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Interplay Forced to Liquidate (France)

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the end-has-come-for-thee dept.

genrader writes "Voodoo Extreme is reporting that Interplay has had judicial liquidation take place. If you've been reading the gaming news, a lot has been going on with Interplay financially, it seems all this finally caught up to them. Interplay has formerly published very well known games like Icewind Dale, the Baldur's Gate series, and Descent. Farewell, Interplay." Update: 01/06 02:57 GMT by H : This affects just the company in France; sorry for the confusion.

148 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. Still Alive? by fembots · · Score: 5, Informative

    There is an update in that article which clearly stated "I mailed you earlier about Interplay probably being dead, it turns out they're still alive (sorry about that), Titus have been liquidated but it only affects companies based in France, which doesn't include Interplay."

    Was the article submitted and checked before the update, or is Interplay still considered dead regardless?

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Still Alive? by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
      However, the question remains as to who will assume control of the approximately 67 percent of Interplay stock Titus now owns.

      If not dead, then certainly pwn3d depending on who ends up with that chunk.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    2. Re:Still Alive? by the+angry+liberal · · Score: 1

      Was the article submitted and checked before the update, or is Interplay still considered dead regardless?
      The article has not changed. This is another case of the submitter skimming headlines and throwing links at /. without reading the article first, then the site publishes the link without fully reading the article too.

      Kind of like Fark.

  2. Good Riddance by tonsofpcs · · Score: 2, Informative

    Interplay never supported their products well anyway.

    --
    Video Production Support
    1. Re:Good Riddance by websaber · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Interplay Forced to Liquidate (France)" Don't freek out Germany tried to liquidate france twice, didn't really get close. Heck half the world has tried to liquidate france at one time or another.

      --
      "A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be sitting next to you saying, 'damn....that was fun!'"
    2. Re:Good Riddance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      For amusement, go to the Google homepage, type in: 'French military victories', and click "I'm Feeling Lucky".

      The Complete Military History of France

    3. Re:Good Riddance by dasunt · · Score: 1

      "Interplay Forced to Liquidate (France)" Don't freek out Germany tried to liquidate france twice, didn't really get close. Heck half the world has tried to liquidate france at one time or another.

      Although history does record a French bastard liquidating England.

      (To be honest, that would be a French/Viking bastard liquidating the Anglo-Saxon English, which the mere Vikings couldn't do alone. Or something like that. European history being a mess of who went where when.)

    4. Re:Good Riddance by DrMrLordX · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're right, that is pretty funny. Um, if you're not French, that is.

    5. Re:Good Riddance by gerbouille · · Score: 1

      I'm French and I find this funny ... well, with a grain of salt, it's funny

      --
      This post is displayed with recycled electrons
    6. Re:Good Riddance by websaber · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The joke is in how they worded the headline. It should be obvious that no malice is intended.

      --
      "A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be sitting next to you saying, 'damn....that was fun!'"
    7. Re:Good Riddance by Dabido · · Score: 1

      I didn't click the "I'm feeling Lucky" button because I went to Google via the tool bar in Firefox ... and this was the second page.
      :-)

      http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blp ic-frenchmilitaryvictories.htm

      --
      Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)
  3. EA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well atleast they didnt get bought by EA.

    1. Re:EA by BosstonesOwn · · Score: 1
      YET!!

      Those pesky EA slave drivers are probably licking thier chops at the chance to assimilate yet another company into thier collective suck company.

      --
      This package Does Not Contain a Winner
  4. So they're bankrupt... by nxtr · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...does that mean they'll be releasing keygens for all their games?

    1. Re:So they're bankrupt... by Rallion · · Score: 1

      They would, but they no longer have the resources to create insanely annoying techno music to embed in the program.

    2. Re:So they're bankrupt... by he+who+meows · · Score: 1

      No, they don't. First, there is a period after the death of the creator (be it a person or corporation) before something is made public domain. I think it depends on the medium. Just because no one enforces these doesn't make the games free. Regardless, when a company dies, often assets and trademarks still become property of someone else; (the bank, another company, or whatever). Thats why studios completely crap out, and yet you'll see someone else continue on with one of their series.

    3. Re:So they're bankrupt... by tuxter · · Score: 1

      All your code are belong to us.

    4. Re:So they're bankrupt... by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Star Fleet Command didn't have a key. (I still use all the sound effects for various things.)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  5. Interplay is dead and gone... by kjones692 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    However, my question to you, the readers of slashdot, is...

    How do you think they could have avoided this?

    Discuss.

    --

    Love the Third Amendment?
    1. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by genrader · · Score: 1

      I think that they should have released a new Freespace game as well as tried to get Volition or Outrage I think the company was to create Descent 4 in a non-Descent 3 kind of way.

      --
      the Political Inquirer
    2. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by genrader · · Score: 1

      FreeSpace 2 is a fairly well-known game, also scored relatively high on GameSpot's reviews.

      --
      the Political Inquirer
    3. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by ajutla · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Fallout 3. 'Nuff said.

    4. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      ....is being made by Bethesda Softworks.

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    5. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Tolwyn_993442 · · Score: 1

      And that's a bloody depressing reality, good games don't sell that well sometimes.

    6. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Apreche · · Score: 1

      By developing and releasing descent 4 for windows, linux and mac. And having it be as good as descent 2 was.

      --
      The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
    7. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by dsparil · · Score: 1

      not switching their focus to consoles.

    8. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by tonsofpcs · · Score: 1

      Maybe if they advertised......

