These past few days, Rockstar has been talked about quite frequently, with much of the discussion surrounding the studio falling into what can only be described as the "brutally negative" threshold. By all accounts, the troubling news isn't about to stop rushing out anytime soon.
As revealed to Joystiq by undisclosed sources, the fate of Red Dead Redemption is sounding, at best, highly questionable. One source said the game "was a complete disaster for most of 2009 and previous ... it has since turned around a little bit, but there are huge problems with it still."
Another spoke of even more issues: "Red Dead has been in production for six years (mainly because of horrible management/lack of direction due to fear of disrespecting Rockstar NY) and it will never get the money back in sales it cost to create for those six years."
Finally, a third source -- specifically noted as being someone from Rockstar -- gave yet another grave testimony. "It will take 5 million sales at full price to recoup the development costs of Red Dead. The good news is they are not expecting to make money with Red Dead Redemption."
"At this point, that project is just supposed to prove that the San Diego studio can make a great quality AAA title," the source concludes. Just when I thought I couldn't be more hyped for the game, something totally unexpected like this happens. I truly hope the team is able to work through these alleged hardships and put out a great product. So much potential.
Sources: Red Dead Redemption development in trouble [Joystiq]
Contest:
6:00 AM on 01.13.2010
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It's unfortunate that GTA4 was boring and Max Payne 3 looks like Far Cry 3, though.
If this game has been affected in any way then there's going to be murders.
Wait, no, that's the game.
Uncool, Rockstar.
I hope it's worth it.
@Chronic Logic
This IS what they know best Red Dead but in the style of GTA.
Its certainly bad news all around. Just how a manager could mishandle themselves for that long without anyone stepping in and firing his ass is beyond me [multiple bad managers, then???].
Take note people, this is how solvent companies can get themselves into financial trouble. It just takes one game to really mess with the balance sheet for the whole house of cards to fall down, not that Rockstar is a house of cards, not yet anyway.
I wonder if this is clever way to get the hype train going for a rockstar game that isn't gta.
Otherwise, someone needs to go to rockstar ny and smack them bitches up.
I need my bliss. Give me back ny bliss!
*craddles in a fetal position* It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay. I'll play the game. Yeah. And it'll be awesome. Life is bliss. Life is hope. Life is...
We'll see, it was an early trailer...of ten minutes of gameplay. That stuttered, had the stiffest animations since the last gen in games and graphics on par with GTAIV, which in HD did not look good.
And before some blind lover of westerns says all I did was list visuals, that's because it was visual. I haven't played it. And judging it on what was shown, that sure would match up and give credibility to what these "unnamed sources" are claiming is going on. It looks on track to being a mess at this point.
If you actually think the animations are stiff and the graphics are bad, then you can go troll somewhere else. It uses the Euphoria engine, you know, the program that blends character animation with the most realistic IK physics in the industry? Meh, I cant be bothered arguing with you. You are obviously finding things to complain about.
No, it sure as shit won't outsell GTA, even with the marketing push R* has begun. I think it will still be a triple-A title, it still has the GTA team and they know what they're doing.
I'm still buying a copy. Even if it's just Okay, I'll likely still enjoy it. At the very worst the game will be bad and then poor sales will dictate we won't see another. I don't think it will get that far.
If the quality control at Rockstar is starting to dip, I don't know WHAT I can believe in anymore. *kicks rock*
Don't waste your breath on the obviously blind troll trying to drum up hate. If he can't see how incredible the animation and graphics alone are shaping up, then there must be a wiring problem in said troll's brain.
This industry is fucked.
Yeah, like maybe just a blacksmithing horseshoe mini game collection.
Scalping and whore slappin waggle!
He'll definitely give it the AAA touch it needs. He's a genius.
Please Rockstar San Diego, do not disappoint!
I think the implication here is that it won't make a profit because it's not good.
Wrong. If you read the article, yes it says it has problems, but the issue is the time/money management deal. They spent too much time on it and are worried about recouping that and of course, Step #3: PROFIT.
I will buy TWO copies if it helps!
Either way, they're going to loss a lot of money if this game isn't above half decent.
i have been getting so stoked over this game for the past couple months.
PLEASERULEPLEASERULEPLEASERULE <crosses fingers>
SO - it's fair to say at least that these concerns were all for naught. Game is awesome.