Irrational Acquired like a Little Bitch

[Naked_Lunch]

<strong>[ Game -> Update ]</strong>

<p><a target="_self" href="http://www.gamasutra.com">Gamasutra</a> is <a title="telling me" target="_self" href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7721">telling me</a> that <a title="Irrational" target="_self" href="http://www.irrationalgames.com/">Irrational</a>, developers of the uber-cool <a title="Freedom lols" target="_self" href="http://www.freedomfans.com/">Freedom Force</a> games and <a title="System cock" target="_self" href="http://www.irrationalgames.com/shock2/default.cfm">System Shock 2</a>, have been <strike>ass-raped</strike> acquired by publisher <a title="faggots" target="_self" href="http://www.take2games.com/">Take-Two Interactive</a>. Take-Two also purchased Firaxis last November. </p>
<blockquote>
<p><span class="newsbody">
The staff e-mail allegedly describes the release date of <em>BioShock</em>
as being 2007 for the PC and next generation consoles, which suggests
significant confidence in the game&rsquo;s quality on the part of Take-Two &ndash;
with the developer not known to be working on any other titles.</span> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Next-gen consoles? Say it ain't so, Irrational! </p><p>Spotted @ <a href="http://www.strategyinformer.com">Strategu Informer</a></p>

 

[Jason]

Fuck. BioShock is probably the game I'm most looking forward to in the near future, but that has me worried. I don't want to see System Shock 360.

 

[Naked_Lunch]

Maybe Ken Levine's been kidnapped and when he hears of this he's gonna bust out of the little cell he's in and totally kick some corporate asshole butt and then announe he fucked EA up the ass and now owns the rights to Crusader and System Shock and is going to make them pc-only and send out a box filled with dog shit disguised as the console versions to all major publishers.

 

[Jason]

It's possible. He just bought a couple old Captain America comic books off me on Ebay a month ago (no joke) so maybe he's been reading up on how to be a superhero and fuck shit up with a giant shield.

 

[chaedwards]

You know, when I saw Naked Lunch's clever play on words and mordant humour in this news post, I literally fell on the floor laughing. That was how funny it was.

Tacticular Cancer - funny when you're fourteen.

 

[LlamaGod]

You know, when I saw Naked Lunch's clever play on words and mordant humour in this news post, I literally fell on the floor laughing. That was how funny it was.

Tacticular Cancer - funny when you're fourteen.

tacitcular cancer is at a level you'll never hope to achieve within your lifetime and you wont ever have kids, too

we are the new gods of the internet

 

[chaedwards]

Or you could aim to combine a critical approach to strategy games with a level of discussion usually only reached by those who aren't tall enough to ride on rollercoasters, I suppose.

Well, at least you've got Shagnak, so there'll be one decent newsposter for me to read between the comedy. Ho hum.

 

[Twinfalls]

There's no need to be a complete drama queen about this, BovNL'er:

IGN: Is there concern that joining a large publisher like Take Two will stifle or compromise Irrational creatively?

Ken Levine: Since the acquisition, I think they've been to our studio once. And once you hear more about BioShock and the other title, I think the last thing you'll worry about is us being creatively compromised.

Gamecloud - Why did Irrational feel the need to be acquired by a large publisher like Take Two, rather than perhaps merge with another independent developer like a few other studios have done recently?

Ken Levine - It wasn’t so much of a need as the right deal and the right partner and the right time. I think given the economies of developing, we would have ended up working with other developers like BioWare and Pandemic, as we’ve got nothing but respect for what those guys are doing. But 2K offered us all the freedom of being independent (they’ve pretty much left us to do our thing) and like I said, they’re one of the few big pubs to take real risks (I mean BioShock is not exactly what you call an obvious play like Tomb Raider 12).

from rpgdot.com

 

[Jason]

The Alien Corporate Conglomerate has a BioJumbomitizer attached to his brainstem and are making him say those things. What will our hero do? Will he break free of his evil overlords?
Meanwhile...