      --
      Video Production Support
    9. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Deekin_Scalesinger · · Score: 1

      Descent 4 would have ruled. I hope someone decides to carry it out. Heck, there are still pilots playing in the mines 7 years after D2 came out. I remember many a happy night eating taquitos by the comp when I lived in SD and playing Minvera or Gigadeath (still my all time favorite level - I was a ES whore rather than a dogfighter). In many ways it is still the most difficult FPS to master, due to the complete immersion of the Z axis in all three games. Nothing linear in Descent - it kept you moving and may the faster trigger win when you rounded a corner...ah memories. Now I wanna go looking for the install discs... :)

      --
      "As the intrepid kobold companion continues his journey, he begins to wonder... if priests raises dead, why anybody die?
    10. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Keen+Anthony · · Score: 1

      A new FreeSpace would have been great. Funny thing, after not even giving the game a thought for a couple of years, I pulled out my Freespace 2 discs and installed the game a couple of nights ago. FreeSpace 2 is every bit as engaging today as it was when I bought the game on release day. I even googled up some now defunct FreeSpace fansites hoping to play online for the first time. I guess that hope is dashed. Is it just me or are space sims not based on Star Wars out of style now?

    11. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by carcosa30 · · Score: 1

      Somebody needs a hug.

      --
      Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
    12. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by UberLaff · · Score: 1

      ROCK N' ROLL RACING 2, BIOTCH! or another Clay Fighter where you could duke it out with celebrity matches (freddy vs. jason, alien vs. predator, bush vs. kerry, SCO vs. Linux, Michael Jackson vs. a bunch of little boys... etc.)

    13. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      GS: Morrowind was a first-person, real-time, action RPG. Fallout and its sequel were isometric-view, third-person, turn-based RPGs. What will Fallout 3 be?

      TH: Too early to say. We're looking at many options.

      From a interview with the lead developer by Gamespot. If you have any newer information, please let us know. Besides, if Fallout 3 is first-person, at most it would be as much of a shooter as System Shock was. If the shooter aspects of System Shock were enough to turn you off of the rest of the game, there's something wrong with you.

      Rob

    14. Re:Interplay is dead and gone... by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      Morrowind is hardly what I'd consider a "shooter" either...

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
  6. It was unavoidable by Rorschach1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I could have told you years ago that this was going to happen. Why? Because I own Interplay stock. It's the kiss of death, me owning one share in a company. Want to make sure your biotech firm doesn't get FDA approval for their new product? Just have me by some stock. Really. Look at Advanced Tissue Sciences. See that 50% drop? Two days after I bought it. That was all me, baby. /sticking to my boring 401(k) from now on...

    1. Re:It was unavoidable by steadph · · Score: 1
      Pls. post the stocks that you are about to buy here on slashdot.

      Thanks,
      steadph

    2. Re:It was unavoidable by Cyph · · Score: 1

      Go get some Infinium Labs and SCO shares.

    3. Re:It was unavoidable by polanyi · · Score: 1

      Have you tried short selling?

    4. Re:It was unavoidable by Omniscientist · · Score: 1
      You have a special and unique gift Rorschach. Use it in a humanitarian manner and *gasp* buy some Microsoft stock.

      That would suck tho if they didn't go under after that however, as you would just end up helping them out.

    5. Re:It was unavoidable by Mofo196 · · Score: 1

      At least I didn't work for them. My kiss of death seems to be woking for a company.

    6. Re:It was unavoidable by Bob+Uhl · · Score: 1
      You have a special and unique gift Rorschach. Use it in a humanitarian manner and *gasp* buy some Microsoft stock.

      That would suck tho if they didn't go under after that however, as you would just end up helping them out.

      Ummm...no. Buying a company's stock doesn't help them unless you buy it at their IPO. When you buy stock, you are buying the company itself--you own part of it--from someone who had bought it before and thus are entitled to a vote in how that company is run (including for its directors). You also generally get paid a portion of it profits as a dividend.

      The company doesn't make any money from you.

  7. It was by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 1

    the pirates I tell you, arrrg. Actually, I'm trying to remember a game I played by them, I know I can google or go to their website. I think the big hype game was SACRIFICE, I bought it, played it & ho hum. didnt't live up to the reviews IMHO.

    1. Re:It was by Compholio · · Score: 1

      How about Fallout? I can't imagine how the original poster could forget about that one. BTW - you can't go to their website, it's been gone for ages.

    2. Re:It was by Skepparn · · Score: 1

      the pirates I tell you, arrrg. Actually, I'm trying to remember a game I played by them, I know I can google or go to their website. I think the big hype game was SACRIFICE, I bought it, played it & ho hum. didnt't live up to the reviews IMHO. i take it you didn't play North & South on A500 back in the day then? :p

      --
      ... Disclaimer: I barely know how to Read, please dont expect me to spell right!
    3. Re:It was by Skepparn · · Score: 1

      yeah.. i should probably learn to read.. it was Infogrames (also covered at /. frontpage atm) that released North and South for the Amiga. :)

      --
      ... Disclaimer: I barely know how to Read, please dont expect me to spell right!
    4. Re:It was by Oddly_Drac · · Score: 1

      "Actually, I'm trying to remember a game I played by them,"

      If you didn't play any of the Fallout series, then you missed a treat (apart from 'Tactics', which was very disappointing). I was also very pleased with Planescape:Torment and the Baldur's/Icewind Dale games, even though the latter got extremely formulaic.

