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Take-Two Acquires Kerbal Space Program
Eloking quotes a report from Polygon: Take-Two Interactive has purchased physics-based space simulation Kerbal Space Program, according to announcements from publisher Take-Two and developer Squad. "We have been impressed with Kerbal Space Program since its launch, and we are committed to grow this unique experience while continuing to support its passionate community," said Michael Worosz, senior vice president, head of corporate development and independent publishing at Take-Two, in a release. "We view Kerbal Space Program as a new, long-term franchise that adds a well-respected and beloved IP to Take-Two's portfolio as we continue to explore opportunities across the independent development landscape." Kerbal Space Program officially launched on PC in 2015. The game had been available through Steam's Early Access program since 2013. It has since gone on to sell more than 2 million copies on console and PC. Developer Squad said in a statement that the acquisition won't alter its plan for continued development of Kerbal Space Program. The developer is currently working on the Making History Expansion for the game.
"How will we monetize this into a pay-per-experience software-as-service product?"
It's been fun playing. But I think Kerbal just went extinct.
Games are always improved when they are bought by another software company with "fresh ideas" /s
Rocket fuel purchasable through micropayments.
45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
I'm keeping my no-DRM current copy somewhere safe. At least until we have actually seen what take2 does. Now there's been a lot of panics in the KSP community over the years. Everytime a dev leaves people convince themselves it's the end of the game.
This may be another doomsday cry that turns out okay in the end. Or it could genuinely be the point where the game that always felt 'too good to be true' is finally killed (it seems imminently suitable for an open-source competitor if that happens).
Unlike most past panics - this one affects the one constant that has, despite the occasional bad behavior, always understood that the success of KSP lives and dies with the community and made sure to at least keep their promises to that community. Building a paid-expansion already stretched the limits of that (free updates forever was a promise), so that means - I'm actually nervous about this.
In the past, I never joined in the panics - at most I would on occasion feel a bit pissed at squad over something they did and feel they aren't doing right by somebody.
And of all companies that could have bought them - take2 is just about the worst possible one.
So no, it's not time to panic - it IS time to be cautious, and keep a backup copy of KSP outside of any auto-upgrade service's reach.
Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
Rocket engines burning fuel so fast
Up into the night sky they blast
Through the universe the engines whine
Could it be the end of man and time?
Back on earth the flame of life burns low
Everywhere is misery and woe
Pollution kills the air, the land and sea
Man prepares to meet his destiny, yeah
> I'm keeping my no-DRM current copy somewhere safe.
Yep. A snapshot of today's game + today's mods is still good for years of fun gameplay. (well technically yesterday's version, most mods still not updated for the new patch so I haven't updated either)
If the game goes in a shitty direction I've got a copy of Peak Kerbal and I don't need to follow along into the shitter.
EA would have been a LOT worse.
There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
EA would have bought the company, got everyone in the building, then locked the doors and burned the building down.
Ubisoft .... let's not go there.
I stand corrected.
Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
KSP for Android - "Your space station will be ready in 23:22 hours, accelerate now by using space goo. Would you like to buy more goo? Thimble of space goo $.99, Canister of space goo $5.99, Tanker of space goo $20.99, Comet of space goo (best value) $199.99"
If KSP goes south ... what's the best way to keep a copy of a current Steam KSP and the mandatory mods ?
Brutally saving the steam directory probably won't work ...
It's KSP, surely that would be replacement Kerbals available through micropayments!
Oxygen purchasable through micropayments, measured in breaths
RIP KSP. Time to download and archive the most recent DRM free version in all formats.
The two genders are black men and Islam?
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
The Kerbal Space Program is now on indefinite hold. After a careful review by the newly elected President Konald Kump, "Wasting money on endless space exploration is a 'bad deal' for Kerbals." The new president is also cutting healthcare, education, science, and environmental agencies while also cutting taxes on the richest kerbals. The money cut from these programs will be funneled into military spending and a infrastructure, namely building a giant statue of Konald Kump and keeping all the Kuslims and Kexicans out.
It's takes 2 to fuck it up and if they want to DLC it then modding may get locked down.
Well, I always knew it would have to end like this...
> It's been fun playing. But I think Kerbal just went extinct.
So your copy of the game just suddenly stopped working?
