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EA Origin wants crowd-funded games
Publisher to provide free distribution services for 90 days for any successfully crowd-funded PC title; Wasteland 2 first confirmed game.
Electronic Arts' Origin digital distribution platform boasts a vast game catalog of AAA titles like Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3, but now the publisher is courting smaller developers. EA announced today that it will provide free distribution services for any successfully crowd-funded PC title for 90 days after launch.
The first crowd-funded project confirmed for Origin is Inxile Entertainment's Wasteland 2. That game quickly surpassed its Kickstarter funding target earlier this year, climbing to over $2.93 million. Company CEO Brian Fargo said the 90 days of free distribution services represents a "major economic bonus" for the studio.
Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen also pledged her support for EA's new crowd-funded promotion. She said, "It's great to see a big publisher like EA opening up distribution opportunities for these games." Jensen's crowd-funded Pinkerton Road studio recently exceeded its $300,000 target.
EA confirmed to GameSpot this afternoon that Jensen's inclusion in the announcement was only to demonstrate her support for the program and is not confirmation that her first title--Moebius--will be released as part of it.
EA specifically called out the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform as one that developers can utilize, though others are available. Those interested in hosting their title through Origin can complete a submission form at the Origin publishing portal.
On top of announcing it would waive distribution fees for crowd-funded titles for 90 days, EA revealed today that Origin now boasts 12 million members, up from an 11 million user count announced earlier this month.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"EA Origin wants crowd-funded games" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:47:05 -0700EA Origin wants crowd-funded games
Publisher to provide free distribution services for 90 days for any successfully crowd-funded PC title; Wasteland 2 first confirmed game.
Electronic Arts' Origin digital distribution platform boasts a vast game catalog of AAA titles like Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3, but now the publisher is courting smaller developers. EA announced today that it will provide free distribution services for any successfully crowd-funded PC title for 90 days after launch.
The first crowd-funded project confirmed for Origin is Inxile Entertainment's Wasteland 2. That game quickly surpassed its Kickstarter funding target earlier this year, climbing to over $2.93 million. Company CEO Brian Fargo said the 90 days of free distribution services represents a "major economic bonus" for the studio.
Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen also pledged her support for EA's new crowd-funded promotion. She said, "It's great to see a big publisher like EA opening up distribution opportunities for these games." Jensen's crowd-funded Pinkerton Road studio recently exceeded its $300,000 target.
EA confirmed to GameSpot this afternoon that Jensen's inclusion in the announcement was only to demonstrate her support for the program and is not confirmation that her first title--Moebius--will be released as part of it.
EA specifically called out the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform as one that developers can utilize, though others are available. Those interested in hosting their title through Origin can complete a submission form at the Origin publishing portal.
On top of announcing it would waive distribution fees for crowd-funded titles for 90 days, EA revealed today that Origin now boasts 12 million members, up from an 11 million user count announced earlier this month.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"EA Origin wants crowd-funded games" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:47:05 -0700EA Origin wants crowd-funded games
Publisher to provide free distribution services for 90 days for any successfully crowd-funded PC title; Wasteland 2 first confirmed game.
Electronic Arts' Origin digital distribution platform boasts a vast game catalog of AAA titles like Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3, but now the publisher is courting smaller developers. EA announced today that it will provide free distribution services for any successfully crowd-funded PC title for 90 days after launch.
The first crowd-funded project confirmed for Origin is Inxile Entertainment's Wasteland 2. That game quickly surpassed its Kickstarter funding target earlier this year, climbing to over $2.93 million. Company CEO Brian Fargo said the 90 days of free distribution services represents a "major economic bonus" for the studio.
Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen also pledged her support for EA's new crowd-funded promotion. She said, "It's great to see a big publisher like EA opening up distribution opportunities for these games." Jensen's crowd-funded Pinkerton Road studio recently exceeded its $300,000 target.
EA confirmed to GameSpot this afternoon that Jensen's inclusion in the announcement was only to demonstrate her support for the program and is not confirmation that her first title--Moebius--will be released as part of it.
