Development Info Aliens RPG cancelled, Obsidian fires staff, future in doubt

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Obsidian Entertainment

<a href="http://kotaku.com/5152193/rumor-aliens-rpg-canceled-layoffs-hit">Kotaku are reporting</a> some pretty wild speculation that Obsidian's Aliens RPG has been cancelled by Sega:
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<blockquote>Sources tell Kotaku that Sega has pulled the plug on their upcoming Aliens Roleplaying Game under development by California-based developer Obsidian.
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We've also been told that Obsidian, no longer working on the Sega project, laid off more than 20 people last night. With lack of official confirmation from anyone at the two companies involved, take this with a grain of salt.
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[...]
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The rumors come the day after Sega announced that a <a href="http://kotaku.com/5151456/aliens-fight-predators-again-in-2010">new Aliens vs. Predator game</a> coming out in early 2010. In that announcement Sega said they had "strategically updated the release of the other upcoming Aliens titles currently in development within its portfolio."</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/rumor-sega-pulls-funding-on-aliens-colonial-marines-aliens-rp/">Meanwhile joystiq say</a>:
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<blockquote>The layoffs also affected the team working on Alpha Protocol, another Obsidian-developed, Sega-published title. Without the Aliens RPG, Obsidian is apparently on the ropes, our sources say.</blockquote>
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... and on the <a href="http://forums.obsidian.net/index.php?s=1e3f9f6199bd4b443265873375666503&showtopic=51628&view=findpost&p=918859">official Obsidian forums</a>:
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<blockquote>I hope you guys understand that we really can't say anything. You guys are our community and I think you deserve some kind of comment, but unfortunately that comment is "no comment."</blockquote>
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Oh yeah, they're screwed.
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Thanks Anonymous, Matt7895 and <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com">RPGWatch</a>.

 

[Gay-Lussac]

wow seems like really bad news

 

[ixg]

Urgh, publishers

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Actually I didn't really see this one coming.
I thought their sales figures were good enough to stay alive.
Was I wrong?

 

[Morbus]

Yeepee!!!! Another nail in the coffin of corporate game development. Now devs will lean even more towards big franchise and actiony crappy games and people will be even more fed up with them, and they'll seek comfort in indie delevopers.

The future is bright indeed.

 

[Suchy]

 

[MLMarkland]

 

[Luzur]

I hope you guys understand that we really can't say anything. You guys are our community and I think you deserve some kind of comment, but unfortunately that comment is "no comment."

why? no harm in telling their own community that their on tight ropes.

 

[HanoverF]

No Comment

You don't really want to advertise the fact you're at deaths door when seeking additional funding.

 

[Forest Dweller]

Okay is that supposed to be a joke, or are you being serious? Don't be ambiguous, tell us!

 

[DarkUnderlord]

http://www.alicia-logic.com/capsimages/a_014BillPaxton.jpg

So should we remove that "Obsidian Developer" tag from you now or wait a bit?

 

[Forest Dweller]

DU, either you don't really believe the rumor, or you are being a complete and total dick. I seriously can't make up my mind.

 

[MLMarkland]

http://www.alicia-logic.com/capsimages/a_014BillPaxton.jpg

So should we remove that "Obsidian Developer" tag from you now or wait a bit?

You can have my Obsidian Developer tag when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I'm at work right now actually, playing Alpha Protocol some.

 

[Lurkar]

If this is true, the saddest thing about it is that the money will probably be funneled into another failed Sonic game that will be nothing more then another huge financial loss.

 

[NiM82]

 

[Jason]

I'm at work right now actually, playing Alpha Protocol some.

Glad to here you're not joining Interplay in the cardboard box in the alley. But to be completely honest, I'd much rather get to play the Aliens RPG instead of AP.
Regardless, here's to hoping that some other gullible publisher chooses to throw sacks of money OE's way.

 

[Applegate's Breasts]

How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?

 

[Ion Flux]

How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?

You secure that shit Hudson!

 

[MLMarkland]

How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?

You secure that shit Hudson!

Smokin' those'll give you lip cancer, sarge.

 

[racofer]

Well I be damned. I missed it for a little bit, but that will suffice.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Sega have pretty much fucked themselves on this anyway, since they must have paid big bucks to secure the Alien license from Fox.

Hopefully Obsidian can get a proper publisher before they go bust. Sega don't have a good track record, do they?

Also:

 

[Morbus]

But to be completely honest, I'd much rather get to play the Aliens RPG instead of AP.

Why? Did you think it would be any less actiony and have more depth and role-play?

 

[MetalCraze]

There's this word - multiplatform. There is not a single good multiplatform RPG. You have to dumb it down for kids - always. Besides Sega did it right - marketing wise. Kids don't know what is Aliens, but they know what is AvP because of shit movies.

Now I just hope that AP will tank - stop cloning Bioware crap games (Mass Effect) ffs.

 

[Davaris]

Of course an Alien vs Predator shooter will be a far more interesting game than an Aliens RPG.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57190

The future is looking so bright.

 

[Psycroptic]

"That's it man, game over man, game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do? "