      --
      Oddly Draconis
      Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
    5. Re:It was by Kehvarl · · Score: 1

      If you didn't play any of the Fallout series, then you missed a treat (apart from 'Tactics', which was very disappointing). I was also very pleased with Planescape:Torment and the Baldur's/Icewind Dale games, even though the latter got extremely formulaic.

      Oddly enough, I never enjoyed the Fallout series; though Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 were most entertaining and even Icewind Dale held my interest for a few weeks. Fallout just never really caught my attention even though I tried to like it. I never came around to trying Planescape:Torment even though a few of my friends have it and enjoy it.

    6. Re:It was by Oddly_Drac · · Score: 1

      "Fallout just never really caught my attention even though I tried to like it."

      Shame. I was grabbed by the size of the thing and the obvious care and attention to the graphics. The 'crit' effect of full auto at close range shredding your opponent was curiously satisfying.

      --
      Oddly Draconis
      Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
  8. End of an Era by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    So many games over the past several years to come from their halls.
    A few the poster didn't mention:

    Alone in the dark series,
    Fallout,
    Planescape Torment,
    Kingpin: Life of crime,
    Carmageddon,
    Giants: Citizen Kabuto,
    Sacrifice,
    Dungeon Master,
    MDK,
    etc

    1. Re:End of an Era by Degrees · · Score: 1
      I think the very first game I ever bought for myself was an Interplay title: Battle Chess

      That game was fun to watch. Painfully slow, but really fun to watch.

      --
      "The most sensible request of government we make is not, "Do something!" But "Quit it!"
    2. Re:End of an Era by GeorgeMcBay · · Score: 1


      So many games over the past several years to come from their halls.
      A few the poster didn't mention:

      Alone in the dark series,
      Fallout,

      Luckily, Interplay is just a publisher and the developers (Bioware, Planet Moon, Shiny, etc) of most of those games are still doing just fine.

    3. Re:End of an Era by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
      Try that old software on a modern processor, it sort of flies. (And it was a few upgrades ago that I tried it.)

      Imagine what an updated game would have to look like these days to be impressive: animated 3D with all sorts of "bullet-time" view pivots, Dolby surround, etc. (Even a Matrix chess set: Neo as white king, Trinity as white queen .. all the black pieces would be Agent Smith.)

      Of course, even Harry Potter wizard chess is still just chess.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    4. Re:End of an Era by spamdog · · Score: 1

      They also made Rock 'n' Roll Racing for the SNES.

    5. Re:End of an Era by R.D.Olivaw · · Score: 1

      fun to watch, until you've seen how each piece would kill any other piece then it's just torment. Especially if you really wanted to play chess. thankfully you could stop the animations (at least on the amiga you could)

  9. Re:a better link than the write-up by bbkingadrock · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/05/news_61157 37.html

  10. From the archives of Interplay by Hawerchuk+was+money · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm not sure how wide the popular appeal of the game was, but an Interplay game I found realy cool was the Star Trek: 25th Anniversary game.

    It was a puzzle game that wasn't the most slick game of all time, but it featured much of the original cast as voice actors which gave the game an incredible appeal. Does anyone else have an sleeper Interplay games that they thought was pretty decent?

    1. Re:From the archives of Interplay by genrader · · Score: 1

      I actually had that game on a few floppy disks from a garage sale back in the mid 90's, I never got it to work though.

      --
      the Political Inquirer
    2. Re:From the archives of Interplay by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

      I've always been fond of the three Redneck Rampage games. Granted, the clipping was so bad that when somebody died and fell behind something an arm might stick through, but the games were so surrealistic that it just added to the effect. Besides, I always liked the weapons: crossbows with dynamite taped to the quarrels, the ripsaw throwing buzzsaw blades like frizbees and the ever-popular tit-guns. The chicken crossbow quarrels were funny too, but a tad unreliable...

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    3. Re:From the archives of Interplay by Morkano · · Score: 1
      Does anyone else have an sleeper Interplay games that they thought was pretty decent?

      Planescape: Torment. Best... RPG... Ever. If you haven't experienced the awesomness that is this game, run, don't walk, to the nearest store you can find that has a copy of this, and buy it. It can now often be found in the $10 vaue game section. You won't regret it.
      --
      Victory or awesome!
    4. Re:From the archives of Interplay by KingEomer · · Score: 1

      Soulbringer. It was a very odd game with a clunky interface that took some getting used to... But once you did, it was qutie fun with an intruiging plot, combat and magic system.

    5. Re:From the archives of Interplay by Deekin_Scalesinger · · Score: 1

      Agreed - a pretty murky game. None of this "hold your hand" GP being flung at you - you were lucky to get 3 coppers to rub together. Also Morte, dear Morte - the world needs more sarcastic floating skulls...

      --
      "As the intrepid kobold companion continues his journey, he begins to wonder... if priests raises dead, why anybody die?
    6. Re:From the archives of Interplay by Flyboy+Connor · · Score: 1
      The sequel to 25th Anniversary, "Judgement Rites", was a very, very good adventure game. It took a looooooong while for the next decent Star Trek game to appear (even though many tried).

      And, of course, "Planescape: Torment" was simply awesome, the best RPG ever made.

    7. Re:From the archives of Interplay by Blob+Pet · · Score: 1

      actually one of my favorite PC games of all time. The graphics weren't great, but it was all about the game-play and storyline. Judgement Rites was great too.

      --
      "...today consumers have been conditioned to think of beer when they see a bullfrog..."
    8. Re:From the archives of Interplay by Blob+Pet · · Score: 1

      to append to my own post...

