digitally-distributed games based both on owned and new IP.
The first of these will begin releasing in 2011; the two studios are developing downloadable games for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, iPhone and iPad. THQ says it will still publish its MX vs ATV sport racing franchise under the Rainbow Studios brand.
Notably, the publisher also says the studios will be tasked with implementing "a portfolio-wide community platform to connect consumers to all of THQ’s core games using proprietary technology developed by THQ Digital Studios Warrington."
"Consumers are increasingly looking for deeper engagement with their favorite entertainment experiences," says THQ executive VP Danny Bilson. "They also want to enjoy games and entertainment via convenient social and portable platforms that suit their lifestyle."
Bilson explains: "We plan to address these needs through a rich offering of content distributed across digital platforms, based both on all of our major core brands as well as new intellectual properties."
People losing their jobs is sad.
THQ losing said jobs because of HD budgets/crappy economy is divine justice. God I'm such an ass for saying that.
I have always felt bad for Neversoft. Their Spider-Man game on the PlayStation is a forgotten classic and a precursor to the free-roaming Spider-Man games on PS2 and beyond. Gun was a critical and financial success that was set in the wild west. Apocalypse (starring Bruce Willis) is a highly underrated third-person shooter that more-than-hints at Robotron. Rather than being known for these titles, Neversoft is known today for their work on the Guitar Hero series.
After Guitar Hero 6, they won’t even have that.
According to sources at both Activision and Neversoft, after the developer completes work on technically-unannounced-but-we-all-know-its-coming Guitar Hero 6, the publisher will hand the groundbreaking franchise over to Vicarious Visions. Vicarious Visions has some history with the Guitar Hero franchise, having worked on the Wii ports of every GH console game since Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The studio works on the Nintendo DS Guitar Hero: On Tour series as well.
For a little additional creepiness, it was Vicarious Visions whom Activision awarded the Spider-Man license to create Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro.
This spells trouble for the developer. According to the same source, several members of the Guitar Hero team have been laid off (specifically several “note trackers”) and there are currently no official projects post-GH6.
UPDATE: Though there have been many layoffs at Neversoft, those who are currently working on the aforementioned Guitar Hero 6 are being kept until their jobs are complete at which time they’ll be let go. In layman’s terms — April. They’re being told today that they’ll be fired in April.
UPDATE 2: No more need to call this a rumor…
Something's happening at Infinity Ward right now.
A source close to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 developer just informed me that a "bunch of bouncer-types" just showed up outside of the Infinity Ward offices unannounced. When approached by employees, the non-uniformed "bouncers" were unwilling to disclose why they were there.
"Everyone is on edge," said my source.
Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West reportedly met with Activision this morning and have not been seen by Infinity Ward staff members since. My source did not delve into specifics, but described the relationship between Infinity Ward and Activision lately as "tense."
The mood around the Infinity Ward offices is currently described as "freaked out" and "confused."
"We just wanna make our games," said my source.
I've contacted Activision for comment on the ongoing situation at Infinity Ward. Stay tuned.
UPDATE - 10:07 PM:
More developments on the situation at Infinity Ward have come to light.
A screen shot surfaced from Jason West's Facebook page at Kotaku with the status update "Jason West is drinking. Also, unemployed." I can confirm from a source that's friends with West that update did actually come from West's account.
West also updated his Linkedin profile to appears to reflect a change in employment.
"President/Game Director/CCO/CTO Infinity WardJanuary 2001 – March 2010 (9 years 3 months)"
While this doesn't yet provide much insight into what actually happened at Infinity Ward, it confirms there are changes afoot at the Call of Duty developer. As soon as I know more, you'll know more.
Could Activision be on the verge of dismantling Infinity Ward? just months after making $1Billion with CoD: MW2?
If they had managed to crack the uncrackable Wii market with a blockbuster system selling multimillion seller then they would have achieved untouchable status.No way. They are just as expendable because Activision only cares about the franchise. I think there is already a CoD game coming out this year made by another developer anyway.
sorry. I meant to stick a maybe in that sentence, but you're probably still right.If they had managed to crack the uncrackable Wii market with a blockbuster system selling multimillion seller then maybe they would have achieved untouchable status.No way. They are just as expendable because Activision only cares about the franchise. I think there is already a CoD game coming out this year made by another developer anyway.
UPDATE 11:20 PM: It turns out Activision may have showed their hand in this matter earlier today.
In an SEC filing made this morning (http://investor.activision.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1047469-10-1649), Activision cited a human resources investigation into "breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward."
Based on the information we currently have, at least one of those employees may have included Infinity Ward CTO Jason West. It's possible Vince Zampella is the other unmentioned employee.
"This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation," read the filing. "At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company."
UPDATE 12:02 AM: Double Fine's Tim Schafer, who had his own troubles with Activision over the release of Brutal Legend, recently commented on Twitter about what's happening between Infinity Ward and Activision.
"Getting mad at Activision for this kind of thing is like getting mad at an ape for throwing feces," said Schafer. "It's just how the beast communicates."
Kotick said that Activision is a company that supports creators and champions vision. He took barely-veiled shots at EA, comparing his interest and efforts in the past to help start companies such as Jamdat and Pandemic with the eventual fates of those companies now folded into EA and, in the case of Pandemic, shut down as an independent entity.
If you have a company and you want to protect your creative freedom and the integrity of the creative process, if you want to retain your identity and culture, if you want the support of the mothership and the resources of the mothership, we're a really great mothership. But if you want to sell out and move on, there are definitely other companies to talk to.
Activision expresses interest in subscription-based Call of Duty
Infinity Ward may have tried to distance itself from the rumors about the Call of Duty franchise going down Subscription Lane™, but Activision head honcho Bobby Kotick said otherwise during the publishing giant's recent earnings call. "If you think about the success that we've had in other product categories on subscription, you can get a sense of the direction that we want to take that franchise," he said.
Blizzard will eventually be infected with this disease. It's only a matter of time.
Blizzard will eventually be infected with this disease. It's only a matter of time.
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Not Blizzard! The only other gaming company I'm almost as much of a fanboy of as Nintendo! Please spare Blizzard!
Publisher Activision announced today new "strategic plans" for the Call of Duty franchise, announcing a new developer for the shooter franchise and confirming the departure of key Infinity Ward staffers.
[...]
The company expects to release a new Call of Duty game from Treyarch this fall. In addition, Infinity Ward is in development on the first two downloadable map packs for Modern Warfare® 2 for release in 2010.
The company is also for the first time announcing that a new game in the Call of Duty series is expected to be released in 2011 and that Sledgehammer Games, a newly formed, wholly owned studio, is in development on a Call of Duty game that will extend the franchise into the action-adventure genre.
Blizzard will eventually be infected with this disease. It's only a matter of time.
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Not Blizzard! The only other gaming company I'm almost as much of a fanboy of as Nintendo! Please spare Blizzard!
Its too late. What do you think they are going to do once CoD runs dry? The only franchises they have left to suck dry will be Blizzard's. Then it will be time for the yearly Warcraft/Starcraft/Diablo iteration (not all made by Blizzard of course) unless there are some big changes in how the company runs.
Read the 16-page complaint filed by the founders of Modern Warfare 2 development studio Infinity Ward against Activision, the company that ousted them on Monday. Jason West and Vince Zampella, dismissed by Activision for "insubordination" sued. Lots of details here(all legal docs at the link above).
Wow that's a lot of Legalese. Okay, in case anyone doesn't feel like reading all that stuff:
WHAT HAPPENED: The two developers were promised royalties as part of their contract for Modern Warfare 2. They're claiming Activision fired them under false pretenses in order to avoid paying those royalties.
The lawsuit then gives background about the company, including alleging that Activision purposely gave Infinity Ward a small budget for Call of Duty in order to buy 30% of its stock for cheap since the small budget would keep them from fighting it.
It also states some things we all know; sales figures, revenue numbers, etc. West and Zampella (the two developers and plaintiffs) had only one year on their contract before MW2 started. They were reluctant to get an extension on their contract, but did so anyway because Activision promised complete control of IW AND creative control over any post-Vietnam Call of Duty and MW games that might be developed.
Blah, blah, blah; more sales figures and talks of how MW2 was praised upon release. Activision then launched the investigation of Zampella and West about a week after the release of MW2. They hired outside lawyers and investigators to question other employees (some of whom cried from anxiety) and threatened insubordination charges if the two plaintiffs tried to console the other employees.
West and Zampella then said they were going to talk to their lawyers, at which point they were told Activision would make things worse if they did. The two men were also never told what exactly they had done wrong at any given point during the investigation. Activision strung the investigation along, then gave the two IW guys about six hours to respond to the accusations. A couple days later, Activision announced the new Call of Duty games they want to make (which were posted in another article).
WHAT THEY WANT: The first claim is to about US$36 million in damages. Second, they also want control of the Modern Warfare franchise back, since that was what was promised. Third, they also say Activision cannot make any further MW games OR post-Vietnam Call of Duties set in the present, near future, or far future. Fourth, they feel that Activision owes them their royalties and bonuses regardless of whether or not their termination from IW was legitimate. And obviously, they want their attorney fees covered.
And that's about it. I may have misread the complaint a bit, so feel free to correct me.
Seems like the real issue is that in March 2008 Activision and West/Zampella signed a "memorandum of understanding" which seems to be the basis of one of their three claims against ACTI. In the memorandum, it purports to grant West/Zampella the ability to approve whether any MW branded game is released, in addition to granting them the right to choose which IP to work on after MW2 was completed.
Sounds like this largely hinges on whether this memorandum retroactively becomes part of the original contract they have with Activision. Looks like some lengthy litigation is in the picture. The court needs to determine (i) what legal rights are granted by the March 2008 MOU, (ii) whether it is enforceable (iii) whether they have a separate wrongful termination claim.
Much of what Activision's looking for is standard for a legal dispute related to, in Activision's words, "breach of contract" and "insubordination." Activision also believes they're legally in the clear."The Dispute involves West and Zampella's management of IW, as well as the development and marketing of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ("MW2"), and potential subsequent games developed by IW," reads the memo sent internally before the lawsuit was filed. "Activision believes that it has done nothing wrong and intends to vigorously defend any claims asserted by West and Zampella."Things just got real interesting (not as if they already weren't though)
Below are some excerpts from a list of documents that Activision is looking for. Note the last one:Modern Warfare 3 likely isn't in development yet, but it's not surprising to see that it was already on everyone's radar. The memo seems to indicate that Activision may have suspected West and Zampella were looking outside the company.
- "Documents regarding past, current or future IW projects, including but not limited to any and all businesses analyses of future projects (e.g. Modern Warfare 3)"
- "Documents regarding any potential 'spin out' of IW, including but not limited to any communications with IW employees, West or Zampella regarding forming a new studio independent of Activision"
- "Documents regarding West and Zampella's communications with Activision's competitors, including but not limited to Electronic Arts"
"Activision is disappointed that Mr. Zampella and Mr. West have chosen to file a lawsuit, and believes their claims are meritless," the company said in a statement e-mailed to Kotaku by a spokesperson. "Over eight years, Activision shareholders provided these executives with the capital they needed to start Infinity Ward, as well as the financial support, resources and creative independence that helped them flourish and achieve enormous professional success and personal wealth.(http://i50.tinypic.com/c5onr.jpg)
"In return, Activision legitimately expected them to honor their obligations to Activision, just like any other executives who hold positions of trust in the company. While the company showed enormous patience, it firmly believes that its decision was justified based on their course of conduct and actions. Activision remains committed to the Call of Duty franchise, which it owns, and will continue to produce exciting and innovative games for its millions of fans."
I wonder how many people will quit over this mess.I'm sure they will be able to find
Here's hoping Infinity Ward gets bought by Nintendo or something.
But the status of the Modern Warfare IP is still before the courts... and that's the IP that just sold 6 million units in its launch month.
Though I'm trying to figure out what the hell IW or its remnants would make for Nintendo.
does anyone really believe Activision wasn't actively trying to engage in shady business practices here, especially with their shady history (Brutal Legend, anyone?)?
does anyone really believe Activision wasn't actively trying to engage in shady business practices here, especially with their shady history (Brutal Legend, anyone?)?
What happened with Brutal Legend?
Best quote on the whole situation: "It's like an ex-husband suing his wife for hooking up with a better looking guy"
On 1st March 2010, Cing (the developer of Another Code, Hotel Dusk, Little King's Story) filed for bankruptcy in Japan. The company has suffered liabilities totaling 256 million yen (about 2.5 million USD).
Maybe this will answer your question
Cing's Official Website
http://www.cing.co.jp/
Retro could always hire the IW escapees. More FPS experience under a Nintendo funded and supervised environment would be great.Did those two guys who threw a ****-fit after leaving Retro DO ANYTHING worth mentioning, just to be fair?
