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Interplay Finally In Process Of Going Under?

Posted by simoniker on from the not-well dept.

Random Guru 42 writes "GameSpot is reporting that Interplay is sliding further down the spiral of going out of business. Hopefully the rumors of Interplay's demise are greatly exaggerated." We previously covered earlier rumblings of Interplay's demise, and Sivar writes "According to a Fallout news website, Interplay has 'told the employees to file for unemployment' [a later source indicates 'the employees have until Friday to move all of their personal possessions out of... the Interplay offices]." Finally, an update to the GameSpot story has an un-named, masked employee insisting on the closure rumors: "No, that's not true" - it's also pointed out Interplay "...is facing a battery of lawsuits, including one by Arden Realty for $432,000 in back rent and another by BioWare for $156,000 for unpaid Baldur's Gate royalties."

6 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Seems pretty obvious... by shaitand · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If they are being sued for such relatively small sums, particularly for unpaid rent, it's highly doubtful the rumors are off by much.

  2. Cancel Fallout 3... by metrazol · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...and fade into the wasteland. Bet they're wishing they'd found that waterchip, eh?

    Seriously, sad to see Interplay go, but they've made some dumb decisions. Losing Feagus and his team was probably close to the final blow.

    --
    "Life's funny sometimes." "And sometimes it isn't." --Cat's Cradle
  3. Rent? by mutewinter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not paying rent is one step from the street. No welfare for gaming companies, maybe they should hire Amtrack's lobbyist.

  4. Been headed downhill for awhile now by FloodSpectre · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Hopefully the rumors of Interplay's demise are greatly exaggerated."

    Hopefully ? I'm hoping they do go under permanently. While I certainly feel bad for those who stayed with the company and have to deal with this now (which the exception of Caen, I have no sympathy for him), Interplay's been going downhill for years. Their tech support has to be the worst I've ever encountered (especially when they stopped replying to any of it two years ago), their "quality control" is completely non-existent.

    For that matter, I can't think of a single good game they've released since Baldur's Gate 2. And, to me, the worst part was their decision to axe Fallout 3 (and Black Isle Studios for that matter) and instead pushed out the utterly worthless Fallout: BoS.

    .. Well, at least on the bright side, now we have Obsidian and Troika out there (founded by ex-members of Black Isle)..

    1. Re:Been headed downhill for awhile now by sckeener · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And, to me, the worst part was their decision to axe Fallout 3 (and Black Isle Studios for that matter) and instead pushed out the utterly worthless Fallout: BoS.

      Ok that seems to be what most people who bash Interplay are talking about; however Fallout BoS has a place and I'm sorry you apparently weren't the target.

      I don't blame Interplay for using the Fallout brand name. It makes sense since it is a Gamma Worldish wasteland of a game.

      I also don't blame them for the game being so different from the pc Fallout games. Fallout Brotherhood of Steel is on a console! Of course it is going to be different than playing on the pc.

      My wife and I love all the games developed on the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance engine and that includeds Fallout BoS.

      --
      "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
  5. A bittersweet sight.. by Mechcommander · · Score: 2, Insightful

    While I didn't like Interplay for their business tactics or their snotty reputation, I do feel extremely sorry that the people of Interplay have lost their jobs. My dad works at HP, and he barely escaped with his job intact. For those of you happy to see Interplay go, consider this: What if you/your family lost a prominent job like that? Would you be happy? Would you be even happier that people were cheering your demise? I certainly think not. I'm able to live in my house, visit slashdot as much as I want, and eat when I want, because of my dad's job at HP. These people that just got fired from Interplay deserve at least a little respect. There may even be some slashdotters out there who can offer these guys a temporary job.. I certainly hope the gamer/nerd community comes together for these employees of a once-great company. They deserve it.