EA specifically called out the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform as one that developers can utilize, though others are available. Those interested in hosting their title through Origin can complete a submission form at the Origin publishing portal.
On top of announcing it would waive distribution fees for crowd-funded titles for 90 days, EA revealed today that Origin now boasts 12 million members, up from an 11 million user count announced earlier this month.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"EA Origin wants crowd-funded games" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:47:05 -0700EA Origin wants crowd-funded games
Publisher to provide free distribution services for 90 days for any successfully crowd-funded PC title; Wasteland 2 first confirmed game.
Electronic Arts' Origin digital distribution platform boasts a vast game catalog of AAA titles like Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3, but now the publisher is courting smaller developers. EA announced today that it will provide free distribution services for any successfully crowd-funded PC title for 90 days after launch.
The first crowd-funded project confirmed for Origin is Inxile Entertainment's Wasteland 2. That game quickly surpassed its Kickstarter funding target earlier this year, climbing to over $2.93 million. Company CEO Brian Fargo said the 90 days of free distribution services represents a "major economic bonus" for the studio.
Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen also pledged her support for EA's new crowd-funded promotion. She said, "It's great to see a big publisher like EA opening up distribution opportunities for these games." Jensen's crowd-funded Pinkerton Road studio recently exceeded its $300,000 target.
EA confirmed to GameSpot this afternoon that Jensen's inclusion in the announcement was only to demonstrate her support for the program and is not confirmation that her first title--Moebius--will be released as part of it.
EA specifically called out the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform as one that developers can utilize, though others are available. Those interested in hosting their title through Origin can complete a submission form at the Origin publishing portal.
On top of announcing it would waive distribution fees for crowd-funded titles for 90 days, EA revealed today that Origin now boasts 12 million members, up from an 11 million user count announced earlier this month.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"EA Origin wants crowd-funded games" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:47:05 -0700EA Origin wants crowd-funded games
Publisher to provide free distribution services for 90 days for any successfully crowd-funded PC title; Wasteland 2 first confirmed game.
Electronic Arts' Origin digital distribution platform boasts a vast game catalog of AAA titles like Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3, but now the publisher is courting smaller developers. EA announced today that it will provide free distribution services for any successfully crowd-funded PC title for 90 days after launch.
The first crowd-funded project confirmed for Origin is inXile Entertainment's Wasteland 2. That game quickly surpassed its Kickstarter funding target earlier this year, climbing to over $2.93 million. Company CEO Brian Fargo said the 90 days of free distribution services represents a "major economic bonus" for the studio.
Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen also pledged her support for EA's new crowd-funded promotion. She said, "It's great to see a big publisher like EA opening up distribution opportunities for these games." Jensen's crowd-funded Pinkerton Road studio recently exceeded its $300,000 target.
EA confirmed to GameSpot this afternoon that Jensen's inclusion in the announcement was only to demonstrate her support for the program, and is not confirmation that her first title--Moebius--will release as part of it.
EA specifically called out the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform as one that developers can utilize, though others are available. Those interested in hosting their title through Origin can complete a submission form at the Origin publishing portal.
On top of announcing it would waive distribution fees for crowd-funded titles for 90 days, EA also revealed today that Origin now boasts 12 million members, up from an 11 million user count announced earlier this month.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"EA Origin wants crowd-funded games" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:47:05 -0700Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013
New massively multiplayer online game from embattled 38 Studios landing in 12 months; first trailer revealed.
38 Studios' massively multiplayer online game currently codenamed Project Copernicus is scheduled to arrive in June 2013. The news comes from Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, who revealed the date today during a press conference attended by Joystiq discussing the future of embattled Providence-based 38 Studios.
How often does a state official announce a release date?!
Further details on the game were not revealed, as Chafee simply stated, "What I understand is Copernicus is June '13." Requests to 38 Studios for confirmation of the date were not returned as of press time.
Also during the briefing today, Chafee announced that 38 Studios' $1.125 million check to the state of Rhode Island has cleared. This fulfills the company's first obligated payment on the game studio's controversial 2010 $75 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC).
38 Studios founder Curt Schilling offered his first public comments on the issues surrounding the company last night through Facebook.