I'm wondering too, the last thing they worked on was Metroid Prime Trilogy (and let's be honest, I don't think that was too much since the only real work involved was adding pointer controls to Prime 1 & 2).They also made the games look great in 16:8, so throw them a bone.
16:9 is already cramped
changing a screen resolution isn't hard.*insert TV maker here* requests that you have an IQ of *something over 100* to operate the screen resolution options.
Rebellion has allegedly let go approximately 20 staff from its main studio in Oxford, UK, while its Derby location has been shut down, reports Develop. Rebellion, which most-recently released Aliens vs Predator, has yet to confirm the details
As is typical with these types of stories, it's hard to tell if the layoffs were part of the natural game development cycle after a major release, or if there's an actual "issue" going on. As for the Derby studio, which once upon a time was Core Design (Tomb Raider), has been on the chopping block for months.
16:9 is already cramped
:|
I wish there were more I could say to that.
What doesn't make sense is that if they were just introducing the HD market with all new TV's and widescreen was to be the standard, then why not bump the standard up to "Theater Wide" WS and use that as the HDTV standard?
It sucks to have 16:9 as the standard and movie makers want to up the ante to extra widescreen when everyone just started buying WS TV's barely 10 years ago. Weren't movies already being shot in that frame before 16:9 was standard?
People aren't buying $60 games like they used to.
What doesn't make sense is that if they were just introducing the HD market with all new TV's and widescreen was to be the standard, then why not bump the standard up to "Theater Wide" WS and use that as the HDTV standard?
It sucks to have 16:9 as the standard and movie makers want to up the ante to extra widescreen when everyone just started buying WS TV's barely 10 years ago. Weren't movies already being shot in that frame before 16:9 was standard?
People aren't buying $60 games like they used to.
Sega confirmed today that they are shutting down Sega Studios San Francisco. The studio developed Iron Man, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, and just finished Iron Man 2. The studio was mostly made up of people from Secret Level. The wording makes it sound like the employees were fired, not just re-assigned to other internal studios.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sega-closes-iron-man-2-developer/ (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sega-closes-iron-man-2-developer/)
Maybe, but it's never good to see a group of developers suddenly lose their job.
Depends, have they made any Wii games outside the ****ty movie tie in trash (IRON MAN)?
Depends, have they made any Wii games outside the ****ty movie tie in trash (IRON MAN)?They only made the 360/PS3 versions of Iron Man. A2M did the Wii version.
From what I heard the Iron Man game was a good game. The only bad game that TJ Spike posted was that Golden Axe:Dragon Rider game. I think it was buggy and was short in length.True, but the problem is that they are not common enough. For every Goldeneye we get, we also get The Matrix... many more times.
And guys not all movie games are bad.
@broodwars: Why do you take my comments seriously?
Sad to see how hard the economic situation is hitting games.Giant egos AND bad management.
And how hard bad management is hitting games.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the multi-billion dollar Call of Duty® franchise, announced the formation of a new development studio -- Respawn Entertainment. The move positions the Respawn Entertainment leadership team as the owners of the intellectual property they create. The company will focus on creating state-of-the-art gaming experiences for global audiences. The studio is currently assembling a world-class team of designers, artists and engineers. Applicants can submit resumes to jobs@respawn.com.
Respawn is pleased to also announce that it has awarded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS - News), through the distinguished EA Partners program, exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights to future games. Terms were not disclosed. West and Zampella are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
It's a bizarre world we're living in where EA comes out of this situation looking like the Knight in Shining Armor. Here's hoping EA lets them create those New IPs they were interested in when they worked at Infinity Ward, but somehow I think the terms of their contract states they'll have to make an FPS first. :-\
It's a bizarre world we're living in where EA comes out of this situation looking like the Knight in Shining Armor. Here's hoping EA lets them create those New IPs they were interested in when they worked at Infinity Ward, but somehow I think the terms of their contract states they'll have to make an FPS first. :-\
Have those guys ever made anything but an FPS? Serious question, mind you. I'm guessing they probably want to take another crack at that genre.
Activision/Infinity Ward: The Firing part 5: The Conclusion?
This is a good one, Jason West and Vince Zampanella from IW, the guys who left EA to form their own company, were bought out by Actvision and then were fired from that company they started, Have now been signed back on at EA(for exclusive publishing rights).
But get this, their new company name is.... Respawn Entertainment (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Jason-West-and-Vince-Zampella-bw-1906793642.html?x=0&.v=)QuoteLOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the multi-billion dollar Call of Duty® franchise, announced the formation of a new development studio -- Respawn Entertainment. The move positions the Respawn Entertainment leadership team as the owners of the intellectual property they create. The company will focus on creating state-of-the-art gaming experiences for global audiences. The studio is currently assembling a world-class team of designers, artists and engineers. Applicants can submit resumes to jobs@respawn.com.
Respawn is pleased to also announce that it has awarded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS - News), through the distinguished EA Partners program, exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights to future games. Terms were not disclosed. West and Zampella are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Don't Perm! If their massive HD product flops, you'd be out of the job!
Considering what thread I'm posting in, and looking at the first opening post, how can I troll when I'm making a fact?Don't Perm! If their massive HD product flops, you'd be out of the job!
Do you ever have anything nice to say about a non-Nintendo product? Your incessant trolling it starting to wear thin.
It's a bizarre world we're living in where EA comes out of this situation looking like the Knight in Shining Armor. Here's hoping EA lets them create those New IPs they were interested in when they worked at Infinity Ward, but somehow I think the terms of their contract states they'll have to make an FPS first. :-\
Have those guys ever made anything but an FPS? Serious question, mind you. I'm guessing they probably want to take another crack at that genre.
From what we've heard about the whole firing fiasco, those two have been wanting to work on a new IP since finishing the original Modern Warfare. They had to be bribed with lucrative new contracts and control over the IP to get them to come back to do Modern Warfare 2, so I wouldn't be surprised if EA allows them to work on a new IP if it's as far removed from a typical FPS as possible. Who knows? Maybe it would be something like a Timesplitters or Bioshock that's just radically different in style or tone.
hehe the dot reply was for some xbox modding bot.
But apparently its easier to do than add meaningful waggle to a Wii version with lower rez graphics or else we'd be seeing Wii60 releases instead of PS360 ones.
Sega was hit today by 73 layoffs as part of a business reorganization that will see the company focusing more on social and digital games.
According to a statement received by 1UP, 36 employees in Sega's San Francisco office and 37 in London have been made redundant as part of the reorganization. The San Francisco office will now focus exclusively on digital and downloadable content (as the newly formed "Digital Division") while London will act as the company's administrative hub, as well as handle traditional console and PC games.
"In recent years, digital platforms have taken an increasing share of video gaming revenues and we believe this growth is set to continue," said the statement. "Sega has already enjoyed commercial success within this new and exciting gaming medium and it is now the company's intention to fully embrace change and set a strategy not only to maximize revenues within the digital space but, through innovation and quality, take up a leadership position."
Speaking to 1UP, Sega West president Mike Hayes described the move as "chapter two" in the company's continued evolution after being a hardware manufacturer.
"It's quite interesting, if you look at Sega's relatively short modern history when we reinvented ourselves as a multi-platform publisher, the excitement for us was being on the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube and Xbox, and we sort of travelled a path where our market share has increased significantly over the past five years in both North America and in the European territories," said Hayes.
"[The new focus on digital media] is part of our ongoing expansion, which is great. We have a very strong base now in the traditional business. We still want to grow, we still want to be very competitive, but in terms of development and growing our overall market share, part of that sort of journey for Sega, sort of like chapter two, is this big digital arena," he continued. "It's new, it provides new outlets for us. We can do different things in terms of gaming experiences, which is interesting for us. So in a way it's sort of a part of the ongoing rebirth of Sega as a multi-platform agnostic publisher of games."
According to Hayes, the layoffs were mainly caused by Sega's U.S. and London offices having different employees fulfilling the same tasks - now that both divisions have been further consolidated, according to Hayes, some of these employees are no longer necessary to the company.
"There was a lot of duality, there was a lot of doing the same work twice," said hayes.
"There was a lot of copying between both San Francisco and London. So it's kind of a natural question of how do we become more efficient and affective as an operation, and that's what the exercise has been."
According to Hayes, the move will not impact Sega's current schedule, nor will it affect the number of traditional retail games it releases. 1UP had a chance to speak with Hayes about the company's new direction, as well as the future of its traditional console games, and will publish the full interview tomorrow.
"They're scared shitless," the source said of Activision management. "They never saw this coming. They can't believe what's going on. At first they gave us some bullshit about moving up payments of all the money they owe us to sooner increments. That was when [designer] Todd [Alderman] and [engineer] Frank [Gigliotti] left. But with the announcement of Respawn and all the people leaving, they just got there heads in their hands."
The Infinity Ward insider painted the former bosses in a positive light, blaming Activision for withholding Modern Warfare 2 payments. "They fired the two most amazing leaders we've ever seen, and then shafted us all out of a lot of money that was promised to us...there is nothing they can do to gain our trust or respect. And I'm pretty sure they know it now."
"IW as you know it is dead...and it will continue to crumble. There are a lot more veterans who are definitely going to leave."
Infinity Ward is Dead!!! (http://kotaku.com/5519049/the-studio-behind-modern-warfare-is-dead-insider-says)Quote"They're scared ****less," the source said of Activision management. "They never saw this coming. They can't believe what's going on. At first they gave us some bull**** about moving up payments of all the money they owe us to sooner increments. That was when [designer] Todd [Alderman] and [engineer] Frank [Gigliotti] left. But with the announcement of Respawn and all the people leaving, they just got there heads in their hands."
The Infinity Ward insider painted the former bosses in a positive light, blaming Activision for withholding Modern Warfare 2 payments. "They fired the two most amazing leaders we've ever seen, and then shafted us all out of a lot of money that was promised to us...there is nothing they can do to gain our trust or respect. And I'm pretty sure they know it now."
"IW as you know it is dead...and it will continue to crumble. There are a lot more veterans who are definitely going to leave."
supposedly the account is over 20 people leaving IW.
Hopefully the talent that's leaving IW will start up some new studio and begin work on the same great games as before. They won't be able to do COD anymore obviously, but they could start a new franchise with a new name that would be more or less identical to COD and that would be just as fine by me.
Hopefully, this will lead to Activision's stock tanking over the next week or so. It's about the best we can expect to bother them at this point. I feel sorry for those still at Infinity Ward, though I suppose there is the possibility of Activision trying to keep them from leaving with lucrative new contracts.Right now, they're trying to keep people around by giving them the bonuses for the people who left. Of course, once the check clears nothing's stopping them from hooking up with Respawn...
If they are under contract, then they can't just leave after getting their bonuses.
Let those ungrateful brats leave. Infinity Ward and Activision Blizzard will be fine without them.
No, I am just sick of people acting like this is all Activision Blizzard's fault. Although they share some of the blame, West and Zampella are at fault too.
BlackNMild, I hope you aren't referring to the thread where I thoroughly showed you were wrong but you kept not understanding the facts?How could you prove me wrong when I wasn't debating you? that just shows how incredibly dense you are. go re-read the topic. I wasn't trying to prove your point wrong, I was stating that you never actually proved your point in the first place. I was trying to help you out.
No, I am just sick of people acting like this is all Activision Blizzard's fault. Although they share some of the blame, West and Zampella are at fault too.
You guys aren't saying the elephant in the room.
West and Zampella were supposedly promised exclusive rights to Modern Warfare.
If that is true then that gives Activision every reason in the world to want to fire them for some bull**** reason and negate their contract. This is the part that pade me think Activision was at fault. Trying to wrestle that name away seems like he purpose of all the bull**** to me and is par for the course for a company like Activision. That name is worth a lot of money right now and when suddenly your developer who is supposed to be the only one allowed to make the next one says "No you promised we didin't have to" you start to think of ways to either a) force them to make it or b)take the name back by any means necessary. It looks like both were tried to me.
Activision tells IW that they can make a new IP after the MW2 and that IW is the only ones that can make a game under the MW label.
No, I am just sick of people acting like this is all Activision Blizzard's fault. Although they share some of the blame, West and Zampella are at fault too.
Let's see.
Activision tells IW that they can make a new IP after the MW2 and that IW is the only ones that can make a game under the MW label.
IW finishes MW2, wants to start New IP, Activision says "no, we want MW3 NOW!!!"
IW cites agreement they had before hand
Activison gets pissed.... (Is this related?) Activision withholds bonus payments from MW2 for some reason and refuses to pay the promised bonus until some undisclosed later date.
