Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Duke Nukem Forever Due This Year?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the an-end-in-sight dept.

nz17 writes "Under the original deal, 3D Realms was to receive some $6 million from Take-Two to develop the title. Now the Texas-based developer will receive only $4,250 for the oft-delayed game when it is completed. Just the same, 3D Realms has a fairly large incentive to get Duke Nukem Forever done by the end of the year; Take-Two has offered the studio $500,000 in the form of a promissory note if the game sees commercial release by December 31, 2006."

5 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. $4,250.00 ? by tomhudson · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Cripes, you can buy game developers cheap. Check out this quote from the 10-Q
    http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFra meset.aspx?dcn=0001125282-06-003343&Type=HTML

    In November 2005, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Firaxis Games, Inc. ("Firaxis"), a developer of PC and strategy titles, including the Civilization franchise. The purchase price of approximately $15,442 consisted of $12,500 of unregistered common stock and $4,085 of development advances previously paid to Firaxis reduced by net cash acquired of $1,143.

    In June 2005, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Gaia Capital Group and its wholly-owned subsidiaries ("Gaia"), the developers of certain of the Company's titles for console and handheld platforms. The purchase price consisted of $5,748 in cash, $4,055 of development advances previously paid to Gaia and deferred consideration of $1,597.

    In January 2005, the Company acquired from SEGA all of the outstanding capital stock of Visual Concepts Entertainment and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kush Games, the developers of certain of the Company's sports titles, and certain intellectual property rights associated with these products. The purchase price consisted of $27,794 in cash, $1,866 of prepaid royalties previously advanced to SEGA and contingent consideration of $2,593 based on the release of certain titles.

    Shit - anyone know of any other game companies for sale at firesale prices?

    1. Re:$4,250.00 ? by tomhudson · · Score: 0, Redundant

      And if you read the supplemental charts, their total cash outlay was 827 == $827,000.00, for ALL the companies they acquired. So they didn't pay $2. whatever million. They laid out 827,000 to get 15,000,000 (according to the supplemental charts) of assets, as well as the ability to grab some immediate write-offs. Bet you that at tax time, they get back every penny of the 827k they spent, so it ends up costing them zero.

      Of course, now they have these new assets, so they can borrow against them (or issue more stock to reflect their increased portfolio), so either way, they're getting a nice profit for a minimal outlay.

    2. Re:$4,250.00 ? by tomhudson · · Score: 0, Redundant

      The supplementals say they only laid out $827 in cash - that means $827,000 to acquire total assets with a book value of $15M.

      Nice leverage, and they also acquire some tax loses, and the ability to float new shares or financing against their deep-discount purchase.

      Like I said, show me a way I can spend a buck to acquire $20 of assets, plus a few bucks of deductions ... its a no-brainer. Cheap at twice the price.

    3. Re:$4,250.00 ? by tomhudson · · Score: 0, Redundant

      The supplementals say they only laid out $827 in cash for ALL the businesses, with a book value of $15,000. This means they paid $827,000.00 for $15,000,000.00 of assets, plus write-offs, etc. Cheap at twice the price, at 20 to one.

  2. Re:AO rating? by Andrew+Kismet · · Score: 0, Redundant

    is that Dead or Alive, or Dead On Arrival...?