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Even though I've not enjoyed any of their games (Mario is Missing, grr...) I'm sad to hear this. This is what happens when games get more expensive to make and people can't afford/don't want to buy them I guess.
Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was one of the funnest games I've played in the last generation, prototype1&2 was also really fun, they made FUN GAMES. Truly saddened to see them go, good luck to all of you and I wish you the best of luck!
:-(
:-(
Oh wait, I mean... GRR ACTIVISION! This is clearly entirerly Activisions fault, die Bobby Kottick die, ARGH-HAR-HAR! *sigh* ...or something.
That's a sahem they're responsible for one of the best licensed games I ever played. The Simpson's Hit & Run, it's the only game I've ever 100% twice.
That's a shame. Prototype wasn't the greatest, but I had a lot of fun with it. Certainly one of the most fun I've had with an open world title.
Hope everyone lands on their feet.
Hope everyone lands on their feet.
NOO Simpsons Hit & Run 2 will now never happened :(
Also one of the only devs since Naughty Dog not to completely butcher the Crash Bandicoot series.
Also one of the only devs since Naughty Dog not to completely butcher the Crash Bandicoot series.
You're kidding me, right? Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was great, the Prototype series was excellent, Simpsons: Hit and Run was awesome, and Rocky and Bullwinkle on the SNES wasn't half-bad either! Activision claims yet another talented, competent studio.
Fuck you, Activision, and fuck you, Bobby Kotick.
Fuck you, Activision, and fuck you, Bobby Kotick.
Yeah, I keep hearing from friends of mine saying it's shut down, while others are telling me it's not shut down yet. Massive layoffs are going on FOR SURE though. Lots of friends losing jobs today :( sucks man...
Prototype 2 was an excellent game. Really sucks to hear this. Thoughts are with them and their families.
Ouch... they're located in Vancouver (close by me). It's too bad because by all accounts the Prototype games were good, though I seem to recall that the sequel didn't sell all that well. :(
Hopefully most of them get jobs with some of the other developers still located in Vancouver.
Hopefully most of them get jobs with some of the other developers still located in Vancouver.
I know devs open and close all the time, and always have, but these past few years have been exceptionally harsh on any dev not tied to a huge franchise. So many of these mid-sized devs have shuttered, and so many of their stories are wrenching. From the scathing account of how Free Radical bit it, to a more recent account from an ex-zipper employee, they point in the same direction: a creative industry being hamstrung and strangled by executives who want only to maximize immediate profits.
Of course, it all comes right back down to the money. The middle of the software market has fallen out, and with the abandonment of that market comes the shuttering of the devs who's survival counted on it. You want to know why so much talent is leaving traditional gaming, look no further than the fact that there is no middle of the market anymore.
Ugh, it all just sucks so hard. Hope these guys land on their feet, but it's a hollow gesture when it's as much our fault as anyones that this keeps happening.
Of course, it all comes right back down to the money. The middle of the software market has fallen out, and with the abandonment of that market comes the shuttering of the devs who's survival counted on it. You want to know why so much talent is leaving traditional gaming, look no further than the fact that there is no middle of the market anymore.
Ugh, it all just sucks so hard. Hope these guys land on their feet, but it's a hollow gesture when it's as much our fault as anyones that this keeps happening.
Wow after reading the update I have deja-vu. This is Bizarre Entertainment all over again. What a shame.
Sad. I really, REALLY loved Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. I wasn't crazy about Prototype but I like the team regardless. Best of luck to them.
They made Prototype 2 a fun game that I was happy to play. Very sorry to hear they are closing. Best of luck to them and hope they find new jobs very soon.
I guess this is what happens when you try to market an OK game (Prototype 2) as the big new thing.
I played Prototype 2 and found some fun in it, but it wasn't something I would recommend to my friends. I could tell Activision set that game up for failure with all the hype/advertising that it couldn't deliver on. Didn't they start making clothing for Prototype 2?
It's a shame that things like this happen because publishers don't know how to be realistic.
I played Prototype 2 and found some fun in it, but it wasn't something I would recommend to my friends. I could tell Activision set that game up for failure with all the hype/advertising that it couldn't deliver on. Didn't they start making clothing for Prototype 2?
It's a shame that things like this happen because publishers don't know how to be realistic.
I can't be the only one that actually reads the article, can I?
How can people blame Activision for this? As stated Activision are trying to keep the team together.
People didn't buy millions of their games and unfortunately that's what's required to be deemed as a success these days.
For the record I disagree with the success criteria. As an extra, extra addition I want to say I thought the prototype games were excellent, especially prototype 2 which surpassed 1 in terms of fun and production values.
How can people blame Activision for this? As stated Activision are trying to keep the team together.
People didn't buy millions of their games and unfortunately that's what's required to be deemed as a success these days.
For the record I disagree with the success criteria. As an extra, extra addition I want to say I thought the prototype games were excellent, especially prototype 2 which surpassed 1 in terms of fun and production values.
=( I bought P1 for $20 or so, and it was amazing. I really think the inflated nature of an AAA-focused gaming industry is killing really promising games. I'd pay anything $40 or under for P2, but the $100M hype-machine ad campaigns that are perceived as necessary in this industry are really hurting us.