      I was one of those people who kept pestering Interplay on their development of Secret of Vulcan Fury which was shelved back around '99 or 2000 when Interplay started to kill off projects. If they really started to liquidate Interplay I'd make a bid to grab the source for that game. Even if it's unplayable it'd be important to archive the last work that DeForest Kelley.

      --
      "...today consumers have been conditioned to think of beer when they see a bullfrog..."
    9. Re:From the archives of Interplay by rpillala · · Score: 1

      Out of This World, Flashback, and Future Wars were all great games for their time.

      Future Wars was developed by Delphine Cinematique though so I don't know that it counts.
      --
      When the axe came to the forest, the trees said, "Look out - the handle was once one of us."
  11. a close call by NewtonsLaw · · Score: 4, Funny

    Phew, almost "GAME OVER" -- but saved by Slashdot's bad editing :-)

    1. Re:a close call by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      Dammit. Now we can't do the "All your game company are belong to us" joke...

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  12. Not Interplay by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

    I can't believe the publishers of Descent are gone. That game was revolutionary. On the other hand, the low popularity of such an amazing game can only be blamed on a bad publisher.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:Not Interplay by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I love Descent I & II.. but Descent III was such utter crap :(

      --
      Online backup with Mozy, sounds like Ozzie, but more!
    2. Re:Not Interplay by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      though, losing a publisher is not much lost.

      just some trademarks and game copyrights end up in a limbo in worst case.

      (and such things as "fallout" getting into limbo wouldn't really matter. it's not the name that makes those things great and rememberable, it's the atmosphere, the plot, the fun! and all of those can be replicated under a different name. hell, fallout itself owes a lot to one old post-apocalyptic rpg)

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:Not Interplay by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Speaking of Descent, do you happen to know if you can get sound working with DII and Windows XP or if XP's stingyness with the hardware and DOS programs will prevent that?

    4. Re:Not Interplay by TypoNAM · · Score: 1

      Your best bet is trying out D2X. The audio problem is due to being very DOS specific even the Win32 with mouse support version used audio through DOS.

      --
      This space is not for rent.
    5. Re:Not Interplay by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Dude, thanks.

      Another solution I discovered (though it doesn't work as well, at least for me) is to get VDMSound. It's an emulator that will give you a virtual sound card in dos programs. I've tried it in two of them and it works decently.

    6. Re:Not Interplay by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      The only time limit I ever recall was having to get out of the mine before the reactor blew. The solution, save often, when you get into that reactor room, blow it up, and get out, if you miss, reload, do it again. Not much frustration there.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  13. You're not alone by melted · · Score: 1

    I bought some RedHat stock recently because I thought it wouldn't fall any lower than it was. Guess what, the week after it was 30% less. Luckily I didn't invest much there. So I'm kind of wary of buying their stock now. I don't know them to go out of business, which is something that will happen if I buy their stock four or five times.

    1. Re:You're not alone by Bob+Uhl · · Score: 1

      If you thought it was a good investment at $x, then you should think that it's a great investment at $.7x. Don't invest in companies because they won't get any lower; invest in them because you believe that they have sound business fundamentals and will grow in the future.

  14. Don't forget "Lost Vikings" by kingkade · · Score: 1

    They also published this game where you control three vikings, one at a time, each having different skills. And you have to get them all through to the end of each stage to continue. I got up to one of the last levels, possibly even the last one, when I either hit a dead-end, got bored or a life (can't remember which). But I still remember the password to jump back to that level though: "MSTR". Sad...

    --
    why run from Vincenzo?
    1. Re:Don't forget "Lost Vikings" by mtrisk · · Score: 1

      I liked that game too. But wasn't it Blizzard that published it?

      --

      Without a proper flamewar, Anonymous was undecided on what shell to run.
    2. Re:Don't forget "Lost Vikings" by ajutla · · Score: 1

      Lost Vikings was developed by Blizzard, which still holds the rights to it. They even ported it to the Game Boy Advance about a year ago.

    3. Re:Don't forget "Lost Vikings" by Atrax · · Score: 3, Funny

      I either hit a dead-end, got bored or a life

      Errr.... this is slashdot. We can discount the third option

      --
      Screw you all! I'm off to the pub
  15. Out of this World by eMartin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...published very well known games like Icewind Dale, the Baldur's Gate series, and Descent. Farewell, Interplay.

    There was also a not so well known game called "Out of this World" which is still one of my favorite games. I just played through it again a few weeks ago.

    http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/p,2/gameId,5 64 /

    1. Re:Out of this World by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 1

      That game was brutal on SNES, at least to me, at the time. I had no idea it was released for other systems as well.

      --
      If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
    2. Re:Out of this World by eMartin · · Score: 1

      It was also out for the Mac, but by not so well known, I mean:

      "hey, you remember that game, out of this world?"

      "huh?"

      "...you're this scientist that gets zapped to another planet..."

      "nope"

      "...make friends with an alien prisoner..."

      "nuh uh"

      "...find a gun and run away from other aliens and big alien buffalo things and leaches and drive a big tank in some alien arena and see naked alien babes bathing and get the snot beaten out of you by some huge alien bouncer guy..."

      "wtf?"

      None of my friends know this game.

    3. Re:Out of this World by turm · · Score: 1

      Out of this World (aka "Another World" in Europe) was truly an amazing game. I'm somewhat of an OOTW historian. Here's some interesting stuff for those who care:

      The original game was released in a PC version which happens to work quite well in DOSEmu.

