Development Info ArcaniA Add-on Delayed due to Diverse Legal Positions

[Jason]

Tags: Gothic 4: Arcania; JoWood Productions

<p>In a move destined to disappoint wonky, sub-par RPG fans around the world, JoWood has <a href="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?s=21ee93887d53169fec8008104bb8debe&amp;t=1805913" target="_blank">delayed ArcaniA &ndash; Fall of Setarrif</a> indefinitely.</p>
<blockquote>Vienna, Austria, March 23rd 2011; JoWooD has to delay the add-on &ldquo;ArcaniA &ndash; Fall of Setarrif&ldquo; indefinitely. The legal background of the official add-on to &ldquo;ArcaniA - Gothic 4&rdquo; is unclear and diverse legal positions with the BVT fund that financed the main game are present.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s uncertain whether the game can be released onto the market in its current form&rdquo;, explains Stefan Berger, Business Development Manager JoWooD, &ldquo;of course this must be investigated and settled before the release - unfortunately&rdquo;. Due to this fact JoWooD officially announces, that the release of the Add-On has been set on hold and will be delayed indefinitely for now.</blockquote>
<p><br /><em>Thanks to jdaubenb for sharing this tragic news</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[Elzair]

Honestly, was ANYONE looking forward to this piece of shit?

 

[Zarniwoop]

Ah, some good news on the Codex at last. Feel free to delay that shit all you want.


I knew I made the right move in finally signing up.

 

[Angthoron]

This news breaks my heart.

 

[Alex]

Honestly, was ANYONE looking forward to this piece of shit?

Maybe not, but I still hate to see a game stopped because of legal reasons. I mean, was there ever a time when a game that run into legal troubles would actually really harm the plaintiff? All cases I ever heard about were companies using the legal system to try to wind market advantages.

 

[ortucis]

Honestly, was ANYONE looking forward to this piece of shit?

All DA2 fans?

 

[Metro]

Honestly, was ANYONE looking forward to this piece of shit?

Maybe not, but I still hate to see a game stopped because of legal reasons. I mean, was there ever a time when a game that run into legal troubles would actually really harm the plaintiff? All cases I ever heard about were companies using the legal system to try to wind market advantages.

Eh, the press release is probably just poorly worded. From what I recall JoWood is under the control of a corporate receiver as a result of their bankruptcy proceedings. So maybe they thought the costs of marketing, production, whatever wouldn't be profitable enough given projected sales. The company is basically being run in a manner to pay off their debt at this point.

 

[commie]

Damn it! What will Darth Roxor review now?

 

[Blackula]

Maybe this game was too shitty even for jewood standards? Think about it; worse than Forsaken Gods...

 

[Mastermind]

Honestly, was ANYONE looking forward to this piece of shit?

I was.

 

[thesheeep]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo *breathes* ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Shannow]

I was so looking forward to Darth's double deview of "ArCaniA: The shittyness continues" and "Dragon Age 2: Will the shittiness ever stop?"...

Fucking Jowood, robbed me of entertainment once again
Damn you, damn you to hell!

 

[kofeur]

Sometimes it's fun to play a shitty game just for the heck of it

 

[Trojan_generic]

From what I recall JoWood is under the control of a corporate receiver as a result of their bankruptcy proceedings.

This. Jowood is essentially dead. Good luck with the patches for this add-on.

 

[ChristofferC]

And there was much rejoicing.

 

[Darth Roxor]

I am deeply saddened by this turn of events.

 

[made]

Rumor has it Jewood tried to screw BVT out of its share from DLC sales - DLC that was developed alongside the game, financed by BVT. There's potential lulz to be had here if the dispute can draw media attention to that practice.

 

[villain of the story]

Possibly because PB still owns the IP. JW has only acquired the rights to a Gothic 3 expansion and a "Gothic 4". After that, they would have to be a licensee of PB to keep using the setting and the name or stop using it altogether.