Piranha Bytes has shut down, Bjorn Pankratz founds new studio

[InD_ImaginE]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

From Nordic perspective, if they gonna close the studio anyway wouldn't it just better to "let them go", as in dunno sell it for 1 Euro to the PB owner? That way PB can still exist (I assume in German they are their own legal entitiy still even when owned Nordic), get the German grant money, and Nordic don't need to pay for severance?

Assuming that PB workers still want to exist as PB alongside their obligations (I assume delivering a game as part of that German grant?)?

 

[scytheavatar]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

From Nordic perspective, if they gonna close the studio anyway wouldn't it just better to "let them go", as in dunno sell it for 1 Euro to the PB owner? That way PB can still exist (I assume in German they are their own legal entitiy still even when owned Nordic), get the German grant money, and Nordic don't need to pay for severance?

Assuming that PB workers still want to exist as PB alongside their obligations (I assume delivering a game as part of that German grant?)?

Problem is, who wants to buy PB for 1 euro? They are a money sink and even 1 euro is a ripoff for them.

 

[Peachcurl]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

From Nordic perspective, if they gonna close the studio anyway wouldn't it just better to "let them go", as in dunno sell it for 1 Euro to the PB owner? That way PB can still exist (I assume in German they are their own legal entitiy still even when owned Nordic), get the German grant money, and Nordic don't need to pay for severance?

Assuming that PB workers still want to exist as PB alongside their obligations (I assume delivering a game as part of that German grant?)?

Problem is, who wants to buy PB for 1 euro? They are a money sink and even 1 euro is a ripoff for them.

Some of the PB guys themselves could?

 

[REhorror]

I just want Archolos 2 bro.

The beauty of the Gothic engine must be protected!

 

[Lord_Potato]

I just want Archolos 2 bro.

The beauty of the Gothic engine must be protected!

I doubt there is another team as proficient with the engine and professional with their organization of labor to succeed with delivering such a large, high quality, non-for-profit game.

 

[Nikanuur]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

From Nordic perspective, if they gonna close the studio anyway wouldn't it just better to "let them go", as in dunno sell it for 1 Euro to the PB owner? That way PB can still exist (I assume in German they are their own legal entitiy still even when owned Nordic), get the German grant money, and Nordic don't need to pay for severance?

Assuming that PB workers still want to exist as PB alongside their obligations (I assume delivering a game as part of that German grant?)?

PB had already won some case about retaining the rights to their IP (Gothic). I believe it was back in the day when they broke up with JoWood (not sure though). Hopefully, they will find a way, again.

 

[Konjad]

I just want Archolos 2 bro.

The beauty of the Gothic engine must be protected!

Yeah, this engine is so good I wondered why it wasn't sold and used around for non-PB games.

 

[Skinwalker]

Any updates on Pirate Bytes?

 

[REhorror]

Legit wonder: can we somehow make the Gothic 2-look but in Unreal or similar engine?

Codelet here.

 

[Tavar]

Legit wonder: can we somehow make the Gothic 2-look but in Unreal or similar engine?

Codelet here.

The look is mostly based on art style, so that should be possible. You can also use low poly models and janky animations for extra authenticity. It will be interesting to see how the Gothic 1 remake will turn out in the end. If they manage to capture the style of the first game in a modern engine, then we will have a proof of concept.

 

[REhorror]

Legit wonder: can we somehow make the Gothic 2-look but in Unreal or similar engine?

Codelet here.

The look is mostly based on art style, so that should be possible. You can also use low poly models and janky animations for extra authenticity. It will be interesting to see how the Gothic 1 remake will turn out in the end. If they manage to capture the style of the first game in a modern engine, then we will have a proof of concept.

Gothic 1 remake looks like they want to destroy art style, instead of everyone looking like boxy gym goers, everyone is lanky as fuck.

 

[toro]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

You are german, you speak Arabic therefore you should search the grant conditions on that website.

 

[Elzair]

So is PB completely shut down or can they potentially get out of this (again)?

 

[Peachcurl]

Whether the legal entity PB is closed yet: not clear. Their webpage still shows the same message, and no real news/rumors have been floated in the past days.

 

[Peachcurl]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

You are german, you speak Arabic therefore you should search the grant conditions on that website.

I can indeed read Arabic numerals, so I'll gladly help you out whenever you point me to the respective website that has those grant conditions.

 

[Nikanuur]

So is PB completely shut down or can they potentially get out of this (again)?

As Peachcurl said. Then again, they proved tenacious before, and they talk of similar intentions again. I have hopes.

 

[toro]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

You are german, you speak Arabic therefore you should search the grant conditions on that website.

I can indeed read Arabic numerals, so I'll gladly help you out whenever you point me to the respective website that has those grant conditions.