      There is a sequel, called "Heart of the Alien" that was only avalible on SegaCD. MobyGames link: http://tinyurl.com/49s8w

      Gens is an emulator for Windows and Linux that can play the ROM, should you be able to find it: http://gens.consolemul.com/downloads.shtml

      It turns out that the OOTW engine is actually an interpreter that "plays" the game data files. One of the authors of the popular ScummVM software wrote a new interpreter called "RAW" (for rewritten another world) but subsequently took it down under pressure from the original author. It's too bad, because it worked quite well (at least on the European "Another World" data files) on both Windows and Linux.

    4. Re:Out of this World by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 1

      I played through OOTW on the Sega Genesis, it was a fantastic game. Still fun today, though the graphics are no longer "mind-blowing". :)

    5. Re:Out of this World by Maserati · · Score: 1

      Played that on the Mac too. Amazing stylistic graphics. not quite cell shaded but definitely affecting a hand-drawn animation style. The gameplay was very good side-scroller action. Run, duck, dodge, shoot, fight, activate. It was also very much a mood piece, very artistic. No dialog whatsoever. I hate scorpions with a deep and abiding passion. There are some very difficult sequences. There's a falling rocks section where you have to learn the timing for dodging a multitude of threats that simply is going to kill you many times before you find the whole pattern. Classic 2D. Beatiful storytelling.

      One of the most enthralling games ever made.

      [Later] Man, that window is SMALL on Windows. 160x120 I think. And why those particular sixteen colors ? Wait, black, pink, green, blue, white... ok that's five, it is 4-bit, 5 anyway. And the sound, I didn't think this machine had an internal speaker... no dear god that's coming from the speakers.

      Let's just say that the Windows version The Underdogs has is a bit of a disappointment compared to the Mac version (256 color and infinitely better sound). I'm going to cry now. And check my closet, I don't THINK I have a copy...

      --
      Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
    6. Re:Out of this World by eMartin · · Score: 1

      The SNES (and probably Genesis too) versions were like the Mac version, so you could always try to find the ROMS.

      As for no dialog?

      Well, the classic line "Mai-too-baa" that the alien uses to explain the game's complex plot when you first meet is one that will always stick in my head.

    7. Re:Out of this World by eMartin · · Score: 1

      Actually, looking at the screenshots, the DOS vrsion seems to look just like the others. Maybe you just remember it differently.

      Don't know about the sound though.

    8. Re:Out of this World by flink · · Score: 1

      There was also a similar game called "Flashback" that was released around the same time. I don't recall if it was by Interplay though.

    9. Re:Out of this World by Chyeld · · Score: 1

      Pre-Win95, it was a given that pretty much any multi-platform game out for the PC looked like crap compared to any other platform.

      I remember as a kid playing Bards Tale and the two Dungeon Masters on my late and lamented Atari ST, reveling in the digital sound and colors. And then going to a friend's house and watching him try to impress me on how much better his PC was by the fact that he had Bards Tale 1, 2, AND 3! However, he kicked me out the shortly because once the games loaded I thought there was something wrong with his computer, the graphics looked like they had been scribbled out by a kid with only three crayons, the ones none of the other kids wanted.

    10. Re:Out of this World by the+real+darkskye · · Score: 1

      I remember this game well, first one I bought for the PC, with its funky code wheel copy protection, I probably still have it around somewhere, probably with the 2600 and C64 games

      --
      Music is everybody's possession.
      It's only publishers who think that people own it.
      Fuck Beta
      ~John Lenno
  16. If they weren't broke before by ewanrg · · Score: 4, Funny
    They will be after the slashdotting of their server. Probably the most attention they've had in years :-)

    ---

    Yeah, I do it for the attention ;-)

    1. Re:If they weren't broke before by Mordaximus · · Score: 1

      Interplay's site has been down for a couple of months at least, well before we got a hold of them.

      I'm hoping Volition Inc. can get the rights back to Freespace. Maybe we'll see a #3 after all!

  17. Please buy... by JediLow · · Score: 1

    Microsoft stock and stock in each of the companies listed here: http://www.riaa.com/about/members/default.asp

  18. Interplay online store is down by astebbin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This may or may not be related to the current topic, but I've just bee to the Interplay online store which appears to be down and unable to complete transactions at this time. Is this a result of the stated legal action?

    Link: http://www.interplay-store.com/

  19. buy gold, or euro , better than DOW30 by cheekyboy · · Score: 1, Insightful

    kitco.com

    dude, stocks are scam, buy euros, your dollar is toast, you cannot create 600billion in extra slush, and not see 8-20% devaluation yearly. So get out of the cycle, buy euros or gold or a mix.

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
    1. Re:buy gold, or euro , better than DOW30 by chris_mahan · · Score: 1

      Except he should have done that about a year ago when $1 was 1.2 Euro.

      By the way, the dollar is not going to stay down for long (6 more months, then it's flipside again)

      It's you euro holders who should be bying dollars, you're getting a great deal.

      People in America barely understand the us economy. What makes you think europeans/asians understand it any better?

      Yes. A strong dollar is what the US needs to import, and a weak dollar is what the US needs for exports. Also, it stems the flow of immigrants.

      In any case, it won't last long, or high oil pices will crimp the us economy.

      --

      "Piter, too, is dead."

    2. Re:buy gold, or euro , better than DOW30 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      My understanding is countries are moving away from holding the US Dollar in reserve. Apparently some have been replacing the USD with Euros.

      People in America barely understand the us economy. What makes you think europeans/asians understand it any better?

