Ben-DutkaIt's sad when bad things happen to good studios.
Earlier this year, Split/Second and Pure developer Black Rock Studios suffered a big "reduction in workforce," a move that left only 40 employees on the team. But obviously, that was only the first step, as Disney has now confirmed to Eurogamer that Black Rock will be closed down completely.
"Disney Interactive Studios confirms that Black Rock Studios' current project has not been greenlit for further development, consequently the company informed employees yesterday of the intent to enter a consultation process on the proposal to close the studios."
One inside source complained that Disney did a poor job handling the Brighton studio, as the massive corporation typically outsourced games to other companies Black Rock "was more than capable of producing." The source also cited a lack of advertising and support for their titles.
But there is a silver lining in all this; actually, there are three silver linings: Roundcube Entertainment, led by Split/Second director Nick Baynes, ShortRound Games, created by four former Black Rock department directors, and Boss Alien, started by Pure director Jason Avent. You just can't keep good designers down.
I need a new Pure…
Me too…
If I'm not mistaken Split/Second Velocity was one of numerous games that fell victim to Red Dead Redemption. I really don't get it. Just who the hell decides on these ridiculously horrible release dates and just what the hell are they thinking?
Last edited by Looking Glass on 7/1/2011 10:49:05 AM
You are correct! What were they thinking going head to head against a juggernaut like RDR!!
Oh by the way, it's 4X XP weekend for RDR in celebration of the July 4th! I played for over 2 hours last night and went up 12 levels! I got 7600XP on Pike's Basin! I am level 37 and should get to 50 along with my Platinum by this weekend! 🙂
Last edited by CrusaderForever on 7/1/2011 11:37:09 AM
Well, maybe. But it's become a pretty risky venture for publishers to invest a lot into racing games this gen. THis is based on information revealed by top publishers.
Very true Looking Glass!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
@CrusaderForever- Thanks for the 4X XP news. I'm definetly going to be getting Red Dead now.
If the article's true, then I put a lot of the blame on Disney for not standing behind their own studio, Black Rock.
Let's hope they'll at least, do so for these 3 new splintered-off studios!!!!!
Last edited by BikerSaint on 7/1/2011 12:09:55 PM
Corporate Greed… inflexibility… and not putting your money where your mouth is and advertising and marketing the heck out of what you have to offer… ludicrous release dates too…
All this makes a soup of great failure!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
real shame hate to see good studios bite the dust pure & split/second were great 🙁 good luck to all of the employees finding work
Last edited by TheCanadianGuy on 7/1/2011 12:59:06 PM
Hows is that econimcally efficient?!
Last edited by Zorigo on 7/1/2011 2:28:55 PM
Split second is one of the best racers I've played.
Was looking forward to a second.
🙁
I'm not suprised by this revalation especially in the wake of Propaganda's closure. If this say anything, its the fact that Disney is clearly reshuffling its priorities and becoming more like both Warner and LucasArts and shift away from gaming to some degree.
Overall I see the high cost of making games as being the factor for LucasArts, Warner, Viacom/MTV, and now Disney; the Vivendi Group being the only benefactor thanks to COD.
"Corporate Greed… inflexibility… and not putting your money where your mouth is and advertising and marketing the heck out of what you have to offer… ludicrous release dates too"
Whenever a publisher shuts down a developer don't blame corporate greed, because I'm sure if you were running Disney and had to make the painful choice of de-investing in a entity that wasn't living up to the expectation you want then common sense would say shut it down, this after investing millions into it.
Its a shame Black Rock had to be shut down, but you can't blame Disney for terminating a business that was probably bleeding them money in the first place.
Screw Disney. They obviously don't know what a good studio is.
First Game Republic, then the development arm of Ignition, now Black Rock… Bit bloody rough. Ah well, if the products aren't selling and the publisher refuses to take responsibility, then of course they are going to blame, and shut down the studio. Bye Black Rock, we hardly knew ye.
Lawless,
And as of yesterday, you can add Ignition-UK to that list, they've just been given their 30 notice to close up.
So we can forget about War Devil ever getting finished(after 2 stoppages already)unless another studio is able to pick it up.
And Ignition-Japan is probably going to shutter it's doors too, but right after they're done on the game they've been working on.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-06-28-ignition-devs-given-30-days-notice
"First Game Republic, then the development arm of Ignition, now Black Rock… Bit bloody rough."
its not a bit rough, its ridiculous given the high budgets game developers have budgt. What's even worst is the fact these high game budget are eating into the operating resources of developers which in turn forces them to shut down.
"One inside source complained that Disney did a poor job handling the Brighton studio, as the massive corporation typically outsourced games to other companies Black Rock "was more than capable of producing." The source also cited a lack of advertising and support for their titles."
I have a problem with this so-called inside source complaining about Disney and say this because this employee disgrundled as to blame disney.
🙁
why is it that the sh*t developers like IW, monolith, day one studios, the developers who release crap after crap after crap continue to release crap.
but the fantastic developers like kaos studios, bizzare creations and these guys get closed down?
no justice in this industry what so ever!
release crap and succeed, release gold and your fired.
what the?
BLUR and split second were brilliant games!
much more worthy of sequels then the crap getting spewed out during the year!