"To all the prayers and well wishes to the team and families at 38, God Bless and thank you! We will find a way, and the strength, to endure," he wrote.
The RIEDC board Wednesday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday.
[UPDATE]: Shortly after the publication of this article, 38 Studios uploaded a teaser trailer for Copernicus to YouTube. The trailer is a brief tour of the gameworld's environments and can be seen below.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:19 -0700Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013
New massively multiplayer online game from embattled 38 Studios landing in 12 months; first trailer revealed.
38 Studios' massively multiplayer online game currently codenamed Project Copernicus is scheduled to arrive in June 2013. The news comes from Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, who revealed the date today during a press conference attended by Joystiq discussing the future of embattled Providence-based 38 Studios.
How often does a state official announce a release date?!
Further details on the game were not revealed, as Chafee simply stated, "What I understand is Copernicus is June '13." Requests to 38 Studios for confirmation of the date were not returned as of press time.
Also during the briefing today, Chafee announced that 38 Studios' $1.125 million check to the state of Rhode Island has cleared. This fulfills the company's first obligated payment on the game studio's controversial 2010 $75 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC).
38 Studios founder Curt Schilling offered his first public comments on the issues surrounding the company last night through Facebook.
"To all the prayers and well wishes to the team and families at 38, God Bless and thank you! We will find a way, and the strength, to endure," he wrote.
The RIEDC board Wednesday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday.
[UPDATE]: Shortly after the publication of this article, 38 Studios uploaded a teaser trailer for Copernicus to YouTube. The trailer is a brief tour of the gameworld's environments and can be seen below.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:19 -0700Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013
New massively multiplayer online game from embattled 38 Studios landing in 12 months; first trailer revealed.
38 Studios' massively multiplayer online game currently codenamed Project Copernicus is scheduled to arrive in June 2013. The news comes from Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, who revealed the date today during a press conference attended by Joystiq discussing the future of embattled Providence-based 38 Studios.
How often does a state official announce a release date?!
Further details on the game were not revealed, as Chafee simply stated, "What I understand is Copernicus is June '13." Requests to 38 Studios for confirmation of the date were not returned as of press time.
Also during the briefing today, Chafee announced that 38 Studios' $1.125 million check to the state of Rhode Island has cleared. This fulfills the company's first obligated payment on the game studio's controversial 2010 $75 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC).
38 Studios founder Curt Schilling offered his first public comments on the issues surrounding the company last night through Facebook.
"To all the prayers and well wishes to the team and families at 38, God Bless and thank you! We will find a way, and the strength, to endure," he wrote.
The RIEDC board Wednesday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday.
[UPDATE]: Shortly after the publication of this article, 38 Studios uploaded a teaser trailer for Copernicus to YouTube. The trailer is a brief tour of the gameworld's environments and can be seen below.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:19 -0700Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013
New massively multiplayer online game from embattled 38 Studios landing in 12 months; first trailer revealed.
38 Studios' massively multiplayer online game currently codenamed Project Copernicus is scheduled to arrive in June 2013. The news comes from Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, who revealed the date today during a press conference attended by Joystiq discussing the future of embattled Providence-based 38 Studios.
How often does a state official announce a release date?!
Further details on the game were not revealed, as Chafee simply stated, "What I understand is Copernicus is June '13." Requests to 38 Studios for confirmation of the date were not returned as of press time.
Also during the briefing today, Chafee announced that 38 Studios' $1.125 million check to the state of Rhode Island has cleared. This fulfills the company's first obligated payment on the game studio's controversial 2010 $75 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC).
38 Studios founder Curt Schilling offered his first public comments on the issues surrounding the company last night through Facebook.
"To all the prayers and well wishes to the team and families at 38, God Bless and thank you! We will find a way, and the strength, to endure," he wrote.
The RIEDC board Wednesday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday.
[UPDATE]: Shortly after the publication of this article, 38 Studios uploaded a teaser trailer for Copernicus to YouTube. The trailer is a brief tour of the gameworld's environments and can be seen below.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Amalur developer's MMO Copernicus due June 2013" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:19 -0700Dead Island 2 not in development - Report
Deep Silver denies working with Spec Ops: The Line developer studio Yager on sequel to 2011 island-set zombie first-person shooter.