IW secretly started pre-production on their own IP
Activision finds out and call the 2 IW heads into the office. Fires them on the spot (citing insubordination)
Activision is still holding bonus payments hostage.
several other key IW people leave
Activision brushes off their shoulder
2 exIW heads form new company - Respawn
more IW people leave
Activision starts to panic (supposedly)
even more people leave, some joining Respawn
Activision starts pushing out bonus payments to keep employees
IW people leave anyway.
As they say, verbal contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on. Unless they've got it in writing that promise is useless.
Serious question: how do you know any of this is true? And are you certain that this is the complete chain of events? If so, how did you manage to get privy to information that the rest of us lack?
As they say, verbal contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on. Unless they've got it in writing that promise is useless.
Honestly it was stupid of Activision to promise anything like that to them but it also sounds like IW was unwilling to do their ****ing job (what do you think Activision paid them for?) without that promise.
If you want creative control work on your own dime, investors want results.
Not actually true; oral contracts are generally as enforceable as their written counterparts, but since it raises the question of credibility it's best to get these things in writing.
If making MW and MW2 isn't results what is?
Oh, those are results but Activision had a hard time convincing IW to actually make MW2 and now they wanted to see MW3 and IW refused to do that. With full creative control there wouldn't have been an MW2.
Not actually true; oral contracts are generally as enforceable as their written counterparts, but since it raises the question of credibility it's best to get these things in writing.
Yes, without proof that the contract was made you'll have no way of actually enforcing it.
Judge Judy says you need a written contract ensure payment for services rendered. The dumb contractor didn't produce a signed work order to protect his ass.
It would be up to West and Zampella to prove anything. If they also refused to to do their jobs (they were employees of Activision Blizzard, NOT members of a independent company), then Activision had just cause to fire them and maybe not pay any bonuses. It doesn't matter if they were told they could work on a non-Call of Duty game, Activision was their boss and got to decide what games they and Infinity Ward would work on.
No, I am saying that an employer has the right to fire a employee if the employee refuses to do their job (which is what happened if Activision wanted them to work on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and they refused). It's also a little suspicious how quickly they formed their own company and aligned with Electronic Arts after getting fired, like they were planning to do it.
Lead character artist Joel Emslie and artists Ryan Lastimosa and Brad Allen are the latest employees at Infinity Ward to hang up their hats and leave the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer.
All three now-former employees have updated their Facebook profiles to reflect the recent decision, a source close to Infinity Ward has told me. None have announced their future development plans.
Two others, however, have made a future with their former bosses at Respawn Entertainment official.
Emslie, Lastimosa and Allen's departures arrive just days after a total of eight other Infinity Ward developers turned in letters of resignation. In just a few days, the headcount at the Activision-owned studio has decreased by 11. So far, as predicted by Activision, the pace does not seem to be slowing.
Several employees have made the decision to join up with their former Infinity Ward leadership at Respawn Entertainment, an Electronic Arts-backed new startup. Unlike Infinity Ward, however, Respawn Entertainment controls their intellectual property; EA is only providing the funding.
Activision ignored this new contract, stomped on the concept for the new IP, denied timely bonus payments(to pay the bonus from the interest earned?) and then fired the heads of the company for complaining about it.
Activision ignored this new contract, stomped on the concept for the new IP, denied timely bonus payments(to pay the bonus from the interest earned?) and then fired the heads of the company for complaining about it.
We don't know if it was an actual contract or just an informal promise. Activision claims that West and Zampella were in talks with EA before they got fired (considering the quick hire that seems likely) and thus likely delayed payments because they knew the moment those bonuses were paid these guys were going to make a run for it. The charge on the firing is for "insubordination", negotiating with a competing company and refusing to obey the orders of the leadership. The negotiations combined with that promise about the MW name sound to me like IW was planning to defect to EA and take the MW name with them.
Activision sued for up to $125 million by current, former Infinity Ward employees
Activision's Call of Duty-related headaches just leveled up.
More than three dozen former and current employees of Infinity Ward, the Encino-based development studio that made the hugely successful Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video games for Activision Blizzard Inc., have sued the publisher claiming that they are owed between $75 million and $125 million in unpaid royalties and potentially more in compensatory damages.
...
Of the 38 employees involved in the lawsuit, 21 are former employees of Infinity Ward; 17 still work there. Approximately 95 people worked at Infinity Ward on last November's Modern Warfare 2, meaning that about 40% of its employees at that time are now suing Activision.
...
The lawsuit says that Activision owes Infinity Ward employees a bonus pool of at least $118 million, of which $82 million is supposed to go to employees other than West and Zampella.
It alleges that the publisher has withheld royalty payments in order to keep them from leaving as their former bosses did, putting at risk the potentially hugely lucrative release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 planned for late 2011.
"Activision engaged in this inappropriate course of conduct in an attempt to force employees of Infinity Ward to continue to work at a job that many of them did not want just so Activision could force them to complete the development, production and delivery of Modern Warfare 3," the suit says.
It goes on to allege that Activision representatives told Infinity Ward employees that if West and Zampella had not been fired, the employees would have received bonuses approximately 2.5 times higher than what they were paid on March 26.
"Activision believes the action is without merit," a company spokesman said in response to the suit. "Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for [Modern Warfare 2] and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right."
The complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court in Santa Monica is based in part on the same allegations contained in West and Zampella's suit. Isaacs has asked that the two cases be consolidated.
-- Ben Fritz
EA's gotten a lot better in recent years, and Activision is way worse than EA ever was.
Part of my issue with West and Zampella is that they think they should get millions of dollars in bonuses and control of the "Modern Warfare" subtitle just to do their job. You brought up Shigeru Miyamoto, he would not need Nintendo to pay him millions of dollars just to do his job. If Activisio wanted Infinity Ward to make a Call of Duty game, their ONLY response should have been "When would you like it finished?".
EA's gotten a lot better in recent years, and Activision is way worse than EA ever was.
I think you are trippin' to side with Activision on this, but your opinion is yours.
A group of nearly 40 past and present Infinity Ward developers have banded together to file suit against the publishers of Modern Warfare 2 for half a billion dollars, alleging breach of contract and unpaid royalties, according to court documents obtained by G4 TV.com.
The Infinity Ward Employee Group's suit, which lists 38 plaintiffs including some currently employed by Activision at the Infinity Ward studio, is seeking as much as half a billion in unpaid bonuses, royalties, profit sharing and future profits from games such as Modern Warfare 3 and punitive damages.
The suit alleges, according to G4 TV, that the payments were withheld to prevent employees from quitting Activision.
"In short, Activision withheld the property of the IWEG in an attempt to keep the employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3, " according to the suit.
Reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, an Activision spokesperson refuted the allegations:
"Activision believes the action is without merit," the spokesperson said. "Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right."
Also, let's not confuse a company's business practices with it's products. A company can have bad business practices, but release good or great games (and vice-versa).
The other shoe has now dropped.
I've obtained a copy of a lawsuit filed this morning in the Los Angeles Superior Court by 38 plaintiffs, calling themselves the "Infinity Ward Employee Group," against Activision. The Infinity Ward Employee Group (whom I'll refer to as IWEG throughout the rest of this story) alleges breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of California labor code and more. The group is after a large amount of unpaid royalties.
"Activision owes my clients approximately $75 million to $125 million dollars," said Bruce Isaacs, one of the IWEG's attorneys at Wyman & Isaacs LLP, over the phone this afternoon. "Activision has withheld most of the money to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3. That is not what they wanted to do. Many of them. My clients' entitled to their money. Activision has no right to withhold their money -- our money."
The IWEG contains "a significant portion of the members of the creative team" who "designed, developed and delivered" Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/61714/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2/index/) to Activision. According to the lawsuit, $28 million has been delivered to Infinity Ward employees for bonuses related to Modern Warfare 2, but the suit alleges at least $54 million is still due from 2009 profits alone.
They want more than $54 million, however. The IWEG is looking "to recover between $75 million and $125 million, if not more, in compensatory damages." That number's derived from:The lawsuit focuses on royalties generated for Modern Warfare 2 following release and the agreement between Infinity Ward employees and Activision for receiving the subsequent bonuses. The IWEG contends the only condition for becoming eligible for said bonuses was delivering Modern Warfare 2 in time for the game's intended November 10, 2009 launch. Modern Warfare 2 did launch as scheduled on November 10 last year, generating $1.1 billion in 2009.
- Unpaid bonuses from 2009 and 2010 sales generated by Modern Warfare 2 -- fourth quarter 2009 and first quarter 2010, specifically.
- Bonuses "due and owing to them" past first quarter 2010.
- "Bonus/royalty/profit participation" related to "technology/engine" royalties, "other special performance bonuses," "other studio bonuses" or "any other bonus/royalty/profit participation."'
- Lost value on "restricted stock units" that Activision "promised" would vest (read: own it in your own name and purchase it from Activision) when Modern Warfare 2 sales eclipsed Modern Warfare 1, which "has long ago occurred."
- Money owed as it relates to Modern Warfare 2 "sister games, including but not limited to" the oft-mentioned Modern Warfare 3, "if Modern Warfare 3 is ultimately delivered and marketed."
- Interest rates related to the above sums of money.
Modern Warfare 3 has been mentioned during the legal back-and-forth between ex-Infinity Ward leadership Vince Zampella and Jason West and Activision, and it's brought up again here, too.
The IWEG alleges Activision has "improperly withheld this specifically identifiable sum of money from the members of IWEG in order to force them to keep working for Activision so that Activision could receive delivery of Modern Warfare 3." The suit alleges Activision "made a calculated, purposeful and malicious decision" to withhold proper bonuses "in an attempt to force employees of Infinity Ward to continue to work at a job that many of them did not want just so Activision could force them to complete the development, production and delivery of Modern Warfare 3."
The legal language gets harsher, too.
"In short," reads the lawsuit, "Activision withheld the property of the IWEG in an attempt to keep the employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3."
What does the IWEG want in return? "At least in the additional amount of $75 million to $500 million as an award for punitive damages," continues the lawsuit, citing a number calculated from the blockbuster sales of Modern Warfare 2 and "Activision's net worth."
The IWEG also believes Activision violated California Labor Code during their alleged failure of payment.
"Activision has a duty to pay all of the members of the IWEG all of the money they are owed [...] within 72 hours of the termination of their employment," reads the lawsuit. "Activision, however, has failed to do so."
::brings out the gas can::Quote from: G4TVThe other shoe has now dropped.
I've obtained a copy of a lawsuit filed this morning in the Los Angeles Superior Court by 38 plaintiffs, calling themselves the "Infinity Ward Employee Group," against Activision. The Infinity Ward Employee Group (whom I'll refer to as IWEG throughout the rest of this story) alleges breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of California labor code and more. The group is after a large amount of unpaid royalties.
"Activision owes my clients approximately $75 million to $125 million dollars," said Bruce Isaacs, one of the IWEG's attorneys at Wyman & Isaacs LLP, over the phone this afternoon. "Activision has withheld most of the money to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3. That is not what they wanted to do. Many of them. My clients' entitled to their money. Activision has no right to withhold their money -- our money."
The IWEG contains "a significant portion of the members of the creative team" who "designed, developed and delivered" Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/61714/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2/index/) to Activision. According to the lawsuit, $28 million has been delivered to Infinity Ward employees for bonuses related to Modern Warfare 2, but the suit alleges at least $54 million is still due from 2009 profits alone.
They want more than $54 million, however. The IWEG is looking "to recover between $75 million and $125 million, if not more, in compensatory damages." That number's derived from:The lawsuit focuses on royalties generated for Modern Warfare 2 following release and the agreement between Infinity Ward employees and Activision for receiving the subsequent bonuses. The IWEG contends the only condition for becoming eligible for said bonuses was delivering Modern Warfare 2 in time for the game's intended November 10, 2009 launch. Modern Warfare 2 did launch as scheduled on November 10 last year, generating $1.1 billion in 2009.
- Unpaid bonuses from 2009 and 2010 sales generated by Modern Warfare 2 -- fourth quarter 2009 and first quarter 2010, specifically.
- Bonuses "due and owing to them" past first quarter 2010.
- "Bonus/royalty/profit participation" related to "technology/engine" royalties, "other special performance bonuses," "other studio bonuses" or "any other bonus/royalty/profit participation."'
- Lost value on "restricted stock units" that Activision "promised" would vest (read: own it in your own name and purchase it from Activision) when Modern Warfare 2 sales eclipsed Modern Warfare 1, which "has long ago occurred."
- Money owed as it relates to Modern Warfare 2 "sister games, including but not limited to" the oft-mentioned Modern Warfare 3, "if Modern Warfare 3 is ultimately delivered and marketed."
- Interest rates related to the above sums of money.
Modern Warfare 3 has been mentioned during the legal back-and-forth between ex-Infinity Ward leadership Vince Zampella and Jason West and Activision, and it's brought up again here, too.