WTB an uninflated gaming industry where more than streamlined games can exist.
WTB an uninflated gaming industry where more than streamlined games can exist.
@Bakewell
Because Activision is to blame. Do you believe that the industry needs to be this way, and that publishers are only doing what they have to to survive? The big publishers are the reason it's this way in the first place. This isn't hyperbole, it's fact backed by huge amounts of evidence.
I hate being the guy beating the dead horse so often here, I do. But for god's sake the evidence is plain as day, it's everywhere, and it brings to light a problem that is at the root of nearly everything gaming these days.
Because Activision is to blame. Do you believe that the industry needs to be this way, and that publishers are only doing what they have to to survive? The big publishers are the reason it's this way in the first place. This isn't hyperbole, it's fact backed by huge amounts of evidence.
I hate being the guy beating the dead horse so often here, I do. But for god's sake the evidence is plain as day, it's everywhere, and it brings to light a problem that is at the root of nearly everything gaming these days.
There's too many AAA games in this day and age to keep mediocre viable at AAA prices. That's the free market.
@Bakewell
They ARE in fact to blame for putting their demands to high and expecting to much, they want to make a certain amount of money of of their games and won't be satisfied by anything lower.
They ARE in fact to blame for putting their demands to high and expecting to much, they want to make a certain amount of money of of their games and won't be satisfied by anything lower.
@Bakewell
This is the exact same thing that happened with Bizarre. Activision put their expectations too high, and now they have to sell the studio. They also tried to sell Bizarre, but it didn't end up happening. We don't know to what extent they tried, but knowing them they probably put the price far too high.
This is the exact same thing that happened with Bizarre. Activision put their expectations too high, and now they have to sell the studio. They also tried to sell Bizarre, but it didn't end up happening. We don't know to what extent they tried, but knowing them they probably put the price far too high.
as a kid i really enjoyed mario is missing, and i probably learned something too. haven't played much radical made lately, but i'm sorry to hear this news.
regarding activision... the game didn't meet their expectations, so rather than continue to invest in radical, they would rather put their money into a studio they think will get them a bigger return, and lay off the radical staff.
whether this is totslly fucking shit or just business as usual is a matter of opinion, but the company has been around for over 20 years, and has done pretty well till being swallowed up by activision.
personally: FUCK ACTIVISION. i'd instate a personal boycott, but i haven't bought an EA or activision product in some time...
regarding activision... the game didn't meet their expectations, so rather than continue to invest in radical, they would rather put their money into a studio they think will get them a bigger return, and lay off the radical staff.
whether this is totslly fucking shit or just business as usual is a matter of opinion, but the company has been around for over 20 years, and has done pretty well till being swallowed up by activision.
personally: FUCK ACTIVISION. i'd instate a personal boycott, but i haven't bought an EA or activision product in some time...
Activision is to blame because they're focus is to make money and things like Prototype didn't make money, why in the world would a company want to make money is beyond me, but hey, they're to blame.
Goddammit. I wish them all the best of luck. I enjoyed a lot of their games. P2 was fucking awesome. It really is Bizarre again. Goddammit publishers, reign your bullshit in. Stop with the fucking insane budgets and expectations. Sigh.
Prototype isn't the best game, but damn it was one of the most fun games. Fun in games can be hard to come by.
Seriously Activision, besides Call Of Duty and hell Spider-Man when you can be bothered to make a good game for him, the Prototype games are literally the only other thing you do that I'd actively throw money at you for.
Prototype games are my favorite sandbox games this gen, and seeing the studio behind such fun games is disheartening. I of course blame this on Activision's part in putting too much cash in it's marketing scheme (*See @Smackybutts image) and expecting the game to compensate for that money loss.
There's just too much money being poured into these games, and expecting them to turn a profit at they're selling price. This practice alone is unhealthy for the industry.
There's just too much money being poured into these games, and expecting them to turn a profit at they're selling price. This practice alone is unhealthy for the industry.
This is some shit. Radical Entertainment was a great studio with some awesome people; sent me a free copy of Prototype w/ a Tommy Hilfiger replica of Mercer's jacket (though my manager took it for himself). They deserve better.
It feels like I haven't said this in a long time, but Activision? Fuck you. If you really wanted to keep the team together, you could, I dunno, NOT close Radical. Another group of talented developers done in by AAA-demand bullshit.
It feels like I haven't said this in a long time, but Activision? Fuck you. If you really wanted to keep the team together, you could, I dunno, NOT close Radical. Another group of talented developers done in by AAA-demand bullshit.
While it's sad to see any one losing their jobs, Prototype 1 and 2 are not worth a damn. Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was awesome and they should have made another Hulk game.
Once again I feel this is a victim of game pricing. Bet you if the game was $40 from the start it would've got more people sold on the game. Games have to stop being priced at $60 each I swear. Someone, make the first move already... bah.
Evidently the only way to be "commercially successful" in this industry is to be goddamn Call of Duty.
Fuck.
Fuck.
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