You are useless.

https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Do...ing-guidelines.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4

4.4. The funding recipient is obliged to submit the game for evaluation for age rating in compliance with
the relevant provisions of the Youth Protection Act. If the game is not subjected to age rating, the
funding provider shall demand repayment of the grant.

5.1. Grants for project funding are awarded as non-repayable subsidies in the form of pro rata funding. A
prerequisite for this is that the recipient makes an own contribution calculated as a function of the
funding rate granted. The own resources committed must amount to at least 10% of the eligible costs

8.1. As part of the review of expenditure reports, the grant-awarding authority will conduct performance
monitoring of the respective funding measure in accordance with point 11 a.1 of VV-BHO on section
44 of BHO. Performance monitoring will also be conducted with respect to the overarching objectives
of these Funding Guidelines.

I don't understand the legalese but I think they do have access to that money and they have to deliver something otherwise they have to repay the grant.

I guess this is the only reason why THQ Nordic didn't close them already. Based on their statement "do whatever it takes to find a partner for this project" I think THQ Nordic is willing to let them go ... in case another publisher is willing to provide the additional funding.

This grant could be a blessing in disguise.

 

[Peachcurl]

I don't understand the legalese

True.

 

[toro]

I don't understand the legalese

True.

Useless.

 

[Habichtswalder]

After Piranha Bytes is now dead and gone, GameStar announced that Björn Pankratz and his wife formed a new studio. It's called Pithead Studios.

The article says that the two will finance the studio by themselves using the money they have from Piranha Bytes' sale to Nordic. They want the studio to be indie without a publisher.

No new game is announced but they said that the new games will be RPGs. They will be smaller and more dense in comparison in to the last Piranha Bytes-games. The games will also be more "brave" (I guess they mean more inmovative by that)

More info will be coming today.

Source: https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/piranha-bytes-zukunft-bjoern-pankratz-pithead-studio,3416007.html

 

[Sordid MCA/Prosper Hybryd]

F

 

[Lucumo]

I doubt they 'have' that money. They can't simply carry that grant over to some new entity if they get closed by Nordic.

From Nordic perspective, if they gonna close the studio anyway wouldn't it just better to "let them go", as in dunno sell it for 1 Euro to the PB owner? That way PB can still exist (I assume in German they are their own legal entitiy still even when owned Nordic), get the German grant money, and Nordic don't need to pay for severance?

Assuming that PB workers still want to exist as PB alongside their obligations (I assume delivering a game as part of that German grant?)?

PB had already won some case about retaining the rights to their IP (Gothic). I believe it was back in the day when they broke up with JoWood (not sure though). Hopefully, they will find a way, again.

Nah, PB had simply licensed the rights to the Gothic IP for five years to JoWooD back in the day. So even when they got screwed over and were forced to release way too early, there was nothing they could do. It's also what caused the split.

 

[Nikanuur]

Nah, PB had simply licensed the rights to the Gothic IP for five years to JoWooD back in the day. So even when they got screwed over and were forced to release way too early, there was nothing they could do. It's also what caused the split.

From what I've gathered, they have faced quite a few drawbacks from various publishers and situations, JoWood being just one of them.
Then again, my mention of some litigation was probably misinformed.
Thanks!

 

[Haplo]

After Piranha Bytes is now dead and gone, GameStar announced that Björn Pankratz and his wife formed a new studio. It's called Pithead Studios.

The article says that the two will finance the studio by themselves using the money they have from Piranha Bytes' sale to Nordic. They want the studio to be indie without a publisher.

No new game is announced but they said that the new games will be RPGs. They will be smaller and more dense in comparison in to the last Piranha Bytes-games. The games will also be more "brave" (I guess they mean more inmovative by that)

More info will be coming today.

Source: https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/piranha-bytes-zukunft-bjoern-pankratz-pithead-studio,3416007.html

Well, hopefully more brave/innovative then Elex 2!

 

[Eldrin]

After Piranha Bytes is now dead and gone, GameStar announced that Björn Pankratz and his wife formed a new studio. It's called Pithead Studios.

The article says that the two will finance the studio by themselves using the money they have from Piranha Bytes' sale to Nordic. They want the studio to be indie without a publisher.

No new game is announced but they said that the new games will be RPGs. They will be smaller and more dense in comparison in to the last Piranha Bytes-games. The games will also be more "brave" (I guess they mean more inmovative by that)

More info will be coming today.

Source: https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/piranha-bytes-zukunft-bjoern-pankratz-pithead-studio,3416007.html

Björn has shown time and time again that he just can't comprehend what made the Gothic games or RPGs in general "Good".

And after watching this talk with Michael Hoge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNlLj6nxU0A - I'm more than convinced that Michael was behind the successful Writing (Dialogues, Interactions, Narrative); or at least he was more involved than Bjorn, as Michael seemed to understand what made it so good.