Earlier this week, a source told IGN Germany that Yager Development, which is presently finishing up Spec Ops: The Line for its June release, had been tapped to develop Dead Island 2. This is not the case, says Guido Eickmeyer, development director with the original game's publisher, Deep Silver.
Dead Island 2 is not in development, at least not yet.
"We are neither working with Yager on Dead Island 2 nor do we have any contractual agreement with Yager about any project at this point," he said.
The developer did not rule out working with Yager in the future, saying there is a "legitimate chance" the companies will one day team up. He even went as far as to say a future relationship could be on a project related to the Dead Island franchise.
Eickmeyer went on to explain that Deep Silver does not have Dead Island 2 "in concept or production with external partners" and that it is currently considering options for a sequel.
Dead Island was developed by Polish shop Techland and shipped in September 2011 to generally positive review scores. The game shipped 3 million copies and welcomed various add-on packs. Speculation about a follow-up sparked in November, when Techland filed a trademark application for Dead World.
Though a sequel to Dead Island is currently out of sight, a movie based on the property may see the light of day. Film studio Lionsgate optioned the rights from Deep Silver after the game shipped last year. Development of the Dead Island film will be led by The Mummy producer Sean Daniel and Stefan Sonnenfeld, who did postproduction work on various Pirates of the Caribbean films and X-Men: The Last Stand.
For more on Dead Island, check out GameSpot's review.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Dead Island 2 not in development - Report" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:35:48 -0700Dead Island 2 not in development - Report
Deep Silver denies working with Spec Ops: The Line developer studio Yager on sequel to 2011 island-set zombie first-person shooter.
Earlier this week, a source told IGN Germany that Yager Development, which is presently finishing up Spec Ops: The Line for its June release, had been tapped to develop Dead Island 2. This is not the case, says Guido Eickmeyer, development director with the original game's publisher, Deep Silver.
Dead Island 2 is not in development, at least not yet.
"We are neither working with Yager on Dead Island 2 nor do we have any contractual agreement with Yager about any project at this point," he said.
The developer did not rule out working with Yager in the future, saying there is a "legitimate chance" the companies will one day team up. He even went as far as to say a future relationship could be on a project related to the Dead Island franchise.
Eickmeyer went on to explain that Deep Silver does not have Dead Island 2 "in concept or production with external partners" and that it is currently considering options for a sequel.
Dead Island was developed by Polish shop Techland and shipped in September 2011 to generally positive review scores. The game shipped 3 million copies and welcomed various add-on packs. Speculation about a follow-up sparked in November, when Techland filed a trademark application for Dead World.
Though a sequel to Dead Island is currently out of sight, a movie based on the property may see the light of day. Film studio Lionsgate optioned the rights from Deep Silver after the game shipped last year. Development of the Dead Island film will be led by The Mummy producer Sean Daniel and Stefan Sonnenfeld, who did postproduction work on various Pirates of the Caribbean films and X-Men: The Last Stand.
For more on Dead Island, check out GameSpot's review.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Dead Island 2 not in development - Report" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:35:48 -0700Dead Island 2 not in development - Report
Deep Silver denies working with Spec Ops: The Line developer studio Yager on sequel to 2011 island-set zombie first-person shooter.
Earlier this week, a source told IGN Germany that Yager Development, which is presently finishing up Spec Ops: The Line for its June release, had been tapped to develop Dead Island 2. This is not the case, says Guido Eickmeyer, development director with the original game's publisher, Deep Silver.
Dead Island 2 is not in development, at least not yet.
"We are neither working with Yager on Dead Island 2 nor do we have any contractual agreement with Yager about any project at this point," he said.
The developer did not rule out working with Yager in the future, saying there is a "legitimate chance" the companies will one day team up. He even went as far as to say a future relationship could be on a project related to the Dead Island franchise.