The IWEG alleges Activision has "improperly withheld this specifically identifiable sum of money from the members of IWEG in order to force them to keep working for Activision so that Activision could receive delivery of Modern Warfare 3." The suit alleges Activision "made a calculated, purposeful and malicious decision" to withhold proper bonuses "in an attempt to force employees of Infinity Ward to continue to work at a job that many of them did not want just so Activision could force them to complete the development, production and delivery of Modern Warfare 3."
The legal language gets harsher, too.
"In short," reads the lawsuit, "Activision withheld the property of the IWEG in an attempt to keep the employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3."
What does the IWEG want in return? "At least in the additional amount of $75 million to $500 million as an award for punitive damages," continues the lawsuit, citing a number calculated from the blockbuster sales of Modern Warfare 2 and "Activision's net worth."
The IWEG also believes Activision violated California Labor Code during their alleged failure of payment.
"Activision has a duty to pay all of the members of the IWEG all of the money they are owed [...] within 72 hours of the termination of their employment," reads the lawsuit. "Activision, however, has failed to do so."
source: http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/704273/UPDATE-38-Infinity-Ward-Employees-File-Lawsuit-Against-Activision-Over-Royalties-Alleges-Devs-Held-Hostage.html (http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/704273/UPDATE-38-Infinity-Ward-Employees-File-Lawsuit-Against-Activision-Over-Royalties-Alleges-Devs-Held-Hostage.html)
It would be up to West and Zampella to prove anything. If they also refused to to do their jobs (they were employees of Activision Blizzard, NOT members of a independent company), then Activision had just cause to fire them and maybe not pay any bonuses. It doesn't matter if they were told they could work on a non-Call of Duty game, Activision was their boss and got to decide what games they and Infinity Ward would work on.
It seems to me that Activision is going to lose a lot more money now than if they had just paid all this money they promised in the first place, and Infinity Ward would probably in much better shape and well on their way to making Modern Warfare 3 by now. As it is, Activision will probably have to close the studio and consolidate the remaining employees in a major restructuring while dealing with all these lawsuits, and meanwhile Modern Warfare 3 still isn't being worked on.
Assuming that IW's allegations are true, paying the bonuses would not have led to MW3 anyways, and IW's heads would have been able to shut down that spigot at any time.
I think that's part of why I'm so skeptical that the alleged contract contains the terms that IW says it does: agreeing to those terms essentially shuts down the CoD milking machine, and I don't see Bobby letting that happen.
I think that's part of why I'm so skeptical that the alleged contract contains the terms that IW says it does: agreeing to those terms essentially shuts down the CoD milking machine, and I don't see Bobby letting that happen.
No, I think the two founders would have left anyway (even if they hadn't been fired),
the employee contract depends on whether or not the employee were with the company before the company was bought by Activision
No, I think the two founders would have left anyway (even if they hadn't been fired), but they are the only ones who had control over the Modern Warfare IP at Infinity Ward. The rest would have to work on whatever Activision assigned them, which obviously would have been Modern Warfare 3.
It doesn't shut down the CoD machine, only the Modern Warfare machine. Remember that these agreements were made a long time ago when this team had brought boack CoD and only the the first MW was a success so it wasn't really a franchise yet. They might not have wanted to make yearly MW installments as well at the time since the different CoD would essentially cannablize each other.
This whole situation is amusing to watch, both sides bickering at each other and calling the others liars. Since almost EVERY lawsuit involving companies involved counter-suits, I wouldn't be shocked if Activision Blizzard counter-sues.
You must have forgotten all of the stuff EA did. They had to pay their software engineers $14.9 million and graphic artists $15.6 million because they were classifying them as salaried employees (meaning they make the same amount of money regardless of how much or little they work) so they could force them to work 60+ hour weeks without overtime. Besides the money, they also had to re-classify around 440 employees as hourly employees as hourly employees so they could make overtime. To me, forcing employees to routinely work 60-70 hour weeks with no overtime and being forced to pay over $30 million in settlement is worse than any of the allegations against Activision Blizzard. Go look back at some of the articles (the settlements were in 2006).
"In a lawsuit where Activision is refusing to produce a witness to substantiate its claims, today's new lawsuit by 38 Infinity Ward employees makes clear that Activision's accusations against Jason and Vince are completely false, Schwartz said in a statement given to IGN. " It's great to see the other Infinity Ward people sticking up for themselves. Hopefully Activision will realize that the time has come to live up to its promises."http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1086448p1.html
Word from the Lawyerz;
No, not THAT Activision boss...
CEO and president of Activision Publishing, Mike Griffith, has resigned from both positions.
Griffith will, however, continue to serve as vice chairman of Activision Blizzard, which will see him take an active part in board and internal strategy meetings.
An official statement from Activision says that the move will see an annual salary of $250,000 for Griffith's plus discretionary bonuses.
They already filed a counter-suit for the first suit brought by West and Zampella. Apparently you have to file a counter-suit within X days of a suit or you lose any ability to sue over it so you can expect Activision to file a counter-suit on everything.
4 more people leave Infinity Ward today. Near 50% of dev staff. ETA till IW closure? Activision earnings report in a week.http://twitter.com/georgeb3dr
the stamper brothers left rare a while agoThat was when nobody cared about Rare anymore though. IW is becoming another story altogether (abit a very headache inducing one).
Where do you get $500 million from? Even if they somehow lose the suit, they would not lose anywhere near that much. As for why he left, maybe he didn't want to deal with the stress of this moronic lawsuit.
I'll do some bolding this time so that the important parts aren't missed.
Modern Warfare Developers Seek Half a Billion in Activision Suit
(http://kotaku.com/5525814/modern-warfare-developers-seek-half-a-billion-in-activision-suit-update)QuoteA group of nearly 40 past and present Infinity Ward developers have banded together to file suit against the publishers of Modern Warfare 2 for half a billion dollars, alleging breach of contract and unpaid royalties, according to court documents obtained by G4 TV.com.
The Infinity Ward Employee Group's suit, which lists 38 plaintiffs including some currently employed by Activision at the Infinity Ward studio, is seeking as much as half a billion in unpaid bonuses, royalties, profit sharing and future profits from games such as Modern Warfare 3 and punitive damages.
The suit alleges, according to G4 TV, that the payments were withheld to prevent employees from quitting Activision.
"In short, Activision withheld the property of the IWEG in an attempt to keep the employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3, " according to the suit.
Reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, an Activision spokesperson refuted the allegations:
"Activision believes the action is without merit," the spokesperson said. "Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right."
the stamper brothers left rare a while ago and nobody caredThat was when nobody cared about Rare anymore though. IW is becoming another story altogether (abit a very headache inducing one).
Respawn picks up four more Infinity Ward vets
Out of the four ex-Infinity Ward employees discovered today to be taking up positions at Respawn Entertainment, the new home of former IW heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, two held senior positions and all four are currently members of the "Infinity Ward Employee Group" suing Activision for millions of dollars. Preston Glenn ("designer"), Chad Grenier ("senior designer"), Sean Slayback ("game designer"), and Zied Rieke ("lead designer) have all confirmed on LinkedIn to have made the quick switch from their former bosses' studio to their new, EA-backed startup.
According to G4's report, the tally of Infinity Ward employees that have joined West and Zampella's still nascent studio is up to 16 as of today. The studio has seen a flood of employee vacancies in the wake the co-founders' firings early last month, and a not-so-surprising recent rush of ex-IW developers jumping on to Respawn's staff. West and Zampella's new dev house has yet to announce any projects but, well, all those employees have gotta be up to something.
Kristin Cotterell, formerly Human Resources Manager and Recruiter at Infinity Ward, has now signed on as the Human Resources and Recruitment Manager at Respawn Entertainment.
Cotterell, who announced her new employer via her LinkedIn profile (http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=3705801&authToken=T4z2&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&locale=en_US&srchindex=13&pvs=ps&goback=.fps_respawn+entertainment_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_2_R_true_CC,N,I,G,PC,ED,FG,L,DR_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2), previously revealed she was leaving Infinity Ward last week (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/infinity-ward-employees-file-royalty-suit), just as many of her former co-workers were filing a royalty lawsuit against Activision.
She is the fifteenth former Infinity Ward employee to publicly follow Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella to their new venture at Respawn, and should be instrumental in helping the new company recruit even more talent.
Activision president Bobby Kotick’s just said that despite its latest troubles, Infinity Ward “remains an important process” to the Call of Duty IP.
Kotick’s comment came at the start of Activision’s Q1 2010 financial call, and over two months after the whole blowout began (http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/02/rumour-security-shows-up-at-infinity-ward-studio-bosses-not-seen/) when ex-bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West were fired for “insubordination”.
The call’s ongoing, but expect some comments on the situation. The firm said at the start of the call they’ll answer as much as they can on the situation.
Maybe Microsoft will sell its Rare assets back to Nintendo for $500 :POnly the IPs and nothing else. Rare is nothing but a hallow shall of it's former self.
Has anyone ever noticed the greatest creative minds are also the ones who get labeled "insubordinate"? They're the ones who "think outside of the box" and that often gets them in trouble with the higher ups, but at the same time they're the ones who accomplish great things and revolutionize things.Same thing happens with Nintendo too, I can imagine, but on a less grander scale then this drama.
Has anyone ever noticed the greatest creative minds are also the ones who get labeled "insubordinate"? They're the ones who "think outside of the box" and that often gets them in trouble with the higher ups, but at the same time they're the ones who accomplish great things and revolutionize things.
Has anyone ever noticed the greatest creative minds are also the ones who get labeled "insubordinate"? They're the ones who "think outside of the box" and that often gets them in trouble with the higher ups, but at the same time they're the ones who accomplish great things and revolutionize things.
Layoffs Hit Civilization V Creators
About 20 people were laid-off from Firaxis, the creators of Civilization V, parent company 2K confirmed to Kotaku today.
Tipsters told us that Firaxis laid off 20 to 30 people yesterday including folks from the quality assurance team, the user interface art team, animators, programmers and designers.
Markus Wilding, global public relations director for 2K, tells Kotaku is was about 20 people.
"I can confirm that Firaxis has realigned its development resources in order to streamline its development process, reduce costs and maximize the overall performance the studio," Wilding told Kotaku. "This will result in the elimination of approximately 20 positions. These reductions will not impact Firaxis' ability to create and deliver AAA titles, including its forthcoming Sid Meier's Civilization V and Sid Meier's Civilization Network for Facebook."
We've also heard that Jesse Smith, a producer on both Civilization IV and a yet-to-be-named secret project, was let go last month.
The layoffs come at a time when Firaxis prepares to release what is starting to look like one of the best editions of its long-loved Civilization series.
Turn-based strategy game Civilization V is due out this September for the PC.
after a successful launch of a new game too, but I guess this is standard practice for the industry.
http://kotaku.com/5587413/rumor-rockstar-lays-off-40-from-red-dead-redemption-team
but I guess this is standard practice for the industry.
How often does this happen to Nintendo? Just want to know.http://kotaku.com/5587413/rumor-rockstar-lays-off-40-from-red-dead-redemption-team (http://kotaku.com/5587413/rumor-rockstar-lays-off-40-from-red-dead-redemption-team)
but I guess this is standard practice for the industry.
Precisely. Develops will hire new employees when they begin a big project and lay off some employees when the project is complete, it's nothing personal. The studio will hire new people when they begin their next project.
Its the crab fisherman way! I know Silicon Knights does this.They do this to make sure they retain the best, and drop the worst.Since you're the closest to us in the video game development industry Perm, how can one tell who does the best and the worst?
It's been rumored for awhile, but yesterday Disney announced that they had purchased social gaming company Playdom for $563.2 million. Playdom's games include Social City, Sorority Life, Market Street and Bola.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/disney-buys-playdom-for-563-million/
Also, a recent study shows that more people use social networking sites than ever before (it's up to something like 23%). Even if they migrate, that is why these social gaming publishers want to make their games for multiple sites. I don't think any of them are worth $563 million, but the market won't be going away anytime soon. It may shrink, but I think it will still be viable.
High Voltage Software fires 25 (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-08-05-high-voltage-lays-off-staff). Probably the Tournament of Legends team.they should have cancelled that game ages ago and focused on The Grinder.
High Voltage Software fires 25 (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-08-05-high-voltage-lays-off-staff). Probably the Tournament of Legends team.they should have cancelled that game ages ago and focused on The Grinder.
Sad to hear that people had to lose their jobs though.
http://www.gameblurb.net/news/game-studio-n-space-closes-their-doors/
Didn't they make most of the handheld CoD games?
Note: n-Space is not closed.
http://nspaceinc.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/n-space-rumor-control/
Kotaku just sucks at reporting news.
