Company News JoWood is Walkin' with Jesus

[Jason]

Tags: JoWood Productions

<p><a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13236" target="_blank">According to RPG Watch</a> and their German sources, <strong>JoWood</strong> is no more.</p>
<ul>
<li>Negotiations with possible investors, and with them the intended restructuring plan, have failed.</li>
<li>JoWooD pulls back the application to pursue a restructuring plan.</li>
<li>Thereby the insolvency with a planned restructuring becomes an insolvency without a positive continuation prognosis.</li>
<li>This means the liquidation proceedings will start shortly.</li>
<li>The daughter company JoWooD Distribution Services GmbH files for insolvency on April 21st 2011.</li>
<li>Trading of the JoWooD shares at the Vienna Stock Exchange has been suspended.</li>
</ul>
<p>I'd ask our resident Germans to look into this further, but they're either too busy gloating or on "eastern vacation" (which is likely a euphemism for something hideous even by German standards).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Thanks to Metro for pointing this out</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/">RPG Watch</a></p>

 

[Bahamut]

Justice has prevailed!

 

[ElectricOtter]

That's what they get for condemning the Gothic series. Karma, bitches!

 

[Shannow]

I'd ask our resident Germans to look into this further, but they're either too busy gloating or on "eastern vacation" (which is likely a euphemism for something hideous even by German standards).

What exactly would you like to know?

Oh and *gloat*

 

[Azrael the cat]

That's what they get for condemning the Gothic series. Karma, bitches!

Choices and Consequences

They used intelligence as a dump stat, and so they couldn't access the '[intelligence] Direct combat against better funded companies like Bioware is insane. We should avoid confrontation by targeting the market segments that they aren't satisfying.' dialogue option.

 

[baronjohn]

Lets hope the awesome guys at Bethesda buy the IP and continue the Gothic series

 

[Blind Eye]

They're walking with Jesus so he can explain to them all the terrible things they did before he sends them to hell.

1. Treating PB like shit.

2. Releasing buggy, broken games long before they're ready.

3. Not supporting their buggy, broken games with patches.

4. Treating customers like shit.

5. The complete rape and molestation of the Gothic franchise.

Any I'm forgetting???

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

 

[Trojan_generic]

They used intelligence as a dump stat, and so they couldn't access the '[intelligence] Direct combat against better funded companies like Bioware is insane. We should avoid confrontation by targeting the market segments that they aren't satisfying.' dialogue option.

That's well said, BRO. Although the segment in question is "everybody under 16 years of age or with that level of thinking" and therefore not much of a segment.

 

[Sulimo]

The German war is therefore at an end. After years of intense preparation, Jowood hurled herself on Piranha Bytes at the beginning of September, 1939; and, in pursuance of our guarantee to Pyranha Bytes and in agreement with the Worldofgothic, The Great Codex, the Codexian Empire and Commonwealth of RPG sites, declared war upon this foul aggression. After the gallant WorldofGothic had been struck down we, from this site and from our united Empire, maintained the struggle single-handed for a whole year until we were joined by the military might of CDProjectRed, and later by the overwhelming power and resources of the United States of Kwanzania.

Finally almost the whole world was combined against the evil-doers, who are now prostrate before us. Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this site and throughout the Codexian Empire.

 

[Fowyr]

One less, God bless! Next meal in our menu is Bethesda Softworks.

 

[villain of the story]

Lets hope the awesome guys at Bethesda buy the IP and continue the Gothic series

Luckily, JW was only a licensee of the IP for a "Gothic 3" (for which they commissioned Forsaken Gods) and a single "Gothic 4" title, which is why they ran into legal issues for trying to sneak out a Gothic 4 expansion which, although developed, could not be released. IP safely stays with PB.

One less, God bless! Next meal in our menu is Bethesda Softworks.

In your dreams. Bethesda is a juggernaught at this point. Their position is even better than BioWare, being a single developer+publisher house from the beginning, with ever growing strong distribution deals (Take2, Steam atm). Seeing the trend and knowing EA, I wouldn't be surprised to see BioWare go down burning within the next decade, but I expect (not wish) Bethesda to stay a strong player for at least that long.

Tragic thing is, there is no reason for Bethesda to not do great games. It's all up to a few silly guys with silly opinions (Pete, Todd & co) handing down design guidelines, otherwise their "work ethic" (development cycle, more or less an established idea of what to expect from a Bethesda-developed title) has stayed stable through years. New Vegas already proved that better quest design and writing DOES sell, as long as it is aimed at an established fan base and has got the PR, both of which Bethesda excels at. They have all the potential and means to sell great games but they have retards running the show.

 

[Blind Eye]

Bioware will be gone long before Bethesda.

 

[Black]

If all goes well bioware will go down after TOR fails.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Now that Judenwood is gone, does that mean Gothic goes back to PB?

 

[Azrael the cat]

Now that Judenwood is gone, does that mean Gothic goes back to PB?

Yes. When PB entered the publishing deal with Jowood, they were smart/lucky enough to get away with only licensing the IP to the publisher, instead of handing it over outright, so it was scheduled to return to PB after Gothic 4 anyway. That's partially why they were able to walk away from Jowood so easily (and also speaks miles for Jowood's ineptitude in failing to secure ownership of the IP before 'firing' the developer).

 

[GarfunkeL]

Not that I'm a fan of Gothic but this is still good news!

 

[Micmu]

Goodnight, sweet prince.
That's what you get for bastardizing Gothic.
DIE DIE DIE

 

[commie]

Bravo! About fucking time. Jowood weren't always bad, but they got greedy and pissed on the fanbase of the products they were making and met a justified end. Roll on Bioware....when will the bell toll for thee?

 

[misha]

New Vegas already proved that better quest design and writing DOES sell, as long as it is aimed at an established fan base and has got the PR, both of which Bethesda excels at. They have all the potential and means to sell great games but they have retards running the show.

Well let's hope that Bethesda will learn that, because this better writing was made by obsidian, not Bethboys :D

We will see in what condition PB really is after risen2

 

[Forest Dweller]

Hopefully some families will starve.

 

[Lord Andre]

That's what happens when you go full retard.

 

[villain of the story]

Now that Judenwood is gone, does that mean Gothic goes back to PB?

REDDING IS TEH HARD!

FFS!

New Vegas already proved that better quest design and writing DOES sell, as long as it is aimed at an established fan base and has got the PR, both of which Bethesda excels at. They have all the potential and means to sell great games but they have retards running the show.

Well let's hope that Bethesda will learn that, because this better writing was made by obsidian, not Bethboys :D

No shit, Sherlock. I was referring to the fan base and PR.

 

[Alex]

I don't know if this really is good news. For all we know, the people responsible for all the bad decisions will move on to other endeavors (maybe other game companies, maybe other businesses). If so, the only immediate result this will have is that a few people who had nothing to do with the Gothic fiasco lose their jobs. Furthermore, the less publishing houses there are, the more powerful the ones that exist are, and this is obviously bad for the developers.

 

[Carlos' Bitch1]

I don't know if this really is good news. For all we know, the people responsible for all the bad decisions will move on to other endeavors (maybe other game companies, maybe other businesses). If so, the only immediate result this will have is that a few people who had nothing to do with the Gothic fiasco lose their jobs. Furthermore, the less publishing houses there are, the more powerful the ones that exist are, and this is obviously bad for the developers.

If there are 5 turds, and one sinks, that leaves you with 4. Turds that is.

A true loss if turd is your particular weakness.

 

[DraQ]

Does it mean that Acrania's second coming will be postponed indefinitely?


*rimshot*