Eickmeyer went on to explain that Deep Silver does not have Dead Island 2 "in concept or production with external partners" and that it is currently considering options for a sequel.
Dead Island was developed by Polish shop Techland and shipped in September 2011 to generally positive review scores. The game shipped 3 million copies and welcomed various add-on packs. Speculation about a follow-up sparked in November, when Techland filed a trademark application for Dead World.
Though a sequel to Dead Island is currently out of sight, a movie based on the property may see the light of day. Film studio Lionsgate optioned the rights from Deep Silver after the game shipped last year. Development of the Dead Island film will be led by The Mummy producer Sean Daniel and Stefan Sonnenfeld, who did postproduction work on various Pirates of the Caribbean films and X-Men: The Last Stand.
For more on Dead Island, check out GameSpot's review.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Dead Island 2 not in development - Report" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:35:48 -0700Dead Island 2 not in development - Report
Deep Silver denies working with Spec Ops: The Line developer studio Yager on sequel to 2011 island-set zombie first-person shooter.
Earlier this week, a source told IGN Germany that Yager Development, which is presently finishing up Spec Ops: The Line for its June release, had been tapped to develop Dead Island 2. This is not the case, says Guido Eickmeyer, development director with the original game's publisher, Deep Silver.
Dead Island 2 is not in development, at least not yet.
"We are neither working with Yager on Dead Island 2 nor do we have any contractual agreement with Yager about any project at this point," he said.
The developer did not rule out working with Yager in the future, saying there is a "legitimate chance" the companies will one day team up. He even went as far as to say a future relationship could be on a project related to the Dead Island franchise.
Eickmeyer went on to explain that Deep Silver does not have Dead Island 2 "in concept or production with external partners" and that it is currently considering options for a sequel.
Dead Island was developed by Polish shop Techland and shipped in September 2011 to generally positive review scores. The game shipped 3 million copies and welcomed various add-on packs. Speculation about a follow-up sparked in November, when Techland filed a trademark application for Dead World.
Though a sequel to Dead Island is currently out of sight, a movie based on the property may see the light of day. Film studio Lionsgate optioned the rights from Deep Silver after the game shipped last year. Development of the Dead Island film will be led by The Mummy producer Sean Daniel and Stefan Sonnenfeld, who did postproduction work on various Pirates of the Caribbean films and X-Men: The Last Stand.
For more on Dead Island, check out GameSpot's review.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Dead Island 2 not in development - Report" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:35:48 -0700Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll
Rhode Island government says 38 Studios is making overdue loan payment even as employees go without pay.
38 Studios is making up its missed loan payment, but apparently at the expense of its employees. According to Providence, Rhode Island-based news outlet WPRI, the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning developer is submitting a $1.125 million loan payment it missed, but told the state's Economic Development Corporation that it was unable to pay its employees as scheduled.
This was one Reckoning 38 Studios was unprepared for.
The debt in question dates back to 2010, when the EDC secured a controversial $75 million in loans to entice 38 Studios--founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling--to relocate from Massachusetts to the Ocean State. According to the WPRI report, 38 Studios employed 379 employees full-time as of mid-March.
The EDC board yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday. 38 Studios employees aren't the only ones being hurt by the company's situation. Yesterday, EDC executive director Keith Stokes, who helped structure the $75 million loan, resigned from his post.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is the first title from 38 Studios. Designed with the help of R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, and Ken Rolston, the action role-playing game received a positive critical reception upon release in February and sold 330,000 copies in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, according to NPD data. Additionally, a sequel is in the works.
As of press time, a 38 Studios representative had not responded to a request for comment.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:59:09 -0700Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll
Rhode Island government says 38 Studios is making overdue loan payment even as employees go without pay.
38 Studios is making up its missed loan payment, but apparently at the expense of its employees. According to Providence, Rhode Island-based news outlet WPRI, the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning developer is submitting a $1.125 million loan payment it missed, but told the state's Economic Development Corporation that it was unable to pay its employees as scheduled.
This was one Reckoning 38 Studios was unprepared for.