Note: n-Space is not closed.
http://nspaceinc.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/n-space-rumor-control/
Kotaku just sucks at reporting news.
http://kotaku.com/5659586/rumor-geist-call-of-duty-ds-developer-n+space-shuts-down (http://kotaku.com/5659586/rumor-geist-call-of-duty-ds-developer-n+space-shuts-down)Note: n-Space is not closed.
http://nspaceinc.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/n-space-rumor-control/
Kotaku just sucks at reporting news.
What did Kotaku have to do with the rumored report?
it was sources close to gameblurb that posted the story. Kotaku reported on the 25 laid off back in August.
http://www.vooks.net/story-19656-Update-Krome-Studios-to-close-on-Monday.html (http://www.vooks.net/story-19656-Update-Krome-Studios-to-close-on-Monday.html)
I think it has more to do with HD development in a time where money is tighter due to the down worldwide economy and the value of the dollar having dropped like a rock.
hard times everywhere and pockets zipped up on the consumer side at the same time that big money was being spent on the retail side. bad timing and bad investments.
Since the investments have already been made and 3DS games will probably cost no more than Wii games of today (which are much cheaper than then HD games still), I think devs should be fine with dev cost on the 3DS.
IGN's Nintendo coverage has already declined in quailty....it was never that high of quality to begin with...
Just heard today that Bizarre Creations have closed. All 200 staff are made redundant.
No, there are no links at the moment..
A sad day :(
It's BS because Blur was awesome, and the only reason they're getting closed now is because Blood Stone tanked.
It's BS because Blur was awesome, and the only reason they're getting closed now is because Blood Stone tanked.
It's BS because Blur was awesome, and the only reason they're getting closed now is because Blood Stone tanked.
It's BS because Blur was awesome, and the only reason they're getting closed now is because Blood Stone tanked.
Blur tanked too (as did Split Second). I don't know why but people just didn't buy those.
I should probably rephrase "tanked" to "didn't perform anywhere near as well as Goldeneye, and I'm not sure why Activision thought it would."
Perhaps a new thread should be made for 2011.
Today Disney announced that they are shutting down Propaganda Games, whose most recent game was Tron: Evolution.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/disney-officially-shuts-down-propaganda-games/ (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/disney-officially-shuts-down-propaganda-games/)
If Activision keeps cutting away franchises and developers they may end up cutting their Activision part entirely and being just Blizzard...
If Activision keeps cutting away franchises and developers they may end up cutting their Activision part entirely and being just Blizzard...
I could live with that.
An eventful week for Activision rolls on: rumours are circulating at the highest level that the company is eyeing a shock acquisition of rival Take-Two.
If true, and if successful, the bid would bring blockbuster brands and hit studios under one roof – Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, BioShock and World at Warcraft, all living together.
On Wednesday, Activision proved it isn't afraid to abandon any under performing franchise as it focuses on the best of the best. Adding teams like Irrational and Rockstar Games to its stable would only underline that.
This week it cut short the life of both Guitar Hero and DJ Hero and canceled free-roaming action title True Crime: Hong Kong – but this has left the publisher with gap in its slate of IP which Take-Two's games would capably fill.
"There are very strong rumours amongst people at a very senior level within the global business," a senior executive told MCV this week.
"But there're not much more than that at the moment – they are just rumours. And, of course, given Activision's news this week, everyone is now looking to see what their next move is. But you can definitely put two and two together and make four-ish."
UPDATE: It's also worth noting that while Rockstar and its IP is wholly owned by Take-Two, the contracts of the studio's major talents – including the Houser brothers – is due to expire in 2012.But that shouldn't affect a future GTA if a True Crime were to come out this year, unless there is a GTA planned for this year too.
If the rumours are true, however, Activision could well be expecting strong resistance from Take-Two. In 2008 EA attempted a hostile takeover of the publisher valued at around $2bn – an amount that represented a hefty premium over the company's actual share value.
Take-Two though remained resolute in its defiance of the move, ignoring several extended deadlines and public statements of intent from EA boss John Riccitiello. Take-Two's then executive chairman Strauss Zelnick branded the bid as "inadequate".
Of course, that was 2008. In the time that has followed there have been changes at Take-Two, most notably the increased stake of media magnate and billionaire Carl Icahn. In 2010 it was rumoured that Icahn, who is a former chairman and now a major shareholder of rental chain Blockbuster, was prepping Take-Two for acquisition.
They'd just buy it and then cut away the 90% that isn't focused on making more sequels. At this rate Activision is the cancer that is killing gaming.
Maybe not though. The Rock Band has been struggling for awhile,
If they redid Planetside but made it free to play it could be pretty awesome. It was a cool idea, but no one's going to pay $15 a month for a FPS.
1up acquired by IGN; merging into giant robot producer of Top x lists (http://www.1up.com/news/1up-joins-forces-with-ign).
At this point, the only reason I go to 1up.com is for the Active Time Babble podcast and the occasional review. I hope the podcast gets to stick around at least, since IGN doesn't have an equivalent show.
At this point, the only reason I go to 1up.com is for the Active Time Babble podcast and the occasional review. I hope the podcast gets to stick around at least, since IGN doesn't have an equivalent show.
Neither does 1up. The ATB staff are all over at GamePro doing "RolePlayer's Realm", a successor in spirit show.
Apparently THQ has cancelled their Warhammer 40k MMO and all projects slated for 2014 and later.
Supposedly trying to sell themselves off to thehighestany bidder and even returned IP to Disney after paying the advance.
https://twitter.com/TheKevinDent (https://twitter.com/TheKevinDent)
I'm not sad to see them go; their recent WWE 12 game was absolute garbage.
Homefront sold very well. If anything, I think it's the double failure of Saints Row 3 and Red Faction Armageddon that really hurt this year. A fair amount of money got dumped into both, and IIRC neither sold well. Armageddon even sold so poorly that THQ discontinued the entire franchise.
Homefront sold very well. If anything, I think it's the double failure of Saints Row 3 and Red Faction Armageddon that really hurt this year. A fair amount of money got dumped into both, and IIRC neither sold well. Armageddon even sold so poorly that THQ discontinued the entire franchise.
Correction: THQ's stock dropped by 26% during the Homefront launch. I belive that Crytek took over the Homefront series. That games was not bad, but it suffered because the industry is suffering from FPS fatigue.
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?!
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?!
The villian of the game was originally China. The recent remake of Red Dawn had China as the villian too and MGM had to go back and change the Chinese flags to those of North Korea in order to appease our new masters. Honestly, I wish that Call of Duty would do a new world war series centered around China trying to dominate the world.
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?!
The villian of the game was originally China. The recent remake of Red Dawn had China as the villian too and MGM had to go back and change the Chinese flags to those of North Korea in order to appease our new masters. Honestly, I wish that Call of Duty would do a new world war series centered around China trying to dominate the world.
Of all the countries in the world, I think China is the most plausible to be able to invade the USA, but even they aren't quite there just yet.
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?! The country is poor and practically starving to death, and its military, although large in numbers, is largely equipped with vintage obsolete WW2 era weaponry. The whole concept of the game is just a joke.
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?! The country is poor and practically starving to death, and its military, although large in numbers, is largely equipped with vintage obsolete WW2 era weaponry. The whole concept of the game is just a joke.
The premise of Homefront is incredibly stupid. North Korea becomes a super power overnight and invades the United States? WTF?! The country is poor and practically starving to death, and its military, although large in numbers, is largely equipped with vintage obsolete WW2 era weaponry. The whole concept of the game is just a joke.
Just one correction here: in the game, North Korea doesn't become a super power overnight. The game lays out a timeline of events taking place over the course of the (then) 16 years until the year 2027 (which is when the game begins). I've seen speculation that if the events in that timeline actually occurred in that order exactly as written, the events depicted in Homefront could occur. The problem is that those events rely on an incredible amount of stupidity on the part of just about every other nation in the world (particularly in the U.S. not responding to any of North Korea's aggression against our allies), so the chances of that invasion being plausible are extremely unlikely if not impossible. So yeah, the idea of a North Korean invasion is absurd, but it is a theoretical possibility contingent on extremely unlikely events occurring in a very specific order.
Frankly, I find the idea of a North Korean invasion in the future just about as absurd as the Russians invading America because a single American gunman was found dead in the aftermath of a Russian airport shooting. *cough*ModernWarfare2*cough* And yet that game doesn't get as much scrutiny.
What if a future FPS game like Call of Duty dealt with China marching on the world?
Just one correction here: in the game, North Korea doesn't become a super power overnight.
Just one correction here: in the game, North Korea doesn't become a super power overnight.
I knew its something like that, but that's still way too short of a time for a 3rd world backwater to rise up to a position where it could conquer not only South Korea and Japan, but also the USA. That is kinda as stupid as the notion of the USA becoming a global power 16 years after its independence and then invading Great Britain. Sure the USA is powerful enough to do that now, but a mere 16 years after independence? So I didn't mean overnight literally, but 16 years is still a very small amount of time as far as history is concerned.
Not to mention that the Japanese aren't exactly a people who are known to surrender easily, so I think that game's notion that Japan folds and gets annexed without a fight is absurd.
Just one correction here: in the game, North Korea doesn't become a super power overnight.
I knew its something like that, but that's still way too short of a time for a 3rd world backwater to rise up to a position where it could conquer not only South Korea and Japan, but also the USA. That is kinda as stupid as the notion of the USA becoming a global power 16 years after its independence and then invading Great Britain. Sure the USA is powerful enough to do that now, but a mere 16 years after independence? So I didn't mean overnight literally, but 16 years is still a very small amount of time as far as history is concerned.
Not to mention that the Japanese aren't exactly a people who are known to surrender easily, so I think that game's notion that Japan folds and gets annexed without a fight is absurd.
It has taken China about thirty years to go from a country pretty much in the stone age to an economic juggernaut that is nipping at the heels of the US. Who knows where they will be in two more decades?
Just one correction here: in the game, North Korea doesn't become a super power overnight.
I knew its something like that, but that's still way too short of a time for a 3rd world backwater to rise up to a position where it could conquer not only South Korea and Japan, but also the USA. That is kinda as stupid as the notion of the USA becoming a global power 16 years after its independence and then invading Great Britain. Sure the USA is powerful enough to do that now, but a mere 16 years after independence? So I didn't mean overnight literally, but 16 years is still a very small amount of time as far as history is concerned.
Not to mention that the Japanese aren't exactly a people who are known to surrender easily, so I think that game's notion that Japan folds and gets annexed without a fight is absurd.
It has taken China about thirty years to go from a country pretty much in the stone age to an economic juggernaut that is nipping at the heels of the US. Who knows where they will be in two more decades?
The stone age? Did you know China is the country which invented paper, the compass, and gunpowder? Heck, if anything they were one of the very first countries to emerge OUT OF the stone age.
but a short, China is non-aggressive.
but a short, China is non-aggressive.
Tell that to Tibet.
I am surprised any games get made, let alone good ones considering how dysfunctional the developer/publisher relationship is.
An in depth look into the death of Free Radical (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-04-free-radical-vs-the-monsters).
I am surprised any games get made, let alone good ones considering how dysfunctional the developer/publisher relationship is.
So OnLive has laid off ALL of its employees, yet the company somehow claims they are "just fine". I don't know any companies that fires its entire staff and is fine.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/176180/OnLive_lays_off_all_employees.php (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/176180/OnLive_lays_off_all_employees.php)
Cloud gaming will never be big, the whole idea is bad. You essentially just rent the game, even when you "buy" it. You lose the games if the service shuts down, and you can't even play your games if the Internet goes down. Add in that broadband is still not available everywhere (it's expensive for the providers to add it to rural areas). OnLive was doing OK, but not that great.
It doesn't matter if OnLive goes down, because Sony now owns Gaikai, so the future of cloud gaming is still bright. Now if only the internet companies removed bandwidth caps and lowered prices / raised speeds...LOL
If OnLive goes down that's just fine.... just means less competition for Ouya. ;)
If they reworked it as a rental service a la GameFly where you paid a certain amount and could play whatever you wanted it would be a lot more attractive. It wouldn't matter anymore that you lose the ability to play when the company goes away if it were just subscription-based. I'm not sure the publishers would let that happen, though.
Cloud gaming will never be "big", it will have its niche but will never become the main way of gaming because the negatives outweigh the positives. OnLive's only real positive is being able to play games your PC normally couldn't handle. Maybe have it be a back-up option you get when you buy a retail game (like how many DVD/Blu-ray Discs now come with a free digital copy).
Would it be appropriate to discuss the demise of Nintendo Power in this thread? Its not a company per se, but it is sorta part of the industry.
So Sony shut down its Liverpool studio the one behind wipeout today. A few of the guys are confriming on twitter.