But yeah, I hope Take Two keeps a hands off approach with Irrational, but that usually only lasts during the honeymoon period. The master-servant relationship tends to become more evident when it gets closer to the time to deliver a product.

And aren't you a little worried about the next-gen console part? I know I am.

 

[LlamaGod]

Or you could aim to combine a critical approach to strategy games with a level of discussion usually only reached by those who aren't tall enough to ride on rollercoasters, I suppose.

Well, at least you've got Shagnak, so there'll be one decent newsposter for me to read between the comedy. Ho hum.

shut up

the serious discussion comes when its needed, you dont have to be a serious grandpa 24/7.

 

[Shagnak]

<snip>

Yeah, that makes it sound not to bad.

Still, I think "true" independence would make it more likely we would get their pure unadulterated gaming vision. And on the other hand this decision may mean that we are more likely to get Bioshock at all*. I guess there is a tension between the two.

*Anyways, I thought Irrational were a striking example of a developer doing their own thing and still succeeding. Were their games not as financially succesful as I thought? Or was this a case of "too good an offer" ka-ching! ka-ching!
[Edit: I should really learn to read. "It wasn’t so much of a need as the right deal and the right partner and the right time" answers that I guess.]

But yeah, I hope Take Two keeps a hands off approach with Irrational, but that usually only lasts during the honeymoon period. The master-servant relationship tends to become more evident when it gets closer to the time to deliver a product.

Let's hope not. Cross fingers and 20 Hail Cthulhus.

Bioshock to me is the last hope for LG-style games (i.e. FPSes with a brain behind them). And then there's those rumours of wacky things like TB strategy games. Let's hope that Ken's positivity is a reflection of reality and not the result of some post-cheque afterglow.

And aren't you a little worried about the next-gen console part? I know I am.

The only worry is if we get DX:IW/T3 syndrome - i.e. small areas due to console architecture constraints. I'm no expert, but I imagine consoles like the XBOX 360 or PS3 don't have those constraints.

We'll have to worry if they intend to backport it to the PS2 and original XBOX.

"The developer not known to be working on any other titles"?
I was hoping for maybe some more unique strategy shiz. Give us some TB magic one day Ken!

 

[Naked_Lunch]

Tacticular Cancer - funny when you're fourteen.

I'm sixteen, you jerk

 

[Shagnak]

And once you hear more about BioShock and the other title...

I wonder what the "other title" is?
Any guesses?

 

[Naked_Lunch]

Hmm, another Freedom Force game?

 

[Jason]

It might be cool to see a Steve Ditko influenced Freedom Force game, instead of the Jack Kirby influence of the first two. Not that there's anything wrong with Jack Kirby, of course.

 

[chaedwards]

Tacticular Cancer - funny when you're fourteen.

I'm sixteen, you jerk

Explains a lot.

the serious discussion comes when its needed, you dont have to be a serious grandpa 24/7

Just consider me the site's token grouser. Lord know we need a decent strategy news site, but does it have to be covered with your pubescent 'hey look mom, I have a website! And the banner says funny things like 'Naked Lunch is the coolest dude ever!' ejaculations?

*Anyways, I thought Irrational were a striking example of a developer doing their own thing and still succeeding. Were their games not as financially succesful as I thought? Or was this a case of "too good an offer" ka-ching! ka-ching!

I know Tribes Vengeance tanked pretty badly. How did SWAT 4 do?

 

[LlamaGod]

Just consider me the site's token grouser. Lord know we need a decent strategy news site, but does it have to be covered with your pubescent 'hey look mom, I have a website! And the banner says funny things like 'Naked Lunch is the coolest dude ever!' ejaculations?

Yeah, let's not have any fun at all. I like to have jobs that don't pay me!

 

[chaedwards]

Fun /= cliquey little website that won't attract anyone outside your gang.

And I'm a registered munchkin? Excellent {grin}.