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Massive Entertainment being sold out by Activision

Maybe Stardock will come to the rescue?

By Phazon88 on July 29, 2008 7:27:30 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock ForumsExternal Link

This is sad news. Activision is trimming the so called fat with its newly acquired studios that came with the Vivendi merger. If you read the article some of these studios are responsible for the upcoming Ghostbusters game as well as World in Conflict (by Massive Entertainment). Activision has stated it will not be publishing these games, leaving the studios in limbo as Activision plans to sell them off.


I've specifically singled out Massive Entertainment because I know that they are a great studio who have developed some amazing RTS titles over the years. They are the ones responsible for the Ground Control series (for those who played it) and more recently World in Conflict. They were currently developing World in Conflict: Soviet Assault, a sort of mini-expansion to World in Conflict that was to add a Soviet campaign and new maps. This title was also going to be released on the Xbox 360 packaged with the original game and the people who previewed it labelled it as possibly one of the best RTS experiences ever made possible on the console format.

Not only were they creators of some good games, but they made some kickass game engines as well. The one used in World in Conflict looks amazing, performs amazing and is very moddable (not to mention the full array of tools that were released with the game).

I'm extremely worried about Massive Entertainment's future. I don't want to see such a great studio disbanded because of a publisher who only cares about cash-in titles on consoles.

Perhaps Massive Entertainment will join the Stardock alliance along with Gas Powered Games and Ironclad? One can only hope so.

+4 Karma | 11 Replies
Reply #1
Annatar11
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July 29, 2008 9:59:50 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
Boo, hiss.

I've played all the Ground Control games and loved them, and World in Conflict is perhaps the only DX10 game that actually deserves praise for how it handles DX10. It is a great game on all counts.

But what can you do.. I'm sure Massive won't disband, though, a studio with a track record as good as theirs should be picked up by another publisher.
Reply #2
Yarlen
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July 29, 2008 10:30:12 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums
While we'd be honored to work with Massive, any deal would pretty much depend on their cash position, as we're not in a position to fund them. Stardock really only works with self-funded developers, which are a very rare breed in this industry.
Reply #3
KingBingo
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July 29, 2008 10:35:24 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
While we'd be honored to work with Massive, any deal would pretty much depend on their cash position, as we're not in a position to fund them. Stardock really only works with self-funded developers, which are a very rare breed in this industry.


Is that why so many developers end up in the claws of EA? Because EA offer support funding in return for a % of revenues, profits or equity?

Reply #5
theleif
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July 29, 2008 10:37:36 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
No one touches my Massive!

Hrm.. that sounded nasty

But really, the day massive entertainment closes down will be a sad day indeed. Both the GC series and WIC are on my Lovely Games List.
Reply #6
fragieD
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July 29, 2008 10:51:34 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
What? Is this for real? Are they dropping Massive Entertainment? They are a great developer...made great games and great engines...agreed with what all of you guys have said. I'm thinking they might find some other publisher. I'll be surprised if they cant find a publisher...sure many would be willing to snap them up.
Reply #7
Aractain
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July 29, 2008 11:09:58 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
Maybe they are using the new GoW 'measure of sucsess' that Crytek is using:

"If it dosn't outsell Gears of War its a FALIURE and it's all because of pirates!"
Reply #8
Phazon88
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July 29, 2008 11:30:13 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

Yarlen
comment 2


While we'd be honored to work with Massive, any deal would pretty much depend on their cash position, as we're not in a position to fund them. Stardock really only works with self-funded developers, which are a very rare breed in this industry.

Yes I figured as much but in this day and age of PC gaming I can't help but excercise some wishful thinking.

Reply #9
Dopefish
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July 29, 2008 6:18:50 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
Massive Entertainment is amazing. They deserve more than this.
Reply #10
GothicAngel2
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July 29, 2008 7:06:08 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
Gas Powered Games + Massive?

Ive never played any games from Massive, but i really like the games that GPG comes out with.
Dungeon Siege, and Dungeon Siege 2 + Broken World Exp.
Reply #11
the_Monk
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July 30, 2008 2:05:53 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

They (Massive Entertainment) better not end up with EA, or I just might have to pull my on-going network support of WiC! hehe ????
Reply #12
Kaltes
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July 30, 2008 2:27:06 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
This may explain why id softwares RAGE is going to be published buy EA. and not the usual Activision.
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