      They aren't subject to the american media? :) FYI, I'm not european or asian.

    3. Re:buy gold, or euro , better than DOW30 by mandolin · · Score: 1

      how would an american get ahold of euros? Open a swiss bank account? Or are there better ways?

    4. Re:buy gold, or euro , better than DOW30 by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Talk to your local investment firm. Buying foreign currency is a fairly common investment, although it can be risky. I'm sure they'd be able to help you out, either by handling the transaction or pointing you to someone who can.

      However, this is probably the dumbest possible time to buy euros. Remember, you want to buy low and sell high. Right now the euro is high. That's your indicator to sell, not to buy. Buying after it's already gone up 50% with the hope that it might continue is a bad bet.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  20. Re:Next from the Department of Misinformation.... by Ian+Action · · Score: 1

    Like Titus, maker of that shitball Superman 64. They should undergo trials for crimes against humanity.

    --
    Why am I not rapping? I am rapping with you in a way.
  21. Re:That should be by pedaws · · Score: 1

    "Baldur's Gate forced to Liquidate?" ...that DOES sound better.

  22. Parent is correct... children are wrong. by BalorTFL · · Score: 2, Informative

    Despite the many people who will probably try to correct you on this issue, stick to your guns. While Blizzard (then known as Silicon&Synapse) did indeed develop Lost Vikings, the game was published by Interplay.

    1. Re:Parent is correct... children are wrong. by kingkade · · Score: 1

      I was just thinking I remembered (for some reason) seeing two logos: first Interplay, then somebody called "Silicon & Synapse". So I figured Interplay definitely was involved, but I had no idea "Silicon & Synapse" turned into Blizzard.

      --
      why run from Vincenzo?
  23. What I'm interested in.... by Satertek · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...is what they will do with the Freespace license.
    (Its been discussed here before.

    1. Re:What I'm interested in.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Into the ground? He can probably go further and condemn Freespace to hell.

  24. Pounds by BoomerSooner · · Score: 1

    British Pounds are even stronger yet. In both exchange and actual purchasing power. Sterling British Pounds, the only way to fight the Bush Economy.

  25. "By Gamers, For Gamers(tm)" by Invulnerable+Bede · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...turned into "Buh-bye, Gamers(tm)".

  26. You missed point, game is still available today by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 1

    You missed the real point of the followups, that the game is still available today on GameBoy Advanced. Blizzard being the current publisher. Blizzard even offers a playable demo.

    http://www.blizzard.com/blizzclassic/

  27. Top 10 Interplay games by mantle_etching · · Score: 2, Informative

    Even though this article is now irrelevant and my post is off-topic here is a refresher on some Interplay games. They also had the Star Trek license for a while and made that ST:25th Anniversary adventure/puzzle type game that someone else already mentioned.

    These results are culled from GameRankings.com

    1. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn PC
    2. Baldur's Gate
    3. Fallout
    4. FreeSpace 2
    5. Planescape: Torment
    6. Realms of the Haunting
    7. Alone in the Dark
    8. Icewind Dale: The Ultimate Collection
    9. Sacrifice
    10. Carmageddon

    Maybe Interplay will pull an Activision in 10 years and be rescued by a game of Tony Hawk Pro Skater stature.

    1. Re:Top 10 Interplay games by Deekin_Scalesinger · · Score: 1

      Seems to me Atari had a revival as well. Maybe this is not the last of Interplay. Sure hope not - I bought a lot of their games and liked em all.

      --
      "As the intrepid kobold companion continues his journey, he begins to wonder... if priests raises dead, why anybody die?
  28. Blackthorne is still available, playable demo too by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 1

    Continuing a thread from a different response ... Blackthorne is still available, a playable demo is also available. The original developer was what we now call Blizzard Entertainment. They ported their early console work to GameBot Advanced recnently.

    http://www.blizzard.com/blizzclassic/

  29. Farewell, Interplay by jhouserizer · · Score: 1

    Farewell, Interplay

    ...ummm, they are NOT faring well, nor does it sound like they will.

  30. Descent rocked by nighty5 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My best memories of Interplay would be playing Descent. That game absolutely rocked, it was one of the first games that convinced me to buy a joystick - no other game had succedded earlier.

    I remember even having problems configuring the joystick, took me days to work out to manually set a jumper on my sound card to enable the joystick port.

    Did anybody like me actually edit any maps? The map editing made doom editing feel like playing with playdough. I remember printing out the manual which was enormous and was written by a russian but decided to write it in english because of the bigger audience.

    I remember some people suffered motion sickness more in this game than any other.

    1. Re:Descent rocked by Keen+Anthony · · Score: 1

      Did anybody like me actually edit any maps? The map editing made doom editing feel like playing with playdough.

      I never realized you could make your own maps! I was busy been making custom WADs for Doom at the time. I had a hard believing that Descent would actually run on my modest 486. Maybe in retrospect this doesn't mean much, but back then I thought it said a lot about the company.

    2. Re:Descent rocked by dacaldar · · Score: 1

      You said it!

      Best game ever! (of course a job, marriage, and child keeps me far from knowing much about the good ones in the last few years :).

      At the time, there was only Descent and Doom, and Descent was the only one which was truly 3D.

      Funny you mention the joystick, I rocked that game using 2 hands on the keyboard in a custom configuration.

      My old copy of Descent doesn't work so well on modern computers and OS's. Does anyone have a link to a version that is easy to make/run on XP or Linux today?