Games developed as SCE Studio LiverpoolIn more related death based news, another Zynga executive jumps ship (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/176419/Another_Zynga_executive_jumps_ship.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29).
Formula One 2001 2001 PlayStation 2
Wipeout Fusion 2002 PlayStation 2
Formula One 2002 2002 PlayStation 2
Formula One 2003 2003 PlayStation 2
F1 04 2004 PlayStation 2
Wipeout Pure 2005 PlayStation Portable
F1 05 2005 PlayStation 2
F1 06 2006 PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Wipeout Pulse 2007 PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
Formula One Championship Edition 2007 PlayStation 3
Wipeout HD 2008 PlayStation 3
Wipeout HD Fury 2009 PlayStation 3
Wipeout 2048 2012 PlayStation Vita
Now it looks like at least some of the laid off OnLive employees could find themselves working for a new boss: Microsoft. The company has set up an web page that specifically invites "individuals and teams affected by the OnLive transition" to a hiring mixer on Monday at Microsoft's offices in Mountain View, California. The location is near OnLive's own headquarters in Palo Alto.
Microsoft says in its invite that it is hiring in both Mountain View and its main headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The invite doesn't say anything specifically about Microsoft developing its own cloud-based streaming game service, saying only that it has "big projects in the pipeline for the rest of 2012 and beyond."
Microsoft at one point considered OnLive to be a threat to its Xbox division, according to recently leaked two year old internal documents, and apparently considered acquiring it. It now looks like Microsoft is more interested in the people behind OnLive rather than the company itself.
Will use MS next time.
And there is little indication that Rare will be shut down. In fact their is more to suggest they will stay open with Microsoft is increasing their out put and Phil Harrison being the head of Microsoft Studios Europe now. Not only that but Rare crates all of the avatar crap and works on a lot of the kinect tech for gaming alongside the main kinect team and the Microsoft fusion labs. That and Rarest last two games have sold really well.
But crazier things have happened.?
Will use MS next time.
And there is little indication that Rare will be shut down. In fact their is more to suggest they will stay open with Microsoft is increasing their out put and Phil Harrison being the head of Microsoft Studios Europe now. Not only that but Rare crates all of the avatar crap and works on a lot of the kinect tech for gaming alongside the main kinect team and the Microsoft fusion labs. That and Rarest last two games have sold really well.
But crazier things have happened.?
Phil Harrison? The guy who was with Sony from the beginning when they created the PlayStation? He's with Microsoft now?
That would be like Eiji Anouma leaving Nintendo and the Zelda series to work for Konami.
shingi, most people stopped doing it years ago. Almost one does it anymore because it's lame. It's like saying something, then saying "psyche!". If you want to shorthand it, do MS (not M$).Sorry some people are not up to your standards, daddio. I guess I'm behind the times. I've used M$ on these forums for 6 years I think and never once did you tell me I wasn't cool and hip like you. I will try to be more rad and slick and not try to psyche others out with my uncool wit.
BTW, did you hear that Bill & Ted are coming back for a third movie? I think that is quite excellent. *does air guitar*
BTW, did you hear that Bill & Ted are coming back for a third movie? I think that is quite excellent. *does air guitar*
Yeah right... I want to believe, but Keanu Reeves is too big of a movie star to make another low-budget stoner-comedy flick.
JC tendoboy1984, I can't believe somebody could be more wrong than Patcher, but you have done it.
BTW, did you hear that Bill & Ted are coming back for a third movie? I think that is quite excellent. *does air guitar*
Yeah right... I want to believe, but Keanu Reeves is too big of a movie star to make another low-budget stoner-comedy flick.
Reeves himself confirmed it back in April 2011: http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/keanu-reeves-confirms-that-bill-and-ted-3-is-on-the/211337 (http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/keanu-reeves-confirms-that-bill-and-ted-3-is-on-the/211337)
Keanu Reeves is 47 years oldNice fact. Did you find that on his IMDb page or on wikipedia? Or are you just an excellent Bill & Ted fan and have known his age at all times?
What if it's about Bill and Ted and their kids?From the reports I've read, it looks like it'll be about how they are now in their 40s and still haven't written that song that brings world peace. They end up somehow seeing two different futures, one where they never wrote the song and one where they do write it.
No idea how Rufus will be incorporated into this one with George Carlin dead.I heard they're bringin him back from the dead just for this one.
Keanu Reeves is 47 years old
+1Keanu Reeves is 47 years old
You are wrong.
Keanu is much, much older than 47 years
(http://i.imgur.com/2zYkF.jpg)
try several 100's of years old.
(http://misternizz.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/johntravoltatime.jpg?w=500)
That doesn't really have to do with the thread. He only thinks that fewer Triple A games with large budgets and multiple studios will come out/
All games that don't sell are killing game companies. :P: :
All games that don't sell are killing game companies. :P: : :
Fixed.
Games don't need ultra high budgets and multiple studios making one game, which the director of AC seems to realize and notes that they are decreasing. Take a look at something like New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It is a great title, but doesn't cost as much as some other "Triple A" games. It has sold over 26 million copies (making more than $1 billion).
Triple A games that don't sell are killing game companies. :P: : :
Triple A games that don't sell are killing game companies. :P: : : :
Triple A games that don't sell aren't Triple A games at all. Isn't commercial success what defines what a Triple A game is? Game companies can't just arbitrarily define their games as Triple A. Only the market has the right to make that determination.
That wouldn't work. Movie animators and modelers use completely different and almost incompatible set of technologies to do their work. Movies don't have a technological budget like a game does where every polygon, effect, shader, lighting has to be taken into account to work inside the hardware. Games can't throw what it's rendering into a render farm for a couple days to get a result.
Movies also don't use polygons, they use splines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spline_%28mathematics%29). Star Wars Rogue Squadron had used models from the movies but only as references. While you can convert splines to polygons, the converter doesn't know how to make an efficient model or what kind of details are important, so at the end of the day you still have to retool the result.
Also programming the engine is the developer's job.
I don't know anything about developing 3D games...but didn't ILM lend SEGA their actual Iron Man models for the video game?It is likely they had the models to use as a reference or for those models only they went through the conversion and retooling process. The only time you could directly use such models is if for some reason movie were using polygons which they wouldn't thats assuming the polygon count of the model in question was not ridiculously high or they took the model and rendered it to a 2d sprite. In Star Wars Rogue Squadron's behind the game feature where they show you how they went about developing the game had a section where they talk about splines or NURBS from ILM and the work they had to do to make them usable in a game.
In computer graphics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics) splines are popular curves because of the simplicity of their construction, their ease and accuracy of evaluation, and their capacity to approximate complex shapes through curve fitting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curve_fitting) and interactive curve design.To create the same curve in polygons you would use an absurd number of them to have a high enough level of detail for a movie so flat surfaces don't show up on a curve. It's easier to work with since the real world is made of curves. It's basically digital clay. The current implementation of splines for mechanical objects are NURBS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-uniform_rational_B-spline).
So a movie using polygons would require more hardware rendering (using more resources and a higher cost) than a game using splines/NURBS?No. A movie using polygons would require more physical work for the modeller to construct than to use splines. Given that a movie compared to a game console has effectively infinite rendering power/time why not use splines which are easier to mold complex shapes out of with surfaces the mathematically contain "infinite" detail.
So a movie using polygons would require more hardware rendering (using more resources and a higher cost) than a game using splines/NURBS?
I remember reading an article years ago that said the PSP could use NURBS... If the PSP could do it, then surely more powerful consoles like the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U could do NURBS as well.
So a movie using polygons would require more hardware rendering (using more resources and a higher cost) than a game using splines/NURBS?
I remember reading an article years ago that said the PSP could use NURBS... If the PSP could do it, then surely more powerful consoles like the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U could do NURBS as well.
PSP is CAPABLE of NURBS, but doesn't use them. Current gen consoles can do so too, but don't. Hell, even PC games rarely, if ever, use them either. They are just too expensive.
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This creepy and insane game studio CEO keeps digging his own grave. I wonder if this sort of **** goes on in many other companies?
http://kotaku.com/5940401/pc-gaming-studio-said-she-ruined-their-game-but-only-after-she-sued-the-boss-for-sexual-harassment
This creepy and insane game studio CEO keeps digging his own grave. I wonder if this sort of **** goes on in many other companies?While I will try not to jump to any conclusions until both cases are final, the evidence listed there seems to point to her being in the right and him trying to find a way to get back at her, especially his response letter (written on a message board). Plus he admitted to be a sexist, so it pretty much furthers her case.
http://kotaku.com/5940401/pc-gaming-studio-said-she-ruined-their-game-but-only-after-she-sued-the-boss-for-sexual-harassment
He keeps posting on his twitter and elsewhere, too. He's probably going to be murdered by his own lawyer.
One thing that no one is discussing is the fact that the film and game industries are rival entertainment groups. One tries to take money from the other. From what I understand the growth in gaming has taken some money away from the film industry, so I do not see them working together.
PJ got money from those games. I think Kytim is talking about non-licensed games.One thing that no one is discussing is the fact that the film and game industries are rival entertainment groups. One tries to take money from the other. From what I understand the growth in gaming has taken some money away from the film industry, so I do not see them working together.
But they have worked together in the past. Remember the video game adaptations of Peter Jackson's King Kong and Lord of the Rings movies?
THQ announced that they are shutting down their Australian distribution office THQ Australia, resulting in the loss of 18 jobs. THQ will instead have All Interactive Entertainment distribute their games in Australia.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-10-10-report-thq-australia-to-close?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=us-daily (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-10-10-report-thq-australia-to-close?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=us-daily)
THQ announced that they are shutting down their Australian distribution office THQ Australia, resulting in the loss of 18 jobs. THQ will instead have All Interactive Entertainment distribute their games in Australia.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-10-10-report-thq-australia-to-close?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=us-daily (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-10-10-report-thq-australia-to-close?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=us-daily)
I do not think that THQ will be around for another year despite the record sales od Darksiders 2.
To be fair, that 247K copies was for only 1 week since it came out at the end of the month and only counted for 1 week of NPD sales. So 247K in one week is really good for a August release.
Mega Man is pretty much dead now. Maybe Capcom will revive him like SEGA did with Sonic? Aside from the amazing Mega Man 9 and 10, Capcom hasn't done much with the Blue Bomber in the past few years.
THQ has been getting better in the last few months, and they should get better now that they are moving away from licensed games and focusing on original IPs/
Capcom witnessed deminishing returns on their investments into the Megaman franchies, so they pulled the axe on it for a period of time.
Capcom witnessed deminishing returns on their investments into the Megaman franchies, so they pulled the axe on it for a period of time.
I think they don't really know what to do with it. When's the last time Capcom made a "colorful" console game? Zack and Wiki? I'm thinking that if they tried to make another 3D console Megaman it would end up like Bomberman Zero given the direction Capcom has been blundering in.
Capcom witnessed deminishing returns on their investments into the Megaman franchies, so they pulled the axe on it for a period of time.
I think they don't really know what to do with it. When's the last time Capcom made a "colorful" console game? Zack and Wiki? I'm thinking that if they tried to make another 3D console Megaman it would end up like Bomberman Zero given the direction Capcom has been blundering in.
I'm surprised that Capcom never really brought the series into 3D aside from the Mega Man Legends spinoffs. A proper Mega Man game in 3D, complete with Robot Masters (or Reploids), spike pits, disappearing blocks, and hard-as-hell difficulty would be amazing.
Well, this one stings a little for me: Starhawk developer Lightbox Interactive is laying off 24 employees and transitioning to iPhone titles (http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/18/rumor-starhawk-developer-lightbox-interactive-hit-with-major-layoffs) after Sony ended their publishing agreement.
This wasn't unexpected after Sony basically sent Starhawk out to die, but Starhawk is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer games I've played all year so I had hoped the game would have done better. I wanted to see a sequel, which I suppose could still happen since Sony owns the IP but it's a shame to lose this team. Starhawk itself will still be supported by Sony's Santa Monica Studios.
Starhawk is a kind of game you've never really seen on a Nintendo platform, and would be a nice niche to be able to fill internally.Isn't Battallion Wars series similar to it?
Starhawk is a kind of game you've never really seen on a Nintendo platform, and would be a nice niche to be able to fill internally.Isn't Battallion Wars series similar to it?
I don't know much about either series.
Starhawk is a kind of game you've never really seen on a Nintendo platform, and would be a nice niche to be able to fill internally.Isn't Battallion Wars series similar to it?
I don't know much about either series.
Thanks, Kotick.
Sony could just give up on the handheld market and simply focus on home consoles, since it seems most people have no interest in the Vita.
