Microsoft ruined fun, which is something we all know. However, according to FASA Interactive founder Jordan Weisman, Microsoft ruined far more than that. It in fact destroyed an entire studio after acquiring it, and very nearly did the same with Bungie.
"When Microsoft bought FASA Interactive and incorporated it into Microsoft ... the two reasons they bought us was, one, they wanted the catalogue of intellectual properties and, two, they felt that we had developed a really good development culture," explains Weisman. "And the reality is that, pretty much from the day we moved to Redmond, that development culture was destroyed.
"I don't think the studio ever really had a chance. It was destroyed right in the beginning."
Weisman goes on to explain how he reacted to the Bungie acquisition: "When we were acquiring Bungie, they wanted me to sit down with the owners of Bungie and tell them how well the transition went. And it was like -- 'what planet are you guys on?' This transition did not go well. And actually I became the lead vocal pain in the ass to get things done very different for Bungie.
"I tried to convince them to leave Bungie in Chicago, but not winning that I did succeed in getting them to put them in a walled off room, which didn't follow any of the other Microsoft stuff. We were much better able to defend Bungie's culture than we were FASA's culture."
Ouch. Incredibly damning words from Weisman, and really, it's probably very true. There's no denying that Rare has suffered since Microsoft dug its claws in, and then there are the infamous fates of studios like Bullfrog after Electronic Arts kidnapped them. Luckily, it seems things are changing, with BioWare flourishing as part of EA, and Activision managing not to be too evil to Infinity Ward, but for a fair few good developers, it's far too late.
Contest:
4:40 PM on 08.26.2009
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Why on Earth would a company like that want to make more ... I mean... I know why making money is good but the companies they are acquiring obtained theirs through more creative means to say the least. Why can't they see the beauty in that? They might increase their profit margins but I doubt they'll increase their revenue. People don't buy shitty games in the quantities they buy spectacular ones.
But then again most companies are like that.
"(Rareware) is a British video game development company. It was founded in 1982 by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper. In 2002, Rare was acquired by Microsoft. The company is notable for having created an unusually large number of successful games, and for the company's price tag: Microsoft paid US$375 million for the company, a record for a video game developer.
On 2 January 2007, it was announced that Tim and Chris Stamper have left Rare to pursue "other opportunities". Neither Microsoft, Rare, nor the Stamper brothers have stated specifically what they intend to move onto post-Rare."
Guess this article pretty much sums up what happens to exclusive developers for Microsoft. Didn't Epic have a fight with MS that almost resulted Gears of War on the PS3? and the same with Bungie? And then forcing Take2 to make the 2 episode content way faster than their production team said it would take.
Creative/Design integrity my ARSE!! It's all about the moolah...
FASA isn't instead Smith & Tinker (Former FASA dudes) is and really the biggest fanbase of the Battletech Franchise is on the PC. As well it's always a smart plan to make a console port for any big name PC game and vice versa especially if this is your premier game. After all Gabe Newell originally left Microsoft under less than amicable circumstances but Valve games appear on the 360.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and that's why Gabe Newell starting Valve has worked so well, and they continue to be a developer who can balance business and creativity well.
Rare were in the crap before MS purchased them from Nintendo, and unfortunately Rare take far too long developing games, let alone have concepts that are outstanding must buys.
Development culture will always survive through the employees and their passion, the real trick is harnessing it for your creativity. Come on, FASA. You are in the fun business, so make it fun to work in.
Microsoft has been cut throat since day one
in this article snippet from ign.com it explains how Microsoft copied the Sega dream cast for early development on the xbox
"More competition was brewing on the horizon as well. Sony and Nintendo were anticipated by all, but Microsoft, the new generation's dark horse, surprised a few. It was no shock, however, to Stolar. Early in the Dreamcast's life, they came to SEGA "offering" to put Windows CE on the Dreamcast, a move that Stolar saw as a transparent Trojan horse to get into the hardware business. He explains his frustrations:
"[Microsoft] brought a whole team of people in. They got to learn the business and then walk away. I said to sell them the company, and they should have, because then they could have gotten out of the hardware business clean. I knew [Microsoft President of Entertainment & Devices] Robbie Bach really well, and I said, 'Hey, let's just get this done.' [sighs] Those things happen in the world of business." -- Bernie Stolar"
Since the acquired FASA they failed to make one good mech game.
Rare had a "perfect" sequel to Perfect dark on GC ready to go, but Msoft bought the company and completely scrapped it to make zero.
I never really cared for Bungie but their games were great for the time, but the story mode on Halo 1 is a ton more fun to play than on Halo 3 and I wonder why?
I swear that all Microsoft does is find who is making the most money as a developer and buys them out and then does the EA thing.
They really don't have one creative bone in their body and never had one, they just count on Third party developers to do "EVERYTHING" for them.
If you don't believe me name 7 good "Microsoft" games that have a meta critic rating above 9, I can only name on to this date which is Airplane flight simulator BUT THEY DISCONTINUED IT!!!
So yeah I support Companies that treat developers right, and make their own Awesome game like Sony and Nintendo
But right now all Microsoft is a Hunky Hot Male body that any girl would want, but when it come to push and shove it just does not have a penis.
what is shitty is your remarks about FASA
as for RARE i think the issue was that they LOST the n64 mind set with the new perfect dark.
i guess i'm looking in the wrong direction
zayiflama