The debt in question dates back to 2010, when the EDC secured a controversial $75 million in loans to entice 38 Studios--founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling--to relocate from Massachusetts to the Ocean State. According to the WPRI report, 38 Studios employed 379 employees full-time as of mid-March.
The EDC board yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday. 38 Studios employees aren't the only ones being hurt by the company's situation. Yesterday, EDC executive director Keith Stokes, who helped structure the $75 million loan, resigned from his post.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is the first title from 38 Studios. Designed with the help of R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, and Ken Rolston, the action role-playing game received a positive critical reception upon release in February and sold 330,000 copies in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, according to NPD data. Additionally, a sequel is in the works.
As of press time, a 38 Studios representative had not responded to a request for comment.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:59:09 -0700Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll
Rhode Island government says 38 Studios is making overdue loan payment even as employees go without pay.
38 Studios is making up its missed loan payment, but apparently at the expense of its employees. According to Providence, Rhode Island-based news outlet WPRI, the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning developer is submitting a $1.125 million loan payment it missed, but told the state's Economic Development Corporation that it was unable to pay its employees as scheduled.
This was one Reckoning 38 Studios was unprepared for.
The debt in question dates back to 2010, when the EDC secured a controversial $75 million in loans to entice 38 Studios--founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling--to relocate from Massachusetts to the Ocean State. According to the WPRI report, 38 Studios employed 379 employees full-time as of mid-March.
The EDC board yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday. 38 Studios employees aren't the only ones being hurt by the company's situation. Yesterday, EDC executive director Keith Stokes, who helped structure the $75 million loan, resigned from his post.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is the first title from 38 Studios. Designed with the help of R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, and Ken Rolston, the action role-playing game received a positive critical reception upon release in February and sold 330,000 copies in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, according to NPD data. Additionally, a sequel is in the works.
As of press time, a 38 Studios representative had not responded to a request for comment.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:59:09 -0700Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll
Rhode Island government says 38 Studios is making overdue loan payment even as employees go without pay.
38 Studios is making up its missed loan payment, but apparently at the expense of its employees. According to Providence, Rhode Island-based news outlet WPRI, the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning developer is submitting a $1.125 million loan payment it missed, but told the state's Economic Development Corporation that it was unable to pay its employees as scheduled.
This was one Reckoning 38 Studios was unprepared for.
The debt in question dates back to 2010, when the EDC secured a controversial $75 million in loans to entice 38 Studios--founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling--to relocate from Massachusetts to the Ocean State. According to the WPRI report, 38 Studios employed 379 employees full-time as of mid-March.
The EDC board yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to provide additional assistance to 38 Studios to keep the company in business. While the board made no ruling on the matter, it is expected to consider the topic again on Monday. 38 Studios employees aren't the only ones being hurt by the company's situation. Yesterday, EDC executive director Keith Stokes, who helped structure the $75 million loan, resigned from his post.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is the first title from 38 Studios. Designed with the help of R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, and Ken Rolston, the action role-playing game received a positive critical reception upon release in February and sold 330,000 copies in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, according to NPD data. Additionally, a sequel is in the works.
As of press time, a 38 Studios representative had not responded to a request for comment.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Kingdoms of Amalur dev misses payroll" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:59:09 -0700GameStop digital sales up, profits down
US retailer sees digital, mobile revenues rise, but not enough to offset dipping total sales and profit; Guild Wars 2 won't ship until after July.
GameStop's mobile and digital businesses are growing, but not enough to make up for a shrinking market for packaged games, the company revealed today as part of its latest financial report.
Digital and mobile sales were bright spots on GameStop's spreadsheet.
The company did not provide a specific figure for digital sales, but noted this sector was up 23 percent year-over year, while mobile raked in $12 million for the period.
In all, for the three months ended April 28, GameStop posted total global sales of $2 billion, down 12.2 percent from the $2.28 billion recorded during the same time last year. Net income for the period hit $72.5 million, a dip from the $80.4 million notched a year ago.