I really hope to see Sony withdraw from the game industry and bow out by the end of this new generation. Cut their losses and move on - and hopefully rebuild their crumbling ecosystem of electronics in due time. But no more video games. Just stop.
I would suggest that maybe there are people who want the Vita, but can't stomach the price of entry when considering the accessories needed, as well as a perceived lack of must-have games for the system, not just a general non-interest in the handheld at all.
Either way, although PSP didn't beat the DS in sales, didn't it do relatively well for Sony? In general, I thought Sony's gaming division is one of the few profitable areas of the company.
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
That's been tried a few times and has always been a colossal failure. Also, Nintendo would never let that happen.
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
Well Mr. Dyack, I must be forced to remind you that TOO HUMAN SUCKS BALLS
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
That's been tried a few times and has always been a colossal failure. Also, Nintendo would never let that happen.
I'm talking about making the game platform a standard piece of tech that any company can make; like a TV, mobile phone, tablet, PC, etc. Game systems shouldn't be this proprietary.
You know, it would be nice to have multiple companies making game systems, akin to smartphones, tablets, PC's, TV's, etc. There should be a standard upon which all game systems are based.
That's been tried a few times and has always been a colossal failure. Also, Nintendo would never let that happen.
I'm talking about making the game platform a standard piece of tech that any company can make; like a TV, mobile phone, tablet, PC, etc. Game systems shouldn't be this proprietary.
I guess what I'm thinking of is something like Android or Windows, where there are multiple devices from multiple manufactures using a standard OS.
there are games that only play on older versions of Windows.
would this affect legend coming to wii u? :-( i want it....
So after the success of GoldenEye, one mediocre game (007 Legends) can kill an entire company? Didn't Activision fund them enough money to complete the game on time?
Not necessarily casual mobile games, but we've pretty much reached the limit of what can be done in terms of graphics on a reasonable budget. No matter how much better the tech gets, it'll be too expensive to take advantage of very often, and even now one bad move can cripple a studio. That's what Kytim's saying: we've seen multiple studios hit hard by games that didn't meet expectations, and the only way for them to stay afloat was to downsize and switch their focus to the low-risk casual market.
Not necessarily casual mobile games, but we've pretty much reached the limit of what can be done in terms of graphics on a reasonable budget. No matter how much better the tech gets, it'll be too expensive to take advantage of very often, and even now one bad move can cripple a studio. That's what Kytim's saying: we've seen multiple studios hit hard by games that didn't meet expectations, and the only way for them to stay afloat was to downsize and switch their focus to the low-risk casual market.
Or they could make games that people actually want to buy. Just sayin'.
Also even if Durango/Orbis are both big tech jumps it doesn't excatly mean that Budgets will go up.
Also even if Durango/Orbis are both big tech jumps it doesn't excatly mean that Budgets will go up.
Folks said similar things last generation, along with the argument that costs will decrease over time as the tools improve. I don't think it'll be true this time either.
The cost of current generation game development is still not cheap. Until this is fixed then I do not see Sony and Microsoft's next consoles being that much of a leap over the Wii U. The entire industry has a vested interest in driving down costs for their own survival.
Didn't EA say a while ago that either Dead Space 3 or Mass Effect 3 had to sell five million copies just for them to mae a profit?
The cost of current generation game development is still not cheap. Until this is fixed then I do not see Sony and Microsoft's next consoles being that much of a leap over the Wii U. The entire industry has a vested interest in driving down costs for their own survival.
Didn't EA say a while ago that either Dead Space 3 or Mass Effect 3 had to sell five million copies just for them to mae a profit?
I don't recall that final quote one way or the other (not saying it wasn't said, just that I don't remember it), but I definitely think development costs are already too cost-prohibitive for the long-term health of the industry. That said, I'm decreasingly convinced that most of the big publishers care, and I'm not certain that the smaller developers (are there even any mid-sized developers left?) have enough say on the matter to do anything besides go handheld-only or make indie digital games.
I don't recall that final quote one way or the other (not saying it wasn't said, just that I don't remember it), but I definitely think development costs are already too cost-prohibitive for the long-term health of the industry. That said, I'm decreasingly convinced that most of the big publishers care, and I'm not certain that the smaller developers (are there even any mid-sized developers left?) have enough say on the matter to do anything besides go handheld-only or make indie digital games.
The cost of current generation game development is still not cheap. Until this is fixed then I do not see Sony and Microsoft's next consoles being that much of a leap over the Wii U. The entire industry has a vested interest in driving down costs for their own survival.
Didn't EA say a while ago that either Dead Space 3 or Mass Effect 3 had to sell five million copies just for them to mae a profit?
I don't recall that final quote one way or the other (not saying it wasn't said, just that I don't remember it), but I definitely think development costs are already too cost-prohibitive for the long-term health of the industry. That said, I'm decreasingly convinced that most of the big publishers care, and I'm not certain that the smaller developers (are there even any mid-sized developers left?) have enough say on the matter to do anything besides go handheld-only or make indie digital games.
Unless the industry can bring HD development costs down then I see the high cost of making games helping to usher in the era of digital retail a whole lot sooner. The reason for this is the lower barrier of market entry, reduced costs to manufacture physical media (games, booklets, etc). Do you really think that EA gives two shits about Gamestop? The answer is no. If a developer like EA can save a billion dollars by going exclusively digital then they will do it. Why do you think that Nintendo is bending over backwards to make the eShop accomodate everyone.
If you want to know where the real competition of the next generation will be, and I have said it many times on this forum, look no further than services. Look at hoe Microsoft is positioning the 360 to be the world's number one set-top box. Look at the Wii U with its TVii feature. This is where the consoles will really compete. Add in a better online system as well.
Also, Sony and Microsoft will have their own versions of the Gamepad. The graphical leap between the PS3/360 and PS4/720 will be no different than between the Gamecube and Wii. All Sony and Microsoft will do is reconfigure the hardware to accomodate streaming to their own Gamepad, and some kind of Move and Kinect successor.
I don't recall that final quote one way or the other (not saying it wasn't said, just that I don't remember it), but I definitely think development costs are already too cost-prohibitive for the long-term health of the industry. That said, I'm decreasingly convinced that most of the big publishers care, and I'm not certain that the smaller developers (are there even any mid-sized developers left?) have enough say on the matter to do anything besides go handheld-only or make indie digital games.
The games industry seems to be mimicking the form of Hollywood, where a handful of major studios release dozens of productions a year, with the expectation that most will lose money and the four or five hits will put them in the black overall. The problem is that this hasn't worked out too hot for the movie industry for the most part, and movies are much easier gambles for consumers to take. $12 bucks for a movie ticket versus $60 for a game is a pretty huge differential for that model. And movies have much longer legs, with DVD sales, cable rights and whatnot. The majority of game sales (for most titles) occur within a month or two of release, and then drop off a cliff. Not much time for word of mouth to revive something that slipped past the radar before it becomes something you have to dig through Gamestops or Ebay to find.
I'm not saying developers shouldn't put effort into presentation, but you can't deny that it's a very risky proposition when a developer with a proven track record slips up once and is effectively destroyed by it.
Going all digital will result in far fewer sales, and less money. And they don't lose much money at retail, retailers get about $7 from a $60 game. Going digital will cost them a LOT of sales that they would have gotten from retail. EA being reluctant to put games on Wii U has NOTHING to do with digital sales. Word of mouth from digital sales is lower than retail. The most that will happen in the next 10 years is releasing both retail and digital. The cons off all-digital far outweigh the positives.
Going all digital will result in far fewer sales, and less money. And they don't lose much money at retail, retailers get about $7 from a $60 game. Going digital will cost them a LOT of sales that they would have gotten from retail. EA being reluctant to put games on Wii U has NOTHING to do with digital sales. Word of mouth from digital sales is lower than retail. The most that will happen in the next 10 years is releasing both retail and digital. The cons off all-digital far outweigh the positives.
Going all digital worked for the music industry, book industry, and the movie industry. Apple's iTunes changed the music industy forever, giving music labels an incentive for monetizing MP3's. Netflix brought streaming via subscription to the masses. And Amazon's Kindle made eBooks more popular than ever.
So if digital worked for those industries, why couldn't it work for gaming? Oh wait, it already is working. Again, look at Apple's iOS devices and the App Store. Look at what Sony, Microsoft, and Valve are doing. Steam is the main distribution service for most PC games these days. The future of Xbox will be moving to the cloud, if that leaked document is any proof. And Sony bought Gaikai for similar reasons. There's also PSN and Xbox Live, which have proven to be very popular with consumers and publishers.
The future of Xbox will be moving to the cloud, if that leaked document is any proof. And Sony bought Gaikai for similar reasons. There's also PSN and Xbox Live, which have proven to be very popular with consumers and publishers.
The future of Xbox will be moving to the cloud, if that leaked document is any proof. And Sony bought Gaikai for similar reasons. There's also PSN and Xbox Live, which have proven to be very popular with consumers and publishers.
I wouldn't say that companies investing in a concept necessarily means that the concept is already successful.
Steam box and Ouya are not consoles, they are gimped PCs. Ouya will at best be very niche.
Ouya is a joke. For one thing, the company is encouraging people to pirate games on it (which will not get more developers to support it). There are a whole host of reasons Ouya will fail, but I won't get into that. As for Steambox, I don't see the market for it. The people who would buy it likely already have the capability to play their PC games on their TV (it's not hard) and a casual gamer will not go through the effort.
No, they are dedicated game machines. Ouya and Steambox will literally just be PCs that are stripped down.
tendo, as lol said, NONE of those industries are digital only. With music, 99% of all music is still in physical format too. Same with books and movies. Digital only is a flawed strategy that is YEARS away from even being viable. Cloud gaming is especially flawed because no one wants to be prevented from playing their games due to Internet being down and many areas don't have broadband yet.
This is why I think that EA is not going to welcome a new Playstation and Xbox and the higher development costs that go go along with it for a very long time. They may support the systems out in the open, but behind closed doors they would rather milk this generation for wha it's worth.
People said the same thing about the Wii when its development costs were lower than the other systems.
Atari US (owned by French company Atari SA), has filed for bankruptcy and plans to sell off assets like Pong, Centipede, Missile Command, and Asteroids. They even plan to sell of their company logo (though apparently not the name).
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/01/21/atari-us-files-for-bankruptcy-sells-assets-logo/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/01/21/atari-us-files-for-bankruptcy-sells-assets-logo/)
Here is the proposed plan breakdown THQ presented:
• Sega will purchase Relic Entertainment.
• Koch Media (parent company of Deep Silver) will purchase Volition Inc. and the Metro franchise.
• Crytek will purchase Homefront.
• Take-Two Interactive will purchase Evolve.
• Ubisoft will purchase THQ Montreal and South Park: The Stick of Truth.
The fate of Vigil Games and the Darksiders IP is not known yet.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/thq-dissolved-6402838
Deep Silver? That no-name shovelware company? What will they do with Saints Row?
Sounds like a bitter employee upset that he is not good enough to avoid being fired. It's like when the person gets fired, then claims they are quitting. Sorry, but he is just a bitter ex-employee.
What is HMV?
FYE is still around?
And it's sad to see THQ go under. They may not have had the biggest franchises (aside from WWE), but I enjoyed Darksiders and Saints Row immensely. Saints Row is a worthy GTA clone, and it closely resembles the PS2 games in terms of gameplay and presentation (cartoony and over-the-top).
My next question would be what is FYE? (We don't have that in TN)What is HMV?
Basically like a British version of FYE. They sell music, movies, video games, concert tickets.
DEATHWATCHHow is that deathwatch? Sony would not go under for a few years from now. They've slowed the bleeding. My guess is if things do become dire, they are more likely to be bought out by Panasonic or Samsung before they ever file bankruptcy.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/sony-shares-slide-most-in-four-years-6403674
If you are quiet enough you can actually hear a giant guillotine being raised for the entire gaming industry. The wave of companies going bankrupt is only going to get more intense as budgets continue to grow. Even the major console makers are not immune to this dilemma, and Sony is the best example of this. Once the FPS bubble bursts then developers like Activision might go bankrupt.
My inner Aliens fan wants to predict that Gear Box will be on the chopping block by next year, or by the end of this one.Borderlands
Speaking of Gearbox Software, Aliens: Colonial Marines is getting SLAMMED by reviews.That was a good call to delay this game on Wii U.
Is it bad that I still want Aliens: Clonial Marines on the Wii U? It's practically review-proof for me.
Gearbox is no where near close to dying.
They still have Borderlands, what ever furious four has become, and a proper brothers in arms game on the works.
Though it is interesting that they have put out Twp really bad games and are still here. That can't be said for most guys today.
Expecting to see Insomniac on this list if dues bombs and they aren't bought by Sony.
Also expecting sadly to see that game company as well.