    3. Re:Descent rocked by clean_stoner · · Score: 1

      Never played the original Descent, but Descent: Freespace rocks hard too. Like the OP said about Descent, Freespace is the game that convinced me to buy a joystick (not only the first, but only game I've played that would have convinced me). If you can't find the original Descent I would really recommend checking out Freespace. Freespace had an expansion pack that was a lot of fun too, although I can't remember offhand what the name of it was.

      --

      Sigs are for the weak.

  31. d2x by slapout · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The sources to Descent 1 & 2 were released several years ago. The Descent 2 code is being worked on in a project called d2x. http://www.icculus.org/d2x/ I'm trying to find a copy of Descent 2 so I can use the data files with it. Does anyone know if it's still available? I've googled for the shareware version, but couldn't find much. (I found it at descent2.com but i couldn't get the download to finish.)

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
    1. Re:d2x by MMMDI · · Score: 1

      I have a copy of the demo*, if that's what you're looking for. It was released on some computer gaming magazine's monthly demo disc, so I'm not totally certain if it's a special demo for the disc, or if it's the same shareware that that program requires.

      ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
      DESCENT 2
      INTERACTIVE DEMO v1.0

      Earthshaking 3-level
      playable demo brought to
      you by Parallax Software
      & Interplay Productions!
      ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±

      If you want to give it a shot and have some way of receiving a 4.13 meg file, let me know.

    2. Re:d2x by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Try Ebay or dollar stores. Sometimes they have oddball software closeouts.

      A Deal$ (it's a dollar store chain) store near me recently had D2 in stock and I picked up enough copies to do legal multiplayer on my lan. But nobody else knows how to play the game. Pooh.

      But it was a buck a copy. No huge loss. I remember playing the game back when I had a 486SX so I have to say it was something of a thrill to play it again on a modern PC. The framerates, the motion sickness! The MIDI! Holy cow!

      OK, so the MIDI doesn't work right with XP. Other than that...

  32. Interplay Forced to Liquidate (France) by ddent · · Score: 4, Funny

    What? Interplay is liquidating France??? What is the world coming to?

    --
    SSL Certificate
    1. Re:Interplay Forced to Liquidate (France) by sckeener · · Score: 1

      What? Interplay is liquidating France??? What is the world coming to?

      Just part of Bush's plan to help corporate America and get revenge at the same time.

      --
      "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
  33. Surprised Descent is not on there by Solr_Flare · · Score: 2, Interesting

    All those are big ones for sure, but the Descent series(not to be confused with the Freespace series) equally deserves to be in the top 10. That series had a lot of FPS firsts. I have yet to find a FPS quite like it since the license got shelved when Outrage and Volition(formally the two companies were Parallax) moved to THQ thus putting the Descent(and Freespace) license into Limbo. :(

    Both Freespace and Descent are games that truly deserve sequels as both series were excellent. I personally put Descent 1/2/3 right up at the top of my favorite FPS of all time along with Half Life and some others.

    I have fond memories of played Doom 2, Descent 1, Descent 2, and Duke 3D over Kali back in the starting days of modern "internet gaming". Back when we had to convert those darned IPX packets :)

    --
    You are who you are, let no one tell you different. But, never close your mind to a new point of view.
    1. Re:Surprised Descent is not on there by mantle_etching · · Score: 1

      GameRankings.com doesn't include many games pre-1998, but Alone in the Dark (early 90's) made it? In the mid to late 80's Interplay (as a development studio distribution courtesy of the now much maligned EA) made some very good games that didn't make the top 10 ranked games list I culled.

  34. Interplay Investors by MiceHead · · Score: 2, Informative
    I believe that Interplay lost its IPLY ticker symbol sometime around December, 2002, and was downgraded(?) to IPLY.OB. Given the way things are going, it's clear why we're hearing plenty of liquidation rumors, even if they're still hanging in there. I have been following their stock for some time; here's a depressing scene:

    (Year - Price)
    Q1, 2000 - ~$3.75
    Q1, 2001 - ~$2.75
    Q1, 2002 - ~$0.60
    Q1, 2003 - ~$0.07 (Then changed to IPLY.OB)
    Q1, 2004 - ~$0.10
    Q1, 2005 - ~$0.01

    The price, as of today, was 1.6 cents per share, (which is actually a nice purchase, if they pull out of their rut). Contrary to what the /. post says, they haven't liquidated yet. However:

    LOS ANGELES, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Video game company Interplay Entertainment Corp. (IPLYE.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) did not pay most of its employees for the four months through mid-November, has no cash reserves left and cannot meet its obligations, the company said in a quarterly report to regulators on Wednesday.
    I suppose they could raise capital by issuing more stock -- only 1,000,000,000 shares, and they could have a cool $16M! (Okay, maybe not.)

    I'm not sure what IP assets they have left to liquidate, but such sales may breathe new life into properties that have not been celebrated since (say) 2002.
    ____________________________
    Inago Rage - Fight, fly, and create your own arenas in this first-person shooter.
    --
    We're indie. We're working on our 14th game.
  35. Voodoo Extreme is back? by glrotate · · Score: 1

    That's even bigger news!

  36. The Wise Alundo prophesied this! by Magickcat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage. So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo."

    The "Lord of Murder" is clearly Interplay France.
    The "score of mortal progeny" are the former Interplay employees.
    Finally, the "Chaos" will be Electronic Arts churning out crud games.

    --

    Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher.

    1. Re:The Wise Alundo prophesied this! by dabigpaybackski · · Score: 1

      By chance, you wouldn't have run into that wierdo Koveras around Candlekeep, would you?