Translation: "We bought it because we thought the original guys weren't screwing quite as much money out of their players as we think we can."
AC
NASA could have bought it.
Have gnu, will travel.
Look's like I'll be copying my KSP install off to a DVD the second I get home this afternoon. I suppose it may not be all bad, KSP could use a few improvements (more stock capabilities, better physics, improved graphics, etc), and additional funds from a large game company may drive that. But large game companies also have a tendency of wanting a permanent link to your credit card account, and a complete lack common sense (insane DRM, laughably broad perceptions of their "property", etc).
DON'T BUY ANYTHING EARLY ACCESS ON STEAM ITS JUST A NEW WAY OF SCAMMING
and i fell like yelling YOU need to make sure you read this dipshit website owners
Big spiny ole cat cocks. You know.
Says a stubby-peened cracker.
Yes! grabbing all current mods that i care about today and saving them.
Yes. Yes it did.
...if you're a cuck, and you are.
half the codebase needs to be refactored?
In my experience whenever anyone uses that phrase, whatever comes next is always complete and utter BS.
Yes, but which half?
flight!
Automatically refuels you to full once per launch with your Kerbal remembering about the emergency fuel!
Besides jokes I have no idea if this will be bad. Take two owns rockstar and grand theft auto. Now, the hacking and security online is complete shit. Players shouldn't be able to set fire or explosions at all players at once...stupid as hell.
However beyond that, the game itself is fun. I don't really see microtransactions or anything that would ruin the game for me. In addition, they purchased squad. So it's just another developer under their belt, and they may get access to some serious experience and way better engines (Sorry unity, I have a perm hate on you for performance reasons. Yeah I can run it well, but the resources for what I'm getting? Questionable.)
Can you imagine a space game with orbiting etc that has an engine more like grand theft auto? Multiplayer? Amazing. Although unlikely it's nice to have fantasies. Keep in mind both studios are separate so it's very unlikely to see anything like that but, a man can dream.
forced always on multiplayer only with microtransactions!
and dlc. lots of dlc!
why... we can split every part pack and sell them individually! brilliant!
I'd like to point out that the current version of KSP is not DRM protected. You can buy it (even on steam), then copy the folder off somewhere and have a working non-monetized, not asinine mod friendly version of the game forever.
Being bought out by Take Two actually isn't a problem, in my mind. Take Two is a publisher with a decent track record of doing justice by its IPs (e.g. Grand Theft Auto, Borderlands, Red Dead, Bioshock). They let games percolate in development until they're ready, support them with updates for years, and are, in turn, rewarded by their fans with ongoing sales (e.g. GTA5 came out in 2014, but it's still in the Top 10 global sales charts as of right now).
To me, the far larger problem for Kerbal was that a good chunk of their team was stolen away and hired on by Valve awhile back to work on undisclosed projects. Losing the core of your team is a far larger problem to overcome than coming under the umbrella of a publisher who is known for being one of the most hands-off publishers in the biz.
Yes, but which half?
All three.
Being able to run a kerbal universe server and have all your friends log in and build stuff would be awesome. Unfortunately due to the time factor to get anywhere useful, time warp and multiplayer could get bad quickly.
The right half.
The dynamics of KSP launch/orbits + a fractally generated universe + some new engine to travel between star systems + planetary management like Endless Space + space combat like Pulsar: Lost Colony would be great (Also, some nice weapons for those mech mods.)
I was going to suggest Ubisoft.... but I'm pretty happy with how they've handled Rocksmith since they acquired it. They updated it to a better user interface. Allowed most the songs from the first to be imported into the second. And they've continued to release new DLC every week.
Still better than Square-Enix
story states its early access and steam reports early access
and its selling for 44 DOLLARS USD so ten my ass
waaaay too much money
nice try but for a few bucks more i get a AAA title hell ill rather drop that into a MMO and really have a great time
And of all companies that could have bought them - take2 is just about the worst possible one.
Activision, EA, Ubisoft.
Any of them are worse.
"Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
NASA is STRICTLY an Orbiter shop.
/. refugees on Usenet: news:comp.misc
Take two owns rockstar and grand theft auto.
So ... Kerbal Hot Chocolate?
That seems to be what he's saying yeah. It's smarter than I expected, to be honest.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
Update your mods!
Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable