38 Studios going down the shitter (Kingdoms of Amalur devs)

[Wirdschowerdn]

http://rpgwatch.com/#19672

And it's not like nobody saw it coming. Making a huge generic shitty RPG, published by EA, can only result in total failure. Seems like Kurt Schilling & Co. just don't have any business sense.
All those morons who go out and hire on pump, spent on pump and then release some shit that doesn't sell, then layoff on pump, still didn't get the memo it seems.
I mean who really wants to play a friggin' Amalur MMO and pay money for that shit?

And this is just priceless:

The Providence Journal is reporting comments from Rhode Island Governor Chafee that cast doubt on the financial position of 38 Studios. Apparently the Governor met with 38 Studios to discuss the security of a $75M government loan to the studio:

Socialism at it's best. Amerikwa, land of capitalism and the free.

 

[Regvard]

Amalur was actually a decent game. By no means a good RPG but fun in a mindless sort of way. Not to mention it was better built and optimized than most recent games. Much better than retarded click-fest Diablo franchise in any case.

 

[Dagorath]

If Amalur had been released by Bethesda or Bioware, there would be hordes of masturbators frantically laminating game discs.

 

[Malakal]

If Amalur had been released by Bethesda or Bioware, there would be hordes of masturbators frantically laminating game discs.

They worked on their reputation. Now they are destroying and ruining it but thats beside the point here.

 

[Kaol]

What? Amalur was the shittest thing i've ever tried to play.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Stable and well optimised ARPG Indeed, With gibberish lore and forgettable setting. Engine looked much like DAO (but with better art direction). Huge over what I expected but expected Shit, So....

 

[Menckenstein]

Curt Shilling met with the Governor of Rhode Island and when the Governor wasn't looking Curt popped some fake blood capsules inside his own sock; then he proceeded to really impress the Governor with his heart and dedication by continuing with the meeting despite this horrendous horror movie injury.

 

[Nattvardsvin]

Amalur is probably the most forgettable game I've yet to play.
And I'm guessing not many people bought any of those DLC's because the base game has so many shitty MMO-like quests that there's no need for any more.

 

[Renegen]

I just realized, Curt Schilling is part of this company. This guy below:

Maybe that explains their cozy relationship with the governor of Rhode Island. In any case, maybe he likes RPGs? The Codex needs to give him some suggestions for the inevitable free time he will now have with his company going bankrupt.

 

[Hobo Elf]

I can imagine the governor shitting himself when he hears that there is no 75 mil anymore.

 

[sea]

See, hearing that they borrowed $75 million changes everything. I mean, really? Really? That much money, with a startup studio, a new intellectual property, and no chance of returns? Sorry, but 38 Studios were stupid for not pursuing a smaller-scale project, and the government was stupid for giving such a big loan at such great risk. I had assumed that Schilling had maybe dipped into his own savings to fund the game, or had an angel investor, or something.

 

[Mortmal]

75 millions loan for that shitty studio .. How many good games troika could have done with that ?

 

[Achilles]

See, hearing that they borrowed $75 million changes everything. I mean, really? Really? That much money, with a startup studio, a new intellectual property, and no chance of returns? Sorry, but 38 Studios were stupid for not pursuing a smaller-scale project, and the government was stupid for giving such a big loan at such great risk. I had assumed that Schilling had maybe dipped into his own savings to fund the game, or had an angel investor, or something.

Gotta chase that big console money bro. I guess noone told them that if you're not Call of Duty, GTA or Elder Scrolls, you're fucked.

 

[joeydohn]

If they got a 75m loan why did they need EA?

 

[IronicNeurotic]

So the only way to support RPGs is via masive infusions of welfare money. Colour me surprised

Anyway, I thought Amalul sold very well indeed. I guess by Electronic "Battlefield 3 didn't sell enough" Arts' standards it was a failure

It sold 400'000 in North America. Considering that probably was its main market (with the biggest Appeal) it may have sold (for a comparison) less than Dungeon Siege III while beeing pretty visibly much more expensive.

 

[Menckenstein]

I'll tell you what made that game sell like shit (since it was apparently well received for the most part), it was the stupid fucking name. Even for fantasy genre the name of and names in the game were just embarrassingly stupid. Name generator bad.

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

I just realized, Curt Schilling is part of this company. This guy below:

Maybe that explains their cozy relationship with the governor of Rhode Island. In any case, maybe he likes RPGs? The Codex needs to give him some suggestions for the inevitable free time he will now have with his company going bankrupt.

Likes RPGs? The guy was addicted as fuck to Evercrack for half a decade, then played WoW. Pretty sure he played a bunch of other RPGs too. Too bad he's an uber Christfag though.

 

[markec]

I'll tell you what made that game sell like shit (since it was apparently well received for the most part), it was the stupid fucking name. Even for fantasy genre the name of and names in the game were just embarrassingly stupid. Name generator bad.

Looking like a mix of Fable and WoW didnt help either.

 

[Kaol]

I think the fact it was shit didnt help.

But then if you sell 400,000 copies of a game with your first published title using a new IP and promptly go bankrupt then i think its obvious where the problem lies.

 

[markec]

I think the fact it was shit didnt help.

But then if you sell 400,000 copies of a game with your first published title using a new IP and promptly go bankrupt then i think its obvious where the problem lies.

Most people are morons, give them something shiny and with good marketing not only will they buy it but also actually believe its good because random internet review said its the best game ever. But when a game that looks like a crossbreed between Fable and WoW comes in the turf of Skyrim its a disaster written all over it, and it even didnt have mod tools.

 

[sser]

An ambitious, young and creative person could get you something far better, for cheaper, than an aged, cynical old man who has been working in the business for a long time.

From what I could tell, none of the game remotely reflected all that "big name talent" they hired and all the resources they put behind those people. What a laugh.

 

[Kitako]

RPS say KoA:R sold bad, 38 Studios having troubles.

Cut&Paste:

Kingdoms of Amalur creators 38 Studios, who are based in Providence, Rhode Island, are apparently in talks with that state about their financial difficulties, as reported by this Providence newspaper. Superbly-named governor Lincoln Chafee said: “We’re always working to keep Rhode Island companies solvent, and that’s what we’re doing with 38 Studios.”
Reportedly, the game sold 410,000 copies across all formats – a figure which cast doubt on the future of the proposed MMO based on the world.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Studios that make incredibly awful games deserve to go out of business.

 

[Metro]

Not a surprise. Yet another example of a semi-indie studio (albeit bank rolled by a multi millionaire former MLB pitcher) who got in bed with EA for the worse. The $60 price point killed it. Period. This was not a $60 game (but hell, no game is a $60 game). It just lacked a huge amount of polish from the balance to the hideous UI. At $40 it would have performed a lot better.

Good new is 38 (and not EA) controls the pricing on the Steam version so I expect some massive discounts incoming.

 

[abnaxus]

What's the difference between 38 Studios and Big Huge Games?

I also don't understand the loan. Isn't Curt Schilling filthy rich?