New game software was the biggest contributor to GameStop's bottom line during the period, accounting for $731.1 million and 36.5 percent of total sales. The next most significant contributor was used software and hardware sales, which accounted for 30.9 percent of total revenue, or $619 million. New game hardware sales for the period hit $348.6 million, and made up 17.4 percent of total revenue. GameStop's "other" category, which houses its digital and mobile businesses, accounted for the smallest piece of the pie, representing 15.2 percent of total sales with a haul of $303.5 million.
Looking to its current fiscal quarter, GameStop said it expects store sales to fall 11 percent to 5 percent, with full-year revenue expected to range from down 5 percent to flat. Additionally, in a postearnings financial call, CFO Robert Lloyd revealed that ArenaNet's long-awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game Guild Wars 2 has slipped out of the company's current quarter, meaning it is now expected to arrive sometime after July.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"GameStop digital sales up, profits down" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:16 -0700GameStop digital sales up, profits down
US retailer sees digital, mobile revenues rise, but not enough to offset dipping total sales and profit; Guild Wars 2 won't ship until after July.
GameStop's mobile and digital businesses are growing, but not enough to make up for a shrinking market for packaged games, the company revealed today as part of its latest financial report.
Digital and mobile sales were bright spots on GameStop's spreadsheet.
The company did not provide a specific figure for digital sales, but noted this sector was up 23 percent year-over year, while mobile raked in $12 million for the period.
In all, for the three months ended April 28, GameStop posted total global sales of $2 billion, down 12.2 percent from the $2.28 billion recorded during the same time last year. Net income for the period hit $72.5 million, a dip from the $80.4 million notched a year ago.
New game software was the biggest contributor to GameStop's bottom line during the period, accounting for $731.1 million and 36.5 percent of total sales. The next most significant contributor was used software and hardware sales, which accounted for 30.9 percent of total revenue, or $619 million. New game hardware sales for the period hit $348.6 million, and made up 17.4 percent of total revenue. GameStop's "other" category, which houses its digital and mobile businesses, accounted for the smallest piece of the pie, representing 15.2 percent of total sales with a haul of $303.5 million.
Looking to its current fiscal quarter, GameStop said it expects store sales to fall 11 percent to 5 percent, with full-year revenue expected to range from down 5 percent to flat. Additionally, in a postearnings financial call, CFO Robert Lloyd revealed that ArenaNet's long-awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game Guild Wars 2 has slipped out of the company's current quarter, meaning it is now expected to arrive sometime after July.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"GameStop digital sales up, profits down" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:16 -0700GameStop digital sales up, profits down
US retailer sees digital, mobile revenues rise, but not enough to offset dipping total sales and profit; Guild Wars 2 won't ship until after July.
GameStop's mobile and digital businesses are growing, but not enough to make up for a shrinking market for packaged games, the company revealed today as part of its latest financial report.
Digital and mobile sales were bright spots on GameStop's spreadsheet.
The company did not provide a specific figure for digital sales, but noted this sector was up 23 percent year-over year, while mobile raked in $12 million for the period.
In all, for the three months ended April 28, GameStop posted total global sales of $2 billion, down 12.2 percent from the $2.28 billion recorded during the same time last year. Net income for the period hit $72.5 million, a dip from the $80.4 million notched a year ago.
New game software was the biggest contributor to GameStop's bottom line during the period, accounting for $731.1 million and 36.5 percent of total sales. The next most significant contributor was used software and hardware sales, which accounted for 30.9 percent of total revenue, or $619 million. New game hardware sales for the period hit $348.6 million, and made up 17.4 percent of total revenue. GameStop's "other" category, which houses its digital and mobile businesses, accounted for the smallest piece of the pie, representing 15.2 percent of total sales with a haul of $303.5 million.
Looking to its current fiscal quarter, GameStop said it expects store sales to fall 11 percent to 5 percent, with full-year revenue expected to range from down 5 percent to flat. Additionally, in a postearnings financial call, CFO Robert Lloyd revealed that ArenaNet's long-awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game Guild Wars 2 has slipped out of the company's current quarter, meaning it is now expected to arrive sometime after July.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"GameStop digital sales up, profits down" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:16 -0700-
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