3 Jul 2014

Sounds like Crytek is imploding

by | posted in: Game News | 0

Crytek LogoCrytek UK (formerly Free Radical) employees are no longer going to work. But who would blame them? They haven’t been paid for quite some time.

I’m not surprised by this turn of events though. I’m not much of a Crytek fan and sales show that many feel the same way. There’s not enough Crytek fans out there to sustain $66 million game budgets. And as pretty as their game engines are, they don’t seem to be as easy to use as Unreal Engine which explains why the list of licensees pales in comparison.

They’re not done yet but I hope for the best for Crytek’s employees. There’s talent there and I hope they end up at other studios or start their own independent efforts.

11 Mar 2014

Linux Gaming Inches Closer to Reality

by | posted in: Game News | 0

linux-logoThere are games on Linux but the selection available is paltry compared to Windows. And the reasons why the selection is so limited is due to lack of middleware support and the dominance of DirectX.

Crytek have ported their CryEngine to Linux and will be demonstrating its capabilities at GDC 2014 next week. I’m curious if it will perform better than the DirectX version.

Valve is continuing their efforts to sway the masses away from Microsoft and DirectX with “ToGL“, a DirectX to OpenGL translation layer. It’s limited to DirectX 9.0c for now but it’s a start. If developers can just flip a switch and port to OpenGL with minimal effort, they would be more inclined to support Linux.

All these efforts sound good but how long would it take before we see day and date high profile releases from the likes of Activision and Electronic Arts?

24 Mar 2013

Checkpoint: Software & Hardware Edition

by | posted in: Editorials & Features | 0

checkpoint-hardware-software-edition

It’s happening all the time but the last 48 hours stressed the importance of both hardware and software. The successful marriage of both produces successes and/or improves the experience for everyone whereas an imbalance could spell disaster and defeat. It’s not necessarily just a matter of technical support either — the business side of hardware and software has a significant impact as well.

Here are some examples of what I’m talking about.

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23 Jan 2013

THQ is dead.

by | posted in: Game News | 0

thq-logoTHQ wasn’t sold to another company when it filed for bankruptcy; that plan fell through and a month later they’re dead. Fortunately many of THQ’s top properties and studios  found new homes but not everyone was so fortunate. The most significant casualty of all this is the end of Vigil Studios who developed the DarkSiders franchise.

Here’s what was sold, who bought it and for how much:

  • Relic Entertainment (Company of Heroes) was purchased by Sega for $26 million
  • Volition (Saints Row, Red Faction) was purchased by Koch Media (publisher of Dead Island) for $22.3 million
  • “Evolve” developed by Turtle Rock Studios (Left4Dead 1 & 2) was purchased by Take-Two Interactive for $11 million
  • “Metro” franchise was purchased by Koch Media for $5.8 million
  • “South Park” license was purchased by Ubisoft for $3.2 million
  • THQ Montreal (incl. Patrice Desilets) was purchased by Ubisoft for $2.5 million
  • “Homefront” franchise was purchased by Crytek for $500,000

Honestly this covers most of what I’ve come to know THQ for and it’s good to know that most of it is going somewhere. Legacy IP like Red Faction and Homeworld will be auctioned off at a later date.

Good bye Toys Headquarters. Thanks for giving a valiant effort towards the end of your life.

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