      --
      "OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
    2. Re:The Wise Alundo prophesied this! by Magickcat · · Score: 1

      That nasty Koveras - yes I did run into him.

      --

      Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher.

  37. It's about time! by mlmurray · · Score: 1

    Finaly! I was wondering when someone was going to get an assfull of the French... It had to happen sooner or later!

  38. Bard's Tale series by Slavinski · · Score: 1


    Although probably a lesser known title by some but
    the Bard's Tale series was one of theirs but the
    main developer left to his own pursuit.

    1. Re:Bard's Tale series by mantle_etching · · Score: 1

      Developed by Interplay but distributed by EA back when they had those mini-album cover packages.

      I believe Starflight I&II were Interplay developed EA distributed as well.

    2. Re:Bard's Tale series by Slavinski · · Score: 1

      That's right. They had EA symbols ALL over the
      place if I recall within the game.

  39. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  40. So when did you buy... by Infonaut · · Score: 1
    SCOX?

    I think I speak for many Linux users when I say, "Thanks, Rorshcach1!"

    --
    Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
  41. WTF by gremlins · · Score: 1

    Interplay, Infogrames, what terrible names. Now Blizzard thats real computer company name.

    --
    just because your a schizophrenic doesn't mean people arn't really out to get you
  42. Wasteland by sporadic · · Score: 1

    Don't forget Interplay was the company responsible for Wasteland back in the 80s (published by Electronic Arts when Trip Hawkin still ran the company,) along with the Bard's Tale franchise. Without Wasteland, there would not have been Fallout. I will miss Interplay. I used to live in Irvine and actually went to the HQ a few times, very nice people.

    Thank you, Interplay, for all the great games and fond memories.

  43. Interplay Forced to Liquidate France by buzzcutbuddha · · Score: 1

    All I could think was "Oh not again."

    They probably didn't even get a chance to man the Maginot Line this time...

  44. descent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    RIP descent. one of the best games/series of games EVER. I will probably cry myself to sleep tonight about how they arent doing any more descent stuff.

    Some fans tried to make their own "descent 4" but they were sued by interplay. (fux0r)

  45. Klingon Academy by va3atc · · Score: 1

    Even on their website they don't have anything regarding Klingon Academy but it was an awesome game. At startup it says Interplay so they obviously did quite a bit of work on it.

    --
    Candle burns its brightest in the dark
  46. Fallout? by littlewild · · Score: 1

    "...very well known games like Icewind Dale, the Baldur's Gate series, and Descent." What about Fallout? IMHO, that's the greatest series from Interplay. I wonder what will happen to the "rumoured" Fallout 3 development now that Interplay is officially falling apart.

  47. Interplay Liquidates France by Wingie · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought the story was about a game company destroying a European nation with lasers! How disappointing.

    --
    read the bunni comic
  48. Re:Apparently this hasn't actually happened. by Keen+Anthony · · Score: 1

    Interplay is dead. Long live Interplay!

  49. Do it your self tech support! by Galileo430 · · Score: 1

    Here's product support for you..

    A little while back, I was over my friends house and he was complaining about how Klingon Academy would crash under a NT kernel and nVidia drivers. He missed the game so, as a joke I took a look at the ASM dump. Sure enough, there was a instruction I recognized right at the point of crash. It was a string compare pseudo op. There was a little note next to that instruction in the book I learned assembly from and it was in my friends as well. It turns out that the instruction could be set to run in reverse by setting a processor flag. I figured this was the probable cause of the crash. After failing to reach Interplay via email, phone, website. I took it upon myself to patch the game (in a hex editor with machine code generated from MASM). Now the game works. Well, there still is one bug with the particle generators, but I can't figure that out from the ASM dump. He got his game back, he can live without the particles.

    I know someone is going to point out the ethics of editing someone else's binary. However, I do not see the harm in editing a dead companies dead product so it will work again.

  50. It`s Titus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Titus was liquidated, together with three French subsidiaries, this only affects Interplay in the sense that the 67% stake of Titus will move hands.

    Just check
    http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/05/new s_61157 37.html

    and the comments at
    http://www.nma-fallout.com/

    Brios

  51. Bethesda's response... by Mr.+Teatime · · Score: 1

    It was me who mailed voodooextreme, and also mailed them again to correct the article - my mistake. As others have said, all the French assets are liquidated, not the worldwide ones (which means Interplay is still alive). It's only a matter of time for Interplay, anyway. http://www.duckandcover.cx/forums/viewtopic.php?t= 10299 For those interested in Bethesda's response (basically, it's "no comment").

    1. Re:Bethesda's response... by Mr.+Teatime · · Score: 1

      Here is that link correctly formatted. I'm pretty certain Herve Caen is a corrupt person, there are plenty of ex-employee reports of him not paying them, and generally messing people about so he can get their money.

  52. Clay Fighter. by FiloEleven · · Score: 1

    Pretty bad fighting engine, but an incredibly fun game. And the best intro music ever. It was released after Killer Instinct, when fighters were still a big deal. One of my favourite touches was the 40,000 hit combo or something equally vast, but I forget the character that had it. I'll never forget playing against a friend and all of a sudden he's hitting me repeatedly, and very fast. I look over to see shock on his face and the controller lying on the floor =)

    --
    Your brain is not a computer.
  53. Descent by ehiris · · Score: 1

    I'd really like to see a remake of that game. All the new 3D technology could make it a lot of fun.