Now where's my Crash Bandicoot reboot? If Activision isn't doing anything with it, they should give the series back to Naughty Dog.There was a photo from Vicarious Visions offices with "new" Crash redesign:
EA shuts down Visceral Montreal.
http://www.ea.com/news/transition-is-our-friend?sourceid=Origin_AFF_LS315&c=TnL5HPStwNw&LSsiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-lp1E_RHLc_5v7dP7A9Ex2g
http://www.gamnesia.com/news/capcom-only-has-152-million-going-into-next-gen-focus-on-dlc-and-mobile (http://www.gamnesia.com/news/capcom-only-has-152-million-going-into-next-gen-focus-on-dlc-and-mobile)
As hard as it is to sympathize with them on this situation it still does not bode well for the industry as a whole.
But they still have Monster Hunter which still sells at ridiculous levels. That series is often credited with saving the PSP in Japan. If that can't keep them a fair distance from the red then either they really screwed up or the industry is in worse shape then we thought.
Megaman is a concept that didn't take to 3D well.And yet people still want Legends 3. Capcom is still pretending no one likes Mega Man. Maybe they'll change their minds when Super Smash Bros. comes out.
I can guarantee Capcom atleast 1 sale of an Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 U Edition.
That is pretty messed up. I heard they were a little under expectations in regards to Infinite, but that one ball was enough to sink them? AAA is real healthy alright.
Despite the financial success of the PS4, Sony's fate is still up in the air. They are still hemorrhaging money right now. I read an article that gave them a 78% chance of going bankrupt. It is really indicative of the health of the industry when a company like Sony is hurting. By the time the PS5 is released Sony will be answering to a mother company. Who ever that is is debatable?
Despite the financial success of the PS4, Sony's fate is still up in the air. They are still hemorrhaging money right now. I read an article that gave them a 78% chance of going bankrupt. It is really indicative of the health of the industry when a company like Sony is hurting. By the time the PS5 is released Sony will be answering to a mother company. Who ever that is is debatable?
no offense, but we need sources.
my main interest is will Sony spin off their movie Division before filing, or will Disney be able to get that Spiderman franchise back in a bankruptcy sale or something.
Despite the financial success of the PS4, Sony's fate is still up in the air. They are still hemorrhaging money right now. I read an article that gave them a 78% chance of going bankrupt. It is really indicative of the health of the industry when a company like Sony is hurting. By the time the PS5 is released Sony will be answering to a mother company. Who ever that is is debatable?
no offense, but we need sources.
my main interest is will Sony spin off their movie Division before filing, or will Disney be able to get that Spiderman franchise back in a bankruptcy sale or something.
I can not post links anymore due to my low karma. My word will have to be taken at face value. Disney will eventually gobble up the film rights to all of their Marvel IPs sooner or later.
Is it just me, or does that statement Irrational put out make Levine sound like a real see you next Tuesday?
Look like the PS4's success is truly revitalizing the industry all right. :)
They probably canceled a PSVita God of War game. Now it's hard to say that the PS4 is revitalizing anything - but it is selling a **** ton of consoles (322,000 in Japan in 2 days).
Time to update that list again, Irrational Games is shutting down. This was the studio that made Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite for anyone who didn't know.
http://www.irrationalgames.com/ (http://www.irrationalgames.com/)
Yep, the traditional gaming industry is still healthy and with the PS4/One raising cost even more, it'll only get healthier. :)
closing down its Budapest (Hungary), Sofia (Bulgaria), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China) and Istanbul (Turkey) studios
This is a sort of why bother, the US is pretty damn slack about labour rights and depending on state a pretty low floor especially with right to work states(What a joke of a name)Quoteclosing down its Budapest (Hungary), Sofia (Bulgaria), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China) and Istanbul (Turkey) studios
Sounds like perfectly obscure places to ignore basic standards of decency and labour laws. Game journalists need to do a better job of holding these people accountable and letting in the sunlight.
I want to crowdfund one of my games and have it at, like, $10,000 for the goal. I want to leave St. Louis for a week for a change and get a nice, kick-ass vacat-- Develop a nice kick-ass sequel to Super Push Adventure.$10000 feels a bit on the low side, but I have no idea what the game is and you are likely afraid that the game wouldn't get funded at all which is understandable. Not being able to cover your expenses though is even worse as you have to take time off to bring in other income etc or release early which would piss everyone off without a doubt.
You could gift me the Switch version good buddy :D
I could probably give you some Steam games to compensate as I have some extra copies floating around from Humble Bundles. Think I got some Wii U/3DS ones as well.
You could gift me the Switch version good buddy :D
I could probably give you some Steam games to compensate as I have some extra copies floating around from Humble Bundles. Think I got some Wii U/3DS ones as well.
I'd take that deal if my pc was better. Yooka Laylee comes out after my birthday. Either I'm going to have a ps4 and a switch, or just a ps4. It depends on how my tax return turns out and the availability of the Switch.
you would certainly be one of my preferred choices.
If they want to evolve they are going to have to stop piling up entire walls with one game whenever something like Halo or whatever AAA nothing burger shows up and shift that space into merchandising. They can sell loot crates. Clean up their stores of all the tack so you don't feel shame going inside. Offer codes or online games to people who won't/don't have credit cards.
If they want to evolve they are going to have to stop piling up entire walls with one game whenever something like Halo or whatever AAA nothing burger shows up and shift that space into merchandising.
Theres all sorts of ways Gamestop could improve its business model. I doubt they would do them. Gamestops are small. They should be twice as big and still have classic games.
It would be kinda cool if they had some arcade cabinets.
Rarely ever do i spend more than 6 minutes in a GameStop. I usually go in there, see nothing of interest and walk right out because there is nothing to keep me there.
EA's killed another one: Visceral Games (the makers of the Dead Space series) is shutting down.
https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on-the-visceral-star-wars-project (https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on-the-visceral-star-wars-project)
This press release just screams "They were making a Star Wars game we couldn't ruin with loot boxes, so we got rid of them & are starting over."
**** this industry. I liked Visceral.
Should Toys R Us be on this list?
Should Toys R Us be on this list?
They should call it FunkoStop with all %#)$ bobbleheads they sell now.
The retailer’s stock has slid more than 32 percent over the last 12 months, bringing its market capitalization to $1.42 billion, down from about $9.4 billion in 2007.
GameStop closing 150 stores. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/03/24/gamestop-video-game-stores/99573598/)
Perhaps takeovers and underhanded ways to buy out the competition is finally catching up karma-wise to GameStop!
I was reading some of the negative comments about GameStop in the NWR 2006 thread...
The GameStops here in Anchorage are teh_evil, claiming to hold items for you and then, once you get there, deny memory of holding anything for you (like an hour ago--screw you guys) and hey--they're all out of (whatever they were supposed to be holding). It has happened to me many times.
More irritating are the times where they try to sell you a used game in a generic DVD case for full price, or when they give you crap for credit on fairly new games. I don't like the type of employee who thinks he's better than you, which I've encountered many times.
What turned me away from GameStop for good was the time I had to go in and renew my GameInformer subscription. I stood in like for like fifteen minutes behind some idiot fat guy who kept asking about release dates and whether they had this game or that.
I noticed that the whole store was crawling with people who looked homeless or, at the very least, hadn't showered in weeks. When I finally got up to the counter and asked to renew my GI subscription, they asked if I wanted to reserve any games. The person behind me belched loudly and chuckled with his idiot friend.
I renewed my subscription and haven't been back since.
GameStop is overpriced. Gamestop employees are rude and stupid. Gamestop only stays afloat because of a lack of competition. I've been to several different stores in several different states and the story is always the same.
One thing that always bothers me about Gamestop hate is that they pick on the employees, labeling them all as incompetent fanboys simply because of a couple of them in ONE store.
Many of my friends are Gamestop employees. S_B's girlfriend is a Gamestop manager. And I've met and talked with many wonderful Gamestop employees, so to me whenever someone bashes the employees I get upset.
Yes, like ANY store in the world, there are some really bad employees, ones that will test your patience. But simply because you encountered one bad employee you shouldn't convince yourself that all of them are bad. Many are just like you and me; hard working people trying to make a living. And they also get bullcrap from the store and its clients.
Hell, I've even encountered pregnant employees, handling multiple reservations when they should be resting! So because of that I've gained empathy towards employees because they are humans.
If you want to hate the store, hate on its policies, ideas and deals, but leave the employees out of it because they have it just as bad, if not worse, as we.
Regarding Gamestop hate, I think gamers hate it for the same reason many hate Wal-Mart: Its one of the biggest game stores in the US right and its contemporary. Since they have kind of a monopoly on the selling and trading of used games they get away with some dubious things, and that's why so many gamers say nothing but horror stories about them.
Now, if there were more Gamestop like stores and there was real competition then maybe the hate would ease up. Maybe.
Finally, it seems the hate comes from problems with ONE store. I've been to multiple Gamestops, and the service DOES vary. There are stores which are organized and the employees are nice and friendly. Then there are stores that are a mess and its employees are rude.
So it seems that if they have experiences with one store they label them all like that.
Wait, GP shops at the Gamestop where Dirk shops? How do they both know the same Amanda clerk?
Furthermore, GP is in Washington. Dirk is in New Hampshire. Pap is in Puerto Rico. Smash Bros is in Alaska. Athena is in King of Fighters. HOW DO YOU ALL SHOP FACE TO FACE AT THE SAME GAMESTOP?
GameStop humbly offers me $16.00 for Epic Mickey..... Original Value? $49.99 + $2.50 State Tax= $52.49
Kingdom hearts Re:coded.... Much more recent, hasn't really aged much, and including Tax and all that stuff, I originally payed $36.74
Now what does Lovely GameStop want to give me for this fairly pricey DS game?
12.00.....
Well, it looks like GameStop's plans following its acquisition of Impulse and Spawn Labs may be even grander than we had suspected. At an investor conference today, GameStop said flat out that it is "becoming a technology company," and that it does indeed plan to introduce a cloud-based gaming service similar to OnLive as a result of the Spawn Labs acquisition, while Impulse will be used to "compete fiercely" with Steam.
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But that's just the start of things. According to the Dallas Morning News, GameStop also plans to expand the gaming service to a variety of mobile devices, and it's apparently even entertaining the idea of a GameStop-branded tablet, saying that "if we feel like we could do a better job of making a tablet, we'll do that." Of course, some of that is still quite a ways off, but GameStop will be taking its first steps fairly soon -- it's already showed off a demo of how the service will be integrated into its website (see above, complete with a "try it now" option), and it plans to begin a public beta sometime this year before rolling out the full service early next year.
Telltale apparently got rid of the skeleton crew.
Telltale apparently got rid of the skeleton crew.
link (https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/327978/Report_Telltale_Games_lays_off_remaining_skeleton_crew.php)
Looks like at&t is looking to sell WB's gaming devision. (https://www.cnet.com/news/at-t-looking-to-sell-warner-bros-gaming-unit-for-4b-report-says/)
Mortal Kombat is probably the biggest multiplatform fighting game IP in the business, and the Batman games did REALLY well for WB as well (with another seemingly on the way). Add in the possibility of a bidding war - I'm sure Activision would like another 5-6 studios to pump out CODs - and $4bn may be realistic.
RIP Stadia studios. (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/02/google-closes-stadias-dedicated-game-studios-after-less-than-2-years/?comments=1)
I still want a PS4/PS5 version of Puppeteer, Sony.Same here. Puppeteer is one of my favorite PS3 games. It looks gorgeous in stereoscopic 3D. I would love a PS4 version that works in PSVR, but that is very unlikely.
RIP Stadia studios. (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/02/google-closes-stadias-dedicated-game-studios-after-less-than-2-years/?comments=1)
But all the buildup had some developers within Stadia worried, according to people familiar with the matter. Their deadline to ship the platform in the fall of 2019 wouldn’t allow them to deliver what players expected, they said. They argued that Google should position the launch as another beta test. After all, Google’s most successful products had followed a similar approach. Gmail was officially in beta testing for five years, for example, as the company continued to tweak and refine it.
Stadia missed its targets for sales of controllers and monthly active users by hundreds of thousands, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. A Google spokesperson declined to comment for this story.
His team wooed big-name publishers like Ubisoft and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., shelling out tens of millions of dollars to get games like Red Dead Redemption II on Stadia, according to two people familiar with the deals. The amount of money Google was willing to spend came as a shock to veteran game developers, but even that wasn’t enough. Video game platforms live or die on exclusive content. So Harrison also brought in Jade Raymond, a veteran executive who has worked on Assassin’s Creed and Star Wars, to start building an in-house development division.
I really miss the wishlist in the store. I had a list of a dozen games I planned to get and they are gone. I can only remember half of them. I need to pick up a game